Glory to God on High by Thomas Kelly

This hymn is not a Christmas hymn, but the first lines happen to be a quote from Luke 2.  Let it remind us of where Jesus was headed when he came to earth.  Even as a baby, He was sent to be our Savior.  An angel of the Lord came to Joseph and told him "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21).  Praise the Lord for sending our Savior to redeem us!  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."  (John 3:16)

If you are unfamiliar with this beautiful, majestic hymn, here is a link to its music.

Glory to God on High

by Thomas Kelly (1769-1854)

Glory to God on high,
Peace upon earth and joy,
Goodwill to man!

Luke 2:13-14 (KJV) 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."

We who God's blessing prove,
His name all names above,

Of Jesus in Philippians 2:9-11 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Sing now the Saviour's love,
Too vast to scan.

Psalm 36:5 (NLT) Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.

Mercy and truth unite,
Oh, 'tis a wondrous sight,
All sights above!

Psalm 85:10 (KJV) Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

John 1:14, 17 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth... For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

Jesus the curse sustains,
Guilt's bitter cup He drains,

Matthew 26:39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will."

Nothing for us remains,
Nothing but love.

Romans 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Love that no tongue can teach,
Love that no thought can reach,

Ephesians 3:19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

No love like His!

Jesus says in John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."

God is its blessed source,

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

Death ne'er can stop its course,
Nothing can stay its force,

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matchless it is.

Ephesians 2:4-7 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Blest in this love we sing,
To God our praises bring,
All sins forgiven:

Psalm 32:1-2 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!

Jesus, our Lord, to Thee
Honour and majesty
Now and for ever be
Here, and in heaven.

Jude 1:24-25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.