The Grands Letter

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

Dear Grands,

Exodus 15:1-11, “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?”

Songs of praise always follow victories! What is most notable is that the praise is always the LORD’s. He is Victor! We are but the recipients of His victories! As it was with Moses, so it is with us. The armies of Egypt were in hot pursuit. Israel faced the Red Sea! Escape from Egypt seemed impossible. There was no way out!

Ah, but the LORD had a plan! And His plans have no stable opposition. The key to victory is to press onward! That key is the spiritual secret to winning all battles. The key to the victory for Israel continues to be the key to every battle we Christians face. Obedience to Christ is always the key to victory! Just praise Him for His faithfulness!

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,

3 John 1:1-8, The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

3 For I was very glad when brethren came and bore witness to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth.

4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers;

6 and they bear witness to your love before the church; and you will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.

8 Therefore we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers with the truth.”

What a kind and thoughtful letter the Apostle John addresses to Gaius, who is undoubtedly a leader in the local church. It is understandable that the letter would be first read by him; yet, its contents are intended to encourage the entirety of the church.

Church congregations are always in need of encouragement. John himself was doubtlessly encouraged by being able to send such a message. He reminds the church that people on the outside are always noticing what is transpiring within, whether it is good or bad. So, the congregation must always be true, upright, and faithful.

When it’s all said and done, the church must always exemplify Jesus Christ! Does the aggregate of our daily conduct always reflect His love and concern for others? If it does, then others are seeing and hearing what He earnestly desires. The responsibility of the church depends upon each of us. We are the church; and it will never be more like Christ than we are.

When we walk with His light shining brightly upon us, we can know that the comfort of His presence is always there. Thus, we must always be faithful to Him and to 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,

Micah 6:6-8, “With what shall I come to the LORD and bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves?

7 Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my first-born for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah was a prophet of the LORD, preaching primarily to the Kingdom of Judah in the era of 700 B.C. Micah’s focus was primarily on Jerusalem, where he charges the people with corruption in both the marketplace and in the government. Additionally, he railed against them for their worship of idols and the submission of themselves to prostitutes. Micah ultimately predicted the downfall of Jerusalem.

Once the city was destroyed and the people became repentant, however, the glory of the LORD would return, and the people would once again enjoy peace and tranquility.

Multiple nations are currently suffering and will continue to suffer due to their failure to recognize the LORD and become subservient to Him and His will. It’s not sufficient to be “religious”; it requires sure and concerned commitment to the LORD, just as individual people are required.

Is that not why wars and natural disasters bring chaos upon nations? Of course, it is! The LORD blesses us with multiple blessings; yet we receive His blessings with a nod and return to serving ourselves according to the hunger of our human flesh. There’s an old saying that goes, “You can’t do wrong and get by!” That goes for individuals and for nations.

Yet, ultimately, the LORD Jesus Christ went to the cross for our sins. Our reception of His saving grace rests upon the validity of our commitment to Him. Are we committed? We must hurry! Time is running out.

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 52:4-12, “For thus says the Lord God, “My people went down at the first into Egypt to reside there, then the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

5 “Now therefore, what do I have here,” declares the LORD, “seeing that My people have been taken away without cause?” Again the LORD declares, “Those who rule over them howl, and My name is continually blasphemed all day long.

6 “Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore in that day I am the one who is speaking, ‘Here I am.'”

7 How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, they shout joyfully together; for they will see with their own eyes when the LORD restores Zion.

9 Break forth, shout joyfully together, you waste places of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem.

10 The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations, that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God.

11 Depart, depart, go out from there, touch nothing unclean; go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

12 But you will not go out in haste, nor will you go as fugitives; for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”

This long passage emphasizes what the LORD’s people should be, knowing that the LORD Himself is always with us, as He was with the people who went into Egypt.

The LORD rails in holiness against those who have done evil to His people. He is always present to support those who give open allegiance to Him. “Here I am,” He says! We often cower in the presence of those who oppose Him. Yet, He cries, “Here I am!” And that should be sufficient to smother all of our fears. He encourages us to rejoice! “…shout joyfully together…for the LORD will go before us, and the God of Israel will be our rear guard.” Praise the LORD! He is always with us when we are with Him.

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