Read Luke 1:39-45:

In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed! 43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!”

On this third Sunday of Advent, Christians across the world come to light the 3rd candle of the Advent wreath.

This candle represents joy and is symbolic of the joy we have in Jesus Christ.

Just as John the Baptist leaped for joy in his mother’s womb, we can be filled with joy this Christmas season and all year-round because of what Jesus has done for us.  Joy is not simply a warm feeling we have when life is going our way, but joy is a constant inner attitude that is a result of knowing your sins have been forgiven and that you are in a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  If you have never experienced this type of joy, give your life to Jesus today and you will be filled with the joy of the Lord!

Response: Pray to God, thanking Him for the joy and abundant life you have in Christ.