The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Exodus 18:21-23, “Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.
22 “Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.
23 “If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.”

Talk about an Old Testament directive that would almost rival the directive of the New Testament! Read the entire 18th chapter of Exodus! Moses was literally wearing himself out, as he sought to judge between the people who came before him, sharing their conflicts with others.

Jethro, Moses’ father-in- law, gave Moses some “fatherly advice,” saying put others in charge of judging the lesser things, and reserve for your judgment things of greater value or significance. It worked something like our judicial system’s higher courts.

Such advice is applicable to virtually any and every entanglement between human parties, regardless of the subject-matter involved. No one can assess everything and do it correctly! That’s precisely why we have various courts at various levels. There are those who are virtually incapable of greater assessment matters, and there are those, who are not capable of such. That’s precisely why some men today look to their wives to assess and assign particular responsibilities to their children.

The lack of discipline is the sure demise of every family in every country in the world-at-large. Honesty and truthfulness at every level are essential for all legal-loving people. And the fruit of such countries is rooted in honest and truthful citizens. We know what we want to see in others, but has it dawned upon us that others want to see the same in us?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

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

Dear Grands,

Genesis 3:1-7, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Indeed, has God said, “You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, ‘From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;
3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, “You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.”
4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!
5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

“Blind and Responsible” could well be the title of any discourse related to Adam and Eve. There’s just no way that anyone could hold another responsible for the couple’s dilemma except the couple themselves!

Look at the Garden in all of its splendor! Listen to the initial sound of the LORD’s Voice! The Earth’s first couple had everything for which anyone could wish! They learned everything –everything they needed to know—and from the One who created it all!

The Tree was “good for food! It was a facinating delight to their eyes! Additionally, it was desirable to “make one wise.” How could anyone know all of this and not possess the desire to test its delicacies? But, when they did – the invasion of thundering truth settled upon them. Sin had caused the utmost of all dilemma!

Remember the little children’s song that said,

Be careful little eyes what you see;
Be careful little eyes what you see;
For the Father up Above
Is looking down in Love,
Becareful little eyes what you see.

What God intended for man’s good, Satan intended for man’s destruction.
Neither of them have changed sides. Whatever you do, be careful to engage only the LORD and His plans!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

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

Dear Grands,

Genesis 2:19-24, “Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.
20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.
21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.
22 The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.
23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”

Today is designated “Father’s Day.” According to my references, this day is celebrated in more than 50 countires of the world. It’s a worthy designation and should be viewed as such, especially where we fathers lovingly fulfill the role.

One of the outstanding fathers listed in the Scriptures is Abram. His name means “exalted father.” Subsequently, the LORD changed Abram’s name to Abraham, which means “father of a multitude.”

According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, Abram “sojourned among his kindred in his native country of Chaldea…where he abode fifteen years.” Thereafter, the LORD called him to be the father of many nations; thus, his name was changed to “Abraham.”

We often alter the names of those we consider close friends. What we are tagged with, however, is usually related to how we behave or to the designation of the job to which we have been assigned. Responsibilites often produce name changes. Yet, these can be “good” or “bad.”

Do you possess a “nickname”? Is it one that rates well with you? If not, why not alter your ways in order that others might be compelled to change that name? The word “son” is often used by the man who is the boy’s true, physical son. “Stupid” (or a like name) is never a welcome designation.

Live up to your good name! It honors you; it honors your true father; and if you are a “born-again” believer, it honors the LORD.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

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

Dear Grands,

Jeremiah 50:14-16, “Draw up your battle lines against Babylon on every side, all you who bend the bow; shoot at her, do not be sparing with your arrows, for she has sinned against the LORD.
15 “Raise your battle cry against her on every side! She has given herself up, her pillars have fallen, her walls have been torn down. For this is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance on her; as she has done to others, so do to her.
16 “Cut off the sower from Babylon and the one who wields the sickle at the time of harvest; from before the sword of the oppressor they will each turn back to his own people and they will each flee to his own land.”

These are strong words that the prophet Jeremiah issued against Babylon. When any nation is fighting against an adversary, it is vitally important that it be amply prepared physically — especially morally! Knowing that one is on the LORD’s side should be of primary importance.

All of the above goes for us today, too. If we are morally and spiritually right with the LORD, we should do well. If we are not – well, we just must be or we will find ourselves to be adversaries! We are not to surrender when we are in the right. How we “handle” our adversaries, however, just might go further for us.

Institutions, although they are guided by individuals, fall into a different category than the individuals, who direct them. One may not like a particular institution; still, that is different than disliking the Principal or President who guides the institution.

Above all, make certain that the organization (or the person whom you oppose) is in opposition to the LORD. Think, for example, of young David as he faced Goliath. It was not so much a personal vendetta against Goliath, as it was against the Philistines whom Goliath represented. So it must be with us in our oppositions against those who stand against the LORD. Perhaps, we should simply stand for Him and allow Him to oppose His own opposition.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

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

Dear Grands,

Numbers 32:17-23, “For we will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east.”
20 So Moses said to them, ‘If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for the war,
21 and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the LORD until He has driven His enemies out from before Him,
22 and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you shall return and be free of obligation toward the LORD and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours for a possession before the LORD.
23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.’”

There’s an old adage that says, “You cannot do wrong and get by.” Somewhere, some time, you will pay a price for the wrong you have done. Strangely enough, with all the criminal activity openly available to the general public, there are still those who believe they can sin and get by.

The problem identified in our Scripture above follows some of Israel’s wilderness wanderings. As we can clearly note, some of the Israelites followed Moses’ instructions; others did not. It’s the same with people today.
Do we really believe that the LORD cannot see us? Do we think He takes no notice of whether we are following Him? In some instances, it would appear that we believe that of Him. Truth be told, He knows it all, even the very least.

Shussh! Don’t let this out, but I had my share of physical punishment when I was a child. I used to think that my mother was the author of the saying, “Spare the rod, spoil the child.” In all fairness, I deserved everything I got from her –except her good, fun-loving qualities! At heart, my mother was a teacher.
And in my boyhood days, that said it all.

Punishment, however, hurts the heart of the punisher. So it is with the LORD.
Only once in Scripture do we have notification of Jesus weeping. It’s the shortest verse in the Bible – just two words. Do you know what those words are? See if you can find them. More importantly, see if you can appropriate them to you life.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

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