The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 21:3-6, “Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will also come with

you.’ They went out, and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it

was Jesus.

5 Jesus therefore said to them, ‘Children, you do not have any fish, do you?’ They answered Him, ‘No.’

6 And He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find a catch.’ They

cast therefore, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.”

It may not really be a disaster, but when you’ve previously shown competency in what you do, and suddenly nothing turns out as expected, it would probably be called a disaster. That must have been what Peter and his companions felt when, after fishing all night, without catching one, single fish.

Another thing these fishermen hadn’t counted on was the daybreak presence of Jesus on the seashore. They had seen Him, but until He spoke, they had not known who He was. It was not a “put down” when He called them “children.” It was more like a coach saying to his muscular, masculine team, “Now, boys…”, And, when Jesus asked, all those tired “boys” could say was “No.”

Quite often (at least in my case) the LORD has to show us how lacking we are in what we think we know and do before we’re ready to listen to His instructions. Someone has aptly said that the true miracle was not that Christ put the fish in the net, but that He had kept them out of the net all night! We have to admit that we cannot comprehend how Christ Jesus works! But, if we trust Him, His works will avail for us and ultimately redound to His glory.

Don’t miss the fact that Jesus’ miracle also occurred when the men were physically exhausted! Some-times we’re prone to think we’re capable and would have achieved the objective, had it not been for something unforeseen that hindered us. No, He either prepares us to achieve the task or waits for us to recognize that He alone can do it.

Just don’t get discouraged! Christ’s timing is always accurate. His strength is always adequate. His

purpose is always greater than ours. Be alert to what needs to be accomplished, but be even more alert of His presence and His divine and flawless ability. It will always be to your benefit and ultimately to His glory! Keep me in your prayers, as I am keeping you in mine.

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 15:5-8, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much

fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.

6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them,

and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.

8 “By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”

Have you never heard someone say of a child “He’s the spittin’ image of his father”? or “She has her mother’s eyes! No doubt about it!” When words like these are heard, the hearts of parents swell with pride. All true and loving parents want their children to look and act like them!

Our verses above clearly state that Jesus is the vine and that we, who have believed in Him as our LORD and Savior, are the branches. But what is the “fruit”? It is clearly our likeness to Him. When we abide in Him, and allow Him to control our lives, His Life shows forth through us, just as the fruit blossoms and grows on the branches. But, without Christ in our lives, nothing of His likeness shows forth in us. There is no fruit forthcoming if the branches are not connected to the vine.

What happens to those not connected to Christ (the Vine)? They are judged as worthless and cast

into the fire and burned. Interestingly, the verse does not say that they are destroyed. The fires of

Hell burn, but they do not destroy. Hell is a dark and everlastingly painful arena. It knows no termination, nor do those who are their due to their unbelief.

Those who abide in Christ and allow His words and presence to control them, have the promise that their prayers and desires will be accomplished. This is easy to understand. When we are yielded to the LORD’s complete control, we will want precisely what He wants.

The magnificent conclusion is that God the Father is glorified when we look and act like Him; and we

depict His likeness when we prove to be His disciples. Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ? It’s not where or whether you attend church; it’s not whether you’ve been baptized; it’s not how moral and wholesome a life you life. It’s whether you’re connected to the Vine! And you connect by repenting of

your sin and accepting Jesus as your LORD and Savior. If that is lacking in your life, take care of it today! I am praying for 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,

Ephesians 2:4-7, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you

have been saved),

6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus,

7 in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness

toward us in Christ Jesus.”

One of the magnificent provisions of retirement (and old age) is the opportunity to scan retrospectfully the many previous years of life and rejoice over the LORD’s multitude of undeserved blessings. Many of those days were filled with joy; many were clouded with misery. Yet, the ability to live and have opportunity to recount those days, hearty and hurtful, is itself a blessing.

It is by our LORD’s grace that we have lived and served in His ministry to humanity. It is by His mercy

that He has seen us faithfully through the rigors of those days. Belittled at times, ignored at others, He

has ever and always undergirded us with His grace and mercy.

Yet, with all that calls for our rejoicing, the best is yet to come! He has “raised us up” with Christ Jesus

and reserved each of us a seat with Him in the Heavenlies! He will then reveal to us the things of which we have no knowledge or thoughts whatsoever! Perhaps He means that it will take ages for us to learn

all that occurred and ages more for us to comprehend the expansive heights and depths of His love and protection.

