The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ezekiel 22:25-29, “There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in the midst of her.

26 “Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

27 “Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain.

28 “Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken.

29 “The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice.”

A host of things could be said regarding the lawlessness that prevailed in the days of the prophet Ezekiel. But, of course, lawlessness is hardly new. A quick scan of the news on today’s television often (too often!) depicts men of the cloth indulging themselves in the same schemes against which they warned people when they ministered to their own constituents.

We do wrong when we misuse the things of the LORD. We engage in violence when we intentionally utilize the things of the LORD in an unholy manner and/or for an unholy purpose. It may seem “natural” for a former pastor of a church to spend time reminding the congregation of some experiences of his past ministry in that congregation; still, time is a precious factor that should never be overlooked.

In fact, the whole of our lives ought to honor Jesus Christ! Especially is that true when we profess ourselves to be committed to Him in full-time service. Yet, when we are committed to Him, it is for “full-time” service! There is no limitation; there must never be any imitation.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Philemon 1:1-6, “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker,

2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

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

4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;

6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.”

Paul is in prison in Rome. There are no words that can express the agony he was suffering. Yet, his thoughts were not for himself, but for another – Onesimus.

Slavery was a reality in those days, and Onesimus belonged to Philemon; yet, when the opportunity presented itself to him, he escaped. Paul here appeals to Philemon to deal lovingly with Onesimus in the same way the LORD deals with us when we go astray.

Paul links himself with Philemon when he lovingly notes: “I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers.” Then Paul notes to Philemon “…every good thing which is in you…”

You may believe you possess the right to hold a grudge against someone who has done you wrong; but Paul would beg to differ. Even Christ Jesus forgave those who sent Him to the cross.

There’s an old saying that says, “It is never right to do wrong to do right.” If there are strands of a wrong done to you, the LORD will straighten them. Yet, He often awaits our forgiveness of another before He acts on our behalf. In the meantime, let us rest in His promise: “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

2 Samuel 7:25-29, “Now then, LORD God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do as You have spoken,

26 so that Your name may be great forever, by saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You.

27 “For You, O LORD of armies, the God of Israel, have given a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore, Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You.

28 “Now then, Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are truth; and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.

29 “And now, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You. For You, Lord GOD, have spoken; and with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

There are a number of things in the passage above that should challenge us. For one thing, we should never be afraid to approach the LORD in prayer. Although He holds limitless power, He is tender and loving toward His children. He actually possesses a greater desire to bestow wonderful things on His people than they know. Still, we have first to divest ourselves of the sin that stains us.

Another important factor is that we ought always to be loving and respectful in our approach to the LORD. Yes, the LORD Himself knows the truth of everything that is said to Him; still, just as a child honors his parents by speaking respectfully to them, we, who know Him, ought to always show Him even greater respect. He is our LORD!

Does the LORD need to be reminded of either His promises or His power? Certainly not; however, it is important for Him to know that we have not forgotten them either. Just as a parent is honored when his child reminds him of his promise, the LORD is honored that we remember His promises toward us and believe in His desire and power to keep them.

How we live our lives will surely encourage our LORD’s promised provisions.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

2 Peter 3:3-10, “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,

4 and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”

5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.

7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.”

The Scriptures contain some strange events that will take place in the Earth’s last days. If we look carefully at happenings in our current time, we can see things similar to what the Bible describes. Of course, there are always some who view things “as they always were.” And it is they who cry, “Where is the promise of His coming?” Yet, the Scriptures say that what is coming has already been prophetically foretold.

Read the passage above very carefully. “Do not let this one fact escape your notice,” it says. The LORD does not measure time as we do. In fact, with Him there is no such thing as time. Everything is a measureless, eternal presence. That’s difficult to assess, I know. It stretches our thought processes almost into another dimension. Time itself would not exist if there were no heavenly lights. In the far northland, darkness reigns supreme. Light is scarce; it peeks through the darkness for a few short hours; then it’s dark again. Be alert! Darkness is coming! So is Jesus!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Matthew 24:45-51, “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?

46 “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.

47 “Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

48 “But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’

49 and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards;

50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know,

51 and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Were you ever assigned a task by someone superior to you? It could have been a parent, a teacher, or an owner of a business where you were employed. It’s just exciting to know that you are being assessed as “worthy” for this responsibility.

But were you ever slack in completing those responsibilities? It seems that our superior always comes around when we’re not quite finished with the task. Could he not have given us more time? Did he not know that we had to complete some preliminary tasks before we could work on the one he had assigned?

Once we have come to know the LORD Jesus as our personal Savior, we soon learn that He has assigned us certain tasks to complete. The range of those responsibilities is extensive; however, He never requires of us something for which He has not well-equipped us. It is simply our responsibility to learn what we’re to do and how the project is to be accomplished.

What is your assignment? Have you learned what it is? Have you prepared yourself to undertake it? Have you prayed for His assistance in the task’s completion? “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom