The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,

always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

Have you ever been puzzled by verses in the Bible? I certainly have. And the verse

above was one that, as a kid, I had great difficulty understanding. Steadfast and

immovable seemed to be much the same, but then Paul says “always abounding.”

If you’re standing still, how can you be abounding at the same time? I knew there

could be no contradiction. After all, this was the Word of God. But, for a long time,

I simply could not figure it out.

When difficulties like that occur, it is always good to take a closer look at the individual

words. So, let’s unpack them and see what exactly Paul meant.

The word steadfast means to be “firmly settled in your thinking about what you believe.”

Immovable means not to allow anyone to unsettle you or mix you up in your spiritual beliefs.

Neither of these words have to do with your physical position; both are to be spiritually understood.

Abounding means overflowing, surpassing the normal, always increasing as to the work of

the LORD. Work means the practical manifestation, the open proof of what you profess to be

the beliefs the LORD has given us in His Word. It’s good to have the truth of God in your

mind, but to do His full work we must demonstrate outwardly what we believe.

The encouragement this verse gives us is that nothing He gives us to do that will glorify Him

is ever in vain or worthless or without result. He does not guarantee that we will always see

the results of our witness, but they will be there to be revealed in eternity.

Years ago in Mexico, I learned of a man, who had “come to the end of his rope.” He took off

his shirt, climbed to the top of a barrier overlooking a river and was about to jump to his death,

when he felt a piece of paper hit his chest. Being curious, he climbed down from the raining and

read the paper. It was a gospel tract, written and published by someone he never knew; but

the message gave him hope. And on that day he came to faith in Jesus Christ. All of those

who produced that tract had worked; and none of it was in vain. So, work and be encouraged!

You are daily in our prayers,

Nana & Dado III

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,

1 Corinthians 13:1-3, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love,

I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith,

so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not

have love, it profits me nothing.”

Language is indeed a marvelous instrument! Travel to foreign countries brings a person into

contact with various languages and even intense concentration produces little or no

understanding of what is being said. It is simultaneously interesting and frustrating, because

imagination leads one to think that things being said are being said about himself. Only recently,

I was asked to write a letter of commendation for a friend who speaks nine languages. Yet, his

most valuable attribute is his loving attitude toward everything in life.

Paul lists numerous attributes that are envious, but none is more to be desired than love. In fact,

he says one could possess virtually everythiing man desires; but, if without love, the person

possesses nothing. He goes further still to say that giving everything to help and feed the poor,

even giving his own body in excruciating death amounts to nothing if it is not done in love.

Maybe it’s time for each of us to examine what we possess and hold dear other than love.

Our work, our possessions, our abilities, our friends, our families – all amount to nothing unless

we possess and show them love. By the way, the love of which the apostle speaks is agape, the

highest form of love that exists. It focuses on nothing more than upon the LORD Jesus Christ,

who lovingly gave Himself in death for our sins. Do you possess this kind of love? Can others

see it in your life and work? Think about it. Then, ask the LORD to make you even more loving.

You are in our daily prayers,

Nana & Dado III

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,

1 Corinthians 10:11-13, “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written

for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he

stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and

God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation

will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.”

“Now, watch how he does it and do it the same way.” Did someone ever say that to you? Why would

they say something like that? When they want us to learn how to do something, they use someone

who has already learned how as an example, a pattern, for us to follow.

Paul uses the word example twice (vv. 6 & 11) to instruct us what not to do and what to do. We are

not to desire things that are evil. We are not be idolaters (image worshippers). We are not to behave

immorally (sexually). We are not to try (test, temp) the LORD. And we are not to grumble (mutter)

against others, much less, against the LORD. It would be enough if this instruction were from Paul

alone; but, he cites Old Testament examples for our instruction as well.

