Wonderful Counselor

"For a child will be born to us ... and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor" (Isaiah 9:6).

Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor, the marvelously distinguished advisor and guide. This sampling of verses from Matthew and John reveal some of His wonderful counsel.

About life
Brevity of life: "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work" (John 9:4).

Stability for life: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away" (Matthew 24:35).

Meaning in life: "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39).

Sense of belonging: "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother" (Matthew 12:50).

Being truly free: "And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" (John 8:32).

Understanding the root of problems: "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders" (Matthew 15:19).

Setting values: "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal" (Matthew 6:20).

Balancing responsibilities: "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21).

Being great: "Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave" (Matthew 20:26-27).

Accomplishing great things: "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move" (Matthew 17:20).

Gaining responsibility: "You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things" (Matthew 25:21).

Regarding people
General treatment: "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you" (Matthew 7:12).

Reconciliation: "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother" (Matthew 18:15).

Marriage: "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate" (Matthew 19:6).

Regarding Christianity
Preparing for eternity: "Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

Understanding the seriousness of sin: "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire" (Matthew 18:8).

Resisting temptation: "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41).

Identifying as a Christian: "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35)

Being a disciple: "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24).

Praying: "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven'" (Matthew 6:9 and following verses).

Worshiping God: "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).

Ministering to God: "To the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me" (Matthew 25:40).

The greatest commandment: "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).

Regarding service
Being fruitful: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me" (John 15:4).

Making a difference: "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

Instructions for ministry: "As you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand'" (Matthew 10:7 and following verses).

Speaking for Him: "Do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say" (Matthew 10:19).

Regarding trouble
Considering needs: "Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on" (Matthew 6:25).

Handling burdens: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

Understanding tragedy: "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him" (John 9:3).

Facing threats: "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul" (Matthew 10:28).

Gentleness as a counselor
Assures of love: "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love" (John 15:9).

Gives comfort: "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me" (John 14:1)

Restores: "Simon, son of John, do you love Me? ... Tend My sheep" (John 21:17).

Provides additional help: "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever" (John 14:16).

Prepares for difficulty: "Because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you" (John 15:19).

With all the right things to say about every topic, truly Jesus is a wonderful counselor indeed!

Not That Spiritual

Churches without pastors. Mission fields without missionaries. Ministries without workers. The general consensus seems to be that dedicated, full-time personnel are harder and harder to find; Christian training centers seem to report fewer and fewer candidates training for vocational ministry. Churches have to search longer and longer to find pastors, and many church members have to stretch their brains to remember the last time anyone in their church entered full-time Christian service.

Why aren't there more Christian workers? Why does vocational ministry seem to be an exception? Don't young people have a heart for God anymore? I'm not expert enough to provide reliable statistics or comprehensive answers, but I have some observations and a theory.

First, there are some rising Christian workers. There are young men training for the ministry and young couples on deputation as missionaries. There are families giving "more than their share" and churches regularly seeing young people enter Christian service.

Since some churches and families do produce workers, and since other churches and families have a great dearth, it would appear that part of the answer lies in the spiritual atmosphere surrounding young people. Some atmospheres foster decisions toward Christian service, while other atmospheres squelch such pursuits. Those who enter vocational service must be called by God, but a large part of being sensitive to God's call stems from the encouragement of church and family. Godly role models are very important, as it is unusual for someone to pursue vocational ministry when such service is not valued and exemplified before him. Without good role models and positive perceptions of full-time service, a young person is unlikely even to consider such a path.

Do young people today have a heart to serve God? I believe many do. The question generally is not whether or not young people have a desire to live for God; the question is how far they want to take that. Short-term mission trips are popular, but long-term missionaries are rare. A summer of camp ministry is embraced, but a lifetime as a pastor is less common. Young people will help with VBS or participate in a special outreach, but choosing a lifetime as a Christian school teacher is another story. Young people have interests and aspirations; they want to be doctors, nurses, businessmen, accountants, athletes, musicians, coaches, therapists, and more. Serving God is squeezed in around those other interests.

