The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Daniel 13:15-18, “Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you will not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.

17 “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

18 “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Anyone who reads history knows that bravery in battle is not known to older men alone. Nor has courage existed only in recent times. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were undoubtedly in their mid-to-late teens when King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that everyone fall down and worship before the image he had created. They did not challenge Nebuchadnezzar in any manner. They simply refused to worship as he had demanded.

When arrogant men in any age are challenged, they don’t take it lightly. Nebuchadnezzar was one of those men. Yet, neither his position nor his attitude dissuaded the three young Hebrews. “…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us…” they bravely stated. Furthermore, whatever happens, they continued, “we are not going to worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Courage comes from faith; and those young Hebrew lads were gifted with true, unadulterated faith. The LORD still honors faith like that today. What is lacking are people, young and old, who will make such a courageous stand. Determine right now to be one of the “braves!” Don’t look around at others! You may be the only one! Standing alone is one of the bravest – besides, when you stand for the LORD, you’re not alone! He’s with you!

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,

Psalm 118:1-9, “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.

2 Oh let Israel say, ‘His lovingkindness is everlasting.’

3 Oh let the house of Aaron say, ‘His lovingkindness is everlasting.’

4 Oh let those who fear the LORD say, ‘His lovingkindness is everlasting.’

5 From my distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in a large place.

6 The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?

7 The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore, I shall look with satisfaction on those who hate me.

8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.

9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.”

For most of us, the giving of thanks is normal when we approach the table to eat. We also give thanks before bedtime and at church. Yet, the psalmist views prayer as more than a perfunctory encounter with the LORD. He observes the LORD as having everlasting lovingkindness. He reaches out to the LORD in times of fear and distress. He views the LORD as the One in whom he can find help at all times, especially in a time of trouble.

It is true that we live in times vastly different from those of the psalmist. We have ambulances, hospitals, and doctors – yet he faithfully cries, “The LORD is for me; I will not fear… It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.”

There are 34 verses in the Scriptures that say, “Trust in the LORD…” Many miracles unknown to modern science are known to our Heavenly Father. The world and all that surrounds it have come from His hand. How could we not cast all of our trust at His feet and believe in Him?

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,

Psalm 8:1-9, “O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Thy name in all the earth, Who hast displayed Thy splendor above the heavens!

2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast established strength, because of Thine adversaries, to make the enemy and the revengeful cease.

3 When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?

5 Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God, and dost crown him with glory and majesty!

6 Thou dost make him to rule over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet,

7 All sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,

8 The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Thy name in all the earth! “

One of the finest compliments I ever received came from one of my grammar school teachers. Kids in the early grades are always into something; and on this occasion, someone had said or done something to a fellow student, and the teachers had launched an investigation to ascertain who had said what to whom and, if necessary, how many times. Whew! But reportedly, she said, “I’ll ask Gene. He always tells the truth.” How I wish that could be said for the entirety of my life.

A similar situation is observable in this eighth Psalm. The nine verses focus praise solely upon the LORD! Whether the psalmist actually believed that the LORD physically crafted everything with His hands, as opposed to speaking them into existence, is problematic. It is, however, undeniably, the LORD’s doing. “It is marvelous in our eyes” (Psa. 118:23).

May we all remember that His hand is upon us for a purpose: namely, His glorification!

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,

Genesis 18:25-33, “25 ‘Far be it from Thee to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from Thee! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?’

26 So the LORD said, ‘If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.’

27 And Abraham answered and said, ‘Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes.

28 ‘Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, wilt Thou destroy the whole city because of five?’ And He said, ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.’

29 And he spoke to Him yet again and said, ‘Suppose forty are found there?’ And He said, ‘I will not do it on account of the forty.’

30 Then he said, ‘Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?’ And He said, ‘I will not do it if I find thirty there.’

31 And he said, ‘Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?’ And He said, ‘I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.’

32 Then he said, ‘Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?’ And He said, ‘I will not destroy it on account of the ten.’

33 And as soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham, the LORD departed; and Abraham returned to his place.”

Have you ever thought that you could “out-talk” the LORD? I know some preachers who apparently believe they can. Have you ever thought you could bargain with the LORD and win? Well, I’ve never personally known that to be successful. It seems both dangerous and futile to me. Yet, I suppose each of us has, at some time, sought to persuade the LORD to come our way.

There are some decidedly spiritual aspects that must be “in place,” if any facet of such can be successful. Examining the life of Abraham finds him abiding in the way of the LORD. Any child of a wise and loving parent knows that “minding” is key to obtaining future freedoms.

What has the LORD commissioned you to be beyond being a true and faithful servant? “Being” supersedes “doing.” How clearly and often my mother used to say, “Well, if you do what I’ve told you, we’ll see about it.” Are you doing what He has told you to do? Are you reading the Bible? Are you faithfully praying? Do others know you as a true and faithful witness for the LORD? Okay, now we’ll see about those things you’ve asked.

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 Chronicles 27:25-31, “Now Azmaveth the son of Adiel had charge of the king’s storehouses. And Jonathan the son of Uzziah had charge of the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers.

26 Ezri the son of Chelub had charge of the agricultural workers who tilled the soil.

27 Shimei the Ramathite had charge of the vineyards; and Zabdi the Shiphmite had charge of the produce of the vineyards stored in the wine cellars.

28 Baal-hanan the Gederite had charge of the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah; and Joash had charge of the stores of oil.

29 Shitrai the Sharonite had charge of the cattle which were grazing in Sharon; and Shaphat the son of Adlai had charge of the cattle in the valleys.

30 Obil the Ishmaelite had charge of the camels; and Jehdeiah the Meronothite had charge of the donkeys.

31 Jaziz the Hagrite had charge of the flocks. All these were overseers of the property which belonged to King David.”

While the verses above lack the excitement of many verses in the Scriptures, the importance here lies in the numerous instances of the phrase “in charge of.” In each instance, there is a personal name of one who is responsible for the care of a particular item. Some were in charge of tilling the soil; others were in charge of the produce of the vineyard. The key concept, therefore, is the word “responsible.”

Life itself is filled with responsibilities. They are as different as they are numerous. You and I have responsibilities of various values in the home, in secular work, and in caring for the needs of others.

As born-again believers in the LORD Jesus Christ, we have spiritual responsibilities, too. We are responsible to pray for ourselves and for others. We are responsible to witness to the lost. We are responsible to conduct ourselves in the manner that identifies us as belonging to the LORD.

One day we will be called to account for how we lived our lives. The LORD promises rewards for those whose lives have honored Him; and we honor Him in much the same way as we honor our parents by being responsible in our behavior and in the labor that is assigned to us. May the LORD bless you as you show yourself faithful to Him and His work.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

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