Denison: Advent Devotional for Thursday, December 5

Dr. Jim Denison's 2013 collection of Advent devotionals is entitled, "Looking Forward to Christmas", which he describes as "a time to celebrate the Nativity, and Christians around the world look forward to the season ... The details surrounding Christ's birth are a treasured story to each of us but, to the first century population, Jesus was an unexpected gift that most didn't know how to receive. It is still difficult for some people to receive what Jesus was born to give. Maybe that is why we have a Christmas season – to help others receive the most valuable gift, a relationship with the baby in the manger ... The Denison Forum offers this Advent book to help you spend a quiet moment each day, looking forward to Christmas and remembering why the baby in the manger was God's promised Messiah.

CLICK HERE for a free copy of Dr. Denison's complete 2013 Advent Devotional (in a downloadable/printable Adobe .pdf file)

---

Thursday, December 5

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
Isaiah 9:7

The Kingdom of God will always increase. That is the promise of Christmas. Each Christmas there are people who experience the Kingdom of God for the first time and receive the peace Christ came to give. When Mary placed her baby in a manger, it became the throne of a King. Christians today, like the shepherds, still bow before the manger to worship their Messiah.

• read the rest of today's devotional

Prior to founding the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture, James C. Denison, Ph.D., was pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church, a 10,000-member congregation in Dallas, Texas. He also pastored churches in Midland and Mansfield, Texas, and in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion and Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Dallas Baptist University. He is also the the author of seven books.