Denison: Advent Devotional for Tuesday, December 17

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)

---

Tuesday, December 17

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning
John 1:1-2

Most of us think of Christmas as a celebration of the day Christ was born. While that is true, it is not the complete truth. The word advent means "coming" or "arrival." You might have family scheduled to arrive for the Christmas holiday. You know your loved ones exist, but they aren't present with you - as a seeable, touchable reality. Soon, they will arrive and you will see them, face to face. According to the Apostle John, Jesus didn't begin his existence on Christmas Day - that day marks his arrival in human form to dwell on earth. Christmas morning as Mary held her son, she held her Creator as well.

• 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.