The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Jeremiah 7:3-10, ”Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.’ Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’

5 “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor,

6 if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin,

7 then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.

8 “Behold, you are trusting in deceptive words to no avail.

9 “Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known,

10 then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’– that you may do all these abominations?

11 “Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” declares the LORD.”

If you think the LORD is having trouble with the church today, you need to think again. Having trouble with people is hardly new to the LORD. The opening words in the passage above (“Amend your ways…”) are indicative of trouble within the LORD’s people. Look at the wrongful deeds of which He speaks: deceptive words…wrongful deeds…injustice…oppression of both aliens and orphans…worship of other gods…trusting in deceptive words…theft, murder, adultery – and the list stretches onward! All of these were an abomination to the LORD.

Now, look at many who claim to be part of His church, yet are thieves, haters of others, adulterers, liars, servers of other gods of multiple covert names. Yet, the Church is the LORD’s House! It is where His Person and Word are to be extolled! For if the Church lacks reverence inside, where corporate worship occurs, what can be expected elsewhere? Pray for the Church!

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