Insights Magazine: Issue One, 2023

In this issue

3 Forgive…and Sing the Song of the Soul Set Free charles r. swindoll

Trusting God When I Don’t Know Every Detail robyn roste

Character: It’s Been Buried Long Enough charles r. swindoll

Insights is published by Insight for Living Canada, the Bible-teaching ministry of Charles (Chuck) R. Swindoll. Chuck is the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Texas. His international radio program Insight for Living has aired for more than 40 years. We hope this publication will instruct, inspire, and encourage you in your walk with Christ.

Copyright © 2022 Insight for Living Canada. All rights reserved. No portion of this monthly publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages are taken from the NLT. Unless otherwise noted, photography and illustration by Tim Schellenberg. IFLC is an autonomous ministry and certified member of the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities. Printed in Canada.

It’s time to stop dragging this anchor. Release the past! Forgiving will free you from the torturers...and set your heart to singing! Really, it will. Scripture proves it!

Josh

Forgive...and Sing the Song of the Soul Set Free

by Charles R. Swindoll

Ihaven’t been able to get the subject of forgiveness out of my mind.

Perhaps the reason is that there is so much unforgiveness in our world. Violence headlines our news with the same revengeful message: “You hurt me, so I will hurt you.”

Tragic, isn’t it? The cure to conflict is so obtainable. Yet people would rather hold a grudge than reconcile, “get even” than forgive.

It’s a problem that permeates every culture. One experience comes to mind. I was travelling in another country, riding in a car driven by a man from that country whom I’d known for years. As we rode along, I heard him mumble a prejudicial slur at an individual from a hated ethnic group. Taken aback, I asked frankly, “What is it going to take for you to forgive these people?”

He looked at me with an angry frown and said, “We don’t even have a word in our vocabulary for forgiveness.”

What place does forgiveness have in your world? What about unforgiveness? Is there someone you need to forgive...or ask forgiveness from? Whether you’re the offended or the offender, the cure is the same.

Jesus prescribed forgiveness as a prerequisite for worship. Remember when He instructed the people to leave their sacrifices and go and be reconciled to anyone who had something against them (Matthew 5:23–24)? Jesus saw the need to be forgiven as a problem big enough to interrupt one’s worship!

Jesus also taught the other side of the coin.

He warned of the consequences of unforgiveness through a story about a king who forgave his servant who owed him “millions of dollars” ...but then, incredibly, the forgiven man refused to forgive another’s debt of less than $20 (Matthew 18:24).

Jesus’ story contrasts God’s forgiveness of us versus our forgiveness of others. His point? It’s hypocritical to draw from the riches of God’s vast account of grace while pinching pennies toward others. Don’t do it!

The consequence of such duplicity? The one who refuses to forgive will be handed “over to the torturers” (Matthew 18:34 NASB). Think about that. You will be turned over to torturous thoughts and the misery of agonizing unrest.

If a grudge has a hold on you, you know what I’m talking about—that constant, churning feeling. Even when you’re on vacation, the image of your offender haunts you. You can hardly hear the crashing of the waves on the shore because you can’t silence the sound of that person’s voice in your head.

It’s time to stop dragging this anchor. Release the past! Forgiving will free you from the torturers...and set your heart to singing! Really, it will. Scripture proves it!

We hear voices throughout the Bible singing the freedom song. Remember Joseph? His brothers sold him into slavery, where he was falsely accused and left, forgotten in prison. If anybody ever had a reason to keep a record of wrongs, Joseph did! But God helped him erase those offenses. Joseph commemorated that free-

dom with his first child.

Joseph named his older son Manasseh [which means forget], for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles” (Genesis 41:51).

Joseph must have smiled every time he called Manasseh’s name.

Isaiah’s hopeful prediction is another voice of freedom:

You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood.

For your Creator will be your husband. (Isaiah 54:4–5)

Do you want to mentally erase your shame and sorrow? Bring your pain to the foot of the cross and be healed at the deepest level. Nowhere else is this kind of healing available.

At the cross, Jesus joins us in our suffering. His tears mingle with ours. We feel His mistreatment, betrayal, rejection, and beatings...and He feels ours. Out of this healing connection with Jesus, forgiveness is born. He forgives us and

sets us free to forgive others. Forgiven and free, our souls sing!