Why isn't serving God a paramount interest? My theory is that an underlying thought prevails: "I don't want to be that spiritual." There is a perception that pastors, missionaries, and other vocational workers have to be "super" Christians. They have to be fully dedicated. They have to attend church faithfully. They have to be willing to give up pleasures and entertainment. They have little time for themselves. They have to prepare and train diligently. They have to be fervent students of the Word and have to live out their Christianity consistently. They have to maintain a testimony that is above reproach and that rises above their peers. Such requirements are too extreme and too demanding. Therefore, people (adults included) settle for "normal" Christianity with occasional service that allows for pursuing personal interests and living a more relaxed lifestyle.

Are the perceptions listed above valid? I believe they are. Much damage has been done to the work of Christ by telling people that "anyone" who is willing can serve God, generally with allowances for however someone wants that service to be. Willingness has become the only requirement, leading to a compromise in standards and an overall weakening of the impact of the church. Consider the following sampling of verses.

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Romans 12:1). "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). "Do not love the world nor the things in the world" (I John 2:15). "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: ... to keep oneself unstained by the world" (James 1:27). "Endure hardship" (II Timothy 4:5). "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season" (II Timothy 4:2). "Holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict" (Titus 1:9). "In speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe" (I Timothy 4:12). "An overseer, then, must be above reproach, ... temperate, prudent, respectable, ... gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money ... and he must have a good reputation with those outside the church" (I Timothy 3:2-3,7). "Flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness" (II Timothy 2:22).

It should be noted that many of the above verses apply to all Christians; it is also true that God holds a high standard for those in positions of oversight. Full-time service will indeed require and cost something extra, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth it. I believe God's requirements and expectations are what hold many people back. They want to please and serve God, but not to an extreme, not if it costs too much, not if it means being "that spiritual."

Instead of seeing adults around them who are caught up in the pleasures of the world and in pursuing their own interests, what if young people could see adults who love God with all their hearts and who willingly relinquish worldly pursuits? What if young people saw more examples of adults who are "all in" for God, who joyfully and willingly live lives that are dedicated and different? Would more young people realize that serving God full-time is not just okay, but appealing? Can we as adults live in such a way to inspire such devotion? Can we be "that spiritual"?

Follow Your Heart

"Follow your heart." Some people call this the Disney philosophy; it reality, it is an American (and probably a human) philosophy. It is deeply ingrained in people and strongly reinforced by society to make decisions based on what feels right or desired. It is generally accepted that this is how people will know the right decision.

God says, "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered" (Proverbs 28:26). The contrast is clear: trust one's own heart and be a fool, or rely on something greater and walk wisely.

How many people in the Bible were led astray by their own hearts? Eve followed her heart and ate of the forbidden but desired fruit. Lot chose to live in Sodom; his soul was vexed and his family was destroyed. Achan took desired battle spoil that resulted in his death and that of his family. Samson followed after heathen women who brought his destruction. If Samuel had followed his heart, he would have chosen one of David's brothers to be king. David's heart nearly led him to kill Nabal and his household. David pursued an affair with Bathsheba, leading him to then commit murder as a attempted cover-up.

The list could go on and on. In the passion of the moment, these people's hearts told them what to do - and they were wrong. These people wanted something badly, and they took steps to acquire what their hearts desired. In hindsight, it is not hard to see that following their hearts was foolish.

Hindsight is rather the key. Though not always true, following one's heart is often a spur-of-the-moment, quick decision that does not thoroughly evaluate. It often ignores caution and reason. It generally sees only the positives without considering the negatives also. It even discards counsel, believing that no one else can understand what one's own heart "knows." A month or a year or ten years later, people who follow their hearts will often acknowledge that they made a foolish decision (or they will wonder why their life is a disaster).

