Rise Up and Be a Man!

One of my heroes is Joseph. He was the step-father of Jesus and he was a Man of God. You can read his story in Mathew 1:18-25. I have always felt that the reality of his choices to follow God would be starting to get hard about a three to four weeks after Jesus was born...right about now after Christmas. Yet, we know, Joseph of Galilee was man that remained strong and was truly a man.

So, how can we men, follow his example. One of the key verses to any Christ-Following Man is 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Be on alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” What does it men to “act like men?”

I believe Joseph pondered this same question? What am I going to do?

1. Joseph was betrothed. He had a commitment man. He was pledge to be married. There were no sexual relations during a Jewish betrothal period, but it was just as binding as a marriage and MUCH more than a modern engagement. Joseph and Mary were husband and wife in the eyes of all their family, friends, and society. Now she was pregnant.

2. Joseph was a righteous man. To the Jews this mean being zealous to keeping the jewish law. He would divorce her quietly. In other words he loved her enough to sign the necessary papers but to have her judged publicly and stoned to death.

3. Joseph was a listening man. The angel appeared to Him and he listened. We need to listen in order to act like men.

4. Joseph was a chosen instrument of God. All this took place to fulfill the prophecy. “Behold the virgin will be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

5. Joseph was a willing participant. Joseph did what the angel of the Lord had commanded. He kept her a virgin. Who is going to know if he did not? He followed the angel’s direction and named him Immanuel.

The question for us today is, do we act like men?

Men keep their commitments.

Men are righteous and follow the word of God.

Men listen to God, to their wives, to anyone that needs to be heard.

Men are God’s chosen instruments.

Men are willing to go where God is leading.

Join me in striving to be a man...you know I love ya, Don