The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 1:1-6, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;
5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel,
6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth…”

It’s always good to receive a letter from a friend. But have you ever received a letter from

The Apostle Paul had never visited the Church at Colosse. At the same time, he kept up with what was occurring in the Church and labored fervently to keep it free of things that could not
be celebrated as being within the will of God.

Yet, Paul commends the Colossian Church for her faith. Faith is anchored in the truths of Scripture and centers in the Person of our LORD Jesus Christ. In Him, we also know the firm and steadfast presence of love. There are few places where Christian Love truly reigns today. Of all places, love should exist in every church that celebrates the love of Jesus Christ. That’s one major purpose of the church, and it’s the only place where some people will ever come to
know and experience true love.

Hope for life and for eternity with the LORD Jesus Christ in Heaven can only be found in the church where Christ reigns supremely. How can any group of professing believers claim to possess hope apart from the love of our LORD Jesus Christ?

The church I attend is comprised of a loving congregation. We hear the Gospel faithfully proclaimed every LORD’s Day! We faithfully support our pastors in prayer; and they, in turn, strengthen us through their clear and steadfast ministry. We are a biblical body of kind and faithful believers, just what is needed for a world that is falling apart. Pray for our beloved United States. We have seriously strayed from the Eternal Word of the LORD Jesus Christ!

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,

1 Samuel 2:7-10, “The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts.
8 “He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with nobles, and inherit a seat of honor; for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and He set the world on them.
9 “He keeps the feet of His godly ones, but the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail.
10 “Those who contend with the LORD will be shattered; against them He will thunder in the heavens, the LORD will judge the ends of the earth; and He will give strength to His king, and will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

There are multiple verses in the Bible that tell of the infinite goodness of the LORD. These verses are rich with information concerning His greatness! The LORD also provides in abundance all that a righteous man needs; and He exalts him from his lowliness to the “seat of honor” that He has prepared for him.

These verses of the LORD exist to show care for those who live righteously. Yet those who contend with the LORD will “be shattered.” As with parents, who bear children to love and adore them, the LORD has created all mankind to love and worship Him.

When a child behaves and honors his parents, the LORD will provide everything he needs, often even beyond his desire. If, however, he disobeys his parents’ directives, punishment will ultimately be his reward. It is the parents’ responsibility to train their children in the way of the LORD. Should they fail, the LORD will deal with them as they ought to have dealt with their own children.

Those who “contend with the LORD,” or claim exemption from His authority, will nevertheless, be an object of His displeasure. All mankind belongs to Him as He is the Creator! Our sin requires His forgiveness, just as a child’s disobedience requires reconciliation with his parents.

Have you reconciled with the LORD? Remember that He is the One who is in charge; and reconciliation requires acknowledgement of your sin and your asking His forgiveness. God bless you! May you know the joys of an obedient child.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
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,

1 Corinthians 10:1-13. “For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea;
2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 and all ate the same spiritual food;
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.

5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.
6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.
7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.”
8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.
9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.
10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

When we sin against the LORD after He has saved and blessed us, we deserve His Divine Retribution! Far too often we become “comfortable” doing things He has forbidden. Then, we wonder why He shuts off the flow of His blessing to our lives. Did you miss the part that says: “…these things happened to them as an example…, they were written for our instruction”?

When my mother said, “Boy! You’re going to get it when we get home!” I knew exactly what was coming! I understood her meaning perfectly. What has the LORD said in His Word that we don’t understand? Let’s be honest. We understand; we just think He won’t notice or He won’t remember. Ha! Where would we ever have gotten an idea 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,

Romans 1:14-19, “I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone
who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.”

To most of us Obligation is a two-edged sword. One edge is viewed as positive when it’s in our favor. The other edge is viewed as negative when it’s not. We like it when people are obligated to us, but we’re not as favorable when the obligation cuts the other way. It was always positive, however, with the Apostle Paul. And so should it always be with us.

The Greeks of Paul’s day were sophisticats; the barbarians were the down-and-outers. What they were, however, did not matter to Paul. His message of salvation in Jesus Christ was for everyone. And he was eager to preach the gospel –the good news– to everyone!

I dare say that most –if not all– of us like to receive good news regardless of what it is. And Paul’s good news – what he was “eager to preach”—concerned eternal salvation for everyone who would confess their sins to the LORD Jesus Christ and trust Him to forgive them. Paul was eager to share good news like that, and so should we be.

There is no shame in sharing the Good News of Jesus. People need to know that eternal salvation exists only in the LORD Jesus Himself It does not exist in the membership of any church. When we have accepted Him as our personal Redeemer from sin, and gather together to worship Him, we become His church and learn to live the life of faith.

Are you living the life of faith? Is your trust for eternity solely in Jesus Christ? If it’s not, you need to trust Him today. If your faith is already in Him, then you need to share Him with those who are lost. It will warm your heart when you see people accept Christ as their Savior.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. For your internet friends, use this Gospel tract.

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 12:15-20, “Then He said to them, ‘Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.’
16 And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.
17 “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’”

Sometimes we think that we are too busy to worry about solemn warnings. Sometimes warnings come so carefully clothed that we just glance at them and move quickly on to respond –too quickly!

Greed, however, is often overlooked for what it is. Take for example what I received only this morning on my computer. It was allegedly from a long-time friend, wanting me to do him a
simple favor. It seemed proper, although a bit strange in that what he wanted was for someone else, with apparently no name, no age, or occasion to receive what my “friend” allegedly needed to send her. In short… it was all a scam!

Satan is like that! And although I am not a “rich man,” as the man in our Scripture above, it has
always seemed foolish to me to “tear down” in order to build up. Greed is always foolish, no
matter how much it involves or for whom or what it is intended.

The man in our Scripture passage above was apparently rich in everything except good sense. Tear down in order to build up. (Even as a kid, that didn’t make sense to me!) Eventually, the LORD Himself called the man a “fool.” The man in our passage wasn’t wise as a builder of barns or as a builder of life!

Thousands of “things” are built to attract us as buyers. They’re all over the Internet! But, there is only one thing that is important –only one thing that rescues us from the designation “fool.”
And that is regarding our souls. To whom does your soul belong? Whose is it when you die?
Where will it go? Who will claim it? What will it then be worth?

Jesus said, “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Lk. 12:21). Trust Him today, dear friend; and “do not keep worrying…seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you” (Lk. 12:31).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Only moments prior to sending this Letter this morning, I received an email from some
missionary grandparents, asking prayer for their granddaughter, Joanna. The little girl is
in hospital in Thailand suffering from multiple seizures of an unknown origin. Your prayers
for her will be deeply appreciated.

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