The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Malachi 1:1-5, “The oracle of the Word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi.

2 ‘I have loved you,’ says the LORD. But you say, “How hast Thou loved us?” ‘Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?’ declares the LORD. ‘Yet I have loved Jacob;

3 but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation, and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.’

4 Though Edom says, ‘We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins’; thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the wicked territory, and the people toward whom the LORD is indignant forever.’

5 ‘And your eyes will see this and you will say, “The LORD be magnified beyond the border of Israel!”’

“Malachi is the unknown prophet with the angelic name,” says Robert Lee, author of The Outlined Bible. Malachi simply means “Messenger,” and is utilized much like the president of a country in that he is known and greeted solely by his title, such as, “Mr. President.”

In chapters one and two, the “Messenger” earnestly and kindly protests the actions and attitudes of the people. He does this as a Message of Love (1:1-5), along with a message of loving rebuke in verses 1:6 through 2:17. The author then concludes his remarks with a message of hope.

The LORD is thoroughly involved in this entire process and can be seen as the loving “Parent,” who rebukes His child, as with those who were inappropriately involved. Then, appropriately, He expresses His overwhelming love. Beyond this, He issues a Message of sincere Hope (3:1-4:6), which, hopefully, encourages us as it encouraged them.

The true message then is: live closely to the LORD. Live daily in His Word.

Trust always His direction. He wants the best for us more than we do.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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,

Zechariah 8:4-8, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of age.

5 ‘And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.’

6 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘If it is too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be too difficult in My sight?’ declares the LORD of hosts.

7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west;

8 and I will bring them back, and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem, and they will be My people and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.’”

Zechariah was a contemporary of the prophet Haggai. In reality, he was the prophet of Restoration and Glory. It is believed that his father died in his infancy and that the boy Zechariah was then reared by his grandfather Iddo.

The Book of Zechariah is comprised of five distinct messages. The first is an earnest call to repentance. The second speaks of both material and spiritual prosperity. The third speaks of the destruction of the Temple, while the fourth and fifth messages speak of things yet to be fulfilled in our time.

The “messages” that are well wrapped in this book are an encouragement of faith to us.

Zechariah’s people had their problems, just as we do. Yet, those who looked faithfully to the LORD learned that the life of faith and the exercise of faithfulness are both profitable.

We are taught in this small book that not everything we desire will be fulfilled. At the same time, a sure and certain instance encourages us to keep on keeping on, knowing that the LORD will bring to pass everything that is good for those who seek it!

“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.

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,

Haggai 2:5-9, “’As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!’ 6 ‘For thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land. 7 ‘And I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations; and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts. 8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ declares the LORD of hosts. 9 ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘and in this place I shall give peace,’ declares the LORD of hosts.”

The verses above will undoubtedly seem strange to the ears of a 21st-century reader; but the House of the LORD had fallen into disrepair. Still, the LORD promises that it will not be long before His House will be rebuilt with greater glory than previously.

Sometimes we have concern for the building or repairing the LORD’s House when those costs fall upon us. In the passage above, however, the LORD promises that everything needed for the rebuilding is already in His hands. We’re just to believe!

Stories of such can be retold multiple times. As a young boy, I remember conversations among the adults in our church regarding the lack of funds to repair an area of our church building. Then, out of the blue, comes a distant relative of one of the members. Nothing was said to him about the need; yet, when he left the area, he left behind an offering that amounted to exactly the cost for those needed repairs.

The occurrence of things like this built within me the confidence that I would need when, in several years, He would call me into His full-time ministry. That has been nearly 70 years ago, and He has never failed to provide whatever was needed. What’s more, He never will! We simply have to trust Him day by day! He holds everything in His hands!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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,

Zephaniah 1:7-13, “Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the LORD is near, for the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests.

8 “Then it will come about on the day of the LORD’s sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, the king’s sons, and all who clothe themselves with foreign garments.

9 “And I will punish on that day all who leap on the temple threshold, who fill the house of their lord with violence and deceit.”

10 “And on that day,” declares the LORD, “there will be the sound of a cry from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills.”

11 “Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar, for all the people of Canaan will be silenced; all who weigh out silver will be cut off.

12 “And it will come about at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are stagnant in spirit, who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good or evil!’

13 “Moreover, their wealth will become plunder, and their houses desolate; yes, they will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but not drink their wine.”

These are but a few of the tumultuous words spoken by the prophet Zephaniah. Things are what they are now, but in the days ahead, things will be different. While there is a jealousy “which must never be associated with God…, there is a jealousy which is the natural outcome of His love.” And it is this latter jealousy that we must associate with God. All that He performs is for the good of those who love and follow Him! Are you loving and following Him?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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,

Habakkuk 1:2-11, “How long, O LORD, will I call for help, and Thou wilt not hear? I cry out to Thee, ‘Violence!’ Yet Thou dost not save.

3 Why dost Thou make me see iniquity, and cause me to look on wickedness? Yes, destruction and violence are before me; strife exists and contention arises.

4 Therefore, the law is ignored and justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted.

5 “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days—you would not believe if you were told.

6 “For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that fierce and impetuous people who march throughout the earth to seize dwelling places which are not theirs.

7 “They are dreaded and feared. Their justice and authority originate with themselves…

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9 “All of them come for violence… They collect captives like sand.

10 “They mock at kings, and rulers are a laughing matter to them. They laugh at every fortress, and heap up rubble to capture it.

11 “Then they will sweep through like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, they whose strength is their god.”

How often have you observed wrong being tolerated by society? Authorities know, but nothing is being done to prevent it! This is the cry of Habakkuk. He sees wrong being ignored, just as we observe it in our time. People are laughing at the authorities! What’s to be done? Something will be! Habakkuk says, “…they will be held guilty, they whose strength is their god.”

How often we observe the same in our time! We must do what we can, yet we must ultimately trust the LORD to control every situation. Prayer is always vital!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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