The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Timothy 3:1-5, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient

to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control,

brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;

5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these.”

With all that the Bible says about our reaching out in love to those who do not know Christ Jesus,

the Apostle Paul here instructs Timothy –and us— to stay away from people like these. If you

count the things Paul mentions in these five verses, you will find 17 adverse conditions of human nature

that are difficult for believers to overcome. In fact, he says, Don’t bother; just stay away from them.

It is beyond our ability to know what has brought unbelievers to such a position that makes them

unreachable with the Gospel. Maybe Paul is concerned that our affiliation with such people will

“rub off” on us –not that we would or could lose our salvation— but that we might fall into the want

of such things as he has described and become less usable to reach them. It might also be that

when people succumb or give way to the attitudes Paul lists, they have simply gone too far to be

effectively persuaded that Jesus is infinitely more important that earthly things.

I can recall instances in my own life, where I have sought to share the Gospel with people, who

simply would not believe. I left off trying because it seemed useless. I had no knowledge of their

captivation of evil, such as Paul describes in these verses. They just stubbornly refused to believe.

I left trying to convince them, hoping that someone else might reach them in days ahead. Time is

essential in all matters; and while I was “wasting” time with someone who stubbornly refused, there

were others who surely were awaiting my witness. The Holy Spirit is always our leader-guide in

such situations. Be sensitive to His leadership. When it aligns with the Word, it is time for us to quit

and go elsewhere.

We pray for you every day that you will be effective servants of Jesus Christ,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

2 Tim 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman

who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.”

My maternal grandfather was a preacher. I can well remember conversing with him

about things within the Bible. He said to me, “You can prove anything from the Bible

if you twist the meaning to mean what you want. But if you take it exactly as it is

written, you have the meaning that God intended.”

We live in a day when many well-meaning speakers and writers are simply wrong

in things they say and write. The often speak with smooth and pleasing words and

sport academic degrees from prestigious institutions of learning. None of this,

however, guarantees that what they say is the truth. Paul wrote to Timothy to “be

diligent (eager, make every effort) to show yourself tested and approved to God”—

not as a smart, intelligent, sophisticated, know-it-all person, but as a humble, spiritual

lowly, but able laborer, and unashamed to be eagerly engaged in the LORD’s work.

The specific requirement for so presenting yourself trained and ready is that you

handle (cut straight, correctly follow) His Word of Truth. To be sure, you and I do

not know everything; but what we do know we are eager to share with others. And

what we know and share is sufficient for those who know nothing about His love

and saving grace. Remember, too, that while intelligent, trained men multiply their

own following, they are not authoritative! Only the infallible, inerrant Word of God

is authoritative; and it carries the power of its loving and gracious Author.

Our prayers of love are offered for you every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

2 Timothy 2:8-9, “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,

9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the Word of God is not imprisoned.”

I have never been in prison. I’ve never even been arrested. But, I have two friends who have been prison

guards. Both are younger than I and one of them grew up with me in the same church. The other has some

intriguing stories about the men he guarded.

Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter to Timothy. He had some intriguing things to say about prison life,

too. But most importantly he says that “the Word of God is not imprisoned.” No one can know what all was in

Paul’s mind as he wrote that, but I have to believe he was thinking of Isaiah 55:11:

“So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing

what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for

which I sent it.”

Taking Paul (and Isaiah) at their word, I copied in audio the message my pastor preached last Sunday,

and sent it a Jewish contact I have in Israel. He dealt with Romans 2, which says that a true Jew is one

who has trusted Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior and not simply one who holds to his physical heritage.

My email was loving and my prayer is that Avi will listen. The Word of God is not imprisoned! The only

way it can be is if we fail to share it with those who don’t know Him. Are you sharing the Gospel?

Our love and prayers abound for you always,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

1 Timothy 6:7-10, “For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall

into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the

faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.”

It’s funny how life works. Babies are born, but they bring nothing into the world with them. When they

grow toward the end of their lives, they become more concerned with how to dispose of the things they

have acquired throughout the years. Other people dangle things before them in the hope of exchanging

what they have for sale with the monetary acquisitions of others. More…more…more. But what is really

important? Those who gain riches then have to worry about the theft of those riches. A man once told me

that he had so many “things” scattered in so many places that they could easily be stolen without him ever knowing it.

Timothy says that food and clothing are sufficient, and those who want more are often hooked into evil

practices that lead to ruin. Have you read the news lately? People who have more money than sense get

entangled into all sorts of evil, thinking that their money can free them from whatever they trouble they encounter. If it does, they simply get into more trouble, thinking the same thing. But there are consequences

for sin (“…be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23). And, Paul adds, “…he who does wrong will receive

the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality” (Col. 3:25).

Simply put, don’t focus on “things.” Focus on the LORD and His will for your life. There are consequences

to that, too, but they are much, much better!

Our love and prayers for you continue daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

2 Timothy 1:12-14. “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed;

for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I

have entrusted to Him until that day. 13 Retain the standard of sound words which you

have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard, through

the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.”

Whatever troubles we encounter in life, the LORD knows about them and is able to

deal with them. We just need to remember that He is there and more powerful than

any and all the difficulties we face. Our responsibility is to “retain the standard” He

has set before us. We do this by believing His Word above the troubles that we

encounter. Always remember that you are not alone. When you were saved, the

LORD gave you the Holy Spirit to live within you, and He is the One who guards

the treasure the LORD has given you.

Love the LORD! Believe His Word! Trust His power! Be assured of His love for you!

Sometime ago, I read of a remarkable rescue at sea. Storms rocked the boat and

Its occupants! The boat’s radio had quit working. Food had dwindled. Everything

looked hopeless. But the persons on board never gave up. Ultimately, they were seen

and rescued. And so it is with God. You may “feel” alone, but you never are. Do you

believe this? You had better. It is your only hope.

We love you –each and every one. Oh, and we pray for you, too,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”