The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Samuel 8:1-9, “And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel.

2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba.

3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah;

5 and they said to him, ‘Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.’

6 But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ And Samuel prayed to the LORD.

7 The LORD said to Samuel, ‘Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.'”

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a nation that had no laws? It would be just as bad to live under laws that were never enforced! Imagine what it would be like to have an old man, who was either incapable of controlling peace in your town or, simply due to his advanced age, neglected his duties. That’s precisely the condition that existed in our verses above.

Samuel was not objecting to law and order; he was just too old to keep up with all that was going on. What would you do if you were in a situation like that? You would probably do exactly what Samuel did: he appointed his sons to conduct law and order in his place.

Then Samuel had a problem with the people! Whether they thought Samuel’s sons were too young to be in authority, or whether they did not see in them the ability to produce stability among the people, we’re not told. Yet, they objected to the boys taking charge.

What do you do in a situation like that? “Samuel prayed to the LORD.” Prayer is always our first line of defense. Why not make it our first line of operation? So, the LORD said to Samuel: “Listen to the voice of the people. They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. Now, then, listen to their voice, solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them” (1 Sam. 8:7-9).

We never know what’s coming next! We may surmise that all will be well, but we cannot guarantee it. The LORD is our only hope. We must trust Him, knowing that He truly loves us.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

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,

Ecclesiastes 7:8-12, “The end of a matter is better than its beginning; patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.

9 Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools.

10 Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.

11 Wisdom along with an inheritance is good, and an advantage to those who see the sun.

12 For wisdom is protection just as money is protection. But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.”

For those who witnessed the television “kerfuffle” between the President of the United States and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the current President of Ukraine, “the end of (the) matter (was hardly) better than the beginning.” Still, differences of opinion have always existed, and from what was witnessed recently, they always will.

For “the end of a matter (to be) better than its beginning,” patience must exist with both parties and be present simultaneously throughout the discussion. Too often, however, personal haughtiness in attitude prevails. Solomon might well have been personally observing the confrontation in the Oval Office when he said, “.wisdom is protection just as money is protection. But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves (rather than destroys) the lives of its possessors.”

Perhaps the time has come for true believers throughout the world to humbly beseech our Heavenly Father for a true and unifying spirit on the part of all parties. Such is vital because never does one party alone possess all the solutions to such a serious dilemma.

At the same time, both parties (in whatever confrontation might exist) must prayerfully beseech Almighty God for a true and thorough resolution. The matter under discussion has a far-reaching perspective that encircles more than the constituents of both countries. It is the people of both countries, however, who ought to be uppermost in the minds of all parties. If the LORD is their Shepherd, they shall not want, except for universal prayer; and such is earnestly requested.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

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,

Numbers 32:15-23, “Now behold, you have risen up in your fathers’ place, a brood of sinful men, to add still more to the burning anger of the LORD against Israel.

15 “For if you turn away from following Him, He will once more abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all these people.”

16 Then they came near to him and said, “We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones;

17 but we ourselves will be armed and ready to go before the sons of Israel until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

18 “We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has possessed his inheritance.

19 “For we will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east.”

20 So Moses said to them, “If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for the war,

21 and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the LORD until He has driven His enemies out from before Him,

22 and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you shall return and be free of obligation toward the LORD and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours for a possession before the LORD.

23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.”

With all the LORD had done for His people, when they came up against a difficulty they had not previously encountered, they rebelled against Moses and against the LORD. Have you and I ever considered that truly spiritual leadership has been given to us that we might learn to love and follow the LORD?

Certainly, the obstacle that Moses’ people encountered looked difficult. What they needed, however, was to look to the LORD instead of the obstacles before them.

How like this crowd we often are! We know His will, and we’ve been told to face it in His strength and move forward. But we’re gripped with fear because we’ve taken our eyes off of Him!

Being the wise leader that he was, Moses challenged the people by reminding them of the LORD’s leadership; then saying (in effect): “Do what you want – just remember that your sin will ultimately catch up with you. You can’t do wrong and get by!”

What was true of those who doubted Moses is true of us when we balk at following the LORD’s leadership: our sin will ultimately be our undoing! So, be careful. Who knows best? You simply cannot do what’s wrong in God’s eyes and get by.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

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,

Psalm 33:12-18, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,

The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

13 The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men;

14 From His dwelling place He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,

15 He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works.

16 The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength.

17 A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness.”

Who would have believed that a nation could mire itself down in such a mess? Particularly, is that so when we have such a heritage! Still, a child takes no notice of how clean his clothes are or what they cost his parents; he’s simply mesmerized by that puddle of water! It’s a blisteringly hot day, so why not engage in a little boy’s “cool off”?

Besides, we have money—ample money, as a nation! At least, we thought we did, until after our recent election. It was then that the truth was revealed! The idea that “You can’t do wrong and get by” underscores the importance of ethical behavior and personal responsibility in achieving lasting success and respect.

Yet, the Word of the LORD cries out: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD!”

We are not our own! We belong to our Maker! We are His children! Obedience is our responsibility! We possess Him as our Redeemer. He possesses us as His redeemed!

He has provided for us His Word. By it, we are to live and be honorable in His sight.

It is our responsibility, therefore, to love and cherish Christ as our Redeemer. We are to live as His children. Obedience is our forthright responsibility! We are to trust and obey.

Trust and Obey,

For there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus;

But to trust and obey.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

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,

Jeremiah 7:23-28, “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’

Why do so many individuals experience trouble? Could it be that they have willfully chosen to disobey the LORD? Jeremiah continues with the accusation that “they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.”

25 “Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets, daily rising early and sending them.

26 “Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers.”

27 “You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you; and you shall call to them, but they will not answer you.

28 “You shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God or accept correction; truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.'”

Nations are no better than the constituents that comprise them. If we want our nation to seek and obey the LORD, we must comply with His instructions. We must be ready to obey and conform to His directives. Far too often we appear to listen to the LORD’s Voice, but fail to follow through as He has directed us.

It was reassuring recently to see President Trump’s initial Cabinet Meeting bow together in prayer, being led by one of his Cabinet members. Several members of his Cabinet have voiced clearly and publicly that Jesus Christ is their LORD and Savior. We are prone to criticize them when they fail to follow what they pledged; ought we not to take them at their word and keep them wrapped in our daily prayers?

Whatever your political affiliation, let me urge you to pray for our nation and for those who have been elected to lead us through these next four years.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own Inheritance” (Psalm 33:12).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

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