The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:1-11, “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

6 For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come,

7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him

11 — a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.”

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Have you ever eaten anything that tasted so delectable that you just had to have more of it? Abundance and frequency are the “more-more” twins! It’s the same with the Apostle Paul. ‘Keep on seeking,’ he said. The more you seek, the more you will find. And the more you find, the more eagerly you will seek it yet again. Your soul will never become filled with the goodness and likeness of the LORD! There are some incredible things coming down the line – things that will greatly increase your spiritual activity!

When these things from the LORD commence to fill your life, there will be no empty space for those “former things” (immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, and greed). They will have been displaced by love and all the qualities we find in the life of our LORD Jesus Christ. Displaced will be anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech—all qualities of the Devil, the evil one! Now, mind you, I didn’t say that you would lie idle. Not for a moment! How could anyone lie idle with this much excitement!? How about giving it a try?

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,

Exodus 15:1-13, “Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and said, ‘I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.

2 ‘The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will extol Him.

3 ‘The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name.

4 ‘Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; and the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

5 ‘The deeps cover them; they went down into the depths like a stone.

6 ‘Thy right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power, Thy right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.

7 ‘And in the greatness of Thine excellence Thou dost overthrow those who rise up against Thee; Thou dost send forth Thy burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff.

8 ‘And at the blast of Thy nostrils the waters were piled up, the flowing waters stood up like a heap; the deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.

9 “The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be gratified against them; I will draw out my sword, my hand shall destroy them.’

10 “Thou didst blow with Thy wind, the sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

11 “Who is like Thee among the gods, O LORD? Who is like Thee, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?

12 “Thou didst stretch out Thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.

13 “In Thy lovingkindness Thou hast led the people whom Thou hast redeemed; in Thy strength Thou hast guided them to Thy holy habitation.’”

Many are the troubles of life, yet the LORD is able and willing to confront them all. “Why then, does He not answer the difficulties I face?” you ask. Perhaps He spoke and you were not listening. Perhaps He allowed them to assail you, giving you the opportunity to witness His grace and His power. Trust in the LORD! There is nothing He cannot accomplish for the best in your life! Perhaps His allowance of your troubles is also to draw you closer to Him. There is no one like the LORD! Trust Him and see!

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 126:1-6. “When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion, we were like those who dream.

2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with joyful shouting; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

3 The LORD has done great things for us; We are glad.

4 Restore our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.

6 He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Psalm 127:1-5, “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD; the fruit of the womb is a reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.

5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.”

It seemed to me that these two psalms belonged together. Of course, they are in proximity within the Bible; yet, it is encouraging that they are conjoined so as to be read in sequence. In the first psalm, we see Israel being freed from captivity and brought joyfully to her homeland. In the second psalm, there is additional praise and productive rejoicing in their lives and with each other. However, it seems that in the latter, greater emphasis is laid upon the worship of the LORD.

This placement in Scripture encourages us to rejoice over our opportunities, as well as over the salvation He has granted us! Challenging us to complete and full redemption? Indeed, the LORD has done great things for us!” And are we glad! Glad indeed!

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,

Exodus 15:1-7, “Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and said, ’I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will extol Him.

3 “The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name.

4 “Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; and the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

5 “The deeps cover them; they went down into the depths like a stone.

6 “Thy right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Thy right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.

7 “And in the greatness of Thine excellence Thou dost overthrow those who rise up against Thee; Thou dost send forth Thy burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff.”

We read, but do we really believe? These things occurred in biblical times! Nothing like this occurs today! Oh, really? I just completed reading a biography that contained some of the most remarkable experiences one could ever encounter. They ranged from the LORD snatching people alive from the jaws of certain death to some of the most exciting encounters and preservations of circumstances you could read anywhere! What’s more, it’s true and happened in our own time!

We are so focused on concepts like “luck” and “good fortune” that we have forgotten how powerful and adept the LORD is at protecting and providing for His own! Yes, we have the Scriptures, and we read of His protection and provision for His people in biblical times. But the times are different today. That was then! Where is He for us today? Shame on us for even thinking such foolishness!

Oh, ye of little faith! How ashamed we will be when we stand before Him on that day in Glory! We will hear Him speak to us and ask, “Why did you not believe Me? Did you not know that the LORD, who hurled the Egyptian riders into the sea, was the same LORD who provided the way of escape for His people Israel?

We will learn on that day just how involved our LORD was in all of our menial affairs, bringing life, health, and provisions to us when it all seemed so impossible from our weak and faithless perspective. “THY RIGHT HAND, O LORD, IS MAJESTIC IN POWER!” Help us to believe 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,

Malachi 3:1-7, “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.

2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.

3 “And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.

4 “Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD, as in the days of old and as in former years.

5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien, and do not fear Me,” says the LORD of hosts.

6 “For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study, and they wondered how this statement related to the character and nature of God. One of the women made an appointment to watch the silversmith work, but she mentioned nothing about the reason for her interest.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire. He explained that in refining silver, it required holding the silver in the middle of the fire so as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about the verse that says, “He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.” She asked if it were true that he had to sit there the whole time the silver was being refined. He told her that he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time. A moment too long in the flames, and it would be destroyed. “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?” she asked.

“Oh, that’s easy,” he said. “It’s when I see my image in it.” If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you. “Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.”

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