The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 3:25-30, “Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;

26 For the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have it with you.

29 Do not devise harm against your neighbor, while he lives securely beside you.

30 Do not contend with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways.

32 For the devious are an abomination to the LORD; But He is intimate with the upright.

33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers, yet gives grace to the afflicted.

35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools display dishonor.”

It is difficult to apply each of the six above “do not” directives to the multiple aspects of any single human life. Apparently, the writer expected each reader to apply them to his or her life. Perhaps Alexander Pope read the above Scripture passage before he said, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” In any event, Solomon (the Scriptural author) listed sufficient “Do nots” to keep each of us busy examining our minds and hearts.

It’s so easy to criticize the speech and actions of others; yet, in all honesty, we would each (myself included) do well to examine ourselves prior to expressing our critiques of others. Nor should we overly concern ourselves with the critical thoughts of others, respecting how we handle situations that are thrust upon us. Do not the two verses above say, the LORD is “intimate with the upright” (vs. 32), and “He blesses the dwelling of the righteous” (vs. 33)? Scoffing or scorning must always be left to the LORD. In the wrap-up of all things, He will attend to who deserves what and how much. In the meantime, we need simply to attend to our own attitudes. Ouch! That hurts!

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,

Ecclesiastes 8:6-12, “For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man’s trouble is heavy upon him. 7 If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?

8 No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death; and there is no discharge in the time of war, and evil will not deliver those who practice it.

9 All this I have seen and applied my mind to every deed that has been done under the sun wherein a man has exercised authority over another man to his hurt.

10 So then, I have seen the wicked buried, those who used to go in and out from the holy place, and they are soon forgotten in the city where they did thus. This too is futility.

11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.

12 Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly.”

Were you ever gripped with the fallacious thought that you were actually in control of a situation? Probably so! However, Solomon says it’s never quite like that. I hate to admit it, but I’ve been in situations that can be described precisely as Solomon has stated it. No, I’m not going to spoil this letter! I will simply admit that I have been in situations where, as stated, I thought I was in control—only to quickly discover that I was not!

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,

Hebrews 1:1-5, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, “YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”? And again, “I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME”?

I went on a search today – not what you might expect, but an AI search. Actually, I was looking online for information regarding a long-time friend. My purpose is not relevant as to why I was searching for him; what is relevant, however, is that I found numerous individuals with whom I had had no purpose of contact over the years, yet their names appeared numerous times totally without significance.

As I thought of this, I wondered if there were “roadblocks” that could hinder my name from someone. Certainly, nothing could hinder the LORD’s inquiry! He need not even look, as everything is available to Him without an internet – without even a search. What does He think, as He encounters my name? Is there a frown on His face, or is He shaking His head? (“Will that boy ever learn?!”)

I didn’t learn anything about the friend for whom I was looking. But, I learned a bit of what the LORD might be thinking about me! Not to shift the thought away from myself, but have you considered what the LORD might be thinking about you? What changes should you make in your life? What changes should I make in mine? May we startle others with our prayerful love and concern for them! And may we each take on the likeness of our blessed LORD Jesus Christ! He is coming; and we need to be ready. I am ready; and I trust that you are, too.

“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,

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,

Philemon 1:1-14, ”Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker,

2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;

6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake…”

7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,

9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you– since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus–

10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,

11 who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.

12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,

13 whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;

14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.”

I hesitate to send such a long passage; yet, it speaks not only of the Apostle Paul’s love for both Philemon, a long-time brother in Christ, but also of Onesimus, a runaway slave, who once belonged to Philemon. The psychological aspect of Paul’s words is astounding! Please read it again…slowly…patiently, and think of someone whom you might influence by utilizing such smooth, yet genuine, loving words. Who was it that said, “We always gain more with sweetness than with vinegar”? God bless you abundantly!

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,

Ezekiel 22:25-29, “There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in the midst of her.

26 “Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

27 “Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain.

28 “Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken.

29 “The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice.”

A host of things could be said regarding the lawlessness that prevailed in the days of the prophet Ezekiel. But, of course, lawlessness is hardly new. A quick scan of the news on today’s television often (too often!) depicts men of the cloth indulging themselves in the same schemes against which they warned people when they ministered to their own constituents.

We do wrong when we misuse the things of the LORD. We engage in violence when we intentionally utilize the things of the LORD in an unholy manner and/or for an unholy purpose. It may seem “natural” for a former pastor of a church to spend time reminding the congregation of some experiences of his past ministry in that congregation; still, time is a precious factor that should never be overlooked.

In fact, the whole of our lives ought to honor Jesus Christ! Especially is that true when we profess ourselves to be committed to Him in full-time service. Yet, when we are committed to Him, it is for “full-time” service! There is no limitation; there must never be any imitation.

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