This Sunday, we will light the third candle of Advent. So far, we have lit the hope candle and the faith candle.
The third candle symbolizes joy and is also called the “Shepherd’s Candle.” These caretakers of the night were at first afraid, but their fear soon turned to joy when they heard the angel say, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ.”
That night, the angel could have said, “Fear not, take the rest of the night off” and the shepherds would have been extremely happy. He could have laid out a banquet meal before them and they would have been elated. But joy came to their hearts when they heard about the Christ.
Joy is a fruit of the spirit that only God can give. And it doesn’t depend upon the circumstances like happiness, but rather it fills the heart of those who seek Jesus. These men immediately began to seek Jesus. Can you imagine how they frantically went from street to street and barn to barn looking for this baby. Contrary to popular tradition, there was no star for them to follow. All they knew was that He was a baby wrapped in cloths lying in an animal feed trough.
What the shepherds did next is what joy does to a person. They began to tell everyone they saw about Jesus and the bible says, “and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”
Joy brings amazement. It changes everything. When our hearts are filled with the joy of the Lord, we can’t keep it to ourselves. Even if we could, our faces would give it away.
In ten days, we will all wake up on Christmas morning with something on our minds. It may be the children, the presents, lunch or maybe just throwing the alarm clock through the window. How would things be different for you if you woke up on Christmas morning with the angel’s message to the shepherds on your mind.
When the shepherds returned to the fields and their sheep, they did so glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen. They would never forget that angel army singing,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all men on whom His favor rests.” Nothing could take away their joy.
