The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 10:35-40, “And James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Him, saying to Him, ‘Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.’

36 And He said to them, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’

37 And they said to Him, ‘Grant that we may sit in Your glory, one on Your right, and one on Your left.’

38 But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking for. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?’

39 And they said to Him, ‘We are able.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.

40 But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’”

Be honest now, how many of you have said to one or both of your parents, “Say ‘yes’?” And when they replied, “Well, what is the question?” you said, “Say ‘yes,’ and I’ll tell you the question.” Sounds a bit backwards, doesn’t it? How old were you when you asked that backwards question? Probably quite small.

James and John were well on their way to adulthood when they asked it. “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” I can just see Jesus hiding a smile when He replied, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They were forthright. They may have even said it together: “Grant that

We may sit in Your glory, one on Your right, and one on Your left.”

We have to credit them for believing in the Kingdom Glory –a kingdom they believed would be established on the Earth during their lifetime. When two young men are sufficiently brazen to ask such a question, you have to believe that each of them secretly wanted the best of the two positions.

What is worse is that two verses earlier in this same passage, Jesus had told His disciples that He

would be condemned to death and delivered to the Gentiles. Instead of agonizing over the death that was to come, they were vying for an exalted position in the Kingdom! Truly sad; yet isn’t that exactly how we are –always looking for the best for ourselves instead of showing concern for the LORD?

Jesus’ answer was somewhat blunt: “You do not know what you are asking for.” Isn’t that the prototype of us? LORD, I’ll go anywhere, do anything. Just give me a nice place on the oceanside, where I can relax to the sound of the waves as they roll in across the sand. No, they hadn’t fully examined the import of the question. Jesus goes on to speak of the cup and the baptism, both of which related to His coming death. Are you able to relate to the cup and the baptism of death? “Oh, yes we are,” they responded with arrogant thoughtlessness.

Well, you will experience both, Jesus said. But those positions that you seek are not Mine to give. They belong to the Father, and He will asign them according to His will.

LORD, humble us until we understand that we exist for YOUR Glory, not our own.

Prayerfully and humbly yours,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Psalm 23:1-6, The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

5 Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

It is often said that the best-known Scripture verse in the New Testament is John 3:16. I believe that is true. But, probably the best known passage in all of the Bible is the 23RD Psalm. It is a Psalm of David, and as you can see from the verses above, this Psalm has only six verses; but, oh, what superb value is packed in those short verses! Let’s examine them.

1. Relationship: “The LORD is my shepherd….” The Hebrew word for LORD is Yahweh and it carries the meaning of absolute faithfulness. We need not question His ability or His concern. The Shepherd cares in every way for His sheep. We who have trusted in Christ are His sheep, His true, eternal concern.

2. Reliability of Provisions: “I shall not want.” The Hebrew word for want is chaser, meaning that we who are in Him will never be lacking anything that meets our physical and spiritual needs and keeps us looking to Him alone for our provisions.

3. Restoration: “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.” Our bodies and our souls need rest. We all need refreshment, both spiritually and physically. As the Good Shepherd, He gives everything that restores us. In all of this, we are bound willfully to Him.

4. Redirection: “He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.” It is vital not only that we commit ourselves to Christ, but that we follow His leadership daily. What is it that He wants from you? What is His calling? I can tell you this with full assurance: You will never be completely at peace within yourself unless you are following the Holy Spirit’s guidance for your life.

5. Reliability of Protection: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (the valley of deepest darkness), I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.” While these are two different words (shebet and misheneth), it is difficult to distinguish their usages. One is probably the walking stick of the shepherd, the other, the “crook” with which he grasped and rescued endangered sheep. The LORD teaches us to walk in His ways and rescues us when we stray from His teachings.

6. Recognition: “Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.” The Shepherd lavishes good things upon His children. What is more, He does it in the presence of His enemies. He blesses us abundantly, in the face of those who resist Him and mock Him. See how blessed we are? Our excitement abounds, trusting that those outside of His love and grace will come to know Him as their own.

7. Resolution: “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” With the abundant blessings of the LORD falling upon His children, why should we want to stray? His house is more than His temple. We resolve to dwell in His truths and His righteousness.

Do these seven distinctives stir your soul? They certainly should! And they will if you belong to Jesus Christ. There is so much in store for us as believers! We owe our blessed LORD everything, starting with the will He has placed within us.

We love and pray for you earnestly,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Jude 1:24-25, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,

25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

My mother should be highly honored for answering my multiple questions. It is arguable that no child ever asked more questions than I. “But what would happen if…?” or “I don’t think I can do it! What if…?” And for every question I asked, she had an answer. Most of the time her replies to my queries included the LORD. “You just pray about that, young man; the LORD will take care of it,” she would say.

Jude may have been a boy like that. I don’t know. But, he concludes his letter by emphasizing the things my mother told me; namely, the ability of the LORD to keep us from stumbling and to enable us to stand one day blamelessly and joyfully in the presence of the LORD and behold His glory. It would be my thought that we would bow our knees before the LORD; but Jude says the LORD will enable us to stand. I imagine that I would be fearful of even being in the LORD’s presence, but Jude says we will all be joyful.

