The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 6:14-20, “Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

When I was in the second grade in school, Miss Jones taught us to write in script. In the first grade, we drew the letters. But, one day I approached her desk and she was busy. She was writing. And I was surprised to see that she was not holding her pencil the way she

taught us to hold ours. Shy as I was (cough! cough!), I called her on it –and I got a look that said, Son, don’t ever do that again. To the best of my recollection, I never did. But, all of that taught me a lesson: namely, be what you teach others to be! Do what you teach others to do!

Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter to the Ephesians. Like he always does, he instructs us how to behave in the way he was taught by the LORD Jesus Christ. “Stand firm.” Soldiers don’t slouch. It gives the appearance of laziness and uncouthness. Christians aren’t to be like that. “Gird your loins with Truth.” Don’t have anything to do with lies or deceit. Always speak the Truth! Christians are to be surrounded with Truth. Be completely filled with righteousness, too! We’re not to be “show-offs,” but we certainly don’t want to neglect our responsibilities. We have Someone to share! So, have shoes that accompany your feet as you go faithfully about sharing the Good News of Jesus!

Do everything with faith. Be faithful; act faithfully toward others. The shield of faith will protect you from the onslaughts of the enemy. Keep your head on straight and tight! Keep the salvation of Jesus Christ in the fore of your mind, making it easy to recall for those who need to hear it. “It,” remember is the Word of God. It’s not what you or I think; it’s what HE says that counts. Be prayerful and alert. What’s more, remember me in your prayers! I need to be alert, too, when I share Christ with others. Remember, too, that I’m not geographically where you are. Still, I’m trying to speak boldly, but I’m handicapped with some chains. Just keep me in your prayers, please.

Did you notice what I noticed? Everything that Paul told his readers to do, he was already doing! I’m a spiritual infant, unworthy of all comparison to the maturity of the Apostle Paul; still, everything I encourage you to do in these Grands Letters, I endeavor to do as well. I pray for you daily; and I need your daily prayers for me. None of us are all that we ought to be; yet together and with the LORD’s strength, we can realize victory! He’s Coming! Let’s not be caught short when He comes!

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.”