The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 6:10-12, “For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have

shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance

of hope until the end,

12 that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the

promises.”

From time-to-time, the President of the United States awards selected persons of merit the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is the highest award the president can give, and arguably this highest that can ever be awarded to an American citizen. This award was recently conveyed in conjunction with the president’s State of the Union address before Congress.

Yet the thought came to me that there was yet another award –one of far greater worth—that would be bestowed upon all of those whose lives and work had been centered on the glory of our LORD Jesus Christ!

The Apostle Paul assures us that God does not forget our work of love on His behalf. Further, Paul himself desires that our diligence will produce “the full assurance of hope until the end…” Six times in his Letter to the Hebrews, Paul uses the word hope (?????, elpis). Hope in the New Testament can be translated “future certainty.” The word diligence (??????, spoude) means both haste and earnestness. We dare not be sluggish (??????, nothros) –slothful or careless, lest we fail in our calling.

Have faith (??????, pistis) and patience, long-suffering (?????????? makrothumia). Don’t allow yourself to become discouraged. Study the Word, pray earnestly to the Father, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His leadership, encourage other believers, and tell others about Jesus! They don’t know what they don’t know. It’s our privileged responsibility and joy to share Christ Jesus with others. His Coming may be closer than we think.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”