The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 14:34-35, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a disgrace to any people.

35The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts wisely, but his anger is toward him who

acts shamefully.”

Most readers are familiar with verse 34, but few, I would guess, have paid much attention

to verse 35. Verse 34 speaks of a people so vast in number that they are designated a nation.

If that nation –and that’s any nation—recognizes the LORD as its Lord, the righteousness of

the LORD will uplift that nation among the other nations of the world. But if that nation sins and

promotes gross ungodliness, it is a shameful disgrace to the God who created it.

Verse 35 speaks of a citizen. Wise citizens act wisely and gain the favor of their human leaders.

Acting shamefully and sinfully, however, stirs up the anger of righteous leaders and brings

down heavy wrath upon unwise citizens.

All of that is to say that no country rises higher than the majority of its citizenry. If we want our

nation to be industrious, we must be industrious. If we wish our nation and its leaders to deal

honestly with us, we must be honest in all that we do. A nation is the composite of its citizens.

Want your neighbor to treat you kindly? Treat him kindly! Want people to listen to what you

have to say? Listen to what other people have to say. It’s a corporate idea built upon the

phrase that says, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Incorporate that idea

into your lifestyle and start feeling good about how others begin to treat you.

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.”

Dear Grands,

John 10:39-42, “Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.

40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and

He was staying there.

41 And many came to Him and were saying, ‘While John performed no sign, yet everything John

said about this man was true.’

42 And many believed in Him there.”

When people are really angry, they want to fight! The Jews could not best Jesus in discussions,

and that made them furious. In verse 31, just previous to our verses above, the Jews took up stones and would have killed Jesus. But, “He eluded their grasp.”

Many years ago, I visited an old schoolhouse down in Mississippi. I looked at the empty desks, wondering who sat where and where they are now? It was a sentimental thought that always comes to me in old abandoned schools and churches. Thoughts like that transported to Scripture, such as in the verses above, make me wonder if Jesus wasn’t somewhat sentimental about John’s baptisms when He “went away again” beyond the Jordan River. The word “again,” tells me that He had been there before. It was a place of serenity and peace, a place for thinking — but not for long, because many came to Him there.

Moreover, the people who came to Him acknowledged that He was true, and what He declared to them was true, also. And there in the security of that serene place that those who had followed Him there, believed on Him as the Son of the Living God.

People who need Jesus will not find Him where theres fighting. Nor can we successfully instruct them spiritually in an unwholesome climate. Withdrawal from witnessing is not always a sign of defeat. It simply begs for the proper atmosphere to enable those without Him to concentrate on His message. In situation before us, Jesus had withdrawn, and people were seeking Him.

Do you know people who are seeking Him? Have you shared the Gospel with them? Maybe you need to select a better time or place –somewhere where they are not under observation by others, and somewhere where you will have an atmosphere suitable for witnessing. The Holy Spirit will

lead and guide you. Listen closely to His voice. A lost and hungering soul is depending on you.

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.”

Dear Grands,

John 10:7-10, “Jesus therefore said to them again, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the

sheep.

8 ‘All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

9 ‘I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find

pasture.

10 ‘The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might

have it abundantly.’”

Jesus addressed His disciples once again with “Truly, truly.” This double term simply indicates the validity and emphasis our LORD is placing upon what He about to say. By His own insistence, He is the door of the sheep. He is the guardian of them and their going in and out is measured according to His will. All who came without His message is a thief and a robber. He alone is the door.

When anyone enters into His fold of necessity comes through Him. In New Testament days, the shepherds slept on the ground at the entrance to the sheep fold. No one could enter without awakening the shepherd; and no sheep could exit without awakening him. Thieves were notorious (aren’t they always?) and their ways were nefarious, but those persons who enter, enter only through Jesus Christ. Once they enter, He renders them saved and secure. Never can they be lost again!

Moreover, Jesus saves not only to secure people, but that they might have abundant life! Abundant does not mean “more stuff”; rather, it means that what His life is of immensely greater value than the life the world knows. It’s actually like coming alive after having been dead! What a joy it is to be secure in Christ Jesus and to have His Holy Spirit dwelling within and guiding our steps according to His will. It reminds us of that

Old Testament verse that says,

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).

I sincerely hope and pray that you are currently living your life in Him!

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.”

Dear Grands,

John 9:24-25, “So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him,

‘Give glory to God; we know that this man (meaning Jesus) is a sinner.’

25He therefore answered, ‘Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that,

whereas I was blind, now I see.’”

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were always in a wrangle with someone over something in

the law. This time it was with a man who had been born blind, but was now seeing. None of

this was their business, but that’s what they mostly did –meddle in business not their own.

Jesus had encountered the man while he was blind; and the man cried out to Jesus for healing.

Jesus gave the man sight, and that was what stirred up the “hornets’ nest.” Oh, by the way, the

healing occurred on the Sabbath. That made the situation all the worse in the eyes of the religious leaders.

They mercilessly berated the man who could now see! Our verses commence with their second

round of complaint. “Give glory to God,” the religious leaders said, “we know that this man (meaning Jesus) is a sinner.” The former blind man’s response was classic: “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that whereas I was blind, now I see.”

Newly converted believers are often confronted in a similar fashion. Critics will often insist on the believer explaining some “tough” verses in the Bible. If that ever happens to you, just remember this former blind man: “One thing I know,” he said. “I was blind, now I see!” Don’t allow anyone to

sway you from your faith and trust in Jesus. It’s not wrong to say, “I’ve only been a Christian for a short while. I don’t know everything in the Bible; but I do know that my life has been changed, since I ask Jesus to forgive my sins and come into my life.” This writer has been a Christian for

over 70 years, and in the LORD’s ministry for over 60 years. And I’m still learning! Stay the course! Live in the Word! Talk often with the Savior! Share your faith! God will bless and use you!

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.”

Dear Grands,

John 8:34-37, “Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the

slave of sin.

35 And the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.

36 If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

37 I know that you are Abraham’s offspring; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place

in you.’”

Okay, gang, quiet down and listen up! Virtually, every reader has been somewhere and heard words from a leader that sounded like that. High school basketball, football; college soccer, vollyball. Accepting that you have heard words to that effect, I can tell you that Jesus’ use of “Truly, truly” means much the same. He is getting ready to share something of vital importance, so He repeats the word “truly.”

What He goes on to say is as simple as it is important. Everyone has committed sin, so everyone is the slave of sin. Slaves do what their masters tell them. Satan is in charge of all sinful attitudes and activities. His followers don’t even have to pre-judge what they’re thinking or doing; it’s all just evil, and Satan is the ultimate source of it, and pushes it in all of our lives.

Freedom is precious to everyone. (Just lose a little of it and see how precious it is!) Yet, when we sin, we often (but, not always) do it without thinking. We think we are the authority, when it’s actually Satan. We are conceived and grow up with that spiritual DNA that inclines us toward evil.

We need the Son, Jesus, desperately to set us free! When He died on the Cross, He satisfied His Father’s will by becoming the Supreme Sacrifice for our sins. And when we accept Him as our LORD and Savior, sets us free –free indeed!

Until we experience freedom from sin through Jesus Christ, His “Word has no place in (us).” And that Word, coupled with faithful prayer, is how the Holy Spirit keeps us “on track” with the Father’s will. If you’ve yet to trust Him, do it today! It’s the simplest GREATNESS you’ll ever experience!

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.”