The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 13:1-2, “Let love of the brethren continue.

2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

2 John 1:10-11, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;

11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.”

Barclay reminds us of Jewish hospitality: “The Jews had a saying: ‘There are six things the fruit of which a man eats in this world and by which his horn is raised in the world to come.’ And the list begins: ‘Hospitality to the stranger and visiting the sick.’”

We were walking in Jerusalem and had somehow lost our way. I sauntered up the walkway and knocked on the door, intending only to ask directions. The woman who answered the door, came down from a ladder where she was working. She smiled, invited us into the house, had us to be seated, and served us hot tea. Then, the man of the house smiled warmly and asked, “Now what can we do for you?” All of that for a small, simple question: “How do we get to _____?” That’s REAL hospitality! We were not angels, and our erstwhile hosts were not Jews! They were Arabs! Yet the hospitality was the same.

But, how does the hospitality factor in Hebrews 13:2 work with John’s solemn warning in 2 John 1:10-11? They are not contradictory! John is speaking of one who is known to be an adversary of the LORD’s truth. Don’t show him the hospitality that Paul is advocating in the Hebrews verse. This person is not a friend of the LORD; thus, his beliefs and teachings are contrary to Holy Scripture. To the true believer, you say, “Come in.” To the unbeliever (or one whose beliefs are not known to you), you speak with him outside your door.

Dr. Adrian Rogers had a good grasp of such situations. When known adversaries came to his door, he said: “I will listen to you for 20 minutes if you will listen to me for 20 minutes.” They left and did not return.

Your home is your last bastian of safety. Protect it against all ungodly intruders at all costs! Remember, it’s a biblical directive!

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,

Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’

6 so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?’”

Reputation is what others think of you. Character is what you really are.

Which is more important? Or are they equal in importance? Recent news has focused a lot on some wealthy people, who have cooperated with evil in the effort to get their children into so-called “prestigious” colleges. A state senator in Arkansas has now pleaded guilty to numerous counts of falsification and bribery in the effort to accumulate a lot of money. Some time ago, several U. S. congressmen and senators either resigned or simply decided not to run again, due to illegalities having to do with money.

The Apostle Paul warned young Timothy (1 Tim. 6:10) that “…the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith…” The word longing means “stretching out,” going to undue lengths to acquire more and more money. It’s a thirst — an unquenchable thirst — that poisons the human spirit and leads man on a path away from the faith.

Money itself is not evil; however, the hunger for money for money’s sake takes man’s focus off of the LORD and materialize his mind. I once asked a money manager, “How much is enough?” His reply was, “There’s never enough.”

You may say, “I know what I need and money gives reality to that need.” Do you think the LORD doesn’t know? Israel had been miraculously delivered from Egypt. They had crossed the Red Sea and witnessed Egypt’s charioteers drowning; yet, they worried about not having enough food. Do we not know that the LORD is capable of providing everything we truly need? His promise is “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”

Not only will He provide all of our physical needs, He promises to protect us from those who would do us harm. What do you need? –really need?

He can provide it if we will be content with what we have and live confidently in Him. When our character is clean, there is room for all that the LORD can and will provide.

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,

Hebrews 12:5-8, “‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him;

6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.’

7 “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”

We often think of the word discipline as meaning punishment. It does have that meaning, but it also means instruction. In fact, that’s where the word disciple comes from, too. The disciples of Jesus were learners.

Very early in the years of my life, I learned the word discipline to mean only punishment. My loving mother administered it as no one else could. Ouch! We had a Weeping Willow tree in our back yard, and when I was naughty, she sent me to retrieve a willow switch which she then used with ferocity on my bare, young legs. (I must say Ouch! again.) She was using the willow switch as an instrument of instruction –something I had to grow into manhood to understand.

Here in Hebrews 12, Paul uses the word discipline nine times, and each time it indicates instruction. At the same time, it is not Paul who administers discipline; it is the LORD! What’s more, He does it out of love.

