The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 32:24-30, “Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him.
26 Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.’ But he said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’
27 So he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob.’
28 He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.’
29 Then Jacob asked him and said, ‘Please tell me your name.’ But he said, ‘Why is it that you ask my name?’ And he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, ‘I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.’”

When was the last time you wrestled? As I thought on that question, I realized that I had wrestled recently with my great-grandsons! Whew! You would be well advised to be prepared to defend yourself. My grands don’t know their own strength! Believe me, age is not a factor, at least as far as they are concerned.

Even more importantly, when was the last time you wrestled with God? You wanted to ask Him in prayer, but knew the virtual impossibility of obtaining what you were asking even before you dared to ask.

Jacob may have physically wrestled with God; I’m not sure about that. What I am
sure of is that God came out the victor! Why didn’t Jacob think of that before he
started wrestling? Why don’t we? We read the Word and the LORD speaks to us
through it. He identifies clearly what it is that He wants from us. We know He’s more powerful! We know He has our best interest at heart! Why do we object?

Human nature wants what human nature wants. Just observe babies. If they’re
pampered and allowed to have their way, they will grow up with the knowledge that they are always right and will, thereafter, always want their own way. I think that’s what happened with Jacob. Ultimately, however, Jacob sought the LORD’s blessing.

I know; it’s what happens to us as well. Maybe you’ve virtually lived and dreamed of becoming a golf pro; but the LORD wants you on the mission field in a foreign country. The question is: “Who knows what is best?” When you admit the LORD
knows best, you surrender to His will. His will is always best! Yield your life to Him!
In the short run –and long run—we always do well when we yield to 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,

Proverbs 3:9-18, “Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD or loathe His reproof,
12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast.”

Would you be surprised if I were to tell you that I’ve always hated “instructions”?
That statement, however, has to be tempered somewhat. There were some things that I knew I did not understand. One always needs instruction about things he
doesn’t understand. What I hated were instructions that required me to do things I didn’t want to do. Oh, so you’ve had instructions like that, too, huh?

The instructions I loved were instructions from Scripture. They taught me things I
did not know, but needed to know –instructions for life! My parents knew the LORD and lived in His Word; therefore, the instructions I learned from them were
what they had learned from Him.

Their instructions to me showed me that the LORD loved me, too. So, I was challenged to become more like Him. Was I always true to what I learned? (I’d like
to skip that question!) No, I was like you: some things I liked and some I did not!
But, the LORD’s Word told me that the instruction my parents gave me, came from Him, so I knew it was good teaching.

When I look at my great-grandchildren (I currently have four!), I want them to receive the same biblical instruction I received. Thus far, they are being taught the same as I was taught. It all originates with the Bible! It’s from God to great-grandparents to grandparents to parents to the rest of us. Just to think how He has equipped us to learn and help others. Praise be to the LORD! And pass us His Instructions!

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,

Proverbs 3:3-8, “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.”

Funny thing how incidents today so often remind us of things of the past. I can recall the names of some who simply could not be trusted with anything. In fact,
if truth hit them smack in the face, they would deny it!

That wasn’t my problem. My problem was forgetting the lies those people told — either to me or simply in my presence. Isn’t it strange how lies will stick in your mind, but the truth won’t? It’s that “sticking” that the LORD requires when He says, “Do not let kindness and truth leave you…” –because when they do, the negatives will rush back in and stick!

Yet, when we consciously dismiss the negatives from our minds, trust in the LORD rushes in like water when it’s released from a dam. From the way the LORD phrases it, trust in Him replaces the negatives with positives, and all becomes well once again.

I’ve experienced all of that, and I imagine you have, too. Our problem is maintaining confidence in His Truth! Yet, once again, the answer comes from Scripture: “Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.”

There’s so much trouble in the world! Focusing on negative things tends to make us part of the problem instead part of the solution. The world has enough problems; it doesn’t need for us to get on its side. Be positive; be pure! Keep your
mind set on the good things in life! Laugh and be joyous! Heaven will be like that!

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 46:1-7, “So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
2 God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob.’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’
3 He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there.
4 “I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes.”
5 Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob and their little ones and their wives in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
6 They took their livestock and their property, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and came to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him:
7 his sons and his grandsons with him, his daughters and his granddaughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.”

We seldom think today of what was in ancient times called “the family leader.”
It used to be that way; but over time, leadership in families fell to those who
either possessed the qualities others did not possess or, were by-passed by for those deemed more capable of leading.

In any event, those who possessed the position or qualifications for family leadership moved ahead, taking along with them those who knew nowhere else to go. Jacob was God’s chosen leader. The LORD called him into that position and the family-multitude followed him.

Leadership in any situation is important! Especially is spiritual leadership of supreme importance. That is precisely why the LORD is the only One competent to appoint it. Here the LORD selected Jacob; and Jacob responded as any truly spiritual individual should. He said, “Here I am.”

Denial of true spiritual leadership is an ipso facto denial of the LORD. Such is extremely dangerous! Those whom the LORD has chosen to lead His people may
not always agree with our thinking; still, the LORD is the Supreme Leader! All responsibility is ultimately His. He knows best; and we, who are His, had best follow Him and the one He has chosen.

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 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