The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;

3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,

4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;

5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.”

First Thessalonians was the Apostle Paul’s first written letter. John, whom we’ve previously met, warned solemly against false teachers. Now, Paul commends the Church at Thessalonica for doing due diligence in sharing the Word of God with those who need His salvation.

Paul’s greeting is “Grace to you and peace.” Grace always preceeds peace, and the “to you” speaks of the advantage both grace and peace are to the Thessalonians, as well as to us. I like the acrostic: God’s Redemption At Christ’s Expense.” Grace is the most expensive gift God has ever given us. It clearly involved the sacrifice of His only humanly born Son, Jesus Christ.

No man can ever offer a sacrifice equal to that of Jesus. You and I did nothing to warrant it. We only believed. And even the seed-faith needed for us to believe was itself God-given! For all of this, we should be exceedingly, eternally grateful. Such were the Thessalonian Christians. They exercised a “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope” in the LORD Jesus Christ. And God saw it all. And so it is with us: He sees it all.

Again in concert with John’s warning against false preacher and teachers, Paul notes for us that his Gospel did not come with words alone. Rather it came “in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” Paul lived what he preached! How necessary that is! Paul was aware that words were not enough; we who claim to have the truth, must express that truth through the way we live.

Someone may ask you if you are a Christian; but if you live the life, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you, you give authenticity to what you say. People want to see Christ in you more than they want to hear about Him from you. Is that how you are living? Can others see Christ in your life? If we, who profess to know Him don’t show Him in the way we live, how do we think others will want to know Him? How we live speaks more loudly than what we say. Yet, both speak more loudly than the others alone.

Prayerfully yours, always,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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.”