The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Numbers 32:19-23, “…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.’”

There has always been considerable squabbling among the Jews! Either they were totally united against another nation, or they were fractured and disunited within themselves. Here they had reached the land for which they had sought. Only the Jordan River awaited their crossing. But, the tribes of Gad and Reuben had large herds of cattle, and the land they would be required to leave behind looked better for their flocks than the land that lay across the Jordan.

Not to trivialize a situation, but have you ever noticed how children are content to play with certain toys until they see other children playing with different toys? Suddenly, what the other kids have looks better. Then the squabble is on!

Moses was then required to come up with a solution. Indeed he did! “Look,” he said, “you two tribes help the others make the crossing and get settled on the other side; then you will be released from your agreement and may return to those fertile fields.” They agreed!

Sometimes you and I are required to produce a plan that is agreeable to two opposing parties. We must never go back on our word, even though some “new” plan appears to be better than our previous one. Keeping good people together is the correct thing to do.

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, “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 do it 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 the 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 John 4:7-11, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

There are 348 English words listed as “love” in the New American Standard Bible. Not all of these words, however, mean the same thing. The Old Testament is written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek. Still, not every instance in either language always translates “love” with the same meaning.

Words that “look” the same often vary in meaning. We may “love” apple pie, as well as we love the beautiful distant mountains. We may “love” the Word of God, but not how it says that we are to “love one another.” We may truly “love” a member of our own family, while not showing that “love” in a clear, practical way.

It hurts when we love someone and they don’t show the same love toward us. True Christians take note of such things and endeavor to show genuine love toward others. Can you think and discover how you might show love to someone that you’ve neglected? A phone call, a text message, even a short, personal visit. It will make their world!

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,

John 8:22-26, “I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.”

27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.

28 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

29 “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”

30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.

31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

It is more often than not that we get tied up in knots of worry. Jesus warned His disciples about worrying. Yes, it’s difficult to eliminate worry from our thoughts; still, no worry ever accomplished anything except more worry and oftentimes ulcers!

Worry is anti-trust! We say we trust, but we simply cannot (or will not) wait. The LORD’s timing is always precise – not only in the promise, but in the execution of His promise. He just wants us to learn to fully trust in Him.

Yes, I can hear some readers say, “You just don’t know how it is!” Oh, really? I have some stories – true stories! – that you should hear. They would prove my thought! “Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

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,

John 8:12-18, “Then Jesus again spoke to them saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.’ So the Pharisees said to Him, ‘You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.’

Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Even if I am testifying about Myself, My testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.’”

Believe it or not, we live in a world of moral darkness. If you doubt that, you haven’t seen the news lately. Fraud and theft are everywhere! Sin abounds as if it scarcely, previously existed. Numerous people in politics and leadership everywhere are engaged in evil. “The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil…” (1 Timothy 6:10). It is amazing that Law Enforcement can keep abreast of the multiple evils that surround us!

The Scriptures tell us that such evil will abound in the last days! “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and snares; and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction” (1 Tim. 6:9). Moreover, mankind has largely turned its back upon the LORD Jesus Christ and is challenging Him regarding spreading untruth about Himself.

Mark it well! We are living in the last days. We have been warned by the Scriptures. Godly men continue to minister in a variety of communicative media. Live each day as if it were your last. Someday it will be! And that may be sooner than you think!

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