Matthew 1:19 New International Version (NIV)
19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
We do not have much Scripture on the man named Joseph who was the husband of Mary, Step-Father to Jesus, and a carpenter by trade. Though, what is said about him shows he is a man full of character.
In verse 18, Joseph was pledged to Mary to be her husband, but she becomes pregnant. For most men, anger would take over, or a condemning spirit would come on most men. But, this did not happen to Joseph. He keeps his head and moves in character.
He is also noted as being faithful to the Law which is God’s Word. He reads the Word. He studies the Word. The Word is part of his life. He knows that he could have her stoned to death.
No, not Joseph. He was a man of character. At this point, there had been no dream, no angel, and no word from the Lord. He was moving in character.
Trust and character is big in a marriage. Not exposing our spouse is essential. Men of Character go first to the Lord when struggles happen in their lives. A true test of character is when you are facing hard challenges in life and how you respond.
What challenges are you facing today? Will your character stand out in adversity? Will you do the right thing?
Choose to be faithful to God’s Law in your decisions. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. This will help every man as we all pursue character.
Strength and Courage
Michael