The particular danger of heart-based decisions is that following one's heart is often used for the very greatest decisions and those carrying the most permanent consequences. Career choices, marriage choices, ministry choices, lifestyle choices, church choices, and other very important decisions are often made by following one's heart.

God gives much caution about relying on one's heart and own evaluation. "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 16:25). A decision based solely on human reasoning and desires will not turn out well. Human understanding is too shallow, but God's wisdom is profound. "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' declares the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts'" (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Not only is human wisdom shallow, but human emotion is fallible. Man's heart is too easily tied to this world and its philosophies. "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. ... For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world" (I John 2:15-16). Where will that world-influenced heart end up? "The world is passing away, and also its lusts, but the one who does the will of God lives forever" (I John 2:17). Following one's heart is often centered precisely on the three dangers listed in I John 2:16, and the end of that path is disaster.

The heart has a strong pull, but it is not very objective. Often the heart helps people find ways to justify what they really want to do. It acts without counsel and operates outside the support of the Bible. It allows people to follow a course of action that they might admit they would not counsel someone else to follow; they might even state that in most cases, they wouldn't recommend such action but that their case is special. When something is personal, it is easy to ignore traditional guidelines and make oneself the exception.

How then should decisions be made? Instead of the inclinations of one's heart, decisions must be made from the wisdom of the Bible. Danger alarms should go off when the basis of a decision is "It feels good," "It seems right," or "It is what I really want." Even if those statements are true, they must be backed up by godly wisdom. Some verse or Biblical principle must influence and confirm the decision.

As a Christian's heart becomes more like God's, as his thoughts become more like God's, and as God's Word becomes more deeply ingrained into his life, he will come closer to naturally making right decisions, but always He must seek God's guidance. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Trust your heart? Oh, no, trust God instead.

Rescuing Israel

The Jews have been opposed, often overwhelmingly, since their beginning. Throughout history, other peoples have sought to control, suppress, and even annihilate the Jewish population.

In their infancy, the Jews were sheltered in Egypt, but a new pharaoh instituted 400 years of cruel slavery and eventually ordered that all male babies be killed. After arriving in the land of Canaan, the Jews battled many opposing nations throughout the years of the judges and the kings. At times multi-nation coalitions threatened to destroy the Jewish nation.

Assyria conquered the northern kingdom (Israel) in the 8th century BC, killing many and dispersing others. Babylon then conquered the southern kingdom (Judah) in 587 BC, destroying the temple and the cities. Through a series of exiles, the Jewish population in their homeland was reduced to a tiny remnant. Even in captivity, a threat remained. Haman succeeded in having a law passed that could have eliminated the Jewish population in exile.

Antiochus Epiphanes initiated harsh persecution against the Jews, resulting in a revolt that Antiochus suppressed in 168 BC, massacring 80,000 Jews in three days. In the time of Jesus, Herod ordered many male babies and toddlers killed. In AD 70, Titus captured Jerusalem, destroyed the second temple, and over one million Jews were killed, while others were sentenced to slavery or to death in the arena.

Under the Roman Empire, multitudes of Jews were forced into exile. The Bar Kokhba revolt in 132 resulted in many Jews being killed or exiled. Over the next centuries Jews were prohibited from fully practicing their religion, many synagogues were destroyed, hundreds of villages were destroyed, many atrocities occurred, and Jews were exiled from many areas. In 2001, historian James Carroll wrote, "Jews accounted for 10% of the total population of the Roman Empire. By that ratio, if other factors had not intervened, there would be 200 million Jews in the world today, instead of something like 13 million."

In the First Crusade (1096) thousands of Jews were killed and communities completely destroyed, especially in the Rhine Valley. The Second Crusade (1147) brought massacres in France. The Shepherds' Crusades in 1251 and 1320 brought further attacks.

