The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 7:1, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved,

let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit,

perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

The promises of the LORD are always genuine. They are a

solid rock on which we can rely. We are His beloved; and as

a loving parent always keeps his promise, our LORD keeps

His promises. At the same time, Paul instructs us “to cleanse

ourselves.” This is NOT a “works-for-salvation” cleansing;

rather, it is our abstaining from all forms of evil –things that

work against our spiritual growth in the LORD. Okay, that’s

understandable, but what about this “perfecting holiness”?

How do we do that? We do it simultaneously as we turn

away from the evil that pollutes us. We concentrate on the

purity and holiness of the LORD. We purposely and continuously

focus on the LORD Himself. We literally live in and by His Word!

We call upon Him for strength to make holiness our sole focus!

And all of this is done “in the fear of God.” Fear (?????, phobos)

negatively means dread, terror; but in a positive sense means

respect, reverence. The positive seems better, but knowing

the power of the LORD’s physical and spiritual discipline is

a good reason, too. It’s His two-track plan to keep us running

smoothly on the rails of life. God bless you!

Our prayers are for you, as you become holier with time,

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 Corinthians 5:18-21, “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us

to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely,

that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their

trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating

through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made

Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the

righteousness of God in Him.”

The Secretary of State is an ambassador. Having been confirmed by the Senate,

he represents his president and his country to other countries, seeking to get them

to subscribe to his country’s position on a variety of subjects. He does not push

his own position, but that of his president and his country. What Paul describes

in the verses above sets the stage for us as ambassadors for Christ.

Through the death and resurrection of Christ, we have a new life and a message

to share! We are sent forth into various parts of the world about us to share

that message, that those whom we meet might come to know Christ Jesus just

as we do. The political Secretary of State meets with his counterpart in another

country, shakes hands, smiles and shows a congenial attitude. That’s exactly

what we are to do with lost people. Friendliness is a component of love. We

want them to “see” the difference in our lives, and desire it for themselves.

Ultimately, we share Christ with them, and the “change” they see in us is not

from us, but from Him. Watch for your opportunities! Always show love!

Speak gently, clearly and biblically. Express concern for them to know Him.

When all of these things are in place, you have become His ambassador. You

are not responsible for whether they accept Him, but for whether you discharge

your responsibilities. When you do, God Himself is glorified! God bless you!

We love and pray for you 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 Corinthians 4:17-18, “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us

an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not

at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the

things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are

eternal.”

In 1957, Billy Graham launched his first New York City crusade. But,

“tragedy” struck when the crusade director was taken ill. This was more

than a “momentary, light affliction.” Prayerfully, Billy chose Charlie Riggs

to fill the position. He said, “I don’t know if Charlie can do it; but I know

Charlie knows the LORD, and I know the LORD can do it.” Indeed He did!

The meeting lasted for 16 weeks (My longest was four.), and multiple

numbers of people came to faith in Jesus Christ! The Graham Team moved

on to San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles,

but the “things which (were) not seen” in New York were marked for eternity.

I spoke to multiple school children in Australia. On one occasion, I asked the

school principle how much time I was allotted. He replied, “I know the

importance of what you are doing here today. You take all the time you need;

I will adjust the day’s schedule accordingly. That principle had come to

faith in Christ through a Graham Crusade in Sydney–something, I’m sure Billy

himself never knew.

All of this is to say, Don’t despair when things seem to go wrong. The LORD

has an ultimate purpose that we may never know this side of Heaven. Just

know and trust that that purpose exists. Be faithful in all things. “It will be

worth it all when we see Jesus.”

We love you, and you are always in our prayers,

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 Corinthians 4:1-4, “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy,

we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame,

not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of

truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that

they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

The word ministry may also be translated service. Not every believer is called to

preach the Gospel, as we generally think of preaching; every believer, however, is

called to live the Gospel! Living the Gospel requires renunciation of sinful things

because involvement in sin clouds the spiritual radiance of Christ in us. Our service

is to share Christ with others. Sometimes we have opportunity to talk to others about

Him; but even when that opportunity is not present, we are to so live out the Gospel

that the lost can “see” Christ in us. That’s what Paul means when he says “by the

manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience…” God

sees what we are and what we do. It’s also true that even seeing Christ in us, some

will not believe. Satan is powerful and blindfolds people to keep them from seeing

and believing in Christ. Yet, when we live out the Gospel, they are forced to see

the difference in our lives, even if they will not accept Him as their LORD. We are

not to be indifferent and not care whether they come to Him, being satisfied only

with “living out” the Gospel; but we must be realistic in knowing that not everyone

will be saved. We “sow” the Gospel through living and sharing it; others come

along and support what we’ve done by living it in their lives. The ultimate salvation

comes only from Christ Himself. The pressure of “success” is off of us, as we rest

everything with Him.

May the LORD bless and encourage all of us, is our prayer,

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 Corinthians 2:15-16, “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among

those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16 to the

one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life.”

Did you ever think of yourself as perfume? (To the fellows, cologne)

Paul did. He said that appear to others as a sweet smelling perfume,

whether they are saved or lost. ~ When I was in my teenage years, I

worked for an undertaker. I have seen and smelled death. In one

unforgettable experience, I was “allowed” to drive the ambulance

containing the corpse because of the smell. All windows open. Did

not help much. Yuk! ~ Paul says that we appear as we ought to

everyone, when we live daily in Christ Jesus. Ellicott says, “Conversion

is a daily, hourly thing. It is the ‘continuous revelation of sin met by the

continuous revelation of Christ.’ Is not this the deep pathos of life, that

within each of us is going on direst contest between the sin-principle

and the Christ-principle? Thus, it is that Christ for us is ‘life unto life.’

The more life, the more it creates. The more of Christ, the more of life;

the more of life, the more of love.” May it ever be so with each of us!

Please pray for Heather and Erin this week. Heather is going to camp

and Erin has a big test for college.

We love you all and pray 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.”