The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 1:1-5, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'”
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.”

The Gospel of Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels, containing but 16 chapters. The 39th chapter of Isaiah is believed to be what is referenced in Mark one’s verses two and three. The Markan reference, however, is forth-right in saying “Make ready the way of the LORD…”; yet, it is John the Baptist, who ultimately fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy.

A most interesting exchange occurred on TV recently when Tucker Carlson interviewed Dr. Ben Carson. You will remember that Carson served as HUD Administrator in the first Trump administration. Both men are very out-going and profess without apology to be Christians. It just may be that the political race for the White House will give us our best opportunity to speak out and
share our faith in Jesus Christ. Let’s touch lives for Jesus, while “theiron is hot.” If you don’t have a proven method of witnessing, share my tract at the bottom of this page.

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,

3 John 1:1-4, “The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
3 For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth.
4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”

Remember when you were a child at Christmastime, or when your parents had birthdays? What a joy it was to honor them with a small gift. As we age, we learn that what we had to give them was not all that important. What was important, was seeing them smiling, as if our tiny gifts were the most precious possessions in the world!

Have you ever considered that it is possible to please Almighty God? If John had not believed it were possible, he would never have written this letter. When we were small, even the smallest gift to our parents seemed enormous to us! We could hardly wait for them to open their gifts!

As we grew older, we learned that the finest gift we could possibly give to our parents was love and obedience. “You’re the spittin’ image of your dad,” was a thrill to hear! As time passed and we grew into adulthood, what we learned to desire most was not a mere physical gift, but love and devotion.

Our Heavenly Father desires the same. It’s not that what we do is not of importance to Him; rather, it’s what we are! As we read and study His Word,
we become more and more like Him! That’s what He wants! His Word teaches us, that what He was to His disciples, He longs to be to us!

But how does this happen? It doesn’t just “happen!” It’s an inward, spiritual development that comes through a serious focus on His Life. You know people like that. You just can’t figure out how they can be so physically sick, yet make you feel so spiritually strong when you visit them. Their demeanor has its root in their closeness to Christ. Perhaps there’s a hint in this old, old song, composed by Howard Grose. Meditate on these words:

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.

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,

Genesis 12:1-7, “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’
4 So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
5 Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan.
6 Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land.
7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.’ So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.”

We should all be embarrassed over the attitudes of liberals when Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, addressed the American Congress this past week. Some were intentionally absent (presumably as a protest), while others simply snubbed the Minister as he passed them en route to the podium from which he spoke.

“During the speech, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, held up a sign that read ‘war criminal’ on one side and ‘guilty of genocide’ on the other.” Ultimately, someone asked her to refrain from holding up the sign, and she complied.

Whatever one’s religious affiliation, we move no closer to convincing them of salvation in Jesus Christ by acting as a non-believer ourselves. I’ve shaken hands with men (and women) for whom I had no personal respect. But I refused to weaken my position as a believer in Jesus Christ by eliminating a small gesture of respect, like a handshake.

We are not called to become like those who disrespect Jesus Christ. We are called to demonstrate a Christ-like attitude to everyone. Jesus demonstrated His love through wisdom when He ate with sinners. Israel is our friend!

When we recognize Prime Minister Netanyahu as Jewish, we are viewing him as a member of the Family of Abraham, from whom came our LORD Jesus Christ. The Scriptures say: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you’” (Psalm 122:6).

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,

Genesis 1:1-5, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
4 God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
5 God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.”

It’s interesting to note how books bespeak their own existence. Many, if not most, will give credence to their authors by saying how vital their theses are and how utterly necessary it is that everyone embrace as truth what the author has set forth of his own volition.

Yet, no thesis of man is comparable to what has been set forth by the LORD Himself. Checking the Scriptures, we quickly learn that all we can see and all we can possibly discover has come to us by the Hand of our gracious LORD! Solomon himself said, “…who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?” (Eccl. 2:25).

In precisely the same way, no nation can stand without first yielding to it’s initial Founder; for the One who set its course according to His own pleasure is the LORD. Thus, despite our ingenuity, despite our historical accomplishments, we must yield to the powerful genius of our Heavenly Father. To follow Him is to insure victory. To fail to follow Him insures only certain defeat. Whom are you following?

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,

John 1:1-5, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

These short verses at the commencement of the Gospel of John give us insight into things curious to us. Almost all small children, who are introduced to Jesus Christ, want to know more and more about Him.

John calls Jesus “the Word” and informs us that He is closely associated with God. Later, and as our children grow, we inform them that Jesus is God’s Son. Later still, we inform them that Jesus and God are One.

Jesus activates the will of His Father. He created the universe, including the sun, moon, stars and all minute, heavenly particles that scientists ultimately have and will discover. With supreme power, the Creator created everything!

Light and darkness were created; yet Light was superior of the two. Not only did Light supersede darkness, the darkness did not overtake or understand the Light. The increase of any amount of light overcomes darkness. But, no increase of darkness overcomes the light; nor does the darkness know why.

The Greek word ??????????? katalambano means both “overtakes” and “understands.” Thus, what can be said of light and darkness, can be said of Christ and Satan. Does Christ know everything that is going on? Indeed, He does! Does Satan know everything that is going on? Indeed, he does not!

Is there any indication regarding which side is preferable? Someone once said to me, “If you don’t know, then it’s time you found out.” Does that figure in your life? What do you know about Jesus? Have you trusted Him as your LORD and Savior? Time rushes on! One day it will be too late.

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