The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 13:15-21, “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.

19 And I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you the sooner. Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,

21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

There are days when it is simply difficult to offer praise for anything. Everything seems to be going wrong! Have you ever experienced a day like that? I asked that of someone long ago. His response was: “Every day.”

Paul (whom I believe authored the Hebrew epistle) encourages us to “offer up a sacrifice of praise to God…” And I’m sure he meant “Every day!” There are multiple negatives that manage to get in the way of praise. Yet, these can be eliminated if we keep our eyes on the LORD Jesus Christ and our minds on positive things.

Not every discouragement comes directly from Satan; however, it’s certain that he enables more negative thinking than we acknowledge. Read positive Scripture for positive thoughts: praise, thanksgiving, sacrifice, and obedience. In all things, glorify the LORD!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

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

Dear Grands,

Galatians 1:6-10, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him, who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;

7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed.

9 As we have said before, so I say again now, If any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”

The Galatians were by origin a wild and woolly bunch! Their history belies the very belief that enabled their activity to seem normal. To them, it did seem normal, but not to the Apostle Paul! Nevertheless, he dealt with them in somewhat the same rough manner. That got their attention!

It’s a shame, but that is precisely how we often have to approach those who view the Gospel with less dignity than it deserves. At the same time, we must always be on guard that we don’t inadvertently fall into the same trap with those whose theology we are seeking to straighten.

Styles of ministry vary. That’s normal. Biblical truth, however, does not vary from speaker to speaker! The church where I have membership has several pastors. None of them displays an identical pulpit style, yet each of them believes and advocates the same truth. To do otherwise would greatly confuse and divide the congregation.

We must always be extremely careful how we (and others!) relate Holy Scripture. Paul was not angry at the Galatians; but he was stern. There is a difference; and we must be careful, even as we lovingly caution others.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

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

Dear Grands,

2 Peter 1:1-8, “Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,

7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Someone somewhere very cleverly noted that “Grace” is “God’s Redemption At Christ’s Expense.” Simultaneously, His Grace inaugurates the faith that enables us to receive and live in His peace and love. They are the divine channel whereby we come to understand Him and His supreme desire for our lives.

The LORD alone is the Promise; we are but His recipients. He is the Supreme Source of all that we need or could ever desire. Yet, until we receive Him, we have no knowledge of His power or His provisions. Have you received Him? He lovingly awaits you.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

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

Dear Grands,

Galatians 1:6-10, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him, who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;

7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed.

9 As we have said before, so I say again now, If any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”

The Galatians were by origin a wild and woolly bunch! Their history belies the very belief that enabled their activity to seem normal. To them, it did seem normal, but not to the Apostle Paul! Nevertheless, he dealt with them in somewhat the same rough manner. That got their attention!

It’s a shame, but that is precisely how we often have to approach those who view the Gospel with less dignity than it deserves. At the same time, we must always be on guard that we don’t inadvertently fall into the same trap with those whose theology we are seeking to straighten.

Styles of ministry vary. That’s normal. Biblical truth, however, does not vary from speaker to speaker! The church where I have membership has several pastors. None of them displays an identical pulpit style, yet each of them believes and advocates the same truth. To do otherwise would greatly confuse and divide the congregation.

We must always be extremely careful how we (and others!) relate Holy Scripture. Paul was not angry at the Galatians; but he was stern. There is a difference; and we must be careful, even as we lovingly caution others.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

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

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 3:19-23, “The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens.

20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up and the skies drip with dew.

21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight; keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22 so they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.

23 Then you will walk in your way securely, and your foot will not stumble,

24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”

These brief, wise words come from the heart and soul of King Solomon, who knew and understood the ways of the LORD. Notice that Solomon’s quotation of the LORD’s ways is brief, but his own words are equally practical. Certainly, the entirety of his words has come from the LORD.

Often, we state the LORD’s meaning without attending to it in our own lives. It is obvious that what Solomon said had been well-learned and proved profitable to him. Now, he has progeny that can profit as he did when he was but a youth.

Everything in Scripture is there for our benefit. The instructions, the warnings, the examples – of good and bad – that occur in the lives of others – are all there for our benefit.

What’s that old expression: “Slow down and smell the roses”? Life teases us with its swiftness; and swiftness always causes us to lose.

Foreign languages have always excited me! Still, I have yet to find one that is conquerable through swiftness. There is not much else in life that is conquerable, either. Concentrate on the Word of the LORD. Don’t rush in reading it. Savor it, like you do something sweet. After all, what is sweeter than the precious words from the heart of our Savior?

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

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