I have often said that the unsung hero in the Nativity is Joseph.
Being a husband I can only imagine the pain he went through. The questions and doubts. Yet, out of the birth narrative of Jesus, Joseph emerges victoriously. And as such, he can teach us a lot about Character.
Joseph's actions and decisions in the months leading up to the birth of Jesus define for us what truch Christian Character can look like. What a blind faith can produce in us, if we simply let it.

Righteousness that is above circumstances

The circumstance that Joseph found himself in was probably among the worst a Hebrew young man could find himself in. He was humiliated, devestated, disgraced, and every other negative emotion one can muster. His trust in his fiancee had been obliterated.
Adultery, I understand, is one in which people respond solely based on the rage of emotions that flood in them.
Lev. 20:10 tells us that the punishment for adultery was death. Joseph had every right to do with Mary whatever he chose, according to the law, yet in the end he chose to quietly send her away. Saving her humiliation and making the right choice.
Notice the angel doesn't come until after Joseph had made the decision. Truly, this whole plan, hinged on Joseph for a moment in time.
We learn that Joseph was a man of character. A man of righteousness despite the circumstance he was in.
As Christians we are called to be righteous despite what circumstances we find ourself in.
Luke writes in Luke 6.32 If you love those who love you what good is that? Same principle applies, if you are righteous only when your circumstance is favorable, what good is that? It's when the chips are down and you still choose to be righteous, set apart. The greek word diakonouse is righteousness, but here the word is dikaios which simply means doing right. Do what is right according to God's word.

Obedience that is without hesitation

Here is something amazing about Joseph. He is the first to receive the gospel message of Jesus Christ.
Mary had been visited by the angel and told to name the boy Jesus, and that what was concieved in her was the Son of God. But you cannot assume that a 15 year old girl would understand the complexities of Jewish tradition. The Messiah probably was confusing to her.
She then goes to visit Elizabeth and Elizabeth realized that something is different about this child.
But it is not until we get to the message from the angel to Joseph do we read, "you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
Joseph is not just shone the power of the baby, he is shown the whole mission of the baby.
The angel then goes on to quote the OT prophecy of Isaiah.
Joseph would have been more familiar with God's plan and provision for the people. He no doubt wondered how on earth the Messiah could come to a humble couple such as him and Mary rather than from nobility, born into a palace.
He never questions: He gets up and immediately acts upon what he hears.
How certain is our obedience? Do we hesitate? Do we disobey altogether? What is God asking us to do, what is He asking you to do that you question? Christian character is allowed to ask questions, but they should be asked while you are obeying!

A very prominant part of a Hebrew marriage was the consumation. It didn't matter what the priests said, it didn't matter what price the dowry was, it was not until the consumation of the marriage that they considered the marriage final. That happened on the marriage night.
But the night that Mary and Joseph were married there was no consumation.
Look at what Joseph does he puts up a hedge of protection around Mary, physically to the world he had proclaimed he would marry her despite the shame. He put up a hedge of protection for her emotional state, he was righteous and always put her first, now he is hedging her with protection from even their own consumation. He put his desires and needs on hold so that God could fulfill what He would fulfill through Mary and the baby Jesus.
Joseph showed amazing integrity beyond himself.
How are we showing integrity in our relationship with God?
Are we allowing the world to dictate what we say and do, and how we act? Are we allowing our own wants and desires to control us?
When you are a Christian of integrity, this cannot be part of your life.

Christmas had the potential to be a real bummer for Joseph. So many things were stacked up against him, and if anyone had a reason to be upset it was Joseph, even by God's own law! Yet he shows us the best picture of Christian character we could ever see. How's your character? Have you fully understood the name that Joseph gave his son - Jesus - salvation, deliverance - from sins. When you grab that, your character should follow.