The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:12-16, “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Thanksgiving Day is upon us. It is, for many, the most delightful celebration this side of Christmas. The precise origin of the day varies somewhat but is historically traceable to A.D. 1621, subsequent to the time the early settlers arrived from Europe. Having made friends with Indian tribes, the Pilgrims celebrated with a time of prayer and a huge feast with the Indians.

We all have experiences for which we ought to be thankful. For my part, I am thankful for my parents, Eugene (Bud) Jeffries and Velma Elizabeth Anderson, who lived the Christian faith before me and led me to a saving faith in Jesus Christ when I was but seven years old. Further, I am thankful for my grandparents, who led my parents to trust Jesus as their Savior, and I am exceedingly thankful for my late wife, Rose Marie, and for our three children, Richard, Teri, and Robert, each of whom she led to profess Christ at an early age, and for their continuance to follow and picture Him in the face of their children. Further, I praise the LORD for my nine great-grandchildren and those awaiting to burst on the scene at any moment!

I am exceedingly thankful for the Word of God, for His saving grace, and for the privilege of sharing Jesus Christ with many thousands throughout the far-flung areas of our world. I am also grateful for the many faithful men and women who have befriended and helped me in multiple ways throughout the years. May they, too, ever receive His blessings!

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 21:18-21, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly.

20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21 “And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.”

The Jewish definition of engagement occurred when men and women were said to be betrothed. Betrothal usually took place a year or more before marriage, and from that time, the woman was regarded as the lawful wife of the man to whom she was betrothed. He was also her legal husband.

How long the young Jewish couple had known each other is not disclosed. They were, however, notably righteous, as Joseph was ready to cancel the entire arrangement, so as not to disgrace Mary. Undoubtedly, the entire situation must have been a huge shock to the young couple.

Joseph’s initial plan was to spare Mary the shame and disrespect she was certain to endure. There is no indication of concern for what others might have thought or that he even cared about what they thought. His intention was to deliver Mary from what initially appeared to be her disgrace. It must have torn his heart out!

Like all true solutions, this one came from Above. The Angel of the LORD appeared and ordered Joseph to stop the annulment proceedings. What he thought had occurred had not occurred at all. It was the planned activity of the LORD.

We are to learn from this that things are not always what they appear to be. Furthermore, the LORD is thoroughly embedded in all of our righteous activities. We must listen and learn from Him.

Heartily yours in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

Dear Grands,

Psalm 69:30, “I will praise the name of God with song, and shall magnify Him with thanksgiving.”

There are 60 some verses throughout the Scriptures that contain the word thanksgiving! Many are scattered appropriately throughout the Psalms—many more than we could include here. Yet, they all direct our thoughts to the One who deserves our thanks: the LORD Jesus Christ.

It’s true that many are thankful—they just don’t know how to express it. When we do, we often focus upon some item for which we are thankful, or for the person or persons who were thoughtful to have expressed their love through giving. Were it not for the LORD, however, nothing would truly matter.

Throughout the Psalms, the Psalmist expresses praise to the LORD. “Do homage to the Son,” he says, “…how blessed are all who take refuge in Him” (2:12).

We are blessed to know the LORD Jesus as our Savior and LORD! We are blessed to have families, to live in a free world, and to have the freedom to worship Him without fear of retribution from others.

So much of the world lives in darkness! There is political darkness, economic darkness, and spiritual darkness. Yet, all darkness is dispelled by the Light of the Savior, Jesus Christ! There’s an old hymn that’s sadly neglected in today’s church;

Look and live, my brother, live!

Look to Jesus now and live!

‘Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah!

It is only that we look and live!

May the LORD God bless you abundantly! Just don’t forget to say “Thank You” to Him!

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,

Acts 4:1-12, “And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3 And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.

4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

5 And it came about on the next day that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;

6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent.

7 And when they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people,

9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well,

10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.

11 “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the very cornerstone.

12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”

With so many variant ideas of what salvation is and how it works in and for the lives of people, I am once again attaching below the Gospel tract, “It’s Not How You Play the Game.” Download the tract to your computer. This will enable you to forward it to numerous unsaved persons on a “one-on-one” basis. It would be my blessing to rejoice with you over the salvation of your friends who trust Him. I will not personally intercede with anyone unless I am asked to do so.

God bless you abundantly!

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
United States of America

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

Dear Grands,

John 8:31-36, “Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you abide in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’

33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You shall become free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

35 “And the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.

36 “If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.”

Freedom is a word that has a plethora of meanings. My minuscule dictionary, making no pretense of infallibility (but wanting no contradictions), gives no less than 17 separate definitions of the word.

All of that is to say that there was virtually no opportunity for those to whom Jesus spoke to escape His meaning of “freedom.” What “triggered” His Word in those Jews provoked their response: “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never yet been enslaved…”

Have you never shared the Gospel with someone, even of Jewish lineage, who said, “I’m a member of the church,” or “I’m Jewish!” How easily some people seek to escape from truth – even the Truth spoken by the Savior Himself.

Possessing truth never depends upon one’s membership in a church – any church! It clearly depends upon one’s having personally accepted the LORD Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Savior. Even then, one’s freedom rests exclusively upon Jesus’ words.

Only recently, a man knocked on my door. Before he left, I asked if he were a Christian. His brief testimony was convincing. He was free to believe and rest in Jesus; I am free to believe in Him, also. And so are you! Have you trusted Him? Have you been born again? I honestly trust that you have.

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