The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 2:21-25, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;
23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”

Immediately prior to our verses above, Simon Peter instructed his readers, including us, that we are to practice patience when we’re harshly treated by anyone. If you pause and think about it, patience is not an easy conduct, especially when the world-at-large seeks to hold us hostage to its own worldly conduct.

Yet, the LORD Jesus is our Supreme Pattern. He “committed no sin,” nor were any of his expressions ever in the least deceitful. He simply endured the pain and indignation He was dealt. How could He stand it? He simply committed Himself to the protection of His Heavenly Father. Does that not give us a hint how we, too, might respond when we’re in the wake of adverse criticism?

Jesus’ suffering went well beyond anything we will ever encounter! His most ignominious treatment came from the lips of His own people, the Jews, and from the hands of the Romans. Think of it: the One who did no sin paid for the sins of those who did nothing righteous. Still, those Jewish believers to whom Peter spoke through the passage above, were “returned to the Shepherd and Guardian” of their souls.” How did that come about?

They believed and trusted Jesus as their Savior. That can occur in your life! Simply ask His forgiveness for your sins, and truly trust Him for forgiveness. He will become your LORD and Savior. He will shepherd and guard your souls, just as He has with others. Trust Him! He will not fail 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,

1 Peter 2:18-21, “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps…”

Years ago, while witnessing to a man I had never met, he startled me by saying, “I’m not a Christian, but if I were to commit to anything, it would be to Christianity, because there’s no better life to be lived than that of a Christian.”

Maybe that man had read Simon Peter’s words, as in our verses above. The words servants and submissive clearly indicate that there is someone in authority over us. We’ve all had an experience like that, starting with our parents. We’re always hopeful that those who rule over us are good and gentle. Still, we are to respect all authority, even when it is unreasonable, because God wills us to be compliant.

We demonstrate patience in suffering when we are justly punished, but when we are patient when unjustly punished, the LORD is greatly pleased. Why? because that was His demeanor when He was unjustly punished. This now is our calling to be Christ-like and follow His steps, His manner, His example.

Someone once asked, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” That very thing is occurring today throughout the world! Parliament Member, Päivi Räsänen, in Finland is now being officially harassed for simply reciting verses of Scripture. Don’t ever say, “It can’t happen here!” It is happening! Our ultimate safety is only in following Jesus’ example. Think seriously about it; and then follow Him!

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 Peter 1:3-7, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ,,,”

Does your pastor sometimes irritate you? If he is truly proclaiming the Word of God, he probably is. Have you ever had a doctor irritate you by telling you something you didn’t want to hear? Would you rather that he skirted the truth and told you that everything was fine when it wasn’t? Of course not! Then, why would you resent your pastor for telling you the Truth from God’s Holy Word?

Look what God has done: First, He “caused us to be born again to a living hope” in His Son. Can you name something more lovingly valuable than that? What’s more, God the Father sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. Then, He raised His Son from the dead – something that can never be refuted! Anything here that justifies your irritation with your pastor’s message from the Bible?

We embrace an infinite number of things that lack scientific approval. How could we dare to raise doubt about what God has provided for our physical and spiritual health? Yes, we live in an imperfect world. But, who “imperfected” this world anyway? Certainly not the LORD. Let’s stop and rejoice over the protection the LORD has provided us. And what delights a parent more than a child’s love that reflects well upon him. And so it is with our Heavenly Father. We can thank Him by following the teaching He gives us from the Bible through our pastor. Think about that, and be thankful!

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,

James 5:17-20, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed
earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three
years and six months.
18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced
its fruit.
19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him
back,
20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will
save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

Does the mention of the word “prayer” bring anything special to your mind? It certainly does mine. As a small boy, I recall the public prayers of a man in our small community. I was then and am now, totally incapable of assessing either the accuracy or the sincerity of that man’s prayers. What I do clearly recall is that as their length increased, so did the decibels piercing my ears! Bless his earnest heart!

Whether Elijah’s prayers were long and loud, I don’t know. What I do know is that they were effective. Elijah’s prayers held back the rain in his country for three and a half years; then rain came when he prayed for it. Of course, it was the LORD who did the holding and the causing. But it was Elijah, who was spiritually in tune with God as he prayed.

Don’t miss James’ application of this miracle. He aludes to the earnestness of our prayers –your’s and mine—as turning a sinner from “the error of his way,” so that his soul is saved from death. Prayer for the salvation of souls is far more important than prayer for rain. Are you praying for the lost? We don’t have to be loud; we just have to be often! And our lives have to be pure before Him to Whom we pray.

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,

James 5:14-16, “Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

Someone suffering from an old injury is been treated by a competent physician. The doctor, however, has ordered him to stay home from work and be faithful in taking the medicine he has been given. The medicine works; now, so does the man.

Things were quite different in the first century. The Apostle James faithfully instructs the church elders to pray over the one who is sick and anoint him with oil in the name of the LORD. James promises that the faithful prayer will restore the man to health. If the man’s sin is the root cause of his illness, faithful prayer will bring him healing, and he will also be forgiven of his sin.

The church is then instructed to confess other sins to the LORD, with the result being that their prayers will be answered and sins will be faithfully forgiven. Those who know the LORD and pray consistently will accomplish much in and through their lives.

All of the above is still true! Some church people are sick because of their own sinful indulgences. Confession of all known sin is the first step toward healing. Yes, we all need praying friends. At the same time, all healing comes directly from the LORD! He is the Captain of our salvation.

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