The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Thessalonians 3:13-16, “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.
14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.
15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!”

If we didn’t know about his previous life, we could hardly believe that the words spoken in the verses above came from the Apostle Paul. The first word we have of him in Scripture found him thoroughly opposed to the Christian faith! He was Jewish through and through, and had received Jewish authority to imprison and even kill those who professed faith in Jesus Christ.

Yet, now in this letter to the Thessalonian believers, Paul instructs them not to grow weary of doing good; but to be diligent in the work of the LORD Jesus Christ. He instructs Christians not to associate with those that disobey his instructions. Yet, at the same time, they are not to treat the disobedient as enemies, but to admonish them as Christian brothers.

We have a tendency to view and treat those who believe differently than we do, as if they were not born-again believers at all. Some indeed are not, but we should treat them lovingly and share the Gospel with them. It’s unbelieving people, who treat others with harshness. God loved us before we knew Him; shouldn’t we love others before they know Him, as well?

Paul then concludes his instruction by praying that the LORD will show His peace in every circumstance to those early Christians. He wants them to grow in their faith, making them pleasing to the LORD Jesus Christ. He wants that for you and me as well. Are we following His instructions in this? We had better, as this instruction originates with the LORD Himself.

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,

2 Thessalonians 2:6-10, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.
8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;
9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,
10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.”

Have you ever given thought to how bad things would be if there were no Police in your town? There are those today who advocate complete discontinuance of all law and law-enforcement. Paul says that Satan is working now to ruin everything God created! He’s pushing to gain control over the whole world.

The LORD God is infinitely more powerful, and Satan’s plot to ruin and rule is ultimately doomed to failure. Were it not for the Holy Spirit of God, Satan would be ruling now. The Spirit is the One who is now holding back the total flooding of the world with evil. Satan will be allowed to function in the world until his time has run out. God is the “time-keeper.”

When Satan’s time has run out, he will be revealed to all the Earth, and the LORD will end his life with the “breath of His mouth.” And all of those who have resisted the LORD and His salvation will perish “because they did not receive the love of the truth, so as to be saved.” Have you yielded your life to Jesus Christ? He is your only hope! It’s not how good your life is, or what church you attend, or whether you have been baptized. It’s whether you have trusted Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior.

And for those of us who have trusted Him, we are responsible to tell others just like I’ve attempted to do in the paragraphs above. The time is getting shorter every day!

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,

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him,
2 that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”

If you read the comments that follow news stories today, you will notice how many people believe the “coming of the LORD” is very near. The verses above tell us that the people of our day are not the only ones who have believed Jesus’ Coming to be near; the Thessalonian Christians believed it, too –only they had been misled to believe the Day of the LORD had already come!

The Apostle Paul writes to assure them that the Day of the LORD had not come. In fact, that Day could not come before the Rapture of the saints. How this young Thessalonian Church could get so confused is doubtlessly traceable to weak and incorrect teaching. Don’t believe everything you hear! Not all who purport to be preachers today have been called by the LORD.

Not all men who pretend to be pastors are even saved! That is precisely why you need to examine their backgrounds and the teachings of the churches they lead. You cannot be too careful. There have always been men (and women) who claim to know the LORD’s Word, but who themselves are false believers.

Yet, to be competent evaluators of truth, you must know the LORD and be born again (i.e., born spiritually from Above). When you are born from Above, the Holy Spirit enters your life and guides you into the right and righteous way. You come to know Christ Jesus by believing in Him as the Father’s sacrifice for your sins. Tell Him you’re sorry for your sin. Turn away from those sins forever! Trust Jesus alone as your personal Savior. You will then come to know Him and really begin to live!

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 Thessalonians 5:`5-23, “See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men.
16 Rejoice always;
17 pray without ceasing;
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit;
20 do not despise prophetic utterances.
21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
22 abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

When we’re young, we’re taught things to do and things not to do. It’s much the same in our spiritual life. The verses above instruct us both positively and negatively. All of this is that we might grow spiritually in the way our Heavenly Father wants to grow. And it all accrues to His Glory.

Here are the negatives:
1.Don’t respond to evil with evil.
2.Don’t ever stop praying.
3.Don’t ignore the Holy Spirit leading.
4.Don’t ignore the teachings of Scripture.

Here are the positives:
1.Always seek after that which is good.
2.Always give thanks for everything.
3.Always examine everything carefully.
4.Always abstain from everything evil.
5.Always hold on to things that are good.

Children always answer: “Why?” My parents each responded by saying, “Because I said so!” I had to learn that they were in authority over me. We all have to learn that the LORD is in authority! And just as our good childhood behavior reflected well upon our parents, so our good spiritual behavior reflects well upon our Heavenly Father. He is ever and always in authority over us. May we ever and always behave “to the praise of His glory.”

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 15:16-24, “’I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”‘
20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
21 “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;
23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;
24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

What we sow in our youth we reap in adulthood. It took this young man a long journey to recognize how wrong he had been. He was still a youth when he reaped what he had sown. When we are sufficiently troubled, and when there seems to be no way out, we return to our starting place with our caps in our hands.

The repentant young man no longer had pride. He was eating “humble pie” by returning, doubtlessly wondering what his father’s attitude would be. Yet, the father saw him before he saw his father. And so it is with us: God sees us coming; but He does so with greater rejoicing than we know. Notice that the son never said all he had intended to say. His apology was interrupted by his father’s love and joy!

The slaves had served their master with greater love than the wayward son; still, all of that was behind them now. The son was home!! That was all that mattered.

There is a clear message here for all of us. We have all sinned against God. We know it and He knows it. But all He requires of us is that we return to Him with a repentant heart. His love produces the forgiveness His arms demonstrate. All is forgiven! All is forgotten! The son that was dead is alive and celebrating with his Father! What this lad did, you can do! That’s why Jesus told this story. Turn your life over to Him today! You will not be sorry.

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