The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

I Samuel 13:5-13, “Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits.

7 Also, some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.

9 So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering.

10 And it came about as soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, that behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.

11 But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,

12 therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.”

13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.”

The Philistines were perpetual fighters. They seemed always to be picking a fight with Israel. Some people are like that even today. They would rather fight than do anything else. I was in seminary with a boxer. I never saw him fight, but he talked more about it than he did about his studies.

Israel’s problem, however, was not so much with the Philistines as it was that they didn’t wait for the LORD. Saul was, at that time, king of the Israelites. He had informed them he was coming, but Israel got scared and offered a burnt offering to the LORD before Samuel arrived. Samuel verbally chastised Israel for offering the sacrifice and for not waiting on Samuel.

Have you ever rushed ahead of the LORD when you knew waiting on Him was best? The LORD can handle everything! Why do we think we ought to forge ahead when He has clearly told us to wait? Why do we wait when He has told us to forge ahead? Why do we seem never to do what He says?

In the end, Israel and Saul all suffered. Maybe we should think more clearly—more biblically—about things. What has the LORD said? Why are we anxious when we know He can and stands ready to fix things?

Heartily in Christ,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

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,

Luke 2:21-23, “And when eight days were completed before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every first-born male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”).

One of the strange things that makes the Bible a Holy Book is that the same verse that gives information on one matter gives information on another matter. Some of you reading this letter just now are men. Did you understand that verse when it says, “Every first-born male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”?

Notice that it does not give exclusivity; it simply means that if you are a male and the first-born in your family, according to Scripture, you are “called holy to the Lord.” It should follow then that we who are the first-born males in our families should behave throughout life as one “called holy to the Lord.”

One of the vital characterizations for the first-born male, therefore, is to live a pure and holy life. We are “called to be pure,” although we are not always pure. Jesus is our Supreme Example. He was throughout His earthly life what the Father wants us to be.

It is not my place to offer judgment regarding who is truly saved and who is not; yet, I observe, just as you do, those who say they are “Christians,” but live contrary to the true Biblical definition. Whether they are truly “born again” believers, the LORD alone knows. Thus, it becomes our responsibility to pray for them. If they are true believers, they will appreciate our prayers; if they are not, they need our prayers all the more.

We are living in difficult times. Word meanings are often scrambled, making it virtually impossible to know with certainty who is and who is not a truly “born again” believer in Christ. We must live the life that leaves no one in doubt about us. May 2025 ever and always reflect the LORD in our lives!

Heartily in Christ,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
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,

Luke 2:15-21, “And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’

16 And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

17 And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

21 And when eight days were completed before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.”

You will recall from a previous Grands Letter that shepherds were on the bottom rung of the social scale in Biblical times. All of that reminded me of an old man I knew as a kid. He lived in a shallow cave-like shelter, where I often visited him. I’m quite sure my mother was “not in the picture” during those visits because she would have issued a strenuous “thou shalt not!”

It was quite different with the shepherds, however. They had reason to be excited—and they were! We have no record anywhere of anyone seeking to hinder them on their journey. They would not have stopped these shepherds, anyway! No one was thinking of heritage or anything—just where is that Baby?!!

How reasonable it would have been for those shepherds to think of finding the One who would one day die to take away their sins! (I have to wonder if anything like that entered their minds.) Had it not been for the Holy Scriptures and/or those Magi from that foreign country, you and I would be “in a pickle” today!

We need to be like the shepherds, who “went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen.” We can be! We can share the Good News of the Christ Child, who went to the Cross for our sins! That’s chapter one of the true Christmas Story!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

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,

Luke 2:15-20, “And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’

16 And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

17 And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.”

They were poor kids, the poorest of the poor. Still, they probably didn’t notice their poverty much because the kids they ran with were poor, too. Interesting, isn’t it, how we notice the lack in other people’s lives, and often fail to notice what is missing in our own lives?

Shepherds in biblical times were looked upon as the poorest of the poor. They were off the charts on the poverty scale; yet, these poor lads were honorees of the LORD in that they were permitted to witness the LORD at the birth of the Christ child, Jesus.

Undoubtedly, these shepherds were told the background of the story: Mary and Joseph were tentatively engaged, yet there had been no intimate relations when Mary was notified by the Angel of the LORD that she was to have a baby – a baby boy, to be quite specific!

Just how much she shared with the shepherds, we are not told. Still, it was enough for them to believe and share freely with others, something they did indeed!

When we believe, we become excited! And when we’re excited, we tell others! Sometimes, it’s just a short few words; sometimes, it just bubbles out like water in a broken pipeline! Sometimes people are excited; sometimes, sadly, they are not – or pretend not to be! Yet, tell it we must — and will! “It’s for those who know to tell those who don’t know!”

Forget the gifts and all. One does not have to possess great wealth; he just has to understand the meaning – the true meaning of CHRISTmas!

The shepherds knew the true meaning; and they told others! When we know the true meaning, we will tell others, too. Do you know? Have you told someone? Use the Gospel Tract that is attached! Pray for that “someone” to believe in Jesus!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

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,

Matthew 3:13-17, “Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.

14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.

16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,

17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

It was a fitting climax to see a number of people baptized at the end of the church service. It was their testimony of having trusted Jesus as their Savior, as well as an act of obedience to the directive of our LORD Jesus Christ.

The first meaningful acts of baptism occurred during the ministry of John the Baptist. The word “Baptist” was appended to John’s name, due to his emphasis on personal, physical immersion in water, subsequent to one’s acceptance of the LORD Jesus Christ as his or her trust in Him.

Nowhere in Scripture is it taught that full, physical immersion in water adds anything to the spiritual activity of salvation. It is simply an overt submission on the part of the person that he or she has truly renounced their position in sin and has been transformed spiritually through the action of the Holy Spirit of God.

From the moment of one’s repentance of sin, the life is spiritually changed. The subsequent act of baptism is the personal acknowledgment of having turned from sin and trusting the salvation offered by Jesus Christ. If you are a true believer in Jesus Christ, you understand this procedure. If you are not, I would urge you to seriously trust Him. The day of accountability is coming! Please be ready!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

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