The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

James 1:9-12, “But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. 12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

Almost everyone I know is of “humble circumstances.” Many, if not most, wish that they had more and wish they could live as prosperously and joyously as those who possess considerable wealth. What those who lack riches do not know is that many who are wealthy lack the abilities and joys of the poor and would gladly relinquish what they possess for what the poor have.

I once knew a man who had considerable wealth. His business was thriving, yet the car he drove was visibly old and needed some serious attention. I was young and somewhat brash, so one day I told him I was certain he could afford a nicer car and asked him why he didn’t purchase a better one.

He smiled and said, “You’re right. This is an old car, and I could afford a newer one; but this one gets me where I need to go and gets me back home. So, it serves me as well as a new one would.”

I’ve thought a lot about what the man said, and it applies well to a variety of things. The world cries, “Buy more!” Yet, the contented man thinks of his coming “Crown of Life” and glories in the LORD he serves. He is rich already!

Heartily yours in Christ Jesus,

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,

James 1:1-8, “James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus

Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect

and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all

generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who

doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from

the Lord,

8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Have you ever encountered one of life’s trials? I can hear you saying,

“Are you kidding? Every day seems to be the focus on a serious trial

for me!”

Well, if it’s any comfort, we’re all in the same boat. Trials, of course,

often differ with respect to circumstances. James is an optimist! He

encourages us to keep a good attitude whatever we’re facing and

with whatever ultimately occurs. I have no idea what kind of jokes

were told in those days, but my guess is that James was also a joker!

He credits his recipients with wisdom and prayer. He encourages them

not to doubt, but to trust in the LORD! That is not only good for him

to say, it’s exceedingly good for us all to hear! Don’t we always want to hear good things and be encouraged, especially concerning prayer? Keep the faith! Stay focused in prayer! Trust the LORD for help! Just don’t forget to say, “Thank You!”

Heartily yours in Christ Jesus,

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,

Habakkuk 1:1-4, “The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.

2 How long, O LORD, will I call for help, and You will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save.

3 Why do You make me see iniquity, and cause me to look on wickedness? Yes, destruction and violence are before me; strife exists and contention arises.

4 Therefore the law is ignored and justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice comes out perverted.”

Whether we admit it or not, we’re all very much like the prophet Habakkuk. How many times have we prayed until we were ready to give up because we had no answer?

A mother might seek to encourage her young ones with the thought that “the LORD is very busy; He will answer when He has time.”

But for those of us who have lived long with Him, an answer like we might give to our children is not sufficient. We’re adults! Where is the LORD? Why has He not replied?

Well, if we’re truly adults, we should act like adults. Of course, the LORD is busy, but He is THE LORD! He can provide a thousand responses to His people in numerous countries in a nanosecond of time. To Him, time itself is of no importance. It is no impediment to His Divine decrees. In the meantime, we are being taught to be patient—or are we?

How often, when told to wait, does a child respond with, “But I want it NOW!” Is it not sufficient that He has heard us? We wait on responses from others. Is He not more important than they? Certainly, He is! Perhaps that is why He appears to delay.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called… and be thankful” (Col. 3:15).

Heartily yours in Christ Jesus,

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,

Hebrews 12:7-11, “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

Have you ever asked yourself, “What good am I, anyway? Everyone else seems to have all the talent. No one ever looks to me to do anything— not even the easy, simple things. I’m just no good at all! Why does the LORD even leave me here?”

That’s the description of a “pity party.” It’s the voice of someone who rarely gets asked to play in the game. He’s never asked to do anything. He doesn’t really try; and, as stated in verse one, “It is for discipline that you endure.” Seven times, in our five verses above, the word discipline occurs.

Perhaps the most obvious discipline occurs in sports. He runs faster! He knows exactly where to throw the ball! He keeps quiet when it’s obvious that the umpire’s call was in error. He doesn’t argue with his coach. All of these bespeak “discipline.”

Yet, we often forego discipline, preferring to play the game our own way instead of following the rules of the LORD Jesus! He wants us to be disciplined in reaching others. They are spiritually lost until they yield themselves to Christ. Once saved, our Coach wants us to play hard and reach the spiritually lost. Some Australian friends have recently put the Heraldofhope.org.au online. It is filled with accurate, spiritual news and encouragement. What’s more, it is FREE! You can share it again and again with lost and wayward friends. I urge you to “give it a go,” as the Aussies would say.

Heartily yours in Christ Jesus,

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,

Acts 20:7-11, “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.

8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together.

9 And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead.

10 But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.”

11 When he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left.”

Preaching is important if it’s true, biblical preaching. It’s important because it concerns Jesus Christ and because it seeks to persuade both believers and non-believers to trust in Christ as their LORD and Savior and to behave in the lifestyle for which the LORD saved them.

True biblical preaching is not a slave to a clock on the wall. True Christians recognize that Scripture is their Guidebook, and earnest pastors recognize the same. Thus, time is of less importance than what the congregation is receiving from the Scriptures.

In the Scriptural account above, however, young Eutychus gave way to sleep under Paul’s long preaching. Ultimately, the young man fell from the upper story and was determined dead. Through the power and providence of the LORD, Paul was able to revive the young man. A concerned congregation then turned its attention to hearing the remainder of the ministry of Paul.

We’re hardly in danger of falling out of windows during Sunday sermons; however, we often neglect to see the value the message has for the congregation at large. Earnest pastors prayerfully prepare the LORD’s message for the LORD’s people. We would all do well to bear this factor in mind. Someday we’ll give an account!

Heartily yours in Christ Jesus,

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