The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 1:1-5, “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,
2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,
3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;
4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.”

From the verses above, we can learn that the Herod was King of Judea when Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was serving as a priest in the Temple of the LORD. The approximate date is 37 BC–4 AD. Elizabeth, the wife of Zacharias, was a relative of Mary; and Elizabeth gave birth to John only a few months before Mary gave birth to Jesus.

Luke 1:6 gives us the LORD’s requirements, which were attended to most carefully. “They (the families) were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the LORD.”

The key to the LORD bringing these boys into the lives of the two families
was that the families were “walking blamelessly” in every way before the
LORD. We have no idea how faithfully the LORD could deal with our lives if
we were spiritually all that He wants us to be!

Would you believe that even CHRISTmas could be more meaningful to us if we were committedly obedient to Him? Shamefully, however, we have allowed the celebrated time of our Messiah’s birth to be cluttered with virtually everything except Christ Jesus Himself!

Certainly, the LORD does not expect us to withdraw from everyone and hibernate until the day of celebration has passed. We celebrate Thanksgiving and we also celebrate Christmas. Yet, the very meaning of the word “celebrate” indicates that we have not forgotten the true meanings of these days.

Thanksgiving remembers the LORD for His watchcare in safely bringing our forefathers to this then New World. Christmas remembers and celebrates the LORD Jesus’ birthday. Without His guidance and protection, we would not be a politically free people. And without His love, death and resurrection, we would not be spiritually free with Heaven clearly in view. Do you know Him in true salvation? “He only a prayer away.”

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,

Luke 1:26-32, “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And coming in, he said to her, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’
29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
30 The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David…’”

Do you remember the old saying, “God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we’re to listen twice as much as we talk.” Some things we encouter simply defy a verbal response! Bless her heart, Mary didn’t panic!

Think about how you would respond if an angel suddenly appeared and spoke to you, saying, “Greetings, favored one! The LORD is with you.’! It’s almost amusing to read the words “very perplexed,” as the attitude of Mary’s non-response. Apparently, she was exceedingly frightened because the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid…” Not many things frighten me, but I have to admit that I’d be surprised even if an angel appeared and said nothing!

Another surprise is about to come, too. It’s when the angel announces Mary’s coming pregnancy! She’s not even engaged to a man, much less, married. Yet, the announcement is not really about Mary. It’s delivered to her; and, yes, she’s involved; but it’s not about her!

Some of you dear readers are yourselves afraid! Otherwise, you’d be reading
your Bibles every day! Do you know that some people are actually afraid of what the Bible says? There are a lot of “bewares” in the Bible, and some are downright scary! But, they’re put there for our instructional betterment. I’m confident there will be many who will contend, “I didn’t know that!!” when they stand before Jesus! Well, it’s all in His Book!

Determine today to start reading the Bible every day! Set a goal! Read the
Bible through this next year! Learn to pray to God as you read. It’s all there…for you and for your benefit! What have you got to lose?

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,

Luke 1:5-16, “In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.
8 Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,
9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.
11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.
13 But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.
14 ‘You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 ‘For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.
16 ‘And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.’”

I have to wonder how many readers of this Letter are faithful in praying to the LORD. Far too often, we all neglect to pray as we should. Then suddenly, difficulties surround us and our thoughts turn immediately to the LORD for help. We are blessed that the LORD is always near and faithful to us, and that we also have friends who are timely in trusting the LORD!

Who would have believed that Zacharias and Elizabeth, like Abraham and Sarah, would bear a son in their old age? They had been faithful to the LORD; now He is being faithful to them.

Can any reader of this Letter deny that he would have been frightened to have had an angel from the LORD suddenly appear before him? Yet, despite his sudden fear, Zacharias learned that his prayers had been answered and his wife would indeed bear a son. The son would be called John –John the Baptist– and like Elijah, John would turn many Israelites away from sin and back to the LORD their God.

John’s life and ministry would be directed by the Holy Spirit. Simultaneously, he was to refrain from wine and liquor, and be controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit of Almighty God. Oh, that our lives were so thoroughly controlled!
Are you and I what we ought to be in the sight of the LORD? Are we faithful? prayerful? obedient? Could it be that is why we see so few coming to Christ?

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,

Hebrews 12:25-29, “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.
26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, ‘YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.’
27 This expression, ‘Yet once more,’ denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;
29 for our God is a consuming fire.”

The 11th chapter of Hebrews is commonly known as the “faith chapter.” In it, the Apostle Paul lists a number of believers who suffered death as they stood for the LORD in earlier days. It is Paul’s contention that the opposition to Jesus Christ will continue as long as there are unbelievers.

Paul offers an historical list of those who paid for their faithful stand with their own blood. He then turns to warn us –his readers– lest we encounter the same. He further states that there is coming a greater devastation. Earth will be shaken even more violently than ever before! Everything that is “loose,” will be further dislodged by the Celestial power of Almighty God!

It is perhaps helpful to remind ourselves of the Worldwide Flood that occurred in the days of Noah! Mankind had become so vile and antagonistic toward God, that God said, “I’VE HAD ENOUGH!” And the world was destroyed by water! The celestial destruction, however, will be far greater! Things hidden from us by the LORD will be temporarily revealed, then suddenly destroyed!

The mind of this writer admits to an inability to even partially conceive of what Paul envisions in these verses. It is sufficient to say that world devastation is coming and mankind’s only hope of survival lies in the LORD Jesus Christ. Do you know Him? Have you accepted Him as your LORD? He is our only avenue of escape. Ask Him into your own heart and life today! Salvation lies not in any specific church; it lies only in the LORD Jesus Christ, who went to the Cross for your salvation. Ask His forgiveness today! Time will slip by, He will come, and you will be left behind.

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,

Titus 1:7-16, “…the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,
8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,
9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.
10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.
12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,
14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.
15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.”

The Apostle Paul was a straight-up guy! Previous to his salvation, he had been exactly what he is here forbidding of elders within the church. To be an elder, a man (not a woman or a child!) is to be above reproach! That is, if anyone is to lead the church, he is to be so utterly honest, so scrupulously clean, and so thoroughly inscrutable that no one would dare to call him to account for his lifestyle. Wow! Where are church leaders like that today? Yes, there are some; but they are becoming less detectable by the day.

I am personally thankful for my pastors! They differ some in their styles of preaching; but, they hold solidly to the veracity of the Bible as the Written Word of God! There is no “glossing over” the tough areas of the Scripture!
They “tell it like it is!”

Why is it that some people want cleanliness, honesty, and intelligence in their medical personnel, but are slip-shod when it comes to their spiritual doctors?
Understandably, we willingly accept the diagnosis of those in the medical field because we admit to possessing no expertise in that area ourselves. Yet, we challenge our pastors, who are often equally or more thoroughly trained than we, yet, in the Word of God.

Be careful to shun those, who merely profess to know God, but deny Him in the conduct of their lives! We will all be held accountable before Almighty God not only for how we live our lives, but for whom we knowingly follow when they do not follow God according to His Holy Word.

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