Is there an offence you can’t forget? Write down that hurt, bring that paper to the cross, and etch FORGIVEN across it. Ask your Lord to fill the holes in your heart and help you “press on” (Philippians 3:13–14).

Do you need to be reconciled with someone? Log your offences. Bring the paper with you to the person, confess, and humbly ask for forgiveness.

Let go.

It sounds too simple to be true, but forgiveness is that powerful. It’s not easy, but it is wonderfully true.

Forgive...and sing the song of the soul set free!

Copyright © 2017 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

Handling the Scriptures Accurately single CD message

Trusting God When I Don’t Know Every Detail

by Robyn Roste

One night while watching the news I saw a story about a criminal who had passed away awaiting trial. I no longer recall the details, just that there were many unanswered questions.

A family member close to the situation

summed it up saying, “I don’t think we’ll ever know what really happened.”

These words have stayed with me. Over and over I wonder if it’s possible to have closure if you don’t really know what happened. Can you really

move on when you don’t know why someone behaved in a certain way? Why something played out the way it did?

As a rule, I’m uncomfortable not knowing every small detail. The phrase “it is what it is” grates at me—I’m happiest when loose ends are double knotted, when a story has a beginning, climax, and end. Not knowing the reasons why something happened compels me to dig in and learn as much as I can. Even as a child I asked “why” a lot. The answer I recall most vividly came from my mom. I’d ask why and she’d respond “zed.”

But the truth is we can’t know everything. Most of the time we don’t even fully know our own reasons for our actions—how can we possibly know the mind of another? We make guesses, but those are more often for our own ease than anything else. If we can find a reasonable explanation we can justify almost anything.

it difficult to trust God is really, truly sovereign over everything. My reaction is often fear in place of faith, which leads to a tailspin of emotionally-charged actions in a desperate attempt to regain homeostasis.

In his sermon Providence Made Practical , Chuck Swindoll says what I’m actually wrestling with is God’s providence. What I think is a desire to see the big picture is really motivated by selfishness, fear, and pride.

Can I live with not knowing every detail? Can I find peace without having complete knowledge? I have a lot of questions about God and the spiritual realm. Especially when I think about what’s to come after this life. I’m compelled to understand the reasons for everything, to feel like I have some control over my life.

I THINK IF I’M TRULY TO TREAT PEOPLE WITH THE SAME GRACE I’VE RECEIVED IT CAN’T BE CONDITIONAL. BECAUSE GRACE ISN’T A PRIZE IN EXCHANGE FOR SECRETS OR SOMETHING WE HOLD OVER PEOPLE.

Believe it or not this makes me think about grace in a new way. I find it easy to have incredible grace for others when I understand their motives behind questionable actions. When I think I understand the whole story I can excuse poor behaviour, forgive debts, and look the other way.

That kind of grace is easy to draw on, but what about when there isn’t an explanation— can I accept that? Can I shake off the questions and choose to see the best in a situation? In a person? Can I still have incredible grace when I don’t know every detail?

I think if I’m truly to treat people with the same grace I’ve received it can’t be conditional. Because grace isn’t a prize in exchange for secrets or something we hold over people. “I’ll show you grace if...” or “I’ll show you grace when....”

In most cases, not understanding the big picture leaves me feeling vulnerable, and I find

Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:12 come to mind when I start going in circles like this.

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me completely.

This passage reminds me even if I find all the answers available it’s still only a fuzzy halfvisible picture. Complete knowledge isn’t available here on earth. I’m going to have to learn to live with unanswered questions and choose instead to act with incredible grace... and live in faith that one day I will know the details and understand the bigger picture.

Robyn Roste is the communications director at Insight for Living Canada.

Article Illustration: Tori Matthys

Character: It’s Been Buried Long Enough

by Charles R. Swindoll

Consider the words of Solomon: “He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9 NASB1995). Before reading on, go back and read that again.

By the time Job had reared his family, established himself in the business world, and gotten up in years, he had become “the greatest of all the men of the east” (Job 1:3).

