HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
“For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Mtt. 5:45
Dear friends! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!
In this season of Thanksgiving, it is gratifying to think again and again about the great goodness of the Lord. Every morning it refreshes itself in the rays of the rising sun, in transparent dew drops, in refreshing streams of rain. All vegetation begins to grow, bloom and bear fruit. And all this great bounty of God is available to everyone, without exception: both to the evil and good, to the unrighteous and the righteous.
What does this picture of abundant goodness teach us? It teaches us to have a good attitude towards everyone! This is what makes the child of God different. “For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?» (Matthew 5:46-47).
The further we enter together with all of humanity into the last days, the more often we will encounter human aggression, rejection of goodness, inadequate reaction, and outright anger… This is where we need to remember this important Biblical lesson: your attitude towards another person should not depend on their evil nature; it should not depend on their reaction to you. Your attitude towards another person should reflect your renewed nature as a child of God.
The more confusion we encounter around us, as we try to minister to our neighbors, the better we should understand this truth. Our perseverance and diligence in the ministry is not the result of encouragement or appreciation by others. Rather, it is a manifestation of our born-again nature, it is because we can do no other, no matter what! It is this invariably benevolent attitude towards a person, in word and deed that can draw the attention of the most evil person to Christ.
Do not be troubled, dear friends! Neither by the indifference of the people around you, nor by their inability to appreciate your ministry. Look at the generous, gracious Lord, Who, in spite of everything, this year also blessed everyone with the fruits of the earth and His great longsuffering.
Happy Thanksgiving!
With love in Christ,
Rev. Vladimir A. Okhotin
REM’s Founder and President
2020-4-en
