MERRY CHRISTMAS!
“And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda:
for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”
(Mtt. 2:6)
Dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ!
By the grace of our Lord, we once again welcome the beautiful celebration of Christ’s birth. The chaos and anxieties of the current days must not overshadow the joy of the saved. This holiday is full of bright hope, heavenly consolation and was ushered in by angelic proclamation: «Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!»
Our Savior, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was born in a small provincial town of Bethlehem. And this is a noteworthy fact. It would have been understandable if the King, Priest and Prophet, was born in the royal chambers of the capital city. However, evil Herod reigned in Jerusalem at that time, heretic Sadducees took over the priesthood and the word of prophecy had grown silent. The capital city had lost its right and even the capacity to welcome the Messiah under its arches.
The role of Bethlehem in the Christmas story shows us that God chooses His own capitals and His own places of importance. And, as a rule, they are very different from what is esteemed highly by men. Power and wealth – the concentration of these basic conditions – make one place or another significant for most people. The only criterion of significance in the spiritual world is the presence of God: this is what makes a place great and significant. Whether it is the steppe where Jacob spent the night, which was called Bethel (the house of God) or the desert where the Lord spoke to Moses.
It was the little town of Bethlehem that became the capital of the world on Christmas Day. It was from Bethlehem that the Light came to give light to the Gentiles. Bethlehem became the frontline that could no longer be overcome by darkness. To the contrary, the power of darkness began to recede and fall back in retreat. The One who was born in Bethlehem will surely complete His victorious march to the end! The only place that is truly important is the place where God is present! The only work that is important is the one that bears the fingerprint of God!
It is a special blessing to recognize that every place where the Gospel is preached today in the world becomes meaningful, it becomes a Bethlehem, because that is where darkness flees and the repentant hears of sinners become mangers in which the Savior is born! Dear friends, we must be mindful not to forget that we are not strangers to Bethlehem, we are partakers of the great and most important mission in this world – to share the Gospel!
May you and your family have a very blessed and joyous Merry Christmas and a Happy 2021 Year!
In Christ,
Rev. Vladimir A. Okhotin
REM’s Founder and President.
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