The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 106:35-43, “But they mingled with the nations and learned their practices,
36 And served their idols, which became a snare to them.
37 They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons,
38 And shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols
of Canaan; and the land was polluted with the blood.
39 Thus they became unclean in their practices, and played the harlot in their deeds.
40 Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against His people and He abhorred His inheritance.
41 Then He gave them into the hand of the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them.
42 Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were subdued under their power.
43 Many times He would deliver them; they, however, were rebellious in their counsel, and so sank down in
their iniquity.”

Were your parents ever truly angry with you? If they were, it was undoubtedly an indication of love that you had ignored. There were children in our town with whom my mother would not allow me to associate. She never spoke ill of them, but it was clear to me that they engaged in something (I was never told what.) that she did not want in my life.

This was precisely the position of the LORD with respect to Israel’s foreign neighbors. What He had known to be their practices, ultimately found their ways into the lives of His people; and “they mingled with the nations…and served their idols…” In time, the Hebrews thought nothing of sacrificing their own children to idols and demons.

What loving parent would not have become viciously angry at his children, who turned their backs on his deliverance and engaged in such reprehensible, heathenish practices? Thus, the LORD in His righteous anger, gave them into the hands of the heathen.

If we were not focusing on Scripture, we might be thought to be referencing things in our own land. For what the Hebrews experienced in a heathen land is not far from what we are experiencing today in our own land. Go back and read the biblical verses above and think of our own nation as you read them. Do we envision the LORD God Almighty as our leader? Are we absorbing His incomparable Word each day? Are we obeying His commands and directives? Or are our lives being so lived as to give Him reason to visit Divine Judgment upon us?

It is easy to blame leadership; yet it’s our rejection of the LORD’s leadership that has produced the human leadership under which we groan today. How like the Hebrews we are! How like the LORD we ought to be! Many times in the past, He has delivered us. He will deliver us yet again, if we will but repent and yield in obedience to His commands. Start by reading His Word daily! Start by confessing sin. Start by committing ourselves to 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,

Psalm 106:19-23, “They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a molten image.
20 Thus they exchanged their glory for the image of an ox that eats grass.
21 They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt,
22 Wonders in the land of Ham and awesome things by the Red Sea.
23 Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one
stood in the breach before Him, to turn away His wrath from destroying them.”

A recent survey has found that even among the most traditional Christian groups, nearly 70% of those professing to be born-again Christians disagree with the biblical position that Jesus is the only way to God.

It takes nothing more than this to assure us that our world is in serious trouble! Claiming to be born-again, but disbelieving the Scriptures is like the Hebrews making and worshipping a calf in Horeb; for there “…they exchanged their glory for the image of an ox that eats grass.”

The Hebrews, who had escaped Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, accomplished it all under the LORD’s leadership and power. Then subsequently, they turned away from Him and even criticized His leader, Moses. Interestingly, it was Moses who stood in the breach before the LORD, to keep His wrath from destroying them.

Simultaneously, Moses typified Jesus Christ, who suffered and died on the Cross to turn us away from sin. How can we therefore, deny Him and forsake His Word? Are we truly oblivious to the multitudes that claim to be His, yet deny Him?

Oh, LORD, do forgive us! Forgive our ignorance! Forgive our failure to acknowledge
Your love; and forgive us for our unbelief!

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,

Psalm 106:6-15, “We have sinned like our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have behaved wickedly.
7Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; they did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, but
rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
8 Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, that He might make His power known.
9 Thus He rebuked the Red Sea and it dried up, and He led them through the deeps, as through the wilderness.
10 So He saved them from the hand of the one who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11 The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left.
12 Then they believed His words; they sang His praise.
13 They quickly forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel,
14 But craved intensely in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
15 So He gave them their request, but sent a wasting disease among them.”

Regardless of the times, human nature is the same. Only recently, I read the following: The Romans “lived shiftless and grossly indulgent lives, depending for support upon charity, gambling, and theft. In Rome, the emperors fed many thousands of them out of the public treasury, thus encouraging their indolence.” Sound familiar?

