The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 1:39-45, “Now at this time Mary arose and went with haste to the hill country, to a city of Judah,

40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

41 And it came about that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was

filled with the Holy Spirit.

42 And she cried out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed among women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your

womb!

43 “And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 “For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.

45 “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

What do you do when you have some good news? You want to share it, don’t you? Even things we have bought, things of our own doing, we want to share with others. So it was with Mary. Having seen the LORD’s angel and having heard his message that she was to have a Son directly from God, what could she do but share it with her relative Elizabeth, who was also about to deliver a child?

Distance is not a problem when we have good news to share. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the unborn child in Elizabeth’s womb responded with significant movement. At that same moment, the Holy Spirit of God entered into the life of Elizabeth! Subsequently, but not in this passage, we will learn that Elizabeth’s child is John the Baptist. And it is John who will introduce Jesus to the world and then himself fade from the scene. Jesus then will undertake the work His Heavenly Father has given Him to do – all the way to the Cross.

The final verse above (v. 45) should encourage us to believe that everything the LORD speaks will be fulfilled! We are “prisoners,” as it were, of the world in which we live. Circumstances that we don’t understand prevail and we lose sight of God who controls all circumstances. Those who are truly born-from-above believers, should focus on the LORD, despite the gloom that momentarily surrounds us. As He delivered on His promises to Mary and Elizabeth, so He will deliver on His promises to us. We must simply believe; the LORD delivers on all His promises.

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 1:26-35, “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, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

29 But she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be.

30 And 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;

33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High

will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.”

“You’re such an angel!” It’s an expression sometimes affectionately tendered by one person to another. On the occasion of the verses above, however, the angel was real. He is identified as Gabriel and he first appears to Mary with the news that she was to bear a Son. Apart from the Book of Luke, Gabriel is mentioned only twice in the Book of Daniel and he always gives an understanding of what the LORD is doing or what He is about to do.

It was normal for Jewish girls to marry at a young age, so we can safely assume Mary to have been in or around her early teenage years. It would also be normal for such an announcement to bring joy to the heart of a girl, knowing that she was to have a child. Mary was already engaged to a man named Joseph. Engagements were legally binding to Jews and often lasted as much as a year. Still, there had been no physical relationship between the two.

Understandably, Mary was quite agitated; but the angel assured her that the LORD was with her, and that this was His work, whereby the Child would possess a position of great authority, as the LORD God would bestow upon Him the throne of David, his ancestor. We often refer this birth as “The Virgin Birth.” More accurately, however, it could be termed “the miraculous conception.”

Equally exciting is the fact that we, too, can be transformed by the Hand of Almighty God! When we acknowledge and ask His forgiveness for our sins, He forgives us and implants within us the Holy Spirit. Thereafter, the Spirit gives us understanding of the Scriptures and guides our lives accordingly. You can know His salvation and His guidance by simply trusting Him day-by-day. Is it that simple? Yes, it is. It is so simple that some actually stumble over the simplicity, as they search for more. Just trust Him! Trust is what the virgin Mary had to 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,

John 8:26-30, “’I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the

things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.’

27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.

28 Jesus therefore said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My

own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

29 “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”

30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.”

Have you ever listened to someone speak who was so far above your learning that it made no sense to you at all?

This is precisely what Jesus encountered from the Jews when He spoke to them. Jesus was speaking about His Heavenly Father. He was sharing with them what His Father had given Him to share. This is what He intends of us when we have come to know Him as our LORD and Savior.

Jesus speaks to us through His Word, the Scriptures, just as He spoke verbally to others in His day. He was “lifted up,” crucified, as the Father’s Own Sacrifice, to save us from our sins. When we truly believe this and accept Jesus as God the Father’s sacrifice for us, He makes us His spiritual children. It is then that we are given the Holy Spirit, who leads us to “always do the things that are pleasiing to” the Father.

When our lives are yielded to the Holy Spirit’s control, our speech and behavior become what the LORD wills. And this change in us becomes noticable to others, especially to those who have previously known us. The difference others see in us causes them to listen as we share with them the change that Christ Jesus has made in us. The Scripture above says, “As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.” And as we share with others what Jesus has done for us, others will come to believe in Him, aslo.

It’s not all that hard. It is the LORD who makes us different and teaches us His Word. The change in our demeanor then gives support to what we share in testimony. If you have trusted Christ Jesus, He lives within you now. If you have not yet trusted Him, do it today. Just pray and ask Him to forgive your sins and to make you His spiritual child.

You will then begin to grow in His likeness; and His Word will have true meaning to your life. And you will notice the difference, and so will your friends. God bless you abundantly!

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,

John 4:3-5a, Jesus “left Judea, and departed again into Galilee.

4 And He had to pass through Samaria.

5 So He came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph;

6 and Jacob’s well was there.”

Have you ever gone out of your way to share Jesus with someone? The example of Jesus in the passage above should give us courage to witness to others. Traveling from Judea to Galilee is about 70 miles and takes a little over two days on foot. Despite the hatred the Jews had for the Samaritans, Jesus elected to go there, knowing the opportunity He would have to bring them Life.

Water is something we cannot do without! And knowing that the disreputable women of Sychar would be drawing water in the heat of the day, Jesus went to Jacob’s well with the sole purpose of sharing His salvation. It was an intentional witness, the pattern of which we could easily follow. Jesus used physical water to introduce His Living Water to a thirsty soul.

When was the last time you intentionally shared Jesus with someone? Jesus used the water at Jacob’s well; you and I could use the CHRISTmas Season. Joyful lights and the simple “Merry Christmas” greeting are clear and genuine opportunities for a segue into the real Christmas Story. Far too many are caught up only in the glitter of the Season. Yet it’s the Person of the Season that can truly change their lives.

I discovered people more willing to listen when Billy Graham was conducting a crusade in our city. Billy was a notable personality, and people were eager to know about his message. It’s the same with the Christmas Season. Be intentional in sharing Christ this Christmas. Jesus is mankind’s only hope! Humanity is thirsting, and we must not fail to share the Water of Life! Think of those you know who are spiritually thirsting, who need to know Him and His Water of Life. Then, pray and share a personal word of His Love through email, through a personal note in a Christmas card, or through a phone call. You’ll be amazed at the response! What’s more, you’ll be spiritually blessed and refreshed in your soul.

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,

John 1:29, “The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

It has indeed been a blessing to my life to have met and conversed with some notable people. Traveling occasions such encounters. Some were notable for what they had accomplished, others for what they had acquired. Residents of all nations seem ready to introduce their notables to foreigners who pass their way.

That was precisely what occurred when John the Baptist was asked, “Who are you?” John’s reply turned thoughts away from himself as he introduced them the LORD Jesus Christ. It was John’s calling to introduce Jesus, just as it is ours today. Centuries had passed since the Scriptures had foretold the LORD’s deliverance of His people! The world was in a total mess, and religious leaders were grasping at power and wealth, as if those were the elements that would turn the world upright.

John’s introduction of Jesus is as valuable to our world today as it was in John’s day. “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” There is no other solution! What’s more, it is the LORD’s solution for all mankind in every generation. There is no other one who can straighten the gargantuan mess we’re in other than Jesus. He alone can take away the sin of the world.

But, how does He do it? He does it by forgiving the sin of those who believe in Him and turn willingly away from their sin. There are millions of people in this world. How is He to reach them with His salvation? He reaches them through us, just as He reached those of His day through John and others. It is our responsibility to introduce others to Him. Is there anyone more important than Jesus? Is there any task more vital than our sharing Him with others? Think of what He can do for those you know. Think of what He can do for the nations of our world!

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