The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 12:9-21, “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.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.
20 “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

One of the most difficult achievements in life is getting along with other
people. Pastors, close friends, counselors, psychologists, even psychiatrists
are often earnestly sought for their answers to getting along with other people.

After seeking answers from trusted friends and “professionals,” many
simply give up trying. “There’s no way on earth to get along with her
(or him)! There is no hope! She (he) is simply incorrigible!” But, is that
true? Or is there not a better way to maintain (or remake) a friendship?

Paul commences his response to this dilemma with an emphasis on love.
Don’t respond insincerely. Don’t be hypocritical! Be loving.

I once witnessed an intense accusation against a formidible opponent.
When he replied, he began by thanking his accuser for the opportunity to
respond to such a difficult question. His accuser was clearly not expecting
such a warm reply, and was thrown off balance. The argument was over.

Yes, it’s true! Some people just resist all compatibility. They’re just “spoiling
for a fight,” no matter how congenially they are befriended. Yet, there is never
a time for a true believer to engage in a hostile exchange with anyone. We
must learn to smile, quote words of love from Jesus, as we express and
expound love toward an adversary.

Unfortunately, it is true that there are some people with whom we will never
be able to get along. What then are we to do? “Leave room for the wrath of
God.” They will either come to understand and embrace His Grace, or He
will engulf them with His wrath. Just be sure you get out of His way!

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 24:19-26, “Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked;
20 For there will be no future for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; do not associate with those who are given to change,
22 For their calamity will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin that comes from both of them?
23 These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 He who says to the wicked, ‘You are righteous,’ peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him;
25 But to those who rebuke the wicked will be delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.
26 He kisses the lips who gives a right answer.”

Life itself is filled with difficulties. We all need and desire food for human sustenance. We all want and need freedom from excessive weather, whether heat or cold. Yet, beyond clothing and the basics, we need safety and protection from evil people who would do us harm.

At the same time, we are not to be biased regarding the needs of others. Even those,
who despise us because of the moral and spiritual positions we take –even they have needs; and if we have the capacity to meet their needs, we should do so. After all, the
LORD has provided sufficiently for us; why should we not share with others what has been provided for us?

This and much more should remind us of Jesus’ words,

“To you it has been granted to know the mysteries
of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not
been granted.
“For whoever has, to him more shall be given,
and he will have an abundance; but whoever
does not have, even what he has shall be taken
away from him” (Mat. 13:11-12).

Therefore, let us, who have been blessed with much, give to them who
have greater needs. And let us do it with love and great thanksgiving!

Further, the Bible says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with
those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be
haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own
estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right
in the sight of all men” (Rom. 12:15-17).

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 3:1-8, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
3 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.”

There’s a verse in this passage that reminds me of my youth. It’s verse one.
I cannot recall a time when my mother sent me to the store without repeating
the phrase, “…don’t forget…” Why would she use a negative phrase instead
of saying, “Now, remember what you’re going to get”? Perhaps little boys are
prone to remember the negatives and forget the positives!

Solomon’s wisdom is not to be taken lightly, either. “Keep my commandments”
equals out to “obey His law.” If man’s law is fair, just and beneficial, it is because
it derives from God’s law. When we live in obedience, we have no fear of things
harming us because we are living under the ultimate protection of the LORD.

When we live as the LORD directs, we have no reason to fear what anyone
thinks or says. Our speech, too, lies under the blanket of His protection. And
when we believe that, we soon discover that true life comes from His peace.

Sometimes the bodily ills that we experience come from our failure to follow
His teachings in Scripture. I hope you know Him! If you do, you will understand
your need to trust Him. If you do not know Him, you can know Him by confessing
your sin and asking His forgiveness.

The kippot (skull cap) that Jewish men (and some women) wear is their means of reverencing the LORD. Born-again believers in Jesus should always live reverently
before the LORD. He is our life, and we are to live reverently (“in fear”) before Him.
If our trust is firmly fixed in Him, our lives will demonstrate that trust. We will always
be living with the awareness that He is beholding all that we are and do.

Are you a true, born-again believer in Jesus? Have you confessed your sins
to Him and asked His forgiveness? When you trust the LORD as your Savior, He manifests Himself in everything you do and say. He then becomes your Spiritual Parent, leading and teaching you throughout all you life. There is no other way!

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,

Genesis 20:1-7, “Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he sojourned in Gerar.
2 Abraham said of Sarah his wife, ‘She is my sister.’ So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, ‘Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married.’
4 Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, ‘Lord, will You slay a nation, even though blameless?
5 ‘Did he not himself say to me, “She is my sister”? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.”
6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.
7 “Now therefore, restore the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

Do you believe in prayer? I mean really believe! I’m not talking about the kind of prayer we pray when we’re facing something minor. Nor am I thinking of prayer even when a loved one is seriously ill. I’m thinking of the kind of prayer when we’re wanting something, not knowing it to be outside of the absolute will of God.

Abraham faced a similar situation. His was potentially hazardous –life threatening, in fact! Nor was it lessened by the fact that Abimelech faced it, too. It all occurred due to the standards of marriage in Old Testament days. Sarah was Abraham’s wife. She was also his half-sister. They shared the same father, but their mothers were different.

It would not have been out-of-character for Abimelech to have taken Sarah as his wife. Abraham, on the other hand, was more fearful of being killed by Abimelech.

Everything eventually came good, as the LORD revealed to Abimelech in a dream that Sarah was indeed Abraham’s wife. When everything came to light, Abimelech feared the LORD more than Abraham did. Moreover, Abimelech (I’m sure he was sweating!) then gave Abraham 1000 pieces of silver along with the freedom to travel wherever he wished in his kingdom. (Just get out! –and take that beautiful woman with you!)

Serious prayer on our part will ultimately result in our doing the LORD’s will! There are so many things that trouble us –things that must be trivial to Almighty God. So, just
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

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 Timothy 2:1-6, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions
and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet
life in all godliness and dignity.
3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”

The media today is literally so filled with troubling news that it is difficult to absorb
and live “a tranquil and quiet life.” Nevertheless, we are commissioned to overcome
such difficulties, using sincere “prayers, petitions and thanksgivings.”

Too often, however, we succumb to cramming our minds with everything except “prayers, petitions and thanksgivings.” We sometimes wonder how we can be
thankful for life that is so encumbered with such austere circumstances. Still, it is
the LORD’s directive; therefore, we must view it as important and attainable.

Admittedly, it is difficult to pray for anyone whose life and purpose are diametrically opposed to what our LORD desires. Yet, as we think more clearly, we know without
a doubt that we belong to Him, Who is Self-enabled to right all the wrongs that occur
–even in high places. Such is “good and acceptable” for us, as it is from the LORD.

Perhaps He is testing our faith, as with the shepherd-boy, David, who faithfully faced
the giant Goliath. Nothing was more out-of-sight than victory in that situation. Still,
when the shepherd did his thing, Goliath fell dead at his feet. Victory is ours by the
hand of Almighty God. We have but to pray and believe! Are these a part of your life?

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