Tag: Counselor
God Reveals the Path of Life!
Scripture reading for August 31: Psalm 16:7-11 “I bless the Lord Who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You have made known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one come to the Father except through Me.”
The psalmist was worshiping God with this psalm of declaration. He declared God as his Counselor, who is instructing him in the night seasons when darkness seeks to overwhelm. He declared that God is his “right hand” and that makes him secure in the darkness and shaking of the enemy. He declared that his flesh would dwell secure and that he lived a life of rejoicing because of God’s presence. In his rejoicing, he declared his belief that God would not abandon him to the place of the departed dead or allow his flesh to see decay. In God, he has found the path of eternal life leading to God’s presence and fullness of joy forever.
Our health and mental well-being are tied to our faith in God. When we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth the sufficiency of God to meet our deepest needs, our faith brings vision and revelation of God’s ‘path of life’ available to all through faith. Jesus declared that He Alone was the Way to the Father and in Him was eternal life. These truths reveal to those who will believe that the path of life eternal is found in a relationship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is raised from the dead and now seated at God’s right hand. In Him we are seated there as well and find eternal pleasures forever!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for revealing the only path to Life eternal and joy forever in Your Son Jesus, our Lord! I bless the Lord at all times and His praise is in my heart and mouth. Amen!
God’s amazing mercy and wisdom!
Scripture reading for June 27: Romans 11
“For God has consigned all to disobedience, that He may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable are His ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:32-36
As we have been listening to God through the writings of Paul, we have been challenged to expand our world view to see God’s grand vision of showing mercy to all men and women, Jew or Gentile. All people are shut away from God through disobedience. The Jews have broken God’s law and covenant. The Gentiles have violated God’s laws known through conscience. Not one person has right standing before God through their own effort or works. We humbly come to God as debtors needing mercy and grace.
No religion of man or wisdom of man can add to what God has planned and accomplished in Jesus. God stands above all in wisdom. His ways are holy and just. He is merciful and mighty. He has created all things and all things belong to Him. He needs nothing but deserves all glory and honor forever and ever! His people can only fall down in worship and adoration at the free gift of salvation through Jesus the Christ. All creation owes its existence to the One Who created it all and holds it together by His powerful Word. All creation awaits the final revelation of God’s Glory in His Son as King of kings and Lord of lords!
How has God expanded your world view through hearing His Word? How have you responded to God’s revelation of His wisdom and mercy through Jesus Christ? Do you regularly worship God and gather with His redeemed people to expand your understanding of this Amazing God we know and love?
Prayer: Father God, I worship You and adore You as Creator, giver of the Good News, the Source of all wisdom and power. I have nothing to offer You, but my sincere praise, my heart as Your domain, and my feet to go into Your world and share Your Good news. To You be all glory and praise, now and forever. Amen.
Grief turned to Joy!
Scripture reading for May 27th: John 16:1-33
“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you; Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:20-22)
Jesus spoke plainly about His coming departure and the grief that would come over the disciples as they witnessed the unfolding of events. They did not fully understand what He was saying, but He knew that the Holy Spirit would help them understand fully and remember what He taught them. He encouraged them to be patient and look for the joy that would follow.
Jesus likened the disciples joy at His resurrection to that of a mother who had just had a child. The time immediately preceding the birth would be filled with pain and anguish. The birth pains had to come before the baby was introduced to the world. So Jesus had to go through the battle with the ‘prince of this world’ and face the last enemy, ‘death’! But the ‘prince of this world’ had no hold on Him. (John 14:30) The ‘prince of this world’ must be driven out! (John 12:31) This battle would involve the cross for Jesus and the ‘prince of darkness’ would attempt to hold Him in death. However, Jesus would be victorious and emerge from the grave with the keys of death and hell! (Revelation 1:18) He would spoil the principalities and powers of darkness, and make a public show of them openly by the cross! (Colossians 2:15)
When these disciples experienced Jesus in resurrection, their grief would be turned to a joy that no one could take away! They would know God the Father was true and the Gift of the Father would teach them all things. They would understand that death had no hold on them either and live with a new boldness to share the love of God in Christ Jesus! Christ’s victory would assure them of their victory! Are you living in this joy? Why not put your faith in Jesus Christ and experience it for yourself?
My peace I leave with you!
Scripture reading for May 25th: John 14:15-31
Jesus, knowing that a short time remained with the eleven remaining disciples, began to teach them about the Gift of the Father. He told them He would ask the Father to give them another Counselor like Him who would be with them forever. (John 14:16-17) This Counselor would be known as the Spirit of Truth who would live in them and those who would believe on account of their witness. Those in the world would not have this Gift or understand anything about Him.
This Counselor was not just a vague spirit, but a true person. This third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, was a special gift to Jesus’ disciples. He would be sent by the Father at Jesus’ request. He would help them by reminding them of everything that Jesus had taught them and then would teach them all things. These things Jesus instructed the disciples about so that they would have peace through the coming storm of events.
Jesus was prophesied to be the “Prince of Peace” and “Wonderful Counselor” by Isaiah. (Isaiah 9:6) Jesus’ teachings were marked by unusual wisdom and people everywhere marveled at His ability to speak like no one else. When Jesus had asked these disciples if they wanted to leave Him, Peter had spoken up that Jesus had words of eternal life and there was no one else like Him. (John 6:68)
As Jesus prepared to leave these men, He granted them His peace. This peace was beyond anything the world could offer. It was a supernatural peace granted by the only One who can give sinful humans peace with God through forgiveness of sins. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) He and they would soon face tremendous spiritual conflict with the ‘prince of this world’, Satan. Jesus assured them that this prince had no hold on Him. He was going to fully obey the Father and demonstrate that obedience to the world.
Do you live in this supernatural peace given by Jesus Christ? It is available today to those who follow Him and put their trust in His word. This peace comes with Jesus’ perfect love that drives out all fear and is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit!