Dear brothers and sisters! Happy Thanksgiving Day!
We need to always be thankful to God for everything that He gives us…This is what Apostle Paul meant when he was writing in Romans: “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.
Apostle Paul has learned to be content with everything, and by that he means that he was content with what he had. He states “I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” Philippians 4:12
The pilgrims from Europe were grateful to God for the food through which they were able to survive that year in a new continent. During this season may we be grateful to God for the basic necessities, although experiencing “the abundance” has become a standard of living for us in this country. However, even if the Lord will lead us through a time of economically unstable times, may we be able to say the words of Prophet Habakkuk: “Even if the fig tree does not blossom, And there is no fruit on the vines, If the yield of the olive fails, And the fields produce no food, Even if the flock disappears from the fold, And there are no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will triumph in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:17-18.
May the joy and the gladness of our God fill our hearts during the season of Thanksgiving!
Ivan Mileyev
Video recording with Ivan Mileyev's address is available here (in Russian only.)
