1 John 1:3-4 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

We are now in the third week of Advent, and now we are looking at the theme of joy!

Last week, we mentioned that "No Jesus, no peace, and know Jesus, know peace" which could be applied to all of these Advent themes. And joy especially follows this thread. Joy, rather than happiness, is about being rooted and established in the love and presence of Jesus. It means that we are content despite what we may be going through, and that our joy is in the Lord.

As Scripture reminds us, the joy of the Lord is our strength, and it is in relying on his presence and goodness that we are able to overcome any obstacle that we find ourselves in. Oftentimes, our joy becomes hindered by circumstances, and we need one another to edify and uplift to keep running the race set before us.

True joy is fellowship: fellowship with the Triune God and fellowship with our fellow believers. As we remain, and abide, in God and ask one another for help and prayer, we will continue to dispel the powers of darkness and be the Light of the World that we are called to be!