The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 31:1-7, “Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what belonged to our father he has made all this wealth.”
2 Jacob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it was not friendly toward him as formerly.
3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to his flock in the field,
5 and said to them, “I see your father’s attitude, that it is not friendly toward me as formerly, but the God of my father has been with me.
6 “You know that I have served your father with all my strength.
7 “Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times; however, God did not allow him to hurt me.”

There’s no trouble like family trouble! Jacob had gone to his uncle Laban’s on business. His father, Isaac, had sent him there to find a wife; and Laban’s family all behaved delightfully in seeing Jacob –until he began to prosper! Strange, isn’t it? People like us when they have more; but when we prosper, they become jealous and difficult. Laban’s sons were accusatory of Jacob, saying, “He has taken away all that was our father’s…” Yet, the LORD had previously said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers –to your relatives, and I will be with you.”

The LORD had certainly been with Jacob! His prosperity was due to the LORD’s Hand with respect to all that he did. Notwithstanding, Jacob was honest in his dealings with Laban. Such can be true of us, as well –if our trust is in the LORD and if we are honest in our commerce with others.

Jacob shared his observation of Laban’s attitude with his wives, Rachel and Leah. As strange as it may seem, they agreed with him and against their father. And although Laban’s attitude continued to be against Jacob, Jacob said, “…God did not allow him to hurt me.”

Think of this situation when you are wronged by someone –even, someone in your own family. Don’t allow jealousy to drive a wedge between you and family members! That’s where the hurt comes in. Jacob was not perfect. His later life reveals that. You and I are not perfect, either. We must just keep trusting the LORD; for in the end, He will protect us all in His abounding love!

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,

Genesis 4:3-7, “So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground.
4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering;
5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
7 “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

The LORD’s contention with Cain is much like His contention with mankind today. Had Cain offered what Abel offered, there would have been no problem. If we were committed to Him like Abel was, the problems we face would be obliterated in a flash!

The first mention of “sin” in the Bible occurs in Genesis 4:7, and it has been “crouching at the door” of all mankind ever since. Incidentally, the word sin occurs over 800 times throughout the whole of Scripture!

Despite the various Hebrew and Greek words that translate as “sin,” it all boils down to mankind being disobedient to God. You and I might not think of some things that are called “sin” as being transgressive; however, we are not in the position to make that call. Whatever God calls “sin” is sin!

Parents often establish curfews for their children. (I lived under one and survived.) The child may not agree, but the call is the responsibility of the parents. In my case, there was a specific time that I was to be home at night. When I missed the time, I suffered punishment. It’s something like that with God –only He is far more authoritative than any parent!

But, how do we know what the LORD’s will is? Is it the same for everyone? What is the punishment for disobeying God’s will? We are told in the above passage that “sin is crouching at the door, and its desire is for (us), but (we) must master it.”

Sin is spiritual poison! We all have it in our lives. It is death! The antidote that eradicates death, is the Blood of Jesus Christ. He poured out His life’s blood on the Cross; and He did it to forgive our sin. Confessing our sin to Him and asking Him to forgive us is what it takes to become a true Christian. If you haven’t done that, you can do it right now. Just ask the LORD in prayer to forgive you. Trust Him to be true to His Word. He will help you to know what life truly is! You are in my prayers.

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,

1 Kings 18:25-36, “So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, ‘Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.’
26 Then they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, ‘O Baal, answer us.’ But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they made.
. . . .
36 At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.
37 “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.”
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God.”

Let me say at the outset that you would do well to read the entirety of First Kings 18. In that way, you can grasp the full accounting of Elijah as he stood against the worshippers of Baal.

Whom do you worship? Would the god you serve be willing to stand a test like this one? If you were to find youself in a tight situation like Elijah, what would you do?
How trusting are you of your god? Would you be
delivered?

In this situation, Elijah was the only prophet of the LORD, while the priests of Baal numbered 450 men! When Baal’s prophets failed to arouse their god, Elijah poured water on the sacrifice he was to offer to the LORD. Then as he prayed, fire descended from Heaven upon the sacrifice offered to the LORD; and the people cried, “The LORD, He is God.”

How powerful God is! Do you trust Him? Have you given Him your heart and life? Why not do that today?

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 1:4-11. “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.
8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,
9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you– since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus–
10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,
11 who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.”

Onesimus was a runaway slave. He had belonged to Philemon, the Christian to whom Paul was addressing this communication. Through circumstances we are not told, Onesimus had come to faith in Jesus Christ. Possibly, the Apostle Paul was the one who had led him to that faith.

Paul had no legal authority to require Philemon to forgive Onesimus. He did, however, have spiritual authority inasmuch as he had also led Philemon to faith in Christ.

Still, Paul’s heart-appeal was that Philemon might forgive Onesimus, since Philemon himself had received forgiveness from the LORD.

This brief, personal letter, composed of but one chapter of only 25 verses, is a masterpiece of spiritual psychology. It both condemns and offers release to each of us from the sinful commitments resident in our own lives.

You and I are not forgiven personal sin by merely reading this letter; however, we are herein acquainted with the love and forgiveness the LORD offers to us for sin we have committed against Him, as well as against others.

If you’ve ever believed you were forever “worthless,” due to sins you have committed, you can now know relief by better understanding the forgiveness of our loving LORD. His gracious forgiveness also strengthens us that we might never committing those sins again.

Read His Word daily. Ask Him to forgive you for your sins. Pray a simple prayer every day. Thank Him for forgiving you. You will be amazed at what He can do!

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 2:1-8, “But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.
2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.
3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,
4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
6 Likewise urge the young men to be sensible;
7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified,
8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.”

Every parent, who is worthy of that designation, possesses the desire that his or her child will live out their ideals. Parents who have no “ideals” to pass on to their children are depriving them of a rich heritage.

These 46 verses in Paul’s Letter to Titus have as their subject “God’s Ideal.” Paul is concerned that the Church would be honoring to the LORD. For that to be realized, those who are charged with leading must also be honoring to the LORD in their life styles. They must be “above reproach” in all things!

If memory serves me well, it was Chaucer who said, “If gold rust, what will iron do?” Think about that! No church rises to the LORD’s desired level without purity in its leadership. The qualities Paul desires are the qualities the LORD requires for leadership in His Church.

It all originates within the home. When the mother and father are of spiritual quality, their children will show spiritual qualities. As the children mature, they will become leaders in the Church and the spirit of the Church will exemplify the LORD.

How is your church? Does it magnify the LORD? Does it reverence Him in worship? It all originates in the hearts and lives of the people. Thus, it starts with you. Learn to trust the LORD; learn to lean upon Him for everything! You will be blessed, and the church will always magnify Him in and through your life!

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