While by our sheep we watched at night,
Glad tidings brought an angel bright.
There shall be born, so he did say,
In Bethlehem a Child today. [Chorus]
There shall the Child lie in a stall,
This Child who shall redeem us all. [Chorus]
This gift of God we’ll cherish well,
That ever joy our hearts shall fill. [Chorus]
Chorus:
How great our joy!
Great our joy!
Joy, joy, joy!
Joy, joy, joy!
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
Praise we the Lord in heaven on high!
Traditional German carol, 17th century
Read Romans 15:12-13
In the middle of what often becomes a stressful, overscheduled season, fraught with unwanted drama focus on one word – JOY. The birth of Christ is about joy. A savior has come. Sin is conquered. Death is destroyed. Joy. In the carol, it comes to the shepherds in the most mundane circumstances, during a regular ordinary night a work, watching the sheep, like dozens of other nights. May the JOY of Christ’s coming (the first time and the second) invade our routines today. May praise be our response.
