The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 5:43-48, “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’

44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

48 “Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

With the plethora of comments regarding the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, the ire has been raised considerably against some very vocal educators who dared to publicly denounce Kirk as if he were some sort of purveyor of evil.

I never met Charlie Kirk. What I witnessed of his ministry to students, however, was nothing short of unique! What some of the students advocated, I found astoundingly idiotic. Nevertheless, each one of them was graciously received with kindness, grace, and love.

Our LORD Jesus Christ instructed His followers: “…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…,” whether or not their harsh, thoughtless words were intended to embarrass you and impress those standing nearby.

The love that Jesus proposed we use in such situations was wrapped in pure kindness. It offered the type of words that, in themselves, would leave all hearers wondering what manner of person would risk showering such a hostile congregation with intelligent kindness and love. May our LORD impress upon each of us how we should live and appropriately respond in love to the unkindness of others.

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

Dear Grands,

John 8:25-32, “So they were saying to Him, ‘Who are You?’ Jesus said to them, ‘What have I been saying to you from the beginning?’

26 “I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.”

27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.

28 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

29 “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”

30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.

31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

There’s an old saying, attributed to author Mark Twain, that says, “Always tell the truth, and you won’t have to remember anything.”

Somewhat earlier in the Scripture cited above, the LORD Jesus was engaging with the Pharisees regarding a woman accused of committing adultery. The Scribes and Pharisees wanted the woman to be stoned, according to the law. But Jesus knew the motives of the woman’s accusers; and it was on this very occasion that He stooped and wrote on the ground: “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Even further, He said, “…’you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (v. 32).

Jesus always emphasized truth! Yes, the woman’s accusers were emphasizing truth when they cited the Law; yet, it was truth that supported her accusers’ contention that she should be stoned to death. Isn’t it strange how they (and sometimes we) manipulate the Scripture into saying what suits the accuser, rather than citing things clearly and accurately and allowing Him to apply it? Jesus is the Truth (v. 36)! He’s the One we need to consider when we’re so quick to cite the wrong in other people’s lives. Let’s all just admit that we’re also guilty and ask our LORD’s forgiveness. Then, we “…will know the truth, and the truth will make [us] free.”

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

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 2:8-13, “But one has testified somewhere, saying, ‘WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?

7 ‘YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET.’” For in subjecting all things to Him, He left nothing that is not subject to Him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to Him.

9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 saying, “I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.”

13 And again, “I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.” And again, “BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.”

Paul, whom I earnestly believe to be the author of this Epistle to the Hebrews, gives decided emphasis to our LORD Jesus Christ. He honors Christ, indicating that for a short time (three and one-half years) Jesus lived on the earth as “a little lower than the angels…”

In John 17:10, the apostle John cites somewhat the same declaration when he records the words of Christ Jesus who responded to the Father, saying: “…all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them.”

At the same time, there is a sense in which all that the LORD has given to us has been given that He might be glorified in and through us. Shamefully, we assess what He has given to us as being for our glory, when they are merely “loaned” to us that He might be glorified in how we use them. The Father was glorified through His Son; now the Son is to be glorified through us. We have a tremendous responsibility for which one day we will be held accountable.

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

Dear Grands,

2 Peter 1:2-8, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,

7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

There is just nothing that compares with the grace and peace that comes from our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter emphasizes this by saying that grace and peace are “multiplied” to us by the Lord Himself.

Certainly, there are times when we are saddened by the negative circumstances of life. We then cry, “Oh, Lord, why?” It is not always best that He respond so quickly to us; certainly not in the manner in which we often reach out to Him. We sense the urgency of His presence and need for His comfort; but in the end, we learn that what we thought was tardiness on His part was clearly to our advantage.

Our hurriedness is often to our own disadvantage. The Lord is never late in His distribution of love and comfort. Our eagerness is more often to our own hurt. Sixteen times, from the book of Matthew to the books of Peter, the Scripture urges us to be patient. Impatience is a sign of human doubt. It is, in fact, a question of whether the Lord will at all respond. Doubt is always a negative display. We are to believe in Him! Belief is always the display of trust!

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

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 3:13-24, “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.

19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, by understanding He established the heavens.

20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up and the skies drip with dew.

21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight; keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22 so they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.

23 Then you will walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble.

24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”

Those who have read of Solomon in the Scriptures are well aware of his intelligence and his acquisition of immense personal wealth. Yet, his words in this passage inform us that wisdom is the principal factor, and he would have others acquire it rather than riches. He allows that there is profit in silver and gold, yet he argues that wisdom is far more precious.

Solomon speaks of the value of long life; yet without the adornment of knowledge and wisdom, even the extension of life is lacking in true value. He personalizes life, identifying it as feminine. He clothes wisdom in fine jewels and sees her hand clasping riches and honor. Wisdom is pleasant and overflows in peace.

Wisdom lies in the hand of the LORD. It is His foundation upon which the earth rests. Understanding was also embedded in His plan for the earth. By divine knowledge, the LORD brought forth water from the depths of the earth, and the skies shared with the earth her abundance of rain.

Solomon admonishes his audience to retain his words. His promise is that the words will be life to men’s souls, and such will be beneficial to those who hear and obey them. Whether one be alert and awake or asleep and at rest, these principles of wisdom will serve them abundantly well. Be encouraged, therefore, to seek only that which the LORD has provided. Only His provisions will be beneficial. The LORD does all things exceedingly well!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all that we need,

until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom