The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Galatians 6:1-9, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5 For each one will bear his own load. 6 The one who is taught the Word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”

This is not at all an unusual directive for believers in the Galatian camp. Prior to their conversion, the Galatians were a “wild and woolly bunch.” No doubt, even some of those who professed faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior had a difficult time becoming what they ought in this new way of life.

Prior to his own conversion, Paul undoubtedly saw himself like the Galatians. In any event, he knew just what to say (and when!) to bring them back to the Cross of Christ.

Do you see someone who is having trouble behaving like a Christian? Help him! Do you see someone who thinks he is “elevated” now that he’s saved? Teach him to be and do right! Instead of changing your personal behavior, be sympathetic regarding those who have yet to learn how to behave as a Christian. That’s something we all would do well to learn.

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 Kings 22:11-14, “Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are consumed.'”

12 All the prophets were prophesying thus, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.”

13 Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold now, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.”

14 But Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I shall speak.”

There’s an old children’s chorus we kids used to sing. It said,

“Be careful, little child what you hear;

Be careful, little child what you hear…

For the Father up above is looking down in love;

Be careful, little child, what you hear.”

The chorus then repeated with the words “say” and “do.”

Generally, we think of children learning a lot from us. Of course, they do. They should. At the same time, there’s a lot we can learn from them – if and when we pay attention. Paying careful attention to others is one of the foremost responsibilities we Christians have. We will do well to adopt the wise words of Micaiah: “…what the LORD says to me, that I shall speak.” When we do as the LORD directs us, we then abdicate responsibility in the lives of others.

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,

Genesis 1:1-5, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and

the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

4 God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.

5 God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and

there was morning, one day.”

“Light has value far beyond allowing unseen objects visibility. Light “shapes” bodies and minds, structures time, and serves as a central metaphor for truth, goodness, and God in philosophy and Christianity.”

The LORD God is our Creator and Preserver. He preserves what He creates; thus, when we turn from sin and accept Him as LORD and Savior of our lives, He is our LORD and Savior forever!

Further, “light,” as has been emphasized above, is therefore more than physical. It is the perceptible light, the understanding, that allows what we call “intelligence” to exist within us. It is always to be grasped and retained for our benefit! It clearly brightens and tightens our grip on those factors that would otherwise never be truly, fully understood.

In the nighttime, when light is absent, we live with the belief that we are protected from whatever exists beyond our ability to see; thus, we can know of our LORD’s ever-present watch-care over all that lies within us – and for that, we can ever be thankful.

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,

Hebrews 13:15-21, “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.

19 And I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you the sooner. Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,

21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

There are days when it is simply difficult to offer praise for anything. Everything seems to be going wrong! Have you ever experienced a day like that? I asked that of someone long ago. His response was: “Every day.”

Paul (whom I believe authored the Hebrew epistle) encourages us to “offer up a sacrifice of praise to God…” And I’m sure he meant “Every day!” There are multiple negatives that manage to get in the way of praise. Yet, these can be eliminated if we keep our eyes on the LORD Jesus Christ and our minds on positive things.

Not every discouragement comes directly from Satan; however, it’s certain that he enables more negative thinking than we acknowledge. Read positive Scripture for positive thoughts: praise, thanksgiving, sacrifice, and obedience. In all things, glorify the 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,

Galatians 1:6-10, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him, who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;

7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed.

9 As we have said before, so I say again now, If any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”

The Galatians were by origin a wild and woolly bunch! Their history belies the very belief that enabled their activity to seem normal. To them, it did seem normal, but not to the Apostle Paul! Nevertheless, he dealt with them in somewhat the same rough manner. That got their attention!

It’s a shame, but that is precisely how we often have to approach those who view the Gospel with less dignity than it deserves. At the same time, we must always be on guard that we don’t inadvertently fall into the same trap with those whose theology we are seeking to straighten.

Styles of ministry vary. That’s normal. Biblical truth, however, does not vary from speaker to speaker! The church where I have membership has several pastors. None of them displays an identical pulpit style, yet each of them believes and advocates the same truth. To do otherwise would greatly confuse and divide the congregation.

We must always be extremely careful how we (and others!) relate Holy Scripture. Paul was not angry at the Galatians; but he was stern. There is a difference; and we must be careful, even as we lovingly caution others.

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