As I begin this lovely Christmas season, I like to try and visualize the amazement of the lowly shepherds out in the fields watching over their sheep on that star-light night so long ago! No doubt it was just another ordinary night as they sat around the fire warming themselves and sharing stories, when suddenly!! a miracle happened, and they were sore afraid, for we read in the 2nd chapter of Luke
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people . . . . And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
It was, no doubt, this beautiful story in Luke's Gospel that inspired Charles Wesley to write the beloved Christmas hymn, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." "Upon his conversion, Charles Wesley immediately began writing hymns, each one packed with doctrine. He wrote constantly, and even on horseback his mind was flooded with new songs. He often stopped at houses along the road and ran in asking for pen and ink. He wrote over 6,000 hymns during his life. Charles was 32 years old when he wrote this Christmas hymn, one of his best-loved hymns! It was Charles' friend, evangelist George Whitefield, who published this carol in his collection of hymns in 1753."
"Hark! The herald angels sing: Glory to the new-born King! Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled. Joyful, all ye nations, rise; Join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord! Long desired, behold Him come, finding here His humble home. Veiled in flesh the God-head see; Hail the incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel!
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail, the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born King."
I want to take time to hear the angels singing this Christmas! And, who knows -- if we will faithfully serve this new-born King in our little corner where God has placed us, we may hear the angels singing in the most unexpected places!!
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