“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;” (Isaiah 61:1, ESV)
The theme for the third week of Advent is joy. The third candle on the Advent wreath is pink. Technically, the color is rose. It is different than the others. The darker candles are associated with the seriousness of preparation for the coming day of the Lord. We are focused on being vigilant and aware that the forces of evil at work to devour our faith. But this week, we move away from that seriousness to focus on joy. Joy is associated with being light-hearted. And so a lighter color is appropriate for the week.
The source of our joy is Jesus. In Isaiah 61:1 it says, “the Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” This verse points to Jesus. When Jesus reads these words in the synagogue, he says, “these words have been fulfilled in your hearing” (see Luke 4:21). Jesus is the good news (gospel) that brings joy into our world and our lives. In Galatians 5:22, joy is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit. In other words, it is the result of the Spirit of God at work in our lives.
With joy in our hearts, we rejoice. To rejoice is to express joy. Joy is something to be expressed. It is not something that can be contained. It is something that will come out. Joy is expressed through a smile. It is let out through a song that is sung. It is demonstrated through dancing. it is exclaimed through shouting. It is shared through an embrace. Joy leads us to action.
Our participation in worship, together with other believers, is one of the ways we express joy in Jesus. We also show our joy is through serving him with our time, our treasures, and our talent. How do you express your joy in Jesus?
Reflection
- How do you discover joy in Jesus?
- How do you express your joy in Jesus?
Prayer
Jesus, you are my joy. You bring pleasure into my life. You give me good news and a reason to rejoice. Lead me by your Spirit to express your joy and to share your joy with others. Amen.
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