Dr J Hernes M Abante

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.”

One of the descriptive names given to Jesus Christ is counselor. He is our faithful Counselor from the beginning, offering wisdom and guidance to us. Despite our tendency to turn away from His counsel and fall into sin, He remains caring and compassionate toward His people, always ready to forgive and to show us the path to righteousness. His divine guidance is a constant source of courage and comfort as we navigate the twists and turns of life.

One of the most wondrous and gracious acts ever carried out by God was when He sent His beloved Son, Jesus, to the world. Despite being fully divine, Jesus took on human form and lived among us, sharing our struggles and trials. By doing so, He demonstrated His willingness to empathize with our pain and suffering. He showed us how to navigate life's challenges as humans with all our inherent limitations and vulnerabilities.

The Son of God was born in a humble stable. There was no room for Him, and His life was sought after by the cruel and power-hungry King Herod, forcing His parents to flee to Egypt to protect Him. Throughout His life, He faced numerous challenges and obstacles, yet His unwavering faith and resilience helped Him overcome all adversities. Even in His death, He emerged victorious by triumphing over death itself, offering us the gift of hope and comfort amid the trials and tribulations of life.

Life is a journey that requires faith. As we move forward, we are often unsure of what lies ahead. Despite this uncertainty, God does not reveal the everyday events we can expect, whether triumphs or tragedies. However, we are not left alone on this journey. The Father has provided us a Counselor, in His Son, Jesus, who guides and supports us. Through His wisdom and grace, we can face whatever challenges come our way with confidence and hope.

After Jesus ascended to return to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit, who remains with us forever. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, who provides us comfort in our times of tribulation. To constantly guide and comfort us, He gave us His Word, written by individuals who could empathize with our experiences. As believers, we should never question God's intentions for us. We are always in His heart and mind, and His desire is for us to experience His love and grace.

We are eagerly waiting for the day when we will be taken to glory, to be saved from the presence and pollution of sin, and to be with Him forever. While we are here in this sin-sick world, our Counselor has revealed to us His forgiveness, goodness, graciousness, holiness, and love. He has modeled all that God wanted us to know through the wonders of His Son. The sovereign counsel of God is beyond our understanding. Still, we can experience them through the gracious work of our divine Counselor, who knows the Heavenly Father’s eternal purposes and reveals what is best for us in accordance with His will.

When we find ourselves in trouble, and we don't know the way, look to Jesus, who understands us and is the only ONE who can lead us out of desperation.