Joseph became Potiphar’s personal servant and later was put in charge over all Potiphar owned (Genesis 39:5). Whether before the workers or handling huge sums of money or serving a large group of guests or all alone in the home with Mrs. Potiphar, Joseph could be trusted.

Daniel also comes to mind. He came up for promotion to prime minister, and those who envied him “began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel” (Daniel 6:4). They struck out. There was no dirt...no cover-up. After every attempt to dig up some questionable issue, “they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption” anywhere (6:4). Like Job and Joseph, Daniel walked securely in his integrity. He never feared being “found out.”

What is it that these men had in common? Perfection? No, each person I have named was far from perfect. Easy times? Hardly. A closer look will reveal heartaches and hardships that would make your head swim. Well, how about an impressive presence, carefully choreographed by a public-image department? Don’t make me laugh. So, how about slick rhetoric? Wrong again. We can dream up a half dozen other possibilities that some cynic might suggest, but they would be as far off target as the four I’ve mentioned.

What they had in common was character. Each man I have selected from the Scriptures had high moral character. It is easy to overlook that essential ingredient among leaders in our times... especially during an election year.

Unfortunately, we have grown accustomed to shrugging off secretive and deceptive lifestyles. We have heard so often that finding people who value honesty and model responsibility, who promote fairness, accountability, loyalty, and respect for others, and who hold to strong, upright convictions is not impossible, it’s not realistic. As one air-headed soul said recently, “We’re voting for a

CALL ME OLDFASHIONED OR IDEALISTIC IF YOU WISH, BUT MY PASSIONATE PLEA IS THAT WE UNEARTH AND RESTORE THE IMPORTANCE OF CHARACTER.

president, not the pope.” To such an analogy I reply, “Hogwash.”

Call me old-fashioned or idealistic if you wish, but my passionate plea is that we unearth and restore the importance of character. It’s been buried long enough. It belongs first on our list when searching for employees in the workplace. It must be a nonnegotiable among those we place into leadership positions in our schools, our cities, our state...and, absolutely, in our churches and in our nation. Character is what wholesome parents strive to cultivate in their children. It is what great moms and dads look for and long for among those their teenagers date. It is the foundational quality that all of us expect from the circle of professionals and laborers who serve us. We may not say it every time, but deep down in our souls, we long for and expect character. When it is lacking, we feel it; we resent it. Character is the “given” in greatness.

Then why, may I ask, is it so seldom mentioned? Could it be because most have come to believe we have no right to expect it? After all, “nobody’s perfect.”

It is character we require, I repeat, not perfection. From our nation’s beginnings, back when great men and women, albeit imperfect, occupied places of leadership, when public officials exhibited true virtue...dignity, self-mastery, resoluteness, determination, strength of will, moral purity, personal integrity, and sacrificial patriotism. They were selected and elected because they were examples in public leadership and in private life. Because some have failed to live up to the minimal standard does not change the ideal.

Solomon was right. Those with integrity walk securely...with no fear of being “found out.” If men such as Job and Joseph and Daniel could demonstrate character in the worst of times, you and I can too—today.

And because we can, we must.

Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, “Buried Long Enough,” in The Finishing Touch: Becoming God’s Masterpiece (Dallas: Word, 1994), 332–34. Copyright © 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Learn more about our pastor at insightforliving.ca/chuck-swindoll

Insight for Living’s Bible-teacher Chuck Swindoll has spent more than 50 years emphasizing God’s grace alongside a commitment to practical application.

Augustine of Hippo

by Bill Gemaehlich

I recently began rereading through the life of Aurelius Augustine. It encouraged me to see how this early church father and theologian delighted in God’s grace and sovereign joy amid the difficulties of this world.

Augustine was born on November 13, 354, during the final years of the Roman Empire, in what is now known as Algeria. His father was a farmer who worked hard to provide Augustine with the best possible education to study rhetoric. Between the ages of 19 and 30, Augustine worked as a traditional schoolmaster teaching rhetoric, but much like the Prodigal Son, he lived a sinful lifestyle. At 31, he converted to Christianity and devoted his life to God. Augustine went on to become Bishop of Hippo and one of the greatest and most influential theologians in the history of Christianity.

was steadfast and remained in Hippo. He died soon after from an illness while 80,000 vandals continued to besiege the city.