Will we then be allowed to know those inward, hateful thoughts that conspired against our efforts? Will we then understand the deep-seated motives of those who opposed us at every turn? Possibly. Yet, our concentration will focus on the riches of His grace and mercy! There is no one like the LORD! He is ours, and we are His forever!

Will you be in His group? I so trust that you will! “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me” (Heb. 3:15).

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,

Ephesians 1:13-14, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your

salvation– having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

14 Who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own

possession, to the praise of His glory.”

In the last few days of 1966 and the first few of 1967, I was preaching in a youth camp in Western Australia. There was great blessing of the LORD in that place, and far more took place than I have

room to share here. One young girl, who had come to camp with her older sister, gave her heart

and life to Christ. Following her commitment, she asked, “Why didn’t they ever tell me that I needed

the LORD Jesus in my heart? I might never have known… Why didn’t anyone ever tell me?”

The Ephesians might well have said the same thing. Notice that their first step was “listening to the

message of truth.” The message of truth is the good news of salvation. We don’t need to live with

the devastating regrets of our sins; Jesus died on the cross as the Father’s sacrifice for our sin. We

have only to believe, to trust, to take Him at His Word.

The LORD’s promise to those who believe is to seal them “with the Holy Spirit,” Whom He has

promised. Remember the account of Daniel and the lion’s den? Read what the king did after Daniel

was cast into the den….

And a stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it

with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing might

be changed in regard to Daniel (Dan. 6:17).

The king’s seal was equivalent to a lock. No one dared to break the seal; for to do so, was to forfeit

his own life. So it is with the LORD’s “seal.” After listening and believing in Jesus Christ, the Father

locks us to Himself with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not seal us! He IS THE SEAL! He is

the LORD’s pledge –His promise– of our inheritance when, in God’s own time, we stand before Him!

In that day, the LORD Himself will be glorified, just as parents are at the births of their children.

The twp questions that remain are for us: 1) Have we listened to His Good News of salvation?

2) Have we believed and trusted in Him for that salvation? If you have, the Holy Spirit now resides

within you and you are secured in the LORD throughout all eternity. The Holy Spirit living wthin you

will also direct you in the way of the LORD, so that He will be glorified through your life. Continue to listen to His Word (the Bible) and obey the directions of the Holy Spirit. Joy will fill your life and you

will ask, like the little girl, “Why didn’t anyone tell me before?”

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,

Ephesians 1:1-4, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at

Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual

blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless

before Him.”

Letters are wonderful blessings! Ask anyone in the military. But to all believers, the letters from Paul

are superb! Yet, lest we overly credit Paul, he notes that they are “by the will of God,” just as his

apostleship. It is helpful to write letters to faithful believers, too; everyone is involved.

Grace and peace tell all readers that this letter is intended as an encouragement. Both are from God and are advantageous to the readers, as well. Paul praises the Father and the Son, Who have blessed

them with “every spiritual blessing” in the heavenlies! What’s more, the Father chose us to be in Christ

even before He laid the foundation of the world, “that we should be holy and blameless before Him.”

Think of what he just said! The Father has myriads of angels shouting glorious hymn notes of praise

to Him, yet “He chose us” to be in Him! He is glorified when we praise Him. Two sweet little boys live

across the street from me. They are so polite and enjoyable. “Hi, Mr. Gene,” they say so gleefully. Can you not tell how I enjoy their greetings and joyfulness? Yet, I have a great-grandson, who calls me “Dado”; and notwithstanding the other two loving boys, I love and enjoy JoJo’s greeting even more. JoJo is family! If other children cry, it is for their parents to comfort them. If a child of mine cries, his comfort is my responsibility.

There’s nothing like living in the comfort of God’s grace and peace! Do you know Him? If not, you have

no idea what you’re missing! If you do truly know Him, then He longs for you to make Him known to others! My pastor today urged our church family to be missionaries! Some will go overseas to share the glories of Jesus! All the rest of the LORD’s family are responsible to share Him here at home. Write a letter, send a text, forward an email, hand out a tract: DO SOMETHING to glorify Christ Jesus!

Time is running out. . . .

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”