Christmas Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Joseph, a Man Like You and Me Keywords: "Christmas" "manger" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passages: Isaiah 9:6 and Luke 2:7* Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the in. Question According to Luke 2:7, the King of Kings — with all the wonderful titles found in the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah 9:6 — is born under very unusual circumstances hundreds of years after the prophet spoke. Given the titles, why the lowly birth?   Practical help Walk with me into this stable. What do you smell? I would imagine that it smelled like stables of today, reeking of animal excrement. What would it have looked like at night? No light at all? Frightening shadows? And what about sounds? No words of comfort? Sounds of animals? Was it drafty and cold? This is the reality of all of our lives. We are the stables, and God in His grace places the baby Jesus into our lives. Internet pornography is like the animal dung, the darkness, the cold wind, the silence of separation from others. But the good news today for you and me is that God has sent his Son to be the Light of our worlds. He offers to be born into each of our lives, regardless of the mess. This is Fantastic News! You and I are deeply loved! This is your very best gift today. Please accept it, and have a very Merry Christmas! eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 1998, 2003 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission." ---