The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 1:3-10, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;

7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;

9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;

10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us…”

If you have ever been a patient in a hospital – or visited a patient there — you have had a “front row seat” for beholding what we call “suffering.” Paul speaks of human suffering in order that we may understand that Christ Himself suffered for us. In His suffering and in His death, He became our hope for life here and in eternity. It is He who delivers us from the peril of death. And noting our deliverance, others take heed that He is able to deliver them as well.

Paul had within himself the “peril of death”; yet he knew without a doubt that the LORD who conquered death was able and willing to rescue His people. Therefore, we must forsake all negative thoughts and concentrate on what He has given us to do here on earth. Our confidence in Him and His ability to deliver us will serve to build confidence in others. In that way alone, we are serving Him as we serve those who need hope. Are you one of His children? If so, are you abiding by His plan for your life? I pray that you are!

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,

1 Corinthians 6:12-14, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

13 Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.

14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.”

1 Corinthians 6:18-20, “Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.

19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body.”

In case you haven’t noticed (and I speak this to our shame), Christianity, as it is often practiced by those claiming to be Christians, is not immune from their immoral behavior. The ancient city of Corinth was, in its time, known as one of the most degenerate cities of the ancient world. Therefore, the Church has always needed this solemn Pauline warning.

The one who is fully committed to Jesus Christ should, therefore, always “be to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:12). Our language, including our humor, should always be of the highest caliber. Yes, I am aware that some of the rawest, unacceptable “humor” seems hilarious to the ears of even some believers. And it’s at that precise moment the believer needs to withdraw from such a group.

“But, they’re my friends,” someone professes. If they are, and if your spiritual stand is as well-known to them as it ought to be, they will respect you for your withdrawal. We grow spiritually through what we absorb from Scripture, but also through what we refuse of the world’s ungodly delights. Such withdrawal is itself a strengthening of our spiritual lives. May the Smile of God be an enrichment to us, and an example to all around us. May our blessed LORD strengthen our readiness to one day hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…”

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,

Romans 15:1-7, “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.

2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.

3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.’

4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,

6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.”

Immediately prior to penning these seven verses, Paul set forth some directives requiring his readers to adhere to the spiritual, civil, and moral aspects of their lives. All sermons (whether delivered orally, as from a pulpit, or written, as in a letter) should not include only the richness of the passage but ought equally to stress the practical application in the lives of the hearers.

Paul emphasizes the responsibility we Christians have in “bearing the weaknesses” of those who lack the strength to fully obey the admonitions of Scripture. We are to help and encourage others to follow the teachings of Scripture just as we were encouraged to do when we were young in the faith.

As with all who pursue the study of language, mathematics, or science, they need help and encouragement; so also do those who are young in spiritual things. We must be patient, so as not to discourage or stifle the mental and/or spiritual progress of others. We would do well to remember how others encouraged us.

Above all, we must remember to pray for the LORD’s guidance in all our lives.

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 20:21-28, “So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 26 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

Following Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, He was preparing for His return to the Father in Heaven. All of the disciples were present, except for Thomas. Jesus would not leave His disciples without the spiritual guidance they would need to continue His work on the earth. The guidance He had always given them would now be left to the control of the Holy Spirit. So, when Thomas returned to the group, they shared with him that they had seen the LORD. Still, Thomas would not believe until Jesus revealed Himself to him. Thomas’s response was then exuberant: “My LORD and my God!”

If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and LORD, His Holy Spirit resides within you. He is then your comforter and guide. If you have not received the LORD Jesus, you are without the help you sorely need. Trust Him today! There’s no friend like Jesus!

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,

Luke 24:1-9. “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; 5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6 “He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” 8 And they remembered His words, 9 and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.”

I risk a lot with some when I say that “You can always count on the women!” Still, throughout the Scriptures, the truth of that statement is born out well. They brought spices not only to mask a possible stench but to honor their LORD Jesus Christ.

They were curious, entering the tomb to inspect the body of Jesus. Yet, were they ever surprised! He was not there! Yes, He had risen from the dead! And those “men,” who stood nearby in dazzling attire, asked, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?” We would do well to ponder the answer to that more often than we do.

The most invaluable aspect of Jesus’ life was His resurrection from the dead! Do we not realize that He can do anything that agrees with the will of our Heavenly Father? What needs do we have? None that He cannot fill, so long as they, too, comply with the will of our Father in Heaven. How blessed we are! May we value Him far above what little we understand from the Scriptures! Yes, praise the LORD!

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