The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Timothy 3:10-15, “Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,

11 persecutions and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!

12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Thus, Paul warned young Timothy, and in that warning, warns us as well. He cites nine specific situations that occurred in his ministry, and through those citations, warns us all of what is coming our way if we decide to follow the LORD Jesus. Christianity is not a bed of roses. It involves persecution! It requires faith, patience, and love.

Paul is not talking about things foreign to himself. He has indeed suffered multiple times and in many ways. He is telling Timothy that he, too, will suffer if he shares as Paul has shared of his faith. Could it be that the thought of suffering is what hinders us from sharing Christ? Perhaps we could start by handing out gospel tracts. People like to receive things. Only once or twice have I had someone refuse to receive a Gospel tract. You may not think of it as witnessing, but it’s a start. The further you go, the harder it becomes. Yet, the greater and easier it becomes. God bless you for being faithful.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

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