The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 2:1-8, “Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Christ Jesus, To

all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers

and deacons:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,

5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.

6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work

in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I

have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense

and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.

8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of

Christ Jesus.”

How important to you is the word “example”? How important do you believe it is to the LORD? The Bible mentions it only 16 times in both the Old and New Testaments. Yet, in those 16 times, the word is strategically positioned so that you and I might view our relationship with Him somewhat like the LORD Himself views it.

The author of this Philippian Letter is Paul. His companion in the faith is young Timothy. Paul had led Timothy to faith in Jesus Christ; now he, too, is an example of a believer! That’s exactly how conversion to Christ is supposed to work. Yet, before Paul could lead Timothy to faith in Christ, Timothy had to be willing to receive Him.

Here are two supreme admonitions for us: first, we should lead more people to faith in Christ and teach them to follow Him and witness to others. Timothy had trusted Christ; now, he was following Paul and sharing Christ with others.

Rethink your salvation experience! It’s spiritually healthy to revisit your time with Jesus Christ. If your experience is not clear to you, prayerfully confess your sins to Christ and ask for His forgiveness. There’s nothing like a clean heart and life! There’s no one like Jesus!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 2:11-15, “Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called ‘Uncircumcision’ by the so-called ‘Circumcision,’ which is performed in the flesh by human hands—

12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,

15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace…”

Have you ever had any trouble looking back? Sometimes it’s fun just thinking about how things were in former days. Riding ponies on Sunday afternoon; looking forward to the school’s basketball game on Monday night; anticipating a visit from an old friend – yes, those things were fun-filled days! On the other hand, there were days we would just rather forget – days that are past and hopefully we’ll never experience again.

The Apostle Paul experienced such days. He was Jewish; therefore, he cites Israel’s experience in reverse order. Commencing with verse 13, Paul calls his kinsmen to a remembrance of their better days: “But now in Christ Jesus…”

Sometimes, we recall both kinds of days. We remember things and people who were kind and enjoyable to have around. Still, we remember things we’d rather forget altogether! But what do others think of us? What about right now? Are we living the life that demonstrates a “Jesus likeness”? Are we rejoicing that we know Him and want, more than ever, for others to know Him also? Then we would do well to demonstrate peace. Maybe we need to start “establishing peace” with everyone! Give it a try. It will reveal to ourselves and others just how sincere and peaceful we are.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.”

–Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Galatians 5:19-26, “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”

Undoubtedly, you’ve heard the expression: “It takes one to know one.” In these verses, we have a snapshot of the past and present of the Apostle Paul’s life. In verses 19-21, Paul gives us a glimpse of what he was before he came to faith in Christ. In verses 22-26, he gives us a second glimpse of what he is at the time of this writing. Don’t think, however, that he is glorying in his past life. He’s simply drawing the comparison between what he once was and what he now is by the grace of Almighty God!

Yet, beyond Paul’s comparative analysis of his past with his present life, he is challenging those who are still in the former stage to quickly abandon it and adopt the spiritual stage of Christ-likeness.

There are those who will say, “It’s too late for me! I’ve been riveted too long in sin.” But Paul argues against that when he stands as an exhibition of a former sinful life. “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all” (1 Timothy 1:15). Failure to personally accept Jesus Christ as one’s Savior is itself a failure to make Heaven. It is my earnest prayer that you will renounce your sin and accept Jesus Christ as LORD!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.”

–Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 1:3-10, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;

7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;

9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;

10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us…”

If you have ever been a patient in a hospital – or visited a patient there — you have had a “front row seat” for beholding what we call “suffering.” Paul speaks of human suffering in order that we may understand that Christ Himself suffered for us. In His suffering and in His death, He became our hope for life here and in eternity. It is He who delivers us from the peril of death. And noting our deliverance, others take heed that He is able to deliver them as well.

Paul had within himself the “peril of death”; yet he knew without a doubt that the LORD who conquered death was able and willing to rescue His people. Therefore, we must forsake all negative thoughts and concentrate on what He has given us to do here on earth. Our confidence in Him and His ability to deliver us will serve to build confidence in others. In that way alone, we are serving Him as we serve those who need hope. Are you one of His children? If so, are you abiding by His plan for your life? I pray that you are!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.”

–Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 6:12-14, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

13 Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.

14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.”

1 Corinthians 6:18-20, “Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.

19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body.”

In case you haven’t noticed (and I speak this to our shame), Christianity, as it is often practiced by those claiming to be Christians, is not immune from their immoral behavior. The ancient city of Corinth was, in its time, known as one of the most degenerate cities of the ancient world. Therefore, the Church has always needed this solemn Pauline warning.

The one who is fully committed to Jesus Christ should, therefore, always “be to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:12). Our language, including our humor, should always be of the highest caliber. Yes, I am aware that some of the rawest, unacceptable “humor” seems hilarious to the ears of even some believers. And it’s at that precise moment the believer needs to withdraw from such a group.

“But, they’re my friends,” someone professes. If they are, and if your spiritual stand is as well-known to them as it ought to be, they will respect you for your withdrawal. We grow spiritually through what we absorb from Scripture, but also through what we refuse of the world’s ungodly delights. Such withdrawal is itself a strengthening of our spiritual lives. May the Smile of God be an enrichment to us, and an example to all around us. May our blessed LORD strengthen our readiness to one day hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…”

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.”

–Corrie ten Boom