The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 2:21-25, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,

22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;

23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”

How many times have you asked yourself, “What is my purpose in life? Why I am here?” Even as Christians, we sometimes wonder what our purpose really is.

Simon Peter clearly reveals God’s purpose for us in the five verses above. Here they are:

1. Our calling is simple: we are to follow Christ’s example. He suffered for us, and we are to follow His

steps. In short, we are to look and behave as much like Christ as is possible.

2. Christ committed no sin! There was not even a smidgen of deceit (dolos, fish bate) in Him. That

should be our goal and reality, too.

3. Christ did not revile (antiloidoreo, abuse) those who abused Him. He never threatened them.

Instead, He looked to His Heavenly Father in absolute trust for the Father’s righteous judgment.

We are not to fight our own battles. Christ Jesus alone can be successful in defeating the enemy.

4. He paid the price for our sins in His own body on the cross. He wants us to die to sin and live

righteously, so as to bring glory to Him and to His Heavenly Father.

5. He has rescued us from straying aimlessly like sheep are known to do. We have been brought back to the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls for spiritual security. Our rest, therefore, is in Him alone.

Check up on your spiritual life! Are these five principles of our calling being met in your life? Are you trusting Christ to reproduce His life in you? Is it your desire for Him to do so? If one or both of your parents

were to give their lives for you to survive alive, would that encourage you to do the same for someone else? Do you have Christ’s purpose dominating your desires? Or are you wandering aimlessly through life with little-to-no purpose? Be careful! Life slips by at amazing speed. Remember the saying…

Only one life; it will soon be passed;

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

I am praying for you daily!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Please remember my daughter-in-law, Valarie. She is a sweet, Christian girl, but ill, and truly needs your prayers.

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.”