The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Jeremiah 6:10-14, “To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may hear? Behold, their ears are closed and they cannot listen. Behold, the Word of the LORD has become a reproach to them; they have no delight in it.
11 But I am full of the wrath of the LORD; I am weary with holding it in. “Pour it out on the children in the street and on the gathering of young men together; for both husband and wife shall be taken, the aged and the very old.
12 “Their houses shall be turned over to others, their fields and their wives together; for I will stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land,” declares the LORD.
13 “For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for gain, and from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely.
14 “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace.’”

By definition, a “homophone” is a word or a phrase that illustrates similarity in sound, yet has a totally different meaning. A small boy wanting more cookies or a second piece of cake, might cry, “Piece, piece,” yet that would have a totally different meaning than the cry for “peace,” as in our Scripture passage above. Check out the following list. Notice that the words all “sound” alike, but have quite different meanings:

Air / heirdear / deer know / no peace / piece
Bare / bearflour / flower meat / meet see / sea
Cell / sellknight / night real / reel their / there

In much the same way, nations cry peace! Yet, their true desire is for their piece, not peace for or with their adversaries! One may say, “I love you;” yet the one speaking means something quite different than the one who hears it said.

The last verse in the Jeremiah passage above illustrates this quite clearly. Peace for one comes only when there is a realization of occupancy of land for the other. Do you have peace? True peace? Do those around you have peace? The Bible says that “those who love Your (the LORD’s) law have great peace. And nothing causes them to stumble” (Psa. 119:165).

Practice being peaceful. Practice loving peace. “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Prov. 16:7). Think about how you can come to be at peace with someone. You’ll both be better for it.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Ezra 7:1, 6, “Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, there went up Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah….
6 This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.”

There is infinitely more to this account in Ezra than we are able to garner in this brief notation. Ezra, as noted above, was a scribe in the Law of Moses. He possessed what we today would label as a legal expert – one who had graduated from one of the world’s more prestigious Schools of Law. His abilities were second to none, largely (I suppose) because he trusted the LORD and followed Him in the application of what the LORD required. Thus, “…the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.”

What we, in the United States, have only recently experienced, this writer views as one whom “the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.” It was indeed a unique experience for the recipient –a welcome intrusion into a realm
that boasts only of those who are divinely appointed to a specific, albeit gargantuan, task!

As the ultimate value of Moses’ task rested securely in the sure Hands of the Almighty, so the ultimate value of the LORD’s beneficence is bestowed upon His Nation in what might be the terminal days of all human history. No man, who attends to the business of the LORD, attends alone! For one, who finds himself ensconced behind a nation’s desk, soon discovers he is seated on the lap of no less than Almighty God Himself!

Now, the nation’s and the world’s dependency rests solely upon the One, who once surrendered His Life for those who trust Him and dare to be called “Christians.” as the doors close on the final hours of human history.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your
own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He
will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Acts 21:11-14, “And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, ‘This is what the Holy Spirit says: “In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”’
12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”

The quaintness of this experience and the ultimate relinquishing of the human will makes this brief encounter between the Apostle Paul and the Christians at Ptolemais almost unique within the Scriptures. Paul was always viewed as the LORD’s Chosen Vessel. To disagree with him –especially with respect to the will of the LORD—is tantamount to a political argument with someone who had served in government for many years.

Even when Agabus the prophet later arrived from Judea, he sided with the church against the Apostle Paul. Neither group thought it wise for Paul to go to Jerusalem. Yet, Paul was not alone in his desire to go. The Spirit had motivated him, and he was not to be denied doing what he conscientiously believed to be the LORD’s will.

There’s an old adage that says, “It’s never right to do wrong to do right.” But, that doesn’t fit in this situation. With Paul, there was no “wrong” ever in doing what the LORD was instructing him to do!

Were you ever in that kind of situation? You knew in your heart what the LORD
wanted you to do; but your friends –some of your closest friends—thought you should resist doing it. Your know your friends love you –but so does the LORD! No, the difference is clear. Let the will of the LORD be done!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

2 Samuel 22:47-50, “The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; and exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,
48The God who executes vengeance for me, and brings down peoples under me,
49Who also brings me out from my enemies; You even lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man.
50 “Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the nations, and I will sing praises to Your name.”

It’s not difficult to understand the principles contained in the words above. First, the LORD, whom we serve, is alive and we praise and exalt Him above all else. He is our Salvation!

He is also our Protector! Older brothers were often the silent protectors of their younger ones when difficulties arose on the school playground. It’s not that they always had to physically protect the younger; it was just their being there that produced the protection. We don’t physically see the LORD; we just know He is always present whenever we encounter things and don’t know what to do.

Now, notice the promise the LORD gives us. It’s there in that 49th verse. He promises to rescue us from our enemies, including the more violent of them.
What is our response? And to whom do we respond? It’s all so simple: “…we praise and exalt Him above all else and above all others. He is our Salvation!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Revelation 8:1-4, “When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3 Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.”

Would you venture a guess as to how many times “prayer” is mentioned in the Scriptures? Don’t bother to count them; let me tell you that the number exceeds 300. Actually, it’s 334 times, starting with Genesis 20:7 and concluding with Revelation 8:4.

The first occurrence comes in Genesis 20:7, when Abraham told Abimelech that Sarah was his sister instead of his wife. Actually, Sarah was both; and Abimelech scolded Abraham when he found out! For he would have sinned in God’s eyes had he taken Sarah as his wife.

The last occurrence is in Revelation 8:4 where the Scripture says, “And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.”

We would all do well to research and study the occurrences of “prayer” in the Scriptures. We, who know the LORD Jesus as our Savior, ought to be exceedingly eager to learn all we are able about prayer.

I have opted to eliminate speaking about any of the individuals who are currently seeking to become President of the United States. It is a matter for serious and careful prayer. The Israelites are the LORD’s people, and how the United States supports Israel in all of her endeavors depends largely upon those who believe upon Him!

We will soon know who our Commander-in-Chief is for the next four years. In the meantime, we need to “clean up our act,” thus enabling our prayers to support one who deeply cares for our nation. We do invite, also, our worldwide friends, who will also be effected by our new leader.

It’s the “smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints,” that enables the LORD to know the seriousness with which we pray:
“God bless America!”

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom