The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Haggai 1:6-9, “You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.”
7 Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways!
8 “Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the LORD.
9 “You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?” declares the LORD of hosts, “Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house.

Sometimes the Old Testament seems difficult to understand when viewed in the context of our own time. Take these verses listed above. They seem absolutely foreign in many ways; yet, if we pause and think carefully, we can see a clear parallel between the days of Haggai and our own time.

It was a time of economic decline. Those who had work received wages, but they were so meagre it was as if they had tossed the coins into a rabbit hole. Could the root of the problem possibly lie somewhere else? Indeed, it could! In fact, it does!

“Consider your ways!” said the LORD. The people had neglected the LORD’s House! Translating that into our time and allowing somewhat the same circumstances, we have grossly neglected the will of the LORD for our lives. It’s not today’s church buildings that concerns the LORD; it’s the our lack of spiritual focus on those around us. It’s our failure to speak to our neighbors and those we meet incidentally in stores as we shop.

Initially, we witness via our attitude toward others. Some we just encounter in our day-by-day “explorations.” It’s stopping someone walking a dog through our neighborhood. It’s returning a wave with a big smile to someone who has waved at us. It’s saying “Hi!” with a smile to some kids riding their bikes up and down the street.

It’s showing genuine sympathy when someone is moving away from the area, or when a family’s in sorrow over losing a loved one. It’s all part of our showing the love of Jesus Christ to those around us.

Of course, it’s even more than all of that. “Building” the LORD’s House is quite different from giving to the Church’s building fund. The real Church is not where people gather to worship. The real Church is the people, who are gathered to worship the LORD.

Although Haggai was looking for a material building where the LORD lived in his day, worship goes much further for us. Reading the Bible is worship. Prayer is worship. Singing is worship. If Christ lives in us, it will be believed when people see that we love them, and want them to know and love Him!

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 37:12-17, “The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at him, for He sees his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow to cast down the afflicted and the needy, to slay those who are upright in conduct.
15 Their sword will enter their own heart, and their bows will be broken.
16 Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD sustains the righteous.

So much evil prevails in the days in which we live! The psalmist
sees our days just as he saw his own. We live in days that excuse
the evil and chastise the good. Those who have done evil, act as if they have done no wrong. Instead, they openly behave as if the wrong exists within those who are good.

Unfortunately, we live in an era that overlooks the way of the transgressor and lays all blame upon those who do good. The Word clearly states that it is the “wicked (who) have drawn the sword and bent the bow…” intending “to slay those who are upright in conduct” (Psa. 37:14).

The Word of the LORD says that for those who live and behave wickedly, their only hope is to repent of their sin and trust the LORD Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Otherwise, the “arms of the wicked will be broken” as “the LORD sustains the righteous.”

“Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand all things. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked, though he be rich (Prov. 28:5-6).

“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil…out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart” (Lk. 6:45).

“But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the
things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from
whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which areable to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:13-15).

May the LORD preserve us and maintain our nation on the right
course; and may we be led to pray for those upon whose hearts
and lives the preservation of our blessed nation depends!

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 37:4-11, “Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.”

Have you ever honestly felt the need for encouragement? Things just seem to go wrong and there’s no easy way to make them right. You could ask your best friends to help; but they face the same dilemmas you face. Where can we (oh, I’m in this, too!) find help?

Clearly, true and honest help begins when we delight outselves in
the LORD. I have never been one to allow discouragement. I do not mean that discouragement never steps on my welcome mat; what I mean is that I’m not easily discouraged.

But, in those few times when I am assailed with things that seek to bring me down, I look to the LORD and rest in His Word! I delight in Him, and I refuse to give in to discouragement! Of course, negative things have sought to drown me, just as they have you. Yet, the promises of His Word are that “evildoers will be cut off…, and the wicked…will be no more.”

How are we to realize the downfall of the wicked? It is by trusting the LORD without the slightest of doubt. Oh, yes, Satan will seek to discourage us; but our spiritual affiliation with the LORD Himself will utterly prevail. Trusting and resting in the LORD is the key. It may not appear so, but He is in control; and no one is able to stand against Him!

Earnest prayer and consistent daily Bible study “feed” the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives. Just “trust in Him” and “He will give you the desires of your heart.” I will be praying for you! Please pray
for me, as well.

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,

Deuteronomy 12:20-25, “When the LORD your God extends your border as He has promised you, and you say, ‘I will eat meat,’ because you desire to eat meat, then you may eat meat, whatever you desire.
21 “If the place which the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, then you may slaughter of your herd and flock which the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates whatever you desire.
22 “Just as a gazelle or a deer is eaten, so you will eat it; the unclean and the clean alike may eat of it.
23 “Only be sure not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh.
24 “You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.
25 “You shall not eat it, so that it may be well with you and your sons after you, for you will be doing what is right in the sight of the LORD.’”

These brief, six verses of Moses contain both the permissions and
the prohibitions the LORD was requiring of His people. The verses contain requirements of the moral, civil and ceremonial laws that applied to Israel.

While many of the ancient laws that applied to Israel, do not apply to the Christian faith today, a careful examination of some of the prohibitions reveal the practical value of such for us today. Think, “…be sure not to eat the blood…” (v. 23).

We know that impurities within all bodies (animal & human) carry
diseases harmful to man. Sometimes moral and civil laws clash.
Civil law, for instance, concerns matters of life with respect of personal conduct–how we live or propose to live.

Moral law largely concerns matters more focused on what we believe, from where that belief derives, and how we affiliate with the LORD and with others through daily living.

The “clash” often comes when we feel we have the “right” to do or
say something that conflicts with civil law. For example, we all have the “right” under the law to purchase and own a firearm. The rationale for ownership (the right), however, must be based upon the perception of (moral) need.

Moses was well acquainted with the attitudes and actions of his
people. After all, he ultimately accumulated 40 years as their leader. While it is true that we now live under “grace,” it is also true
that we continue to live under some “law.” The right and wrong of how we live is rooted within the Scriptures. Prohibition and permission still remain viable. If we trust and live for Jesus Christ we will not need to worry about any heavenly arrests.

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 27:2, Isaac did “not know the day of (his own) death.”
Genesis 28:16, Jacob awoke from sleep and said, ”Surely the
LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.”
Exodus 1:8, “…a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know
Joseph.”
Exodus 5:2, Egypt’s Pharaoh said, “I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”
Exodus 34:29, “Moses “did not know that the skin of his face shone
because of his speaking with Him.”

There are over 270 verses in both the Old and New Testaments that contain the words “not know.” None of the verses relate to the LORD, as He knows everything –even prior to its happening. Thus, when I learned how many “don’t knows” there were in Scripture, I was no longer embarrassed to say, “I’m sorry, but I don’t know the answer to that.” On certain occasions, I’ve added, “but I will be happy to research it and get back to you.”

But why am I saying all of this? It’s because one of the foremost
“reasons” believers don’t witness is because they’re afraid they’ll
be asked something they “don’t know.” And to “not know” means
embarrassment. Not at all!

No individual knows everything, whether he knows it or not. The
discovery of something you don’t know provides the incentive to
diligently seek the answer. You can ask someone you think might
know; seek the answer in a reliable book; or ask someone who’s
responsible to know. Of course, the answer to spiritual questions are to be found in the Bible.

Just don’t despair. There’s an answer to every sincere question that the LORD wants us to know. Spiritual answers are found in His Spiritual Book, the Bible! Keep reading! Many of the questions
come to mind as we read and do so prayerfully. I will be praying for you; you pray for me, please.

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