Denison: Advent Devotional for Tuesday, December 3

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)

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Tuesday, December 3

Therefore the Lord will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14

Why was Jesus born of a virgin? Jesus was fully God and fully man. The virgin birth is the perfect characterization of the Son of God. How was Mary able to accept the fact she was pregnant, while still a virgin? How was Joseph able to accept Mary and receive her and the baby into his home? They each had been given a sign, a visit from an angel. And the miraculous conception of the baby would be a sign to them and others that the Messiah had come. Immanuel is the Hebrew name meaning "God with us." Jesus was fully God, born of a virgin – fully man, born of Mary – and the fullness of God's presence, dwelling on earth.

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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.