In 1190, houses were burned and Jews massacred in England; they were expelled in 1290. Beginning in 1229, the Inquisition eliminated many. Expulsion from Belgium was advocated in 1261. Over 100,000 were massacred in Germany in 1298. In 1347 and after, Jews were blamed for the Black Death, and at least 26,000 were killed. In Spain, where Jews had previously flourished, pogroms started in the 11th century, massacres in 1389, 300,000 were forcibly "converted" in 1391, and the majority of those remaining were exiled in 1492. France expelled Jews in 1180, 1306, and 1396. Austria expelled them in 1421 and Sicily in 1493. Portugal expelled Jews in 1496, and in 1506 threw 4,000 to angry mobs. Italy expelled Jews from various cities throughout the 1500s, Holland expelled them in 1852, and Bavaria in 1593.

100,000 were killed in Ukraine in 1648-49. In Poland 20,000 were killed in 1768. There was a massacre in Algeria in 1805 and in Damascus in 1840. Pogroms started in Russia in 1881; in three major outbreaks, Jews were left homeless, businesses destroyed, and people killed. In 1915, 100,000 Russian Jews died during a forced march in which 500,000 others were displaced. 200,000 were killed in Ukraine in 1917. In over 1,200 pogroms in Ukraine, entire families were murdered and 60,000 killed. 3,000 were killed in Hungary in 1919.

World War II's Holocaust is well-known. Six to seven million Jews were killed, and the Jewish demographic of Europe was completely overhauled. While Hitler is most blamed, he was not alone. Others joined in the exterminations. ThoughtCo.com has compiled research of breakdown by country, as follows: Austria 65,500; Belgium 25,000; Czechoslovakia 590,000; Estonia 1,000; France 74,000; Germany 165,000; Greece 72,000; Hungary 560,000; Italy 8,000; Latvia 70,000; Lithuania 130,000; Luxembourg 1,200; Netherlands 100,000; Poland 3,000,000; Romania 480,000; Soviet Union 1,340,000; Yugoslavia 164,500. Total 6,844,000.

When the Jews were granted a homeland in 1948, they immediately faced a coalition of at least nine Arab countries who didn't want to give any land to Israel. Since then, Israel has fought the Suez Crisis (1956), the Six Day War (1967), the Yom Kippur War (1973), the Lebanon War (1982), and the Lebanon War (2006). In addition to wars, Israel faces constant threat of attacks and regular shelling and skirmishes.

Israel's story is not over. During the Tribulation, two-thirds of the Jews will die. At an estimated 14.6 million in 2018, the deaths would be around 9,800,000.

BUT - God has chosen this nation and loves them. In Isaiah 41, He reassures them and speaks amazing words. "All those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish. You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent" (vs. 11-12). God promises to strengthen and help His people and urges them not to fear.

If any nation in history ought to have been destroyed, it would be Israel. With the multiplied, violent, and vitriolic opposition against them, there is no way they ought to have survived. Yet in spite of all the hatred of Israel, all the attacks and attempts at extermination, God has preserved them, and He will ultimately give them complete victory over their multiplicity of vicious foes. In an unexpected reversal, it is the Jews' enemies who will be annihilated.

When God loves someone, that love cannot die. When God makes promises, those promises cannot be broken. When God chooses someone, that choosing means something. God has the power to meet the most foreboding threat. He has the ability to defeat the strongest enemy. Days may be very dark for a time, but God and His plan cannot be defeated. Such a God can be trusted and followed confidently.

Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual

Humans are complex. God has designed the various facets of man to intertwine. The physical affects the emotional, and the emotional affects the physical. Likewise, both aspects can have an effect on the spiritual, and vice versa.

It makes sense that what happens in the internal is reflected in the external. "A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken" (Proverbs 15:13). Some people are better than others at physically masking the emotional or spiritual highs and lows, but observers, especially close friends, can generally tell by viewing the external when something is wrong (or very right) internally.

