"WONDERFUL COUNSELOR" 

Advent Devotional 5 - Week 3 
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called -- Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I'm sure you are wondering why I would write about Almighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace first and leave the name and attribute of "Wonderful Counselor" until now. Why not write about them in the order that Isaiah prophesied? The answer is simply this: the latter three names and attributes expressed by God, through Isaiah, depict the absolute holiness and supernatural might of God -- incredibly encouraging, but difficult for this finite mind to relate.

• Almighty God -- bolsters my faith and I find great comfort in seeing His might at work around me. But I cannot even begin to wrap my mind around that kind of "other worldly" power. I just cannot fully understand the kind of power that both creates and redeems; condemns and loves; destroys and brings healing -- all on a supernatural level (Psalm 104:1-9).
• Everlasting Father -- embeds a powerful faith impression on the human heart. It gives me courage to face the future, by faith, as a soul who has been redeemed. And yet, once again, this eternal God is truly unfathomable by this finite human mind. (Psalm 90:1-3).
• Prince of Peace -- brings a presence of powerful peace to our hearts personally as we authentically follow Him and listen to the leading of His Holy Spirit (John 14:26-28). There is no gift so great as that. And one day that peace will permeate all that is. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess in heaven and on earth that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11). But again, at least one half of this peace equation is unimaginable to the human heart. A heart that sees the pain and hate of the world around us and resonates with the old Henry Longfellow Christmas hymn, "There is no peace on earth, I said! For hate is strong and mocks the song of 'peace on earth, goodwill to men.'"

So how does the Wonderful Counselor differ from these other attributes? The Wonderful Counselor takes the unfathomable of God and puts it in my hands. The Wonderful Counselor helps me relate. He makes Almighty God a daily companion and compass for my life. He brings the Everlasting Father into relational view. And He plants the Prince of Peace deep in the fiber of my very being. And how does He do all of this? Through His Living Word. According to John 1:1-5 and verse 14, Jesus is the Living Word and He speaks His peace to our hearts as we follow His word. His Word is His supernatural counsel to us and is tangible and relevant for everyday growth and encouragement. So when God became incarnate, it wasn't just for a short 33 years on earth. His Living Word is His wonderful daily counsel and His Holy Spirit is our encourager and guide as we consistently read His Living Word. He is still incarnate through His Word. His Word and prayer hold the keys to the passage way connecting with the Wonderful Counselor.

"For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:12-13  NIV)."

The core meaning of the word "encourage" has to do with the heart (the central depths of man's affections). The word literally means to impart courage, inspiration, and resolution. So the literal embodiment of the Wonderful Counselor is His Holy Word, the Bible. And it is through that Word He brings Almighty supernatural confidence for living and Everlasting, Fatherly wisdom for each day. Now add prayer, in Jesus' name to the mix, and you have a powerful connection to the Prince of Peace that isn't just a future promise, but a daily gift of encouragement and His presence as we walk with Him.

No longer is there anything that mocks the song of Peace on Earth. Instead...
        "Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: 'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
          The wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, good will to men.'"
                    - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow