WEEK TWO | DAY ONE | LUKE 2:8-20
Adapted from a traditional French carol, this song originally appeared as an eight-stanza dialogue between a choir of shepherds and the women of Bethlehem. The shepherds tell the story of angels, mountains, heaven and earth rejoicing. The women ask, “What good news has inspired your joy?” The shepherds respond with the call to come, see and worship the newborn King. Together the shepherds and women proclaim, “Gloria in excelsis Deo! Glory to God in the Highest!”
ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH, SWEETLY SINGING O’ER THE PLAINS,
AND THE MOUNTAINS IN REPLY ECHOING THEIR JOYOUS STRAINS …
SHEPHERDS, WHY THIS JUBILEE? WHY YOUR JOYOUS STRAINS PROLONG?
WHAT THE GLADSOME TIDINGS BE WHICH INSPIRE YOUR HEAV’NLY SONG?
COME TO BETHLEHEM AND SEE HIM WHOSE BIRTH THE ANGELS SING;
COME, ADORE ON BENDED KNEE CHRIST THE LORD, THE NEWBORN KING.
GLORIA, IN EXCELSIS DEO! GLORIA, IN EXCELSIS DEO!
Like the shepherds, followers of Jesus on the frontier today continue to joyfully share the Good News of Jesus, inviting curious seekers to “come … and see Him whose birth the angels sing.” Indopartners, a Frontier Fellowship partner in Indonesia, shares the Gospel through online resources. Last year alone, nearly 100,000 people responded with questions, eager to learn more about Jesus, the Bible and Christianity.
Take a moment to reflect on the dialogue in this beloved hymn. Consider the shepherds and recall the joy and wonder you experienced in first hearing the Good News of Jesus. Be curious, like the women of Bethlehem. What questions would you like to bring to the Lord today? Pray for least-reached peoples—in Indonesia and all around the world—to have opportunities to meet followers of Jesus, ask questions and respond to invitations to “come and see” Jesus.
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