When I was in the pastorate, I had a standing agreement with one of my deacons that he could call my children down for any activity that was inappropriate at church. I enjoyed the same agreement with respect to his children. But I never punish-disciplined any children but my own.

One of the cardinal omissions in today’s culture is the failure of parents to discipline their children. When kids don’t learn right from wrong early in life, they grow into adulthood without any safeguards against wrong. Then, when they become parents, their children learn nothing about living or parenting with regard to their own kids. It becomes a vicious downward spiral!

Questions: Are you disciplined? Do you recognize the rights of those in authority over you? Are you self-disciplined? To you take responsibility for you own actions, even if they are wrong? Are you disciplined with respect to reading and studying the Bible? Are you disiplined in prayer? If you can honestly say “yes” to these questions, you’re on the Upward Road! If you cannot say “yes,” you are in serious trouble. Re-read verse 8 above, and reverse the course of your life today! It’s not too late; but time is running out.

May we all earnestly pray for one another. I need your prayers.

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,

Hebrews 11:1-3; 39-40, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

2 For by it the men of old gained approval (???????? martureo, bore witness).

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word (???? rhema, spoken word) of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”

39 And all these, having gained approval (borne witness) through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”

Hebrews 11 is called the “faith chapter,” simply because it emphasizes people who lived by faith. I counted 16. How many do you count? Oh, you will have to use your Bible to find all of them.

I could go through this list of people and point out sins in most of their lives as well as the faith which the Scriptures assign to them. In other words, they were, for the most part, just ordinary people; but they believed God and followed His instructions. I should also point out that Joseph was the purest in the list; he was more like Jesus than anyone in the Old Testament Scriptures.

Yet, with all that God promised them and with all the Apostle’s praise of them, we have been promised something better. Are you living by faith? I’m honestly endeavoring to do so. I know I don’t come up to the standard of the men in Hebrews 11, but I’m honestly trying to live by faith. I hope you are, too.

Recently, I watch some Track and Field sports on television. I noticed the runners. They kept looking straight ahead. Other runners would edge up on the leader, but they kept looking ahead. Wherever they were in the race, they would not allow themselves to be distracted by other runners or anything outside of the race. Each one focused on the prize. What was it? It was being acclaimed the winner!

One day, Jesus will announce the winners in Life’s Race. If you’re going to win, you have to keep your eyes looking ahead, your mind focused on the prize! We’re all in training now, even as we’re racing. Keep the faith! Don’t give up! Stay focused! Stay in God’s Word and in prayer. The finish line is not far away. You can do it! The LORD is always available to help!

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,

Hebrews 6:4-6, “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame.”

The understanding of what the Apostle Paul is saying in the verses above rests upon our recollection that this letter is written to the Hebrews, not to the Gentiles. Some Hebrews were called “Judaizers” because they believed that one had to become a true Jew and receive circumcision (a sign of acceptance of the Old Testament Law), before he could become a Christian. The Judaizers were mingling the Old Testament Law with New Testament grace.

Now, in the verses above, Paul is addressing religious Jews, saying that those have truly understood the Gospel and come to the place where they should turn from the Old Testament Law, and fully accept the Jesus Christ as the Father’s once-for-all Sacrifice for their sins, but still not accept Him, they are lost and can never be saved.

The Passover and the LORD’s Supper, which Jesus celebrated with His disciples prior to His arrest and crucifixion, symbolized the transition from the Old Testament Law (Passover) to the New Testament Grace (the Supper). Note, too, that Judas Iscariot did not partake of the LORD’s Supper (Jn. 13:30). In fact, Judas Iscariot typified the Jews, who did not accept Jesus as his LORD and Savior!

All of this is to demonstrate how very important it is for people to be saved, and how vital it is that we, who are saved, share the Gospel with them! Are you sharing the Gospel? You might start by sharing this Letter with someone you know. Humm, now that’s an idea, isn’t it?

I’m praying for you, and trust you are praying for me, as well.

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.”