The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 3:8-17, “To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;
9 not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
10 For, “Let him who means to love life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile.
11 “And let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 “For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”

Recently, I was seated beside a law enforcement official at a luncheon. It was incredible to see how much gear he had to wear just to insure his own safety.

I grew up in a small mining town that was for a time a pretty tough area; so it may well be said that residents there had their share of problems like we do. At one point, however, the town’s law enforcer carried no gun.

As the story goes, two boys were anticipating a break-in, when the unarmed officer quietly approached them and said, “Boys, I don’t think what you’re about to do is a wise thing at all.” The boys bolted like lightning! It was indeed a different time.

Simon Peter could well have lived in our own time. The instruction he gives is applicable worldwide and to every generation. When he says, “sanctify Christ as LORD in your hearts,” he means recognize Christ as Master of your life! He is ready also to support your good lifestyle. Having a good lifestyle, of course, commences with accepting Him as LORD and Savior of your life. He then is ever-present to advise you with respect to your daily lifestyle.

Peter offers no guarantee against the slander you may receive for possessing and living a Christ-like life. Yet, he says it is better to suffer slander than to engage in the shameful and decadent ways of an ungodly world.

Accepting Christ as your LORD and Savior is more than belonging to a church. It’s living with the awareness that He is living within you and guiding your lifestyle. “Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God…” (1 Peter 3:18).

Yes, even the Christian cop continues to carry a gun. But he is continuously guided by the LORD regarding when and how to use it. Think about this.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom