The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Kings 6:1-9, “Now it came about in the four hundred and eightieth year after the sons of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.

2 As for the house which King Solomon built for the LORD, its length was sixty cubits and its width twenty cubits and its height thirty cubits.

3 The porch in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits in length, corresponding to the width of the house, and its depth along the front of the house was ten cubits.

4 Also for the house he made windows with artistic frames.

5 Against the wall of the house he built stories encompassing the walls of the house around both the nave and the inner sanctuary; thus, he made side chambers all around.

6 The lowest story was five cubits wide, and the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house all around in order that the beams would not be inserted in the walls of the house.

7 The house, while it was being built, was built of stone prepared at the quarry, and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any iron tool heard in the house while it was being built.

8 The doorway for the lowest side chamber was on the right side of the house; and they would go up by winding stairs to the middle story, and from the middle to the third.

9 So he built the house and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar.”

With all of his subsequent faults, it has to be said that Solomon truly knew how to build a glorious house for the LORD! And with current situations looking upward in Israel today, it may not be long before Israel commences to follow in Solomon’s steps.

We will do well, too, if we assess the details Solomon followed in his building and determine to be as precise in the quality of construction within our own lives. Sadly, Solomon was not as competent in the construction of his life. Hopefully, we will do better by following the Holy Spirit’s direction. Once we confess the sin that indwells us and have trusted the LORD Jesus for salvation, we are to follow His blueprint for our daily life. The way to be externally beautiful is to be internally beautiful. That commences with the confession of our sin and the dedication of our life to Him and His cause for all mankind. His Word clearly states His will for us, and that far surpasses the splendor created by Solomon.

How about our lives? Are they what the LORD desires? He is the Supreme Judge of us all; and we are responsible to clean and care for our lives on a regular basis.

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,

2 Corinthians 5:10-17, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

12 We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.

13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;

15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Have you ever wondered why the LORD leaves you here on Earth? I certainly have. Oh, it’s not that I don’t love my family. I surely do! But my parents and grandparents have all gone on to be with Christ; so too has my wife. They’re all with Him, so life is certainly more than one’s family.

One day we, who truly know Jesus Christ, will stand before Him at what the Bible calls the Judgment Seat. At that time, He will assess the quality of our lives and whether we had attended well to the assignments He had given us while we were here on Earth. At that time, also, we will give an accounting for the things we have done and have not done. That will be far less than enjoyable!

Yet, we still have the opportunity to reclaim ourselves. There are lost souls who need our witness. There are straying souls who need our spiritual guidance and comfort. Our lives should demonstrate Christ before all mankind! Nor should we stand in the way of a brother or sister when they seek to honor Him. We are to be His “new creatures!” Others will notice our lives and ask how we managed to become what we are. At that point, we can tell them of Jesus! We are not responsible for whether they accept Him. But we are responsible to see that they have had the opportunity to receive Him! Are you with me? Okay, let’s go do it together!

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,

James 5:13-20, “Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;

15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.

18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back,

20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

“It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples” (Lk. 11:1 NAU). Prayer has never been more needed than it is today! Yet, I suppose that thought has been circulated numerous times over the years.

James allows that some sicknesses occur because of sin. Who is to know whether sin is the cause of an illness? The elders of the church are to know! James alludes to the elders’ spiritual insight. The Holy Spirit awakens their insight, and they all pray for the one who is suffering.

I once knew a missionary who anointed someone with oil. When asked why he did so, his reply was: “That’s what the Bible says to do, and I had no other option.” Sounds right to me. Yet, in many instances, we’ve veered away from what Scripture says. Perhaps we need to start by confessing our own sin before we endeavor to help others.

James then cites Elijah. He was human just as we are. But when he prayed, the LORD responded mightily! If we would see answers to prayer, we must be men and women of prayer. We would do well to remember James’ admonition: “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” – much in our lives, much in our homes, much in our churches!

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 Samuel 3:2-10, “It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well),

3 and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was,

4 that the LORD called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.”

5 Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, lie down again.” So, he went and lay down.

6 The LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So, Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he answered, “I did not call, my son, lie down again.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him.

8 So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy.

9 And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.'” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

Children are simply precious! Oh, I know they can be difficult at times; but when they are in a sweet mood, there is nothing in this world like a lovely, little child. Not all children, however, have the maturity of submission required to serve in a holy capacity, like the boy Samuel. A strange voice in the dark would scare most children. But Samuel was no ordinary child. His birth came from spiritually dedicated parents. His mother so desired a child that she begged the LORD for one! She simply would not take “No” for an answer – not even from the LORD. Such dedication and determination must have touched the LORD’s heart; thus, He gave her a son.

The Scripture is silent regarding how old young Samuel was at that time, or how long he had been with priest Eli, or whether, or how much, he knew of Eli’s two sons and their immoral behavior. We will have to await eternity to learn many things (if we even need to know them!). Notice, too, that Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’ Yet, Samuel dared not to speak the title “LORD,” but simply said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” What would you have said? How vital it is that we maintain communication with the LORD! Are you praying regularly?

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,

2 Samuel 5:6-10, “David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.

5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

6 Now the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, and they said to David, “You shall not come in here, but the blind and lame will turn you away”; thinking, “David cannot enter here.”

7 Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is the city of David.

8 David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him reach the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul, through the water tunnel.” Therefore, they say, “The blind or the lame shall not come into the house.”

9 So David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward.

10 David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of hosts was with him.”

Just moments ago, I heard the late Charlie Kirk speak to a group of college-aged citizens. Yes, he was and is an excellent communicator! Yet, the content of his message to the huge audience awakened in me somewhat of the courage of King David.

David was but 30 years old when he became king, and it was then that he and his men went to Jerusalem and opposed the Jebusites. “David cannot enter here,” they cried. Yet, David entered the city and captured the Jebusites’ stronghold. As a result, “David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of hosts was with him.”

How often do we see wrong being done – things that are clearly in opposition to the LORD; yet we turn aside because we just don’t want to become involved! “It’s not my business,” we say. Yet, what would we think if we were being attacked in some manner? Should we not ask ourselves, “Why are we in this situation? Is there no one to help us?”

It was Edmund Burke, an 18th-century British philosopher, who said, “All that’s necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” What does the LORD have for us to do today…this week? Verse 10 above says, “David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of hosts was with him.” If we truly know the LORD, He will give us opportunities to speak on His behalf. He will put the very words in our hearts and mouths, just as He did with David. May the LORD give us courage as we venture to be His messengers of truth and of love!

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