The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 22:1-8, “Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’”

2 He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”

3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance.

5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.”

6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.

7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.”

What would we do if we were directed by the LORD to sacrifice one of our children? The LORD, of course, knew He was ultimately going to spare Isaac; but Abraham didn’t! Aren’t we thankful that the LORD doesn’t put us to such a test? Yes, we face tests of a similar nature. It’s just that here in Scripture we can read ahead and know both the LORD’s intention and the ultimate outcome. Do we believe Him when He orders us to behave in a strange and dangerous manner? We must remember that “God will provide for Himself…” His way is always best. Our trust must always reside in Him.

Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit your way to the LORD. Trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

Heartily yours 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,

Luke 21:10-15, “Then He continued by saying to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, 11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. 13 “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. 14 “So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves: 15 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.”

It’s interesting how natural instincts often lend themselves to conversations of a more serious nature. Whether I was “gifted” with a sense of humor or simply with a dopey mind is an open question. (No votes will be taken here!) Yet, a recent telephone conversation with a man I have never met opened a door with, of all people, his wife!

In the course of my conversation with her, she mentioned that she was reading the Bible with the intention of reading it through. That small “opening” offered me the opportunity to ask if she were a Christian. Her answer was immersed in a reply that was less than I had hoped; still, it offered me the opportunity to introduce “prayer” into our conversation, and how vital that is in connection with the Scriptures.

The LORD had opened the door, just as He said in the passage above from the Gospel of Luke. It was indeed “an opportunity for testimony.” I was “warmed” in my own spirit for the opportunity. Whatever the girl knows or does not know about prayer, I had the opportunity to emphasize it clearly. Whatever the results, they are the LORD’s alone. Please pray for “Betty,” and join me in thanking the LORD for the opportunity of uplifting His Name!

Heartily yours 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,

Philippians 2:1-11, “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.

4 Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

5 Have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men.

8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name, which is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The Apostle Paul covers everything necessary for ministry in verses one through four. Then, in verses five through eight, he exemplifies it all as Christ’s very life. In verses nine through eleven, he identifies the Father’s desires for us all: the exaltation of His Son. When every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Father is then also glorified.

May we ever and always live to the standard of Christ Jesus’ glorification!

Heartily yours 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,

Genesis 1:26-31, “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

28 God blessed them; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

29 Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;

30 and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to everything that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food; and it was so.

31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”

Christmas simply could not have occurred without the creation of man! Furthermore, God created man in His own image! Thus, the creation of man necessitated man’s responsibility to care for all that the LORD has otherwise created.

“Us,” in verse 26 above includes the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, known theologically as “the Godhead.” A child asks his parent, “What does God look like?” The answer resides where all true answers reside: in the Bible, the Holy Scriptures.

Human children are much like many spiritual children in that they are responsible to their parents. Parents are, in turn, responsible to the Creator; namely, the LORD God.

You and I are equally responsible to Him. That’s how we keep our children in line.

Heartily yours 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 2:12-15, “And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. 13 Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.’ 14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night and left for Egypt. 15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON.’”

The magi (or “wise men”) were successful in their search for the young Child Jesus. Moreover, they were enabled to present Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Evidently, however, their wisdom did not extend as sufficiently far as necessary because the LORD warned them to return to their homeland by providing them with an alternate way.

Exactly how young Joseph and Mary were at the time we are not told; yet, the LORD instructed them to take the young Jesus and flee into Egypt, escaping the wrath of King Herod.

However wise we may assess ourselves to be, and however dedicated we are to the will of the LORD, we all stand in need of His Divine wisdom. Obedience, therefore, is always the key to our safety! As obedience was safety with Joseph and Mary, so it was with Baby Jesus. Their protection of Him has enabled our protection today. Thank you, LORD, for Your eternal protection of us.

Heartily yours 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