AUGUSTINE WAS BORN ON NOVEMBER 13, 354, DURING THE FINAL YEARS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, IN WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS ALGERIA.

In his classic “prayer-styled” autobiography, The Confessions of St. Augustine, he wrote, “How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose! You drove them from me, you who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place, you who are sweeter than all pleasure.”² May we turn away from temptations that will never satisfy, from fear and worrying about the crooked and perverse generation in which we live, and cast our eyes upon our Saviour who offers us grace and sovereign joy, which is sweeter than anything this world has to offer.

While living in Hippo in 410, after nine hundred years of security under the Roman Empire, Rome was invaded by the Visigoths. Augustine heard about the violent behaviour of the Goths, who tortured to death two Catholic bishops. His friends suggested he get out of Hippo quoting to him the words of Jesus, “When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next” (Matthew 10:23). Augustine, however, responded saying, “Let no one dream of holding our ship so cheaply, that the sailors, let alone the Captain, should desert her in time of peril.”¹ Augustine

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11 ESV)

1 Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1969), 425.

2 Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430. The Confessions of Saint Augustine. Mount Vernon: Peter Pauper Press, 1940-1949.

Bill Gemaehlich is the EVP/COO operations at Insight for Living Ministries

When to Wait on God and When to Act

by Steve Johnson

One area many of us struggle with is trusting God to act versus acting ourselves. We wonder, when do I wait on God to act and when do I act?

In response to this question one person says, “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me!” In contrast, another person says, “Let go and let God!”

Is there a balance somewhere? If so, how do we find it?

One of my former Bible teachers often said, “The hardest thing in the world is to keep balanced!” I never thought too much about it then but as life has ticked away, I’ve realized one of our greatest challenges is finding and keeping balance in the Christian life. Like a person on a tightrope,

it’s never an effortless stroll. Keeping our Christian life balanced requires continual effort.

There are many areas we battle to find balance. In Scripture, we find statements and situations that appear to be in conflict. For example, Jesus said, “...if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed...nothing would be impossible” (Matthew 17:20). And yet Paul asked God to remove his thorn in the flesh, but never got what he requested (2 Corinthians 12:1–10).

Jesus told us to pray, “Give us today the food we need,” (Matthew 6:11). But Scripture also says, “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). It also tells us we must provide for our household (1 Timothy 5:8).

It’s important to keep in mind that just as Jesus spoke to the arrogant and self-righteous differently than the broken, contrite, and desperate, the Bible speaks to people according to who they are and what they are like.

To the people whose tendency is to act independently and take matters into their own hands, Scripture says, “Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act.” (Psalm 37:7). It says, “Don’t say, ‘I will get even for this wrong.’ Wait for the LORD to handle the matter” (Proverbs 20:22).

To the people who tend to be passive, procrastinating, or presuming on grace, the Bible prods with, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12 NIV) and “... make every effort to add to your faith goodness... make every effort to confirm your calling and election” (2 Peter 1:5, 10).

It’s also important to keep in mind that the Bible also equips us to respond in different ways to everchanging circumstances and needs. “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). An action required at one time may not be required another time.

both/and issue of trusting fully and acting wisely according to God’s revealed will in Scripture.

In all situations we should be praying and trusting the Lord. We find the biblical balance in life when we trust God to provide our life’s necessities and when we also work while wholly trusting God to use our effort to provide the things we need. We need to do what we can to bring about the answer to our prayer by acting in harmony with the general principles God has given in His Word. Trusting God does not contradict working to bring about what we pray for but rather faith works together with our efforts.

What about when we don’t know what general principles God has given? In those times we should ask, “What is the loving thing to do?” then do that.

KNOWING WHICH BIBLICAL EMPHASIS TO FOLLOW REQUIRES SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT, ALONG WITH UNDERSTANDING THE KIND OF PERSON YOU ARE AND THE SITUATION YOU

Knowing which biblical emphasis to follow requires spiritual discernment, along with understanding the kind of person you are and the situation you are in.

