The third candle of advent is the candle of Joy – also known as the Shepherd’s Candle.
It is known as the Shepherd Candle to help us remember the joy that the shepherds felt when they received the good news of Christ’s birth (Luke 2:8-20).
True Biblical joy is not fleeting – it is extreme happiness that cannot be deterred by present circumstances. The shepherds raced to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus, eagerly anticipating the wonderful things to come. That type of joy comes from God alone.
– God fills us with joy (Romans 15:13)
– It is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22)
– No one can take joy from us (John 16:22)
Joy appears more than 100 times in the Bible. It is just as important as Hope and Peace. While we wait for Christ to come again, we have Hope and Peace in our God-given Joy – that no one can take away.
Joy is essential – we cannot get far without it. Let us be like the shepherds and eagerly anticipate the Savior.
