The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Exodus 22:9-14, “For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before the judges; he whom the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.

10 “If a man gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is hurt or is driven away while no one is looking,

11 an oath before the LORD shall be made by the two of them, that he has not laid hands on his neighbor’s property; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.

12 “But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner.

13 “If it is all torn to pieces, let him bring it as evidence; he shall not make restitution for what has been torn to pieces.

14 “And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution.”

Fairness and honesty were cardinal requirements that the LORD laid upon His people.

They relate to “every breach of trust,” and He has never revised nor removed them. If differences arise between two neighbors and are without resolution, the matter is to be brought before the judges. What the judges determine will be the final resolution.

If an animal is borrowed and suffers hurt or death, and there is no witness, so that the borrower is alone with his assessment of what occurred, then an impartial judge is to hear the case, and his determination of the situation will be final.

Our system of justice today purports to follow this ancient procedure. I’m sure there were difficulties in ancient times, just as there are today. Nevertheless, the LORD in the heavens above beholds all that transpires; and it is certain that we will pay a price if we, in any way, deal unfairly with our fellow men. Remember, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3), so be careful!

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,

1 Kings 17:24, “Then the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.’”

Psalm 119:160, “The sum of Thy Word is truth, and every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting.”

Isaiah 39:8, “Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, ‘The Word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.’ For he thought, ‘For there will be peace and truth in my days.'”

John 17:17, “’Sanctify them in the truth; Thy Word is truth.’”

Four times the Bible says, “Thy Word is truth.” In the first instance, the prophet Elijah had raised a woman’s son from the dead. Her belief became real when her son was brought back to life; so she said, “Now I know that you are a man of God…”

In the second instance, and with years of spiritual observation behind him, David says that the Word of the LORD is truth; further, that it is everlasting.

In the third instance, King Hezekiah had a motivation for thinking that the “Word of the LORD” would produce peace and truth in the days of his life.

But, the Apostle John summarized it all with the words, “Thy Word is truth.”

So much of the value of truth has vanished from our world today. Truth seems to elude so many. It is difficult (sometimes, impossible) to discern where truth is in the thinking of those who claim to possess it. It takes little to no time to ascertain the lack of truth in the preaching of some who proclaim to possess and produce all truth.

Still, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Do you always tell the truth? Be honest with yourself. Jesus alone is truth and life; and it is His truth alone that guarantees to set you free!

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 13:5-9, “Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’

6 so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?’

7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the Word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.

9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited.”

It may be your lot in life to be so physically attractive and possessive of monetary substance that everyone who beholds you is instantly smitten with envy. Yet, what is more to be desired is a character “free from the love of money” and possessed of an intimate fellowship with the LORD Jesus Christ.

Please don’t misunderstand. It is not wrong to be lavished with riches; it’s how you handle all with which you have been endowed. Note carefully how confidently the apostle speaks, reminding us that “the LORD is (our) helper.” It is He who blesses us with all that we have. Thus, we must be ever so careful to rightfully handle that with which we’ve been entrusted.

Of equal importance, we must not be carried away from His Truth by the erroneous teachings of false purveyors. Believe me, they abound in our day! There’s an old saying that warns: “All that glitters is not gold.” And the same may be applied to those who speak with glitter! Twice in Scripture we read: “Thy Word is truth” (Psalm 119:160; John 17:17). And His Truth alone should be permitted to invade our lives.

Heartily yours in Christ Jesus,

Gene

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,

I Kings 3:12-15, “Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.

13 “And I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.

14 “And if you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”

15 Then Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and made peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.”

Despite his many missteps in life, Solomon understood right from wrong. He knew what was right; he simply didn’t always follow it. (Know anyone like that?) This initial promise of wisdom in the verses above was a gift from Almighty God. It’s all recorded in 1 Kings 3:16-27.

Wisdom, however, was not given to Solomon alone. It’s available to each of us if we follow our LORD’s instructions. It all begins with our belonging to Him. We must first admit and renounce all sin in our lives, dedicating ourselves to the LORD and being always instantly available to obey His commands.

Never fear the darkness of your mission. Just remember that your LORD is the Light of the World! If a city He has placed on a hill is viewable to those who will look (and it is!), then we may surely invest our complete trust in Him, whatever He assigns us. God bless you in your exciting adventure!

Heartily yours in Christ Jesus,

Gene

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,

Job 42:10-13, “And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold. 11 Then all his brothers, and all his sisters, and all who had known him before, came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the evil that the LORD had brought on him. And each one gave him one piece of money, and each a ring of gold. 12 And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning, and he had 14,000 sheep, and 6,000 camels, and 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 And he had seven sons and three daughters.”

Have you ever been in trouble? I mean, “real trouble!” The determination of the true meaning of “trouble” depends on a factor of things. If you read the earlier portion of the passage above, you will quickly learn what “real trouble” is!

Job had a good habit of having dinner with his children. Yet, one day as they were gathered for dinner, trouble roared down upon all of them, and they died. Only Job was spared. Yet, in time (as we see in the Scripture above), the LORD restored everything that Job had lost. Furthermore, the LORD doubled everything so that Job was materially better off than before his first loss.

Sometimes we lose things – even friends — and we weary ourselves with the loss because we were the cause of it. Yet, the LORD is capable of restoring friends as easily as with all other losses. Of course, it’s better not to have encountered losses in the first place. Yet, in the long run, losses are not losses when the LORD intervenes.

“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” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

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