So, in the first two verses of our text above, the younger generation of Hebrews admit to the same failures as were then attributed to their fathers. They willfully “forgot” the miracles the LORD bestowed upon them. Nevertheless, the LORD forgave their sins and brought them safely through the Red Sea, through the deeps and through the wilderness. He delivered them from their adversaries! They didn’t deserve to be delivered! Neither do we! But, that’s the kind of loving Savior we have!

Now, in faith they sing His praises! Doesn’t all of this remind us of us? How often we’ve sinned, sometimes shamefully; yet, our faithful, loving Savior delivers us. And again, we sing praises to His Name! But, it doesn’t last! We forget His faithfulness, and lapse back into sin, bringing shame upon Him again– despite the continuance of His faithful, everlasting love.

Does He ever win? Indeed He does! Look at that last verse above –verse 15. “He gave them their request…” Looks like the LORD has given up. Will these people I delivered from Egypt and across the Red Sea –will they ever learn to love Me? Not so fast! The LORD has the last Word: He “sent a wasting disease among them.” It’s as old as the world itself, You cannot do wrong and get by! Either we live by His rules or we die! Which shall it be?

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,

Psalm 106:1-5, “Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
2 Who can speak of the mighty deeds of the LORD, or can show forth all His praise?
3 How blessed are those who keep justice, who practice righteousness at all times!
4 Remember me, O LORD, in Your favor toward Your people; visit me with Your salvation,
5 That I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation,
that I may glory with Your inheritance.”

I can remember when churches used to engage in praise services. Oh, to be sure, there was singing and praying; but the center of those meetings was to hear individuals praise the LORD for specific blessing He had bestowed upon them during the previous week. It was emotional at times; but all praise went to the LORD for His answer to specific prayers.

It is exciting to see people rejoice in the LORD! It is encouraging to note the deeds of the LORD, although we can never know the full extent of His works; nor can we identify even a small portion of all He has done!

Genuine prayers of thanksgiving come primarily from those who are continually living justly and righteously before Him in faith. It is they who truly acknowledge the LORD openly and give continual praise to His matchless Name.

Those who have witnesed His power, rejoice also –even as a nation. Have you witnessed His power? Have you trusted Him like the people of Solomon’s day? There is yet another Great Day coming! On that day, our LORD Jesus Christ will return to call home His truly born-again spiritual children! He is not coming for those who have just done their best. Nor is He coming for those who have lived clean lives or those who have kept religion foremost in their lives. No, He is coming only for those who have trusted Him as their personal Savior. Does that include you? It can if you will trust Him. If you have not, you can do it right now. Earnestly pray this prayer:

LORD Jesus, I am a sinner. I have not lived pleasingly in Your sight. I’m sorry for my sin.
And right now, I confess all my sin and ask You to forgive me and make me one of Your
children. Help me to live my life for Your glory and praise alone. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. If you prayed that prayer for the first time and are truly trusting Jesus, share it with me and
let me rejoice with you! Your name will not be published. I will just join you in a thanksgiving
prayer.

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 9:32-36, “Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.
33 And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah “– not realizing what he was saying.
34 While he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
35 Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”
36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.”

Have you ever enjoyed the company of someone so much that you didn’t want to see them go? At the same time, despite your weariness, you nevertheless expressed the desire that your visitor not leave? You may have even offered them coffee or cookies as an enticement to stay longer?

There were no coffee enticements on this occaccion, but Peter cried out to Jesus, pleading that He allow the three of them to build adequarte living quarters and stay right there! I’m sure you’ve been in a situation like that –a situation so desirable that you never wanted to leave!

There was no time to process thinking! At that precise moment, a a huge cloud encompassed them and a strong voice from the cloud sounded, identifiing Jesus as the Chosen One and admonishing them to listen to Him!

“This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” This is still commendable advice. Have you stopped to think how it applies to you? The LORD Jesus Christ speaks to us today through His Holy Scriptures! He admonishes us to take account of our relationship with Him. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? If not, establish one today! Read from His Holy Word and trust Him to forgive your sins and become your Savior. It’s an experience like none other!

Jesus said, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37). Heed His advice quickly! It could be your last opportunity!

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