The Name of Jesusනියැදිය

Wonderful Counselor

Over the next few days, we’ll take a look at the different names of Jesus that Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 9:6 ESV, one of the most well-known verses in Isaiah. The first of these names is "Wonderful Counselor."

We all need counsel at different points in our lives, particularly when we walk through challenging circumstances. Seeking counsel requires humility. It’s an acknowledgment that we want to make wise decisions in our lives, but we’re not always sure which direction is best, and as a result, we seek help in the form of good counsel from people we respect. Have you ever made a bad decision on your own and, in hindsight, wished you’d sought counsel from others? Or have you ever sought counsel and followed it, only to realize later that the counsel you received was unwise? No one enjoys the regret we feel when we make unwise decisions on our own or follow unwise counsel from others.

Sadly, even the best counsel in this world is still going to be imperfect. But the good news of Isaiah 9:6 is that God has given us a wonderful, perfect, completely good, always reliable Counselor. This is who Jesus is. His Word is filled with wisdom, and his Spirit, who lives in us, is called the Counselor.

As we humble ourselves before Jesus, we can trust completely in his counsel. He is God in the flesh, counseling, leading, guiding, and directing our lives and decisions according to that which is good and right. This is exactly the kind of counsel we need, particularly when you think about how he saves us from our sins and ourselves. We’re all prone to choose our ways (which are unwise) over God’s ways (which are wise), and Jesus not only saves us from our sinfulness, but he fills us with his Spirit so we can walk with the counsel of God himself.

Amidst whatever circumstances you walk through or decisions you make each day, seek and trust in Jesus as your Wonderful Counselor. Today, consider these questions: When you need counsel in a certain situation, is your first impulse to look to Jesus and ask for his counsel, or do you usually go to others first? How can you train yourself to look to Jesus first, then to filter what others say through his Word and the leadership of his Spirit? Then, spend some time praising Jesus, your Wonderful Counselor, and expressing your need for specific counsel in your life right now. And finally, let’s pray for over 42 million Persians in Iran, most of whom have yet to hear that Jesus is their Wonderful Counselor, who will save them from their sins and themselves and lead them to eternal life by his Spirit.