The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Kings 10:18-21, “Then Jehu gathered all the people and said to them, ‘Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much.’

19 “’Now, summon all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests; let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal; whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it in cunning, so that he might destroy the worshipers of Baal.

20 And Jehu said, ‘Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal.’ And they proclaimed it.

21 Then Jehu sent throughout Israel and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. And when they went into the house of Baal, the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other.”

Here’s an age-old question: “Is it ever right to do wrong to do right?”

It seems an easy answer when we discover we’ve been “snookered.” I have to confess that when I first read verses 18-19a, I was furious at Jehu! I had read the passage before, but had forgotten the part that said “But Jehu did it in cunning…”

Although the Scripture gives Jehu a pass (due to his good intention), it is not an “all-time ‘okay’” that we can squeeze in wherever we find it helpful for whatever we want.

Following the end of the Second World War, men who were Nazis sought to exclude their heinous acts under the banner of “…that was war; we were under the authority of our commanders. We had to do it!”

No, this age-old question brings up an age-old truth: “It is never right to do wrong to do right.”

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,

Numbers 32:16-23, “Then they came near to (Moses) 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.”

Working together was not always easy for the Israelites. It is true that the tribes often had mutual enemies outside their own nation; however, they were not always in agreement as to how to deal with them. Notice the “we will” in verses 16 and 17, in contrast to the “we will not” in verses 18 and 19. It is noteworthy that Moses ignored their negatives and transcended to the positive, avoiding a needless confrontation. After all, Moses knew the LORD’s directive, and he was determined to enact it. Still, churches are often like that. They have a common goal but cannot come together on how to achieve the objective. Many times it’s due to poor leadership. More often, however, it is due to members who refuse to yield to the leadership the LORD has put in control. Assuming “wrongs” to be true of both camps, prayer becomes all the more vital. Otherwise, “be sure your sin will find you out.”

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 4:7-11, “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

The Apostle Peter is not announcing an immediate end of life, as we currently know it. He is, however, warning us all that there is an inevitable end coming!

When I was affiliated with Northeastern Bible College in New Jersey, I had several opportunities to speak on a metropolitan radio station. Interestingly enough, a speaker (now deceased) had made his reputation on that station by announcing the precise date of the LORD’s return! (I trust he’s now with the LORD and is regretful of his error.)

We are not to speak as if we possessed some unique knowledge, but to speak His very words, as they are contained in the Scriptures. In this way, He is certain to be glorified.

Further, people everywhere are never more open to hearing the Good News of Jesus than at this special time of the year! To that end, I have appended a Gospel Tract that you can attach to Christmas greetings you send to family and friends. Be prayerful. The LORD alone is responsible for reaching people when we are willing to be used in the process.

Click here to view the Gospel tract — “It’s Not How You Play the Game

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 Timothy 3:1-7, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,

4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,

7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

If you have read carefully the verses above, you have noticed that they indicate that “difficult times will come.” Let me assure you that those times are with us today!

Read slowly through this litany of 20-some things noted in the Scripture above! Every true Christian, as well as the pretenders, should engage in careful examination of his or her spiritual life. If you are not a truly born-again child of God, you need to trust Him immediately! Life is all too short. Good intentions will not do it! You can enjoy His forgiveness, but only upon the confession of your personal sin.

Yes, the times in which we live are difficult! That’s all the more reason why we all need Jesus Christ in our lives. It’s a matter of “surrender.” I gave my life to Jesus as a boy of seven. My three children came to faith at a younger age than I. You can accept Him! You can lead others to accept Him, too. Use the tract below. Attach it to the Christmas email you send to others. The LORD Himself only knows the ultimate value of your witness. God bless you abundantly!

Click here to view the Gospel tract — “It’s Not How You Play the Game”

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,

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;

3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,

4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;

5 for our gospel did come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

7 so that you became an example to all the believers…”

Even in these few verses, it is abundantly clear that the apostle’s desire for the Thessalonian Church was precisely what the LORD Himself desired. Hopefully, we continue to believe that His desire for us today is precisely what He desired for that early church in Thessalonica.

To be true, times have changed. Were that ancient congregation to witness our gathering today, they would doubtlessly be shocked at our numbers, our conduct, our electronic systems, and the multifarious means we have of sharing worship with thousands outside the walls of our own congregation.

Current methods of sharing the Gospel are not to be discouraged, so long as they do not impede the clarity of the Message itself. As ancient as the Good News is, it must not be beclouded by 20th-century innovations. Click on the tract attached and share it with others.

Click here to view the Gospel tract — “It’s Not How You Play the Game”

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