11 DECEMBER

 

Wonderful Counselor

Reading: Isaiah 9:6-7

“A son will be given to us, and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor.”

As a young boy I was told the story of a man who obsessively washed his hands again and again until they were red raw. Whatever he was struggling with – anxiety, guilt, fear – no matter how many times he tried to wash it all away, he could never find the peace his heart longed for.

How can we have peace with God?

700 years before Jesus was born, Isaiah predicted the birth of God’s Son and described Him as “Wonderful Counselor.” Understanding this name of Jesus also helps to answer the question of how we can have peace with God.

The word “wonderful” is often used to describe miracles performed by God. Importantly, God does not perform a miracle to show off. God uses miracles to point people to Himself and to offer them His mercy and grace.

“Counselor” on the other hand, describes a well thought out plan of action or a deliberate purpose.

So, when Jesus is called Wonderful Counselor, it means God is a God of purpose and He sent Jesus for a specific reason – to enable every person to have peace with God.

God created every one of us for a purpose and Jesus described it like this:

“I have come that they (you) may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

Jesus was simply saying that God’s purpose for every one of us is to have full and meaningful lives, living joyfully in the world He has made for us, experiencing harmony in all our relationships and above all, being at peace with Him.

However, most people in the world do not know God’s peace in their lives – you may be one of them - and there is a reason for this, which we will look at tomorrow.

But let this thought encourage you today. God does love you and wants you to experience the best life possible – He wants you to be at peace with Him.

Why do you think most people don’t have peace with God?