In some places Scripture doesn’t address a particular type of person or specific situation. It brings both aspects together and spells out the balance for us. “Trust in the LORD and do good” (Psalm 37:3, italics added) “What is important is faith expressing itself in love” (Galatians 5:6, italics added).

The reality is that it is not an either/or issue of trusting God to act or us acting alone. It is a

ARE IN.

And in those situations where we think there is absolutely no action to take, we can always express our dependence on the Lord to act by praying. It’s always wise and always our responsibility. For the Christian there is never nothing to do—there is always prayer.

God is always working to carry out His plans and I can trust Him fully while I act to carry out His will as revealed in Scripture. Paul combined these two aspects when he wrote, “That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me” (Colossians 1:29).

Keeping balanced on when to wait on God and when to act is summed up by the Arab sage who quipped, “Trust in the Lord, but tie up your camel.”

Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for Living Canada.

Periodically, Scripture warns us against having knowledge as an end in itself. For example, without love, knowledge alone can be a source of pride. Without humility, it can lead us into a judgmental attitude. Without wisdom, it can result in idealism and a perfectionistic spirit.

Knowledge needs a buffer...something to soften it, give it perspective, make it workable and real. Perhaps the very best companion for knowledge is discernment.

Before we can put discernment into practice, we must first understand the definitions of some key terms: knowledge, discernment, and balance.

Knowledge: an acquisition of biblical facts, principles, and doctrines

When we talk about gaining knowledge, we talk about understanding the facts and the principles of Scripture so they fit together into a system of thought that becomes for us a doctrinal position. Knowledge doesn’t have emotion involved. Knowledge lacks action. Knowledge lacks love. Knowledge has to do with facts, and they can remain theoretical if you let them.

Discernment: the ability to recognize, to perceive, beyond what is said

Discernment is the sense, the intuition. It is insight outside the realm of the obvious. It is

reading between the lines. Discernment enters into the reality of wisdom, the wisdom of God. Balance: maintaining one’s spiritual equilibrium

Balance means remaining free of extremes, being able to see the whole picture, not just a part of it. Balanced Christians are realistic people. They’re still having fun. They see other sides. They’re tolerant. They’re gracious. They value another opinion, even one that they may disagree with. They are not threatened. They are not insecure. They’re balanced. Some examples from Scripture

• Diotrephes in 3 John 1:9–10 is an example of an individual without discernment

• Apollos in Acts 18:24–28 is an example of an individual with discernment

• The Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 1:10–12 is an example of a church without discernment

• The Berean church in Acts 17:11–12 is an example of a church with discernment

Several principles are worth remembering. First, no one person has all the truth. Second, no single church owns exclusive rights to your mind. Third, no specific interpretation is correct just because a gifted teacher says so.

“Don’t Forget to Add a Cup of Discernment” is from Chuck Swindoll’s series series Growing Deep in the Christian Life: Returning to Our Roots.. You can stream this message online anytime at insightforliving.ca/audiolibrary

Don’t Forget to Add a Cup of Discernment

Prophecies about Jesus

The Old Testement is full of prophecies about the birth, life, and death of Jesus. Test your knowledge about these prophecies by following the clues below.

ACROSS: 2. He would be a block

Born of a

A would prepare the way

Born in

Would be by his friends

Numbered with

In the order of

Teach in

Enter jerusalem on a

Root and offspring of

Not a would be broken

Usher in a (x2)

DOWN: 1. Would be called

Intercede for

Stone which the builders

Would perform

Teachings would fall on (x2)

Would have an throne

Will the world

The lamb

Nations would be

Ministry would begin in

by a familiar friend

for his clothing (x2)

Puzzle solutions will be posted at insightforliving.ca/puzzle at a later date.

THANK YOU

for locking arms with Insight for Living Canada through your thoughtful gift!

It’s financial support from people like you that makes our accurate, clear, and practical Bible-teaching freely accessible.

This month, we’re emphasizing the need to grow deep by developing a better understanding of the Bible’s key doctrines. Letting the rich nutrients of God’s Word steadily stream into our lives transforms us into the kind of people God designed us to be.

It’s clear that you value God’s Word as we do at Insight for Living Canada. Thank you for sending out its life-giving message!

Pastor Chuck Swindoll