The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 1:9-12, “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and

to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good

work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and

patience; joyously

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”

Friends are more than acquaintances. They are more than smiles and pleasant company. They are more than those who share the warmth and comfort of their homes when we are without funds and on a long journey. True friends are those with whom we can and do share the most intimate of secrets. They know not only where we have been and what we have done, they know the rationale behind it all. What is more, friends are those who pray for us, and those for whom we consistently pray.

The Christians in Colosse were true friends of the Apostle Paul; and he was a true friend to them, as well. We all have friends like that. Paul prayed that they might “be filled with the knowledge of (God’s) will” in everything that is spiritual. He prayed, too, that they might live as those who are worthy of the LORD. Do you and I live like that?

You might respond by saying, “Of course I don’t live worthy of the LORD.” Still, we should all endeavor to live worthy of Him.

Are we increasing in the knowledge of the LORD? Maybe a little, but – There are no excuses that are satisfactory to the LORD. Paul wrote Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). There are those today who deliberately distort the Word of God, adjusting it to themselves instead of themselves to it. It is through the Word that we are strengthened for the work of the LORD.

In business today there are “qualifiers,” who watch diligently over other laborers to determine whether they are qualified for the work in which they are engaged. The Holy Spirit serves as our Qualifier! Don’t try to qualify by

changing the Word. You and I are Qualified only when the Word has changed us! That’s how we become genuine friends of the LORD Jesus Christ. That’s when prayers are answered and doors are opened for the Gospel. Are you His friend? If you are, He will bless you all the more. If you are not, why are you not? He longs to know and call you His friend.

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,

Colossians 3:5-7, “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity,

passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

6 For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come,

7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.”

Someone once said, “When you see the word therefore, you should ask yourself what it is there for.” In this and most cases, the word serves as a “throwback” to what had been previously stated. Thus, you might want to review the preceding verses. Remember that the theme of this letter is “The Glory and Dignity of Christ.” It is Paul’s responsibility not only to exalt Christ, but to encourage the Colossian believers to follow His example in their own lives.

The word consider literally means “put to death.” This is a bold instruction. Paul knows how impossible evil habits are to shrug off. Don’t “pussy foot” with these habits, he’s saying, just put them to death! Why is it so important? It is because these evil habits are what brings down the wrath of Almighty God! Want to get cancer?

Keep smoking! Want to befuddle your mind? Just keep on drinking alcoholic beverages! You get the idea. Of course, not everyone who contracts physical diseases encounters them from engaging in evil habits; still, Paul stands by his bold instruction. Nothing is worth the risk.

Paul’s words are never frivolous. They’re not “sentence fillers.” They have deep and serious meanings. Further, they are words of the worldly –not of the believer. We, who profess Jesus Christ as our Savior and Deliverer, must pattern our lives after Him! What’s more, if we stay in the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to reign supreme in our lives, we will “be to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:12)!

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,

Colossians 3:1-4, “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the

right hand of God.

2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”

The entire theme of the Letter to the Colossians is “The Supreme Glory and Dignity of Christ.” Jesus exemplified that theme

when He was on Earth. Now that He has returned to Heaven with the Father, it is left to us, who have accepted Him as LORD and Savior, to reveal His likeness through our lives. Yet, how are we to accomplish this? The key is to consistently deliberate

and focus on Heavenly things.

Believe it or not, we have control over what we think. And what we think is largely dependent upon what read and view. Our minds go where we want them to go. We train pets to behave according to our desires. We can also train our own minds to

concentrate on specific things. Paul urges us to concentrate on heavenly things. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are committed to Him. We elected to “die” to the things that are not of Him. Those who enlist in the military learn very quickly that they can no longer “sleep in,” as they did before their enlistment. So it is to be with us regarding our enlistment with Christ.

Christ has become our life! The things of this world are passing away. We learn from Scripture that this world and its “pleasures” are rapidly coming to an end. Jesus is returning to take His own with Him to Heaven. The money, the things that make for riches and wealth, are expendable! They will all be left behind.

When I was young, I worked for a funeral home. I observed people and how they responded to death. I’ve seen the dead

lying in caskets, adorned with costly jewels. Yet, what is the value of riches when life itself has be wrested from us?

Remember the rich man in Luke 12. He thought with his riches, he was set for life. But God called him a “fool,” saying, “’This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

There’s only one life –it will soon be past;

And only what’s done for Christ will last.

Set your daily focus on eternity! Live as if this were you last day on Earth. One day it will 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,

2 Corinthians 12:3-5, 7-10, “I know how such a man– whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows–

4 was caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

5 On behalf of such a man will I boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses….

7 And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was

given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me– to keep me from exalting myself!

8 Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will

rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s

sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

In the providence of God, Paul was “caught up into Paradise,” where he experienced things he was not permitted to share.

The magnificence of this experience, however, could have easily caused him to boast. Therefore, the LORD gave him a

“thorn in the flesh” to keep him mindful of his weakness. Three times he entreated the LORD to remove the “thorn,” yet the LORD’s response was “My grace is sufficient for you…power is perfected in weakness.”

Theologians have long debated what that “weakness” was. Perhaps it is better that we focus on how the LORD’s power is

perfected in human weakness. Notice first that the LORD’s power is enormous and well beyond all human comprehension! “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth” (Gen. 1:1). He spoke, and it was done! The entirety of the Universe was completed by the power of divine declaration!

Consider, too, the multiple acts of mercy the LORD performed in His three years on this Earth. Eyes of the blind were opened, deafness was corrected, distorted limbs were straightened, the dead were raised to life –all by the mere commands of the voice of our LORD Jesus Christ. Such power is humanly incomprehensible!

The weaknesses of man are clearly imbalanced by the strengths of the LORD. Thus, all that we accomplish must be credited to His will. Were the LORD to allow us sufficient strength of our own, we would naturally exalt and boast of our own accomplishments. The imperfections of knowledge and speech and mobility and health require our reliance upon Him. We are forced to conclude that all accomplishments result from His will and His work –not from our own! When we openly acknowledge Him and the accomplishments as His, and admit that all weaknesses are ours alone, He is glorified! And at that

juncture, we are prepared to be and do what He desires. Are you ready? There really is no other way.

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 Corinthians 1:3-5, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;

4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with

which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”

If you’ve ever seen a small boy fall off of his bicycle or a small girl trip and skin her knee, you’ve probably witnessed others a bit older race to offer help and comfort. If you’ve been an on-looker at such an unwelcome event, you may even have thanked the one who helped those who were in need.

Follow that little boy or girl through life and note that afflictions are still with them. Yet, instead of a skinned knee or fright of some kind, it’s a lost job or the separation from a loved one. Often, afflictions come because some have chosen to yield their lives to Christ and share the joys of knowing and loving Him. Still, the joy they share often results in the loss of friends. They then suffer affliction of a different kind.

Paul’s emphasis is upon the LORD, whom he calls “the Father of mercies…and…comfort.” The word comfort (?????????? (paraklesis) means encouragement. So, whether the one rushing to assist the injured is able to attend to his physical needs or not, he is first and foremost an encourager. The LORD sees us in tragic circumstances and is always there to encourage us. He encourages us by His very presence; and He is always able and willing to help.

Thus, whether your suffering (??????, thlipsis, affliction, tribulation) is trivial or severe, the LORD is our encouragement. How

then, are we to treat the afflictions of those around us? Is there a better way than by sharing with them the tribulations of the LORD Himself –or of those who have been afflicted because they loved and followed Him? Just remember: “…as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”

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