The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Numbers 32:16-23, “Then they came near to him and said, ‘We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones;
17 but we ourselves will be armed ready to go before the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.
18 “We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has possessed his inheritance.
19 “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.’”

These verses do indeed point out clearly that when a nation refuses to follow the LORD’s directive,
there is a price to be paid. Except for Joshua and Caleb, the ten men who comprised Israel, brought
an “evil” report of the land where the LORD had led them. Evidently, they had forgotten that the LORD always does right; He never does wrong. This is the maxim the LORD had given them.

In the instance cited above (Num. 16-23), the LORD “reasoned” with those Israelites, who saw food
and pasture for their stocks in the land before they crossed the Jordan River. Their proposition to Moses was that they would cross the Jordan, fight with their brothers, drive out the inhabitants of the land, and then go back across the Jordan and occupy the abundance of the land for their stock.

The LORD spoke to Moses and allowed what the tribes wanted. The LORD seems always willing to entertain our thoughts, so long as they do not ultimately violate His directive. The tribes were not endeavoring to withdraw from battle, they were simply desirous of occupying land that would care
for their cattle and families. We must never seek to withdraw from the LORD’s directives! Yet, He is
willing to hear what we have to say.

We are like that with our children. I can remember how surprised I was at the wisdom that sometimes came from my children. Go on, admit that it has often come from your children, too!

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 35:9-12, “Then God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and
He blessed him.
10 God said to him, ‘Your name is Jacob; you shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.’ Thus He called him Israel.
11 God also said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come forth from you.’
12 ‘The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and I will give the land to
your descendants after you.’”

If you have any questions or misgivings regarding the current Israeli-Hamos war, the above
verses (esp. v. 12) should clarify which nation is in the right! Furthermore, Biblical history revealed
in Scripture is as sure and reliable as its doctrine. The History of Israel is literally filled with wars.
How could we expect otherwise, since Satan perennially sets Israel’s enemies against her!

Remember the “6 Day War”? We were in Australia when that occurred, and I shall never forget
my conversation with an Aussie soldier. He was fuming and fussing because of his connection
with the Australian military. I remember saying to him, “Don’t worry about this! You’re an
Australian.” His quick and rather terse reply was: “I know that! But, I’m Jewish! I need to be in that fight.”

The biggest requirement for those of us who are not Jewish is to believe that the LORD is with them
in this and every battle, especially battles that concern land the LORD gave to them centuries ago!
Are we so naïve to believe that the LORD has forgotten or rescinded His gift to the Jewish nation?
He has not rescinded His promise to Israel; nor has He rescinded His promise of Eternal Life to those who have trusted Him for salvation!

“The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached
the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED
IN YOU’” (Gal. 3:8).

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,

Romans 12:5-14, “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us
is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence;
he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”

The word “hope” appears only 157 times in the Bible. The word “faith” appears 428 times; but the word “love” appears throughout the Scriptures some 850 or more times! The Greek language contains three or four words that translate as “love”; yet only two New Testament words are
primary: agape and philos, Agape is the primary of the two. We might like (philos) the music that shows worship of the LORD Jesus; but we will surely love (agape) Him even more for who He is:
the Son of the Living God!

Read slowly through the numbered verses above once again and note the contrasts. You might better understand the closeness of the two words in a sentence like this: “I love (agape) my wife and I love (philos) the way she cooks when we entertain company.”

We are taught in Scripture to love the LORD personally and fervently! That’s agape! We might also love the music of the organ as a prelude to the worship service. That’s philos!

Think of these two word meanings when you next use the word “love.” My guess is that you will think
more carefully about how what you “love” and what you only “like.”

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,

Psalm 104:31-35, “Let the glory of the LORD endure forever; Let the LORD be glad in His works;
32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; As for me, I shall be glad in the LORD.
35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth and let the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD!

Some things simply endure forever! Such is the “glory of the LORD”; such is the glory of His works. Even those factors that appear to be a disintegration of His almighty working hand, are, in point of fact, the intentions of the LORD Himself.

It is not in the thought of man that these phenomenal creations of the LORD should ever be anything other than praise to a worshipful Creator. Such requires music of worship and praise. Such also produces meditation and gladness, each of which arises from sincere worship of the LORD.

Acceptable factors in worship arouse a deep and worshipful response from the LORD!
Such is also a signal of pure praise, arising from the deep recesses of the human heart.
Such is that what arises saying, “Bless the LORD, O my soul.” May our truest praise ever be to and
for 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,

Isaiah 55:7-11, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return
to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts
than your thoughts.
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My Word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

With all of the unbelievable wickedness that pervades the world today, the Church of the LORD Jesus Christ
is charged to minister His Word. Be It in the pristine halls we call “church” or beneath the shade of trees in
the highlands of New Gunea, it is ever and always the will of the LORD to show compassion on them as He
has on us. His promise is that “He will abundantly pardon” the acknowledged,sins of repentant mankind.

He allows us a quick glance into His thoughts and ways. They are not our thoughts and ways, yet they can
and will become ours as we become His. The LORD’s certain promise is that the Word that goes forth
out of His mouth will not return to Him without achieving His will. That He allows us to know Him through
the sacrifice of His Beloved Son, Jesus, is beyond our comprehension. Yet, it is true because it originates within
His heart, and is written clearly in His Holy Scriptures.

Take time today to thank the LORD for His saving grace! If you have already confessed your sins to Him and
in faith been forgiven, then you have the wornderful responsibility of sharing Him with those who have yet to
meet Him. If, you have yet to confess your sins and receive His Son, Jesus, as your LORD and Savior, you
are in for the most glorious experience this side of Heaven itself. It’s all a work of faith –faith in Christ Jesus!
He will change your life from inside to outside. And you will be the praise of His glory!

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