“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: . . . and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor” (Isaiah 9:6).
Have you ever been to camp? If you have, you know what it is to have a counselor. Your counselor is a person who answers your questions, helps you find your way around the camp, stays in the cabin with you at night, and basically looks out for you during your week at camp. If you’ve been to a Christian camp, your counselor might have prayed with you, talked with you about problems in your life, or answered your questions about the preacher’s messages. If you had a good counselor, you probably came away from camp thinking that person was the next best thing to chocolate ice cream!
Isaiah 9:6 calls the Messiah, Jesus Christ, a Wonderful Counselor. Jesus is even better than the counselors you have at camp. Those counselors might be good people who truly want to help you, but they are not the kind of counselor that Jesus is. Jesus is a perfectly holy person Who knows exactly how to help you with any problems you have. Just a few years ago, your camp counselors were probably campers like you; they needed counselors themselves. Romans 11:34 indicates that Jesus has never needed a counselor. He has never needed any help or advice from anyone. He has always been perfect in wisdom and knowledge. He is a counselor you don’t have to leave behind at the end of an exciting week of camp. Once He becomes Your Savior, He will go with you through your entire life—guiding you, caring for you, listening to you, and giving you wisdom for each problem you face.
How do we get counsel (“wise advice or help”) from Jesus? In James 1:5 He promises to give us wisdom if we ask him for it. And Psalm 119:24 says that we can find God’s counsel in His Word, the Bible. As you read God’s Word, look for things that apply to your life. Look for commands you can obey. Look for promises you can trust in. Look for guidance about specific problems you might have. You can never go wrong following the counsel of Jesus. He is a Wonderful Counselor.
My response: Am I looking for and following the counsel of Jesus in His Word?