Today, we continue the third week of the Advent season with our focus on joy.

Don’t you just love the promises of God? In John 15:9-11, Jesus makes an extraordinary promise to his disciples: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Notice what Jesus offers: not just joy, but His joy—and not partial joy, but full joy. This is the deep, unshakeable joy that sustained Jesus through every trial, the joy rooted in the Father’s perfect love. This is quality and quantity of joy Jesus is offering us.

But how do we receive it? The Bible here says by abiding in Christ’s love through obedience. You see, obedience keeps us close to Jesus, the source of all joy.

Beloved, this is the gift of Christmas. The Word became flesh so we could abide in Him and His joy could dwell in us permanently. The baby in the manger grew to be the Savior who invites us into the same love relationship he shares with the Father, which leads to full joy.

This Advent, the world offers temporary pleasures and fleeting happiness. But Jesus offers something infinitely better: His own joy, full and lasting. Abide in His love, walk in obedience, and discover the complete joy He promises.

May you be blessed this Advent!

Change begins in you!