Based on “Jesus Our Great Counselor” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 12/13-12/14,
Message #HOL105; Daily Devotional #1 - “Look inside Me Lord”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction):
Hypothetical #1: I am struggling in my life. I am emotionally unstable and cannot figure out why. I listen to friends who tell me to go seek counseling. I call, make the appointment, and begin speaking with the counselor. He asks me, “Why are you here? What seems to be the problem?”
Hypothetical #2: I am struggling in my life. I am emotionally unstable and cannot figure out why. I listen to friends who tell me to go seek counseling. I call, make the appointment, and begin speaking with the counselor. He says, “I can see into your heart and mind, and I can pinpoint exactly what you are struggling with. These are the steps you must take to alleviate your pain.”
I guess I have to ask myself which one of these counselors I would rather speak with. Please don’t get me wrong. I am not against counseling. I am one hundred percent for it when it is needed. The struggle that any counselor has is the following:
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9) The human counselor has to try to untangle years of events, influences, mistakes, choices, etc. It is “beyond cure” at the hands of a person. This is hypothetical #1. Let’s look at number 2.
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): This passage will illustrate just how God’s ability to counsel us is far superior.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight; everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:12-16) First, God sees everything within us. He even sees that dark corner of our lives that we try to keep hidden from those around us. Second, He has experienced all the same temptations that we have experienced. I don’t have to explain what I am going through because he struggled through the same issues. Third, and most importantly, there is a small word at the end of the passage that makes all the difference in the world. We can approach God so we can find “help” in our time of need. The human counselor is limited by his training, our openness, our memories, his interpretation, etc. God literally takes a spiritual scalpel and cuts right through the multitude of layers to expose the issues we struggle with. He doesn’t stop there though. He then helps us to heal and be made whole!
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Looking forward to Christmas we always hear that God would be among His people, and He would be our counselor.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) God in flesh would dwell among us and suffer the temptations and frustrations that we do. He would then be killed to satisfy the sin debt of the world. He became our Sacrifice for sin. Jesus knew this would happen. He stressed several things prior to dying. One of them is found in the Gospel of John.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:16-18) Think about that for a minute. I mean, Jesus had a lot on His mind at this point in His life. He took time enough to tell His followers that they would not be alone. They would always have someone to turn to because He would not abandon them. God, as we know Him in the Holy Spirit, is our counselor. And, by the way, His office never closes!
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Jeremiah 33:2-3;
Nahum 1:7
TCH
Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.