“Oh, I’m alright,” you say. “None of that bad stuff bothers me.” Be careful! You just may be the next

person to fall. Still, the temptations (solicitations to do evil) that have destroyed others are the same

as those that threaten you. The one hope you have is that “God is faithful.” He will not allow the

solicitation to evil that come to you to be greater than you can overcome. He provides you the way

to escape. But you cannot just sit there. You have to get up and run from the temptation. The LORD

opens the door for your escape, but you have to run through it to find victory.

We love you and continually pray for you every day,

Nana & Dado III

P. S. We originally intended these Grands Letters for our grandchildren. But they now are being delivered

to many others. To you, who are those “others,” we are either “Mom & Dad” or “Gene & Rose Marie.”

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,

1 Corinthians 8:4b-6, “…we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world,

and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in

heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6 yet for us there

is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord,

Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”

To my knowledge, I had never before been so close to an idol. Oh, I had seen a giant Buddha

outside a restaurant (Rose Marie would never go in!). But when we entered the dining room of

an Indian friend’s home, I saw the figure of an elephant with a candle burning near it. How could

this be? He’s intelligent! He works for IBM!!! Surely, it wasn’t his –but it was. It was his god.

As Paul notes, “…there are many gods” in the world around us. Therefore, we have no time

to waste quarlling with other believers (Remember that the Corinthian Christians were

squabbling over who was the greater leader –Paul? Apollos? Peter?) And while they were

fussing with each other, people who worshipped idols were dying without Christ!!

There is but one, true God. He is our Father, and all things that are – everything we see,

and everything we don’t – was created by Him. Furthermore, we who exist, exist for Him!

And the Father’s Son — Jesus, the Messiah—is the One through whom we have reeeived

everything. We have life because of Him. We have food and clothing and shelter because

of Him.

We all have responsibilities in life. Someone who is in authority over us has assigned us the

jobs we have. Yes, we receive wages for what we do, but that’s not why we exist. We exist

by Him and for HIM! Wages themselves can become an idol. When wages, or anything else,

becomes the focus for our labor, they become our idol. Keep your focus on Jesus! You

and I exist solely for Him! You life will be cleaner and your soul will be free of anxiety. He will

then become your all-and-in all!

We continue to pray for you every day,

Nana & Dado III

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,

1 Corinthians 4:1-5, “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.

3 But to me it is a very small thing that I should be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.

4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.

5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.”

The Corinthian Church was a mess! They argued among themselves, each thinking he was greater than

the other because of whom he followed – Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter). Paul himself said they were

“fleshly” (1 Cor. 3:3). He emphasizes that the three were mere servants of Christ. The word he uses (huperetes)

means “under rowers,” the slaves that were in the lower part of the boat and rowed the oars that kept the

boat moving through the water. Further, he calls themselves “stewards” (oikonomos), “managers of the house.”

And stewards were required to be faithful, trustworthy.

Moreover, Paul tells them that as carnal, fleshly men, they are not worthy to examine him. In fact, he doesn’t

even examine himself. He says he’s not conscious of anything wrong in his own life, but that doesn’t mean

he is not guilty or without sin. It’s God’s business to examine him, not the fleshly, carnal members of the

Corinthian congregation. So there!

Recently, news has come forth of some serious charges against leaders of large churches. Arguments arise

as to whether they are guilty of the crimes with which they are charged. The LORD alone knows whether these

leaders (servants, stewards) are guilty. It is quite possible that the people bringing charges agains these

leaders are just as guilty as the ones whom they charge. “Don’t pass judgment “before the time,” Paul says.

Wait for the LORD, who is the Supreme Judge! When He comes, He will reveal the whole truth, even the

“hidden things” and “motives of the heart.” The LORD alone will bring it all to light, and each man will

be praised accordingly to what he deserves.

In the meantime, we will do well to live cleanly and honestly, being faithful in service to the LORD Jesus. We

want Him to say to us, “Well, done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joys of the LORD.”

We pray faithfully for you, and trust you are praying for us,

Nana & Dado III

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.”