The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Chronicles 15:1-7, Now the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded,

2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, ‘Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.’

3 “For many days Israel was without the true God and without a teaching priest and without law.

4 “But in their distress, they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and they sought Him, and He let them find Him.

5 “In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for many disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands.

6 “Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every kind of distress.

7 “But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”

Anyone upon whom the Spirit of God falls is of extreme importance! Azariah’s importance manifests itself in his address to Asa and the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. What’s more, his immortal words reverberate throughout the ages to all believers: “…the LORD is with you when you are with Him.”

Have you ever been in a situation where you sensed that you were alone? It’s an awful feeling! Yet, the sense of loneliness gives way to shame when you realize that as a believer in Jesus Christ, you are never alone! He never abandons His children!

At the same time, it is possible that the “loneliness” abounds because we have forsaken Him! It’s true that we often take the LORD for granted. “He’ll always be there,” we say. Yet, when we turn away from Him and begin to think that we can navigate life alone, we stumble and fall.

In those times of failure and loneliness, He allows us to experience life as it would be without Him. It’s a spiritual shock intended to awaken and bring us back. He forgives our sinful departures and wraps us again within His tender arms. “Be strong,” He encourages us, “there is reward for your work.” Are we truly engaged in His work? Personal inventory is required.

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