Unto Us - Part 1
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born. Unto us, a Son is given. The government will be on His shoulders. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace.
Have you ever watched someone try to put together a piece of IKEA furniture without the instructions? It's a difficult task even with the cryptic little man demonstrating each step. To enter into the project sans the directions could be deemed insane. Almost all IKEA furniture comes in a flat box. It's contents: a bag of hardware and multiple identical shelf-like parts with holes both big and small. And somehow it all fits together perfectly to create a closet system. Or a bookcase. Or a bed frame. Or a toy box. Or a Lexus. Okay, maybe that last one is a stretch. The IKEA engineers are quite genius, in my opinion. They created numerous furniture items with just a few basic patterns, and all the same, basic building blocks. When you walk around an IKEA showroom, you might never guess the magical set up that makes tiny spaces seem like mansions, came from the same source. Instructions are essential to creating each item. Someone has to make sure the end-user has a guide, or the project will end up in a disaster on the floor ofmy their living room.
Much like instructions for the task of furniture building, counselors assist many people, yearly, monthly, weekly, daily, hourly, in navigating the most massive building piece: Life.
The definition of a counselor is a person trained to give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems. There is a common stigma to this concept. Much like the desire to tackle a project without the instructions, possibly due to a desire for a challenge but more likely, pride, many people refuse to see a counselor. Asking someone else for help can threaten a person's perfect image. It may reveal a failure or flaw. Sadly, this leaves many humans in shambles on their living room floor.
The word counselor is used to describe the Son of God. Can it be all that bad? In fact, the word counselor is used quite a few times throughout the Bible.
Proverbs 11:14 (aka. the book of wisdom) - Without guidance, people fall, but with many counselors, there is deliverance.
Psalm 13:24 - With your counsel, You will guide me, And afterward, receive me to glory.
Prov 12:15 - The way of the fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel (I think this should be printed on the top of all IKEA boxes).
Based on the words in these verses, it appears that this concept of counsel is not new or negative. In fact, it's precisely the opposite of what many hold true. I don't like to call myself a fool, but when I attempt life without help, that's exactly what I become. I'm not proposing that each person needs to go "see" a professional. Although, I am not arguing against it either. The term counselor has a few other synonyms: adviser, guide, mentor. Counselors can come in all forms. Friends, spouses, co-workers, and, gasp, dare I say - parents. Not to mention, the Christmas Birthday Boy himself.
It is no coincidence that the Creator of the universe calls Himself Wonderful Counselor. It is exactly what He is. Jesus spoke about His gift of the Holy Spirit, as our ultimate counselor.
John 14:26 - But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit - The Father will send Him in My name - will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
This promise is one of the best we could ask for. Jesus has basically re-written the IKEA instructions in full color, described in detail, and then planted them directly into our souls so we could have access to them at all times. When we set aside our need to DIY and submit to His design, we are blessed with the Helper for eternity. Our life, an on-going construction project, with blueprints embedded in us in the form of a Wonderful Counselor.
Engage your kiddos -
Activity: Gather some legos or another type of building blocks or magnetix preferably that has instructions). Choose a design to build. First, have your kids try to build the design without any instruction or help. Once they have finished or have given up, give them the instructions and help guide the process.
Read:
Proverbs 11:14 (aka. the book of wisdom) - Without guidance, people fall, but with many counselors, there is deliverance.
Psalm 13:24 - With your counsel, You will guide me, And afterward, receive me to glory.
Prov 12:15 - The way of the fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
John 14:26 - But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit - The Father will send Him in My name - will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
Discuss:
Was it easier to build with or without instructions? Why do you think that is?
What is a counselor? (You can talk about how they are like instructions - helpers)
How does Jesus help us?
Have you ever asked Him for help? What happened?
Reiterate: Our help is in the Wonderful Counselor
Have you ever watched someone try to put together a piece of IKEA furniture without the instructions? It's a difficult task even with the cryptic little man demonstrating each step. To enter into the project sans the directions could be deemed insane. Almost all IKEA furniture comes in a flat box. It's contents: a bag of hardware and multiple identical shelf-like parts with holes both big and small. And somehow it all fits together perfectly to create a closet system. Or a bookcase. Or a bed frame. Or a toy box. Or a Lexus. Okay, maybe that last one is a stretch. The IKEA engineers are quite genius, in my opinion. They created numerous furniture items with just a few basic patterns, and all the same, basic building blocks. When you walk around an IKEA showroom, you might never guess the magical set up that makes tiny spaces seem like mansions, came from the same source. Instructions are essential to creating each item. Someone has to make sure the end-user has a guide, or the project will end up in a disaster on the floor of
Much like instructions for the task of furniture building, counselors assist many people, yearly, monthly, weekly, daily, hourly, in navigating the most massive building piece: Life.
The definition of a counselor is a person trained to give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems. There is a common stigma to this concept. Much like the desire to tackle a project without the instructions, possibly due to a desire for a challenge but more likely, pride, many people refuse to see a counselor. Asking someone else for help can threaten a person's perfect image. It may reveal a failure or flaw. Sadly, this leaves many humans in shambles on their living room floor.
The word counselor is used to describe the Son of God. Can it be all that bad? In fact, the word counselor is used quite a few times throughout the Bible.
Proverbs 11:14 (aka. the book of wisdom) - Without guidance, people fall, but with many counselors, there is deliverance.
Psalm 13:24 - With your counsel, You will guide me, And afterward, receive me to glory.
Prov 12:15 - The way of the fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel (I think this should be printed on the top of all IKEA boxes).
Based on the words in these verses, it appears that this concept of counsel is not new or negative. In fact, it's precisely the opposite of what many hold true. I don't like to call myself a fool, but when I attempt life without help, that's exactly what I become. I'm not proposing that each person needs to go "see" a professional. Although, I am not arguing against it either. The term counselor has a few other synonyms: adviser, guide, mentor. Counselors can come in all forms. Friends, spouses, co-workers, and, gasp, dare I say - parents. Not to mention, the Christmas Birthday Boy himself.
It is no coincidence that the Creator of the universe calls Himself Wonderful Counselor. It is exactly what He is. Jesus spoke about His gift of the Holy Spirit, as our ultimate counselor.
John 14:26 - But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit - The Father will send Him in My name - will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
This promise is one of the best we could ask for. Jesus has basically re-written the IKEA instructions in full color, described in detail, and then planted them directly into our souls so we could have access to them at all times. When we set aside our need to DIY and submit to His design, we are blessed with the Helper for eternity. Our life, an on-going construction project, with blueprints embedded in us in the form of a Wonderful Counselor.
Engage your kiddos -
Activity: Gather some legos or another type of building blocks or magnetix preferably that has instructions). Choose a design to build. First, have your kids try to build the design without any instruction or help. Once they have finished or have given up, give them the instructions and help guide the process.
Read:
Proverbs 11:14 (aka. the book of wisdom) - Without guidance, people fall, but with many counselors, there is deliverance.
Psalm 13:24 - With your counsel, You will guide me, And afterward, receive me to glory.
Prov 12:15 - The way of the fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
John 14:26 - But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit - The Father will send Him in My name - will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
Discuss:
Was it easier to build with or without instructions? Why do you think that is?
What is a counselor? (You can talk about how they are like instructions - helpers)
How does Jesus help us?
Have you ever asked Him for help? What happened?
Reiterate: Our help is in the Wonderful Counselor
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