The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Peter 1:20-21, “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,
21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

2 Peter 2:1-3, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;
3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

The Scripture doesn’t give us much information on Simon Peter as a fisherman, but it certainly gives us information on his knowledge of Scripture and of false teachers. Scripture simply cannot be what one wants it to be. “No prophecy,” Peter says, “was ever made by an act of human will…;” nor can Scripture mean whatever the reader wants it to become. Is there any instruction more needed in our day?

A New Zealand pastor once shared with me that a Bible class in his church voted on the meaning of Scripture! If a difficult verse arose and someone suggested a meaning of the verse, objection would be raised, saying that the class had voted on that verse’s meaning a year or more ago. End of discussion!

Peter warns against false teachers! They are rebellious (2:10-12a); they are animalistic (2:12b) and deceitful (2:13). They are chronic sinners (2:14) and mercenary (2:15-16). Check those descriptions against some of today’s popular “preachers.” Men can twist the Scriptures so as to make them palatable for their hearers; but they cannot derive the truth by making them say what they would like.

The Scriptures were written to guide us to be like Jesus. Read and believe!
There is truly no better 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,

John 7:10-17, “But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret.
11 So the Jews were seeking Him at the feast and were saying, ‘Where is He?’
12 There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were saying, ‘He is a good man’; others were saying, ‘No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray.’
13 Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.
15 The Jews then were astonished, saying, ‘How has this man become learned, having never been educated?’
16 So Jesus answered them and said, ‘My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.
17 “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.’”

As we’ve seen in our previous letter, Jesus’ half-brothers did not believe Him to be the Messiah. Others, who were attending the feast, did not believe Him to be the Messiah, either. Unfortunately, there are those today who don’t believe Him. People are substituting various things to replace Him. Yet, the one thing they cannot do is find a suitable substitute for Him! Jesus is unique! He is the “Only begotten Son of God!”

Refusing to believe Christ, however, in no way effects who He truly is. Having reached the feast, He went to the temple and immediately began to teach. Imagine how that affected the Jews! They challenged Him as one who had “never been educated.” Oh, Jesus was educated! He had just never needed to attend a Jewish school. There is a vast difference between having attended a school and being truly immersed in Scriptural Truth.

True education goes beyone having a certificate from a formal institution. “Education apart from Christ simply makes ‘smart devils.’” It’s an immersion, an absorbtion of Scripture –the teachings of Jesus Christ—that truly matters! Far too many institutions today emphasize things that don’t matter –teachings that neither emphasize nor care about the LORD Jesus Christ. Jesus’ words come from His Father.

Those who have trouble believing Him today have allowed the thoughts and teachings
of others to replace His truth. “Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved…” (Acts 16:31). It is so simple. Don’t allow the simplicity to crowd out your belief.

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 7:2-7, “Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near.
3 Therefore His brothers said to Him, ‘Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing.
4 For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.’
5 For not even His brothers were believing in Him.
6 So Jesus said to them, ‘My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune.
7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.’”

Did you ever have anyone urge you to do something when you were certain that the time was not right for doing it? Ecclesiastes says, “There is an appointed time for everything” (3:1). Our passage above tells us that it was the time for the Jewish Feast of the Tabernacles (Booths), one of the three great feasts of Israel.

Jesus’ half-brothers urged Him to attend this feast. They were still not believers of His Divine Life and Position. “Show yourself to the world,” they urged Him. Still, they were hardly sincere; it was only a ploy, designed to embarrass Him.

Jesus refused to argue the point. In fact, He even refused to debate the issue. Rather, He demonstrated a spiritual maturity of which they knew nothing! No one is governing your
activites, He said, Your time is always right for doing what you wish. “My time is not yet
come,” He said.

When we elect to follow the LORD’s timing for our activities, we must wait for His
direction. We may be making the right decision, but neglect the right timing for doing it.
How often that has been the way of it in our lives!

Still, there are times when we say and do what is right in our LORD’s eyes, but encounter the hatred of others because His righteousness is offensive to them. The Scripture says,
“The world…hates Me,” Jesus said, “because I testify…that its deeds are evil.”

There’s a children’s chorus we used to sing:

Be careful little feet where you go;
Be careful little feet where you go;
For the Father up Above
Is looking down in Love;
Be careful little feet where you go.

All of that is so true! At the same time, we need to be conscious of what we do!
If we belong to the LORD, we are His children. We must follow His counsel, just
as Jesus always followed His Father.

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,

Philemon 1:1-7, “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker,
2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;
6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.
7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.”

If you’ve ever read a letter that your grandmother or great-grandmother had written, you instantly know how it differs from one you would write today. Styles of writing change with the times, just like the recipients of the letters do.

In this letter to Philemon, we learn of Paul’s diplomatic effort in reaching out to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, Philemon’s runaway slave. Subsequently, however, Onesimus, at some point in his affiliation with Paul, come to faith in Jesus Christ. His return to Philemon would be difficult, and Paul wanted to ease the situation with some well-scripted words to Philemon.

Far too often, we allow young Christians to go their own way. We say, “God bless you; the LORD will take care of you.” Of course, He will and He does. At the same time, He surely expects that we will show spiritual and practical concern for young Christians and guide them as far as is possible.

There’s more to Paul’s letter to Philemon, and we would all do well to read and re-read it.
It overflows with love and concern for Philemon and Onesimus. Further, it sets the tone
the LORD wants from all His children. Young Christians need the nurturing that their elders have experienced. Whether in the home or in the church, we all need to “grow in the knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ.”

Pray for me that I may grow in Him. No matter how long we’ve walked with Him, we still need the prayers of the saints to be offered on our behalf. Thank you!

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,

Colossians 3:12-15, “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

Giving and Receiving are the chief characteristics of special occasions. Qualities such as holiness, love, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience are the fundamental aspects that require giving and receiving. Forgiveness is an act whereby a person of higher standing chooses to overlook the inappropriate attitude or action of someone else. In our Scripture passage above, the LORD is the forgiver; we are the forgiven.

Have you noticed the response of someone who has been forgiven? In many ways that response parallels the attitude of the forgiver –at least it should. Paul the apostle is telling us that we ought to be willing to overlook (forgive) those who do ill against us, just as the LORD forgives us for our sins against Him. “Bearing with one another” is the complement to “having forgiven.” It means to forgive and forget.

Two additional rungs at the top this ladder of fortiveness are love and peace. Both love and peace originate with the LORD. Love openly identifies itself in the unity of two or more individuals. Whatever may have previously occurrred, all parties are now calm and united. At the same time, peace emanates from Christ and settles itself upon the parties involved. Each party is now thankful to God for the unity and is permeated with His Love.

Is something like that currently occuring in your life? Should it? So many things fit together and work smoothly when we are in spiritual fellowship with Him and with others. Be quick to forgive! He is! Be forgiving and forgetful of wrongs against you at the hands of others. Life is so smooth and loving when those qualities of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience abound. Thank you, LORD! Yes, you will thank Him in ways you’ve never dreamed.

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