The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 2:1-11, “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.
2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”

The above eleven verses of Scripture contain all the essential truth needed for every person in the world to come to faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. I remember memorizing these verses when just a child. I do confess that at that time I knew very little of what I know of the LORD Jesus today. Yet, they were filling my mind and heart with truth that one day enabled me to believe and become a child of God.

Today is CHRISTMAS DAY! Throughout the world-at-large, many will be celebrating the birth of the Christ Child. Unfortunately, many more will celebrate without knowing the true value of the celebration for which the eleven verses were originally penned.

True Christian celebration has been hijacked by commercial enterprises. Even some churches, where you would expect to find and hear the message of salvation in Jesus, have abandoned the true message and replaced it with a secular celebration, replete with fun and food and gifts. Even Christ Himself has been largely replaced with Santa Claus, even in good Christian homes.

It is noteworthy that the first declaration of Jesus’ birth came to shepherds keeping watch over their sheep in the fields. Shepherds were on the lower ranks of human society. Perhaps they would more easily accept the greeting of angels regarding
the Christ-child. Subsequently, they left their sheep without protection and raced into the City of Bethlehem. Some things are just more important than others.

How does Jesus rate with you? Have you “left everything” and yielded yourself to Him? If you have, then this Day will exceed all celebratory activities except for Jesus! If you have not yielded yourself to Him, you have no idea how joyously important He is and how He can alter your life direction for eternity with Him!

“This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice
and be glad in it” (Psa. 118:24).

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,

Isaiah 9:6-7, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.”

We are currently in that season of the year when we celebrate the birth of our
LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. Notwithstanding the joy that attends our
celebration, the verses above exalt His person and His work, both of which
result in our salvation and exaltation of Him.

Isaiah looks steadfastly beyond his own time to a time of peace and justice and
everlasting righteousness. Looking at the cruelty of multiple nations of our own
time, it is difficult to grasp the “justice and righteousness” the prophet foretells. Yet, because Isaiah is a God-fearing prophet, we rest patiently and trustingly in the truths he announces. After all, it is the Word of our LORD through one of His foremost prophets. It cannot be without His blessing; and it cannot fail to accomplish what He pleases.

The Child of whom the prophet speaks will be the pillar upon whom the LORD’s government will rest. Every prophecy, therefore, will rest upon the veracity of the Child. His Name is Jesus. True justice and righteousness will then prevail. “The
Zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.”

Therefore, what difficulties do we now face that He cannot erase? We have but to trust Him. “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.”

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,

John 1:14-18, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, “He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'”
16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

Recently, I spent some time listening quite intently to some well-versed quantum theorists discuss and debate aspects of their discipline, with but one, solitary mention of God! What they admittedly did not know about aspects of human mentality, would doubtlessly have been aided had they brought the LORD into
the overall discussion.

While there was no visibly, intentional denial of the LORD, His absence spoke
against the scholars’ belief and trust in Him. Why do men intentionally omit the
LORD Jesus from their discussions? Is He not relevant to all intelligent thought?
His visibility is among us, regardless of our exclusion of Him in our discussions.

Perhaps, too, those items of discussion that elude most of us, would themselves
draw clearly to conclusions, were we to include Him. “Grace and truth” are to be
realized in Jesus, bringing to closure those concepts that without Him belittle our
claims of intelligence.

How often have we longed to know answers to complex, human dilemma? Yet,
when we brought our “unknowns” to Him, we surprised ourselves with the utter
simplicity of them. “…the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father,
He has explained Him.” Listen and absorb the unknowns of men, but come to
the LORD Almighty for the full and truthful answers.

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,

John 1:1-13, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

The LORD is amazing in how He works! What’s more, He is amazing in that He gives us the opportunity to know Him and become one of His children! This is the CHRISTmas Season and virtually everyone is wrapped up in the celebration. Yet, with all of that, many who celebrate have no knowledge of what or whom they celebrate!

The Scripture written above tells us that the LORD Jesus is the focus of true celebration! It is as easy for anyone to trust Jesus Christ as his own LORD and Savior as it is to celebrate the Christmas Season. It’s simply a matter of truly asking the LORD’s forgiveness for the sin you have committed.

If you were to knock on my front door, it would be that you want me to open the door for you. When the LORD knocks on the door of your life, it is His desire to enter your life and become your LORD and Savior! Jesus coming was essentially for you. It is safe to say that were you the only person in the world, the LORD Jesus would still have given His life on the cross for you! He did all the “hard work”; it’s now for you to surrender your life to Him.

He is the Light, who has come into this sin-darkened world. It was so that He might give His Life in sacrifice for you. Have you ever asked yourself, “Why did Jesus come and die anyway?” John tells us that Jesus came “so that all might believe through Him.” It is theoretically possible for all individuals to believe in Jesus and be saved. Isn’t that what John says, “…so that all might believe…”? What a CHRISTmas is instore for you when who learn its true meaning!

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,

Luke 1:24-33, “After these days Elizabeth, (Zacharias’) wife, became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,
25 “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

It may not be unusual today for two women, who were both friends and relatives, to have children about the same time. Elizabeth was the wife of Zacharias, who was the LORD’s priest in those days. Mary, was the wife (to be) of Joseph, whom we will ultimately discover to be a carpenter. Elizabeth’s child was named “John” by the LORD. Mary’s child was named “Jesus,” also by the LORD.

Both women and each of their husbands were dedicated to the LORD. God doesn’t bless women with godly husbands, unless they are of the LORD, too. Nor does He bless either, who have failed to yield themselves to the LORD and His values. Elizabeth and Mary were both dedicated to the LORD.

The fruit of their wombs were John the Baptist (via Elizabeth) and the LORD Jesus Christ (via Mary). It was John the Baptist (literally, John the baptizing one) whom the LORD moved to introduce John the Baptist. Subsequently, it was Jesus, whom John introduced to the world as the Savior!

The entirety of this fascinating account will not be told outside of Heaven! Sufficient to say, if women want their children to be godly, they must lead others to faith in Jesus Christ, they must marry godly, Christian partners. Yet, that being said, there is no substitute for the purity of either. Each may be pure and clean; yet, they have no rights beyond what the Father will allow.

Read the passage quoted above; then read the entire passage from the Bible
Itself. Read it slowly; read it meaningfully. Now, trust in Him completely! He will
bring blessing to your heart and life. Just think: This could be your best
CHRISTmas ever!

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