"Just" or "Just"

Joseph, Jesus' earthly father, is called a "Just Man".



Matthew 1:19
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.



Websters tell us that "Just"" means: acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright or good : righteous : conforming to a standard of correctness ."

Another definition is":only, simply "just last year" "just be yourself", "He was just a man".

So which one of these definitions do you think Matthew was referring to when he called Joseph "Just"? Was he: "Just a man, as in only, simply ? Was he a "Just" man, good, righteous, upright? I think we all see that what was meant was the good, righteous and upright definition, but I have a question for us today.: "Are you and I "Just a man/woman, or are we "A JUST man or woman?"

It is easy to use the excuse that we can't do something God may be asking us to do,:"God, I am JUST a man, I have my limitations!". But then God answers: "But I don't".

Moses was "Just a man", had his difficulties, problems, weakness', BUT look at what God did through him. Moses led a whole nation out of bondage. What about Noah, he had problems, he was "Just a man", his wife and family tried to stop him from building a huge boat in their back yard, and the smell from all the animals, come on Noah. Noah was "Just a man". Then there was Paul, he was "Just a man" who was killing Christians just because they believed differently then he did. Yes he thought he was doing the "Just" thing, the "Nobel" thing, the "Right" thing, but found out he, too, was "just a man." And he changed so much they changed his name. Then there was Jesus. The best example of "Just" we could have. Yes, He was God's Son, the second person in the Trinity. BUT, even Jesus was "Just a man;".

We are all "Just a man/woman", so how do we become a "Just" man or woman? How does a person achieve good morals, right decisions, obey all the rules? We see it all the time in movies, the good guy has finally caught the bad guy, the one who killed his wife, the one he has been hunting for 20 years so he would have this moment. Our hero has his gun pointed right at the bad guys forehead, the bad guy says: "Go ahead, I'll never tell you I'm sorry, I enjoyed killing your wife, she cried". Then the good guy lowers his gun and says something like: " Your not worth the price of a bullet, I want you to suffer the rest of your life in prison." The good guy had a knowledge of where the "Line" was and knew he was about to cross it. He did not want to become like this 'piece of garbage", at least that is what he will tell his partner when he comes running around the corner.

Just: knowing the difference between this side and that side of the "Line". Knowing what is right and what is wrong, and CHOOSING right. Knowing what is fair and what is not and choosing fair. Have you ever worked for a very "Just" boss? You know one who is fair, doesn't keep any secrets from anyone regarding the possibilities of lay-offs, raises, cutting back hours, and pay. I worked for a man years ago who would tell us almost everything that was going on considering us. If the company branch was doing well and they were going to hire new workers, he would tell us how well we were doing and ask for anyone we knew who might fit in. If the company was not doing well and lay-offs were a possibility, he would give us the "heads up" so we could start looking out for possible new jobs. He "Had our back" is how we said it. He was a good guy. He was just, fair, and treated us as adults.

So here is Joseph, a just man. Is this a reason God decided to have His Son born to this man? Yes, I believe that was part of it, but I also believe Mary was born to birth the Christ child. Joseph, who had been chosen to marry Mary, because God knew his heart. God knew Joseph being a Just man, would not "Put Mary Away" because of her unbelievable story about how she got pregnant. (A angel had to come down and explain things to Joseph, though, I don't think that is bad, I am pretty sure I would not have believed the story either.) But Joseph did the right thing, being the Just man he was.

I believe being called "Just" is more then likely one of the best compliments you can have. Being fair, knowing the difference between right and wrong, knowing where that "Line" is and when your getting too close to it. Being a good boss,(Joseph was a carpenter, and may have had a few employees, we don't know for sure)>


Like Joseph, Noah, Moses, Paul, and especially Jesus, we are all Just Men/Women. But are we "Just" Men/Women? I want to be Just, fair, righteous, of good morals, have a good reputation, be looked upon by those that know me as a "Just Man"


So I will leave you with the question I am pondering, "Are you Just a man, or are you a "Just" man? Ask your friends, co-workers, boss, family.......they know.