2021 Christmas Advent Day 5: The Counsellor

• Main Passage: Isaiah 9:6
  • For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
• Jesus says in Matthew, “Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.” [Matthew 18:4-5] But His disciples paid little attention, because one chapter later, “then there were brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 19:13-14]
  • There is a humility to receiving a little child. The disciples found themselves prideful, thinking Jesus far too important and busy to bother with little children, but as Mark tells us, this caused Jesus to be “much displeased.” [Mark 10:14] Now imagine this prophecy and the glorious things which are spoken of about “a child.” Who would ever approach a child for counsel? Would they not seek to find someone older and much wiser? But here Isaiah says The LORD will give us a child and a son, and He will be Counsellor. Jesus tells us that those who are proud will not enter into life. Those who refuse to come to Jesus in humility, receiving the kingdom as a child, would not enter into it. Those who refuse the counsel of Jesus, The Great Counsellor, will not enter into heaven.
• Psalms 119:24 says, “Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.” Jesus, who is “The Word” and whose name is “The Word of God,” [John 1:1, Revelation 19:13] counsels us through His Word and by His Spirit. Jesus tells us, regarding The Holy Spirit, “He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” [John 14:26] And again, “when He, The Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” [John 16:13-14] John tells us also in his letter, “but the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.” [1 John 2:27]
  • God’s word, Jesus Christ, is our counsellor. This “holy child Jesus” [Acts 4:30] is our counsel and our wisdom, for in Him, “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” [Colossians 2:3] And we have been gifted by Jesus “The Spirit of Christ,” so that “we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” [Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 2:12]

Questions for Day 5

1. Proverbs tells us “there is no…counsel against The LORD.” [Proverbs 21:30] Jesus is our counsellor who will never lead us astray. He will always, as He promise, guide us into truth which glorifies Him. Therefore we should be consistent in studying His word and seeking out His will. How can you be sure the counsel you get is from Jesus?
   • Reflect: The very light of life lives within us; He is available for us to approach and ask counsel of. We should always do this: He seeks to guide us in ways of peace, mercy, and truth.
   • “Through the tender mercy of our God: whereby the Dayspring from on High hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” [Luke 1:78-79]
   • “All the paths of The LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.” [Psalms 25:10]