The link between internal and external is more than just a matter of external revelation, however. Internal problems can actually cause physical problems, while non-physical prosperity can translate to actual physical health. "A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion [jealousy, envy] is rottenness to the bones" (Proverbs 14:30). "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones" (Proverbs 17:22).

When Eli learned that his two sons were dead and that the ark of God had been captured, he "fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died" (I Samuel 4:18). Something in the emotional shock was too difficult for Eli's old and weakened body to handle.

Nabal was having a great feast and his "heart was merry within him" (I Samuel 25: 36), apparently healthy and emotionally prospering. The next morning his wife told him that she had taken a gift of food, against his wishes, to David and his men. This news had such an impact on him, perhaps in rage, that "his heart died within him so that he became as a stone" (v. 37) and he died ten days later. Even a man in his prime was adversely affected physically by an emotional shock.

Job was an extremely healthy man spiritually (Job 1:8). His spiritual health carried him through some devastating emotional losses (Job 1:13-22). When Job's health was destroyed, however, Job was weakened. He still maintained a level of spiritual integrity, but there is no doubt that his emotions went through an intense battle and even his spiritual health was threatened.

Elijah was another man who was spiritually strong. He saw a tremendous victory (I Kings 18), but then emotional threat and physical weakness led to an intense emotional low (I Kings 19) in which he even wanted to die (v. 4). God strengthened Elijah's spirit by ministering to his body with food and sleep.

The interplay of physical, emotional, and spiritual is too complex for man to fully understand. Doctors have learned that mental health and physical health can be very connected. Sometimes a medical doctor, by treating physical conditions, can remedy emotional conditions that a psychiatrist has been unable to solve. Other times physical symptoms disappear when a mental health need has been successfully addressed. In some cases, "mental" health is truly spiritual health, and a step of spiritual maturity ends up correcting both emotional and physical problems.

The difficulty in addressing these related components of man is that even the best doctors, psychiatrists, and pastors cannot always discern the root of the problem. Depression, for example, can be a purely spiritual issue, caused by unbiblical thinking patterns. On the other hand, depression, can be caused by physical injury or disease (often undiagnosed), including conditions that happen primarily in the brain. Any of these manifestations of depression can cause physical symptoms, such as fatigue and pain. Conversely, a compromised physical condition can leave someone particularly vulnerable to depression that does not have a specific physical trigger.

So which causes which? Are the physical factors the result of spiritual factors? Are the emotional problems the result of physical problems? For each individual, there is an answer, but that answer will vary from case to case. For some people, the answer will not be clear-cut. That is, the emotional problems might be 70% caused by physical deficiencies, but the other 30% could be an inadequate spiritual response. Since there often can be no definitive answers, a few conclusions must suffice.

First, the emotional life matters. There are ways to seek joy and peace. There are ways to share love. People who seek healthy emotions will have a resultant benefit to their spirit and to their body. Those who are frequently angry or bitter, on the other hand, will damage their spiritual and physical health. If there are emotional issues, the person should seek God's guidance to discern any contributing spiritual issues and the help of a doctor to discover underlying physical issues.

Second, the spiritual life matters. Many emotional issues (joy, bitterness, anger, etc.) are actually spiritual issues. Putting on the fruit of the spirit will bring emotional and physical benefit, while living according to fleshly passions will do the opposite. Being spiritually healthy through a strong relationship with God and a firm biblical foundation will help someone to weather emotional battles and can even contribute to physical well-being.

Third, the physical life matters. Because a weakened physical condition opens the door to emotional and spiritual struggles, it is important to maintain the body. Christians should attempt to eat properly. They should get proper rest. They should exercise. They should avoid habits and activities that are harmful or especially demanding on the body.

The various facets of the human person do work together, and all are important. As a Christian endeavors to maintain good health in each individual area, the other areas will be strengthened as well. When God ordains that one area is weak, He can give grace not only for that aspect, but also for the other affected aspects.

"Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers" (III John 1:2).