Jude then offers a tribute to Christ Himself, for He is the only God. Mohammed, Buddha, the multiple gods of the Hindus –all of them are false! They do not exist! The LORD alone is God of all the Earth. It is His Creation, including man. Further, God has come to Earth in the person of Jesus. He is the Messiah, the deliverer, our God—the only God. Thus, we give praise to Him alone. All glory and majesty and strength and authority belong to Him. It was that way before time was ever reckoned. It is that way now. And it will be that way forever! Past, Present, Future – It all belongs to Him. And we do, too, when we turn away from sin and embrace Him in love. Amen (truly)!

Turn your eyes away from the world and look at Jesus! Take captive your thoughts and think only of Jesus! Trust in Him to be all-and-in-all to you! He will change your life and fill it with His Eternal Love!

We love each of you and pray that you will be fully and forever His,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Jude 1:20-23, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit;

21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting;

23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.”

What do you do when you’re trapped in a corner? A local church, not far from where we live, discovered itself “trapped” when the local police arrested the pastor. It was news to the people that he had been in prison and had engaged in nefarious activities while maintaining his pastoral role.

In this instance, the police freed the church from one who had “sneaked in unawares.” Had the police not become aware of the pastor’s character, that church might still be trapped in the corner.

What would Jude tell them to do? He had a two-fold instruction.

First, take care of yourselves spiritually! You are loved of God, build upon that love by exercising greater faith in Him. Trust all the more in the LORD! Pray earnestly as the Holy Spirit prompts you.

I can remember times when my prayers just flowed out of me, as if I were not thinking of words at all. I have to believe it was Holy Spirit-directed prayer.

Then, guard yourselves in the love of God. His love is protecting love! Rose Marie’s illness has encouraged us to love the LORD more. We look to Him for the protection against life-threatening illnesses. The more severe the problem, the greater we look to His protecting love. We also wait anxiously for His mercy (eleeo). That Greek word (eleeo) is the word from which we get eleemosynary, meaning to pity, to take the hurt out. He is Coming Again! And when He comes, He will erase all the hurt in our lives. So powerful is His presence and His love!

Second, treat others mercifully and lovingly! Some people are confused. They have heard the true message of faith from true and faithful ministers. Yet, now they are hearing a different message; and it has left them tottering between the two. They’re not sure what the true message is. We are to save (sozo) them, snatching, draging them lovingly to safety from the eternal fires of Hell by reinstructing and reinstating them in the truth of the Word. Some will require intense bravery. We must hate and despize even the clothes that have been defiled through their use in sinful activities.

Think Christianity is an easy way of life? Hardly! But, look at the coming rewards! Gates of pearl; streets of gold; love beyond imagination! Review this letter again. Read it slowly. Think as you read.

Just see what it really means to be a Christian!

We love you immensely and pray for you earnestly,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. The nuclear pictues of Rose Marie have all been taken, and the results sent to her

hematologist. A vascular surgeon will now evaluate them as to whether further

surgery is needed. We have an appointment with him next Monday morning.

Please pray for Dr. Russell Wood and for my sweet Rose Marie –oh, and for me!

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Jude 1:14-19, “And about these also Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones,

15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.’

16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.

17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,

18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there shall be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.”

19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.”

I have often been challenged as to whether I knew what I was preaching and whether it was the truth. On each occasion, the LORD gave me the words –His Words—to say in defense. Thus, I can easily believe that as Jude was warning the church-at-large of these false teachers and preachers, he was being led by the same Holy Spirit who led me. By mentioning Enoch, as the seventh from Adam, Jude was giving historical context the LORD’s judgment upon those who were twisting His Truth and wrongly shaping the thinking of the church.

Jude calls these ministers grumblers, fault finders, lustful, arrogant, and deceitful. They are seeking their own good, not the good of the people, and certainly not the glory of the LORD. And with all of this in mind, Jude inserts that other apostles have said just what he himself is now saying; namely,

that in the last times there shall be mockers (of God and of His message). And this will cause divisions, and worldly-mindedness, things that have nothing whatsoever to do with the Holy Spirit.

Reader, this is serious stuff I’m talking about! People are naturally sinful; but, they have had the awareness of their Creator placed within them (Rom. 1:19), enabling them to seek Him and come to know Him as their Lord and Savior. Yet, instead of following Him, they continue to seek and practice evil, His displeasure is sure to fall upon them in judgment. Those who have never received Him will receive His judgment for eternity in Hell, a place of darkness and eternally separated from God and from any hope of deliverence.

We who know Jesus Christ as our Savior and LORD are responsible to share Him with others. Are you seeking to share Him? You should. And your life sets the stage for sharing. He loves you! You love Him! And that love cannot be concealed from others. “What makes you different?” they ask. Tell them: It’s Jesus! –and your witness has begun.

We love you and pray that you will be His witness,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”