The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 15:1-6, “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.”

How well I remember “Sugar Kane!” She was an elderly member of our church and taught us kids what being a Christian was all about. One day in class, she commenced by saying, “Now today, we’re all going to do just as we please.” Wow! There were a lot of us who were thinking what a great day this was going to be! (Yes, I was one of those…)

But, those words had not completed her thought. “Now today, we’re all going to do just as we please, so long as we please to do right.” Gurrr, we all thought. Why did she go and mess things up when we were headed for a really good time? Yes, we knew why. In a sense, she was speaking of the weaknesses of those of us who were wanting only to please ourselves.

The Apostle Paul points out that even Christ Jesus “did not please Himself.” As He went went to the Cross, He was pleasing His Father. How often do we undertake things to please other people? How are we to know what pleases others? or what pleases God?

The Apostle Paul clearly indicates that the Scriptures (Paul’s “Scriptures” were the books of the Old Testament) were “written for our insturction” and for the encouragement of others. What kind of encouragement? Encouragement to agree with others “according to Christ Jesus” (vv. 5-6).

Sometimes in team sports there are those “hot shots,” who try to impress others with
their personal athletic ability, but end up causing the team to lose the game. Sugar Kane knew the ultiment cost if we didn’t all work together. It’s just a factor of life. That’s why Christ wants us to work together with others. Is that what you are doing? Are you
sharing Jesus with others? Are you praying for others? Christianity is more than a sport; but together we will do as He pleases: working together and sharing Him with others. Still, the time is short.

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,

John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The word “love” is certainly not new to our generation. In fact, it is used so often to mean so
many things that it is often difficult to know exactly the intention of the word. We “love” the rain
at the right time of the year; we ”love” the sun when it is a cold day. We “love” tasty foods. We “love” people, some, admittedly, more than others.

It’s even often difficult to know what the Bible mean by the use of the word. Most of us use an
English Bible. There’s a long history of the English Bible; and many deeply committed believers have paid a high price for even possessing one. Long before its translation into English, the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament was written in Greek.

The word “love,” and its related words, such as “loving” and “loved,” is mentioned more than
850 times in our English Bible. The Hebrews and the Greeks themselves had various words, each of which translates as “love” in our English language. The Hebrews were taught to love (????? aheb) their neighbors as themselves (Lev. 19:18). Ethan sings of the LORD’s lovingkindness (????? chesed), (Psa. 89:2). In the New Testament we have ????? phileo (Matt. 23:6); and ????? agape, the highest form of Love (Lk 11:42). There is yet another Greek word for “love”; however, it speaks of things so vile, that it is intentionally omitted from the Greek New Testament.

It is the agape love with which the LORD Jesus loves us! And it is that same love He wants from us and with which He entrusts to love our fellowman. If we wish and expect the LORD
to love us, we should resort to the same love by which we love our fellowman.

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another;
for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law” (Rom. 13:8).

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,

Isaiah 48:12-19, “Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last.
13 “Surely My hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand together.
14 “Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them has declared these things? The LORD loves him; He will carry out His good pleasure on Babylon, and His arm will be against the Chaldeans.
15 “I, even I, have spoken; indeed I have called him, I have brought him, and He will make his ways successful.
16 “Come near to Me, listen to this: from the first I have not spoken in secret, from the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit.”
17 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.
18 “If only you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your well-being would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
19 “Your descendants would have been like the sand, and your offspring like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from My presence.”

The messages of the Old Testament are primarily intended for Israel. But, like most of the
LORD’s messages, this one has an duplicate application for every generation. Beyond Israel, this message speaks ultimately to the Church and to somewhat to all non-Christian individuals everwhere.

Although the message here is extremely serious (as are all of the LORD’s messages), it is
somewhat amusing when thought of as a parental post-warning to a child: “Come near to Me,
listen to this…If only you had paid attention…” What child has not thought seriously about such a post-warning from a parent or guardian?

When will we learn that 1) the LORD knows best about every situation, and 2) that we ignore His warnings at our own peril? Awake is a serious watchword that is too often ignored. “Don’t go in there!” Stay alert! Keep your eyes open!” There are a thousand such warnings, many of which we stubbornly ignore –and we do so at our own peril. “It won’t happen to me,” we think –until it ultimately does.

Some children believe that their parents simply delight in handing out physical punishment. As time marches on, they come to believe that the LORD, too, delights in hurting them. Unfortunately, some parents are cruel to their own children; but the LORD delights in the children’s obedience. He is loving, not cruel. But, it is for all of us to learn that the LORD alone is in ultimate charge and control! He delights only in our loving obedience and our adherence to His warnings.

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,

Isaiah 48:16-19, “Come near to Me, listen to this: from the first I have not spoken in secret, from the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit.”
17 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.
18 “If only you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your well-being would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
19 “Your descendants would have been like the sand, and your offspring like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from My presence.”

It’s not difficult to imagine good things happening to good people. It’s when good
things happen to bad people, we have difficulty in understanding. It may be a bit-of-a
“push” to understand that the LORD even wanted Israel close to Him. For even from the date of Israel’s departure from Egypt, Israel had been a most difficult people.

Now, however, while the LORD has not forgotten Israel’s incorrigible attitude, He reaches out to her again in genuine love. It is the LORD’s nature to love! If it were not, Israel would never have crossed the Red Sea, much less, reached the Promised Land.

The verses above have a bearing on individuals, too. There is so much the LORD wants to bestow upon us – but, we opt for nefarious ways, all of which are simply
unacceptable to Him. Let’s quit playing the fool and admit to being spiritually difficult.
How often do we read the Bible, perhaps the Greatest Gift He has given us other than His blessed Son? How often? How often do we pray? How often do we spend quality time praying?

When a man and a woman truly fall in love, they want to spend time with each other!
If we have truly fallen in love with the LORD, we will want to hear Him speak to us through His Word. It is the chief means whereby we learn of Him. It’s also how we learn to pray!

Consider the benefits of being a True Believer in Jesus Christ. “Come near to (Him)”
and listen! Believe all that He says. it’s the only pathway that gives true meaning to
life. And it’s worth far more than it costs.

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,

Mark 10:17-21, “As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him,
and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’
18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
19 “You know the commandments, ‘DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT
STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'”
20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.”
21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you
possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much
property.
23 And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”

He was always on time for class. He was always prepared. He was always well-studied. His papers were always well-written and on time for submission to the teacher. But there was one thing missing; and when the class was concluded, and the semester grades were made public, the well-studied, well-prepared, always-on-time student received a much lower-than-expected grade. Something was missing.

It was much like the scenario in the life of the young man who approached Jesus. He was aware
of Jesus’ wisdom. Jesus was just the right person to answer his question –a question that had undoubtedly
disturbed him for a considerable time.

Here is a morally upright young man, pondering one of life’s most perplexing questions; coming to just the
Right Person for the answer; possessing the right attitude; receiving the right answer; yet lacking the one thing he had overlooked.

His question was: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Already aware that the young man had kept them, Jesus responded, citing the 10 Commandments. Still, one thing was missing: his trust resided in his
possessions! “…go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me,” Jesus replied.

Were we wealthy like the young man in the Scriptures, how would we respond? We may not be millionaires, but how are we handling what we do have? Do we think more of our possessions than we do of what they could do if we used them for the LORD’s glory? Is there anything that you possess that means more to you
than something you need to do for Him? If there is, then do it! Don’t go away “saddened” like this young man. There is a Day of Accounting coming. Don’t be caught unprepared!

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