The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Peter 1:1-8, “Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,

7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Someone somewhere very cleverly noted that “Grace” is “God’s Redemption At Christ’s Expense.” Simultaneously, His Grace inaugurates the faith that enables us to receive and live in His peace and love. They are the divine channel whereby we come to understand Him and His supreme desire for our lives.

The LORD alone is the Promise; we are but His recipients. He is the Supreme Source of all that we need or could ever desire. Yet, until we receive Him, we have no knowledge of His power or His provisions. Have you received Him? He lovingly awaits 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,

Galatians 1:6-10, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him, who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;

7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed.

9 As we have said before, so I say again now, If any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”

The Galatians were by origin a wild and woolly bunch! Their history belies the very belief that enabled their activity to seem normal. To them, it did seem normal, but not to the Apostle Paul! Nevertheless, he dealt with them in somewhat the same rough manner. That got their attention!

It’s a shame, but that is precisely how we often have to approach those who view the Gospel with less dignity than it deserves. At the same time, we must always be on guard that we don’t inadvertently fall into the same trap with those whose theology we are seeking to straighten.

Styles of ministry vary. That’s normal. Biblical truth, however, does not vary from speaker to speaker! The church where I have membership has several pastors. None of them displays an identical pulpit style, yet each of them believes and advocates the same truth. To do otherwise would greatly confuse and divide the congregation.

We must always be extremely careful how we (and others!) relate Holy Scripture. Paul was not angry at the Galatians; but he was stern. There is a difference; and we must be careful, even as we lovingly caution others.

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,

Proverbs 3:19-23, “The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens.

20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up and the skies drip with dew.

21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight; keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22 so they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.

23 Then you will walk in your way securely, and your foot will not stumble,

24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”

These brief, wise words come from the heart and soul of King Solomon, who knew and understood the ways of the LORD. Notice that Solomon’s quotation of the LORD’s ways is brief, but his own words are equally practical. Certainly, the entirety of his words has come from the LORD.

Often, we state the LORD’s meaning without attending to it in our own lives. It is obvious that what Solomon said had been well-learned and proved profitable to him. Now, he has progeny that can profit as he did when he was but a youth.

Everything in Scripture is there for our benefit. The instructions, the warnings, the examples – of good and bad – that occur in the lives of others – are all there for our benefit.

What’s that old expression: “Slow down and smell the roses”? Life teases us with its swiftness; and swiftness always causes us to lose.

Foreign languages have always excited me! Still, I have yet to find one that is conquerable through swiftness. There is not much else in life that is conquerable, either. Concentrate on the Word of the LORD. Don’t rush in reading it. Savor it, like you do something sweet. After all, what is sweeter than the precious words from the heart of our Savior?

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,

Isaiah 4:1-6, “For seven women will take hold of one man in that day, saying, ‘We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach!’

2 In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the adornment of the survivor of Israel.

3 It will come about that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem.

4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning,

5 then the LORD will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. 6 There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain.”

As this letter “goes to press,” multiple warnings dominate local radio and television stations, warning the nation to be aware and alert to the huge storm that is scheduled for the United States. Every conceivable precaution is being urged upon the public!

Similarly, the prophet Isaiah is speaking of a far greater time—a time that was spiritually scheduled upon the people of his day. The people of Zion are spiritually drenched in filth. They desperately need a spiritual cleansing! Nothing, it seems, has changed from the days of Isaiah the prophet. His cry spoke of a shelter that gives shade from the heat of the day and the chill of the night. Such is available to us only in Jesus Christ. Our safety rests with Him alone! Is He your shelter? Beware! The Day of Reckoning is upon us!

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 Kings 22:1-8, “Three years passed without war between Aram and Israel.

2 In the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.

3 Now the king of Israel said to his servants, ‘Do you know that Ramoth-Gilead belongs to us, and we are still doing nothing to take it out of the hand of the king of Aram?’

4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, ‘Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-Gilead, Jehoshaphat?’ And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

5 Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, ‘Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.’

6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth-Gilead to battle or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”

7 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of him?”

8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.’ But Jehoshaphat said, ‘Let not the king say so.’”

There is but one way whereby anyone can achieve his own will: namely, disallow anything that is contrary to intervene. Clearly, Jehoshaphat was not in charge. Anyone who is—and knows it and is not afraid—will take charge and move forward with the task at hand. Those in any military who have proved themselves have rank above others who have not.

Such is the same today with the people of the LORD! There are always troublesome situations that require courage and determination. Still, they are indispensables of life and are required. Those who shrink into withdrawal demonstrate their lack of faith in the LORD. Of course, growth is required in every situation; and faith is the water of growth. Moreover, spiritual trust in the LORD feeds spiritual growth in every situation. Be not afraid! Cast all your care upon Him. He never fails!

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