NUMBER TWO, 2020
In this issue 3
A Month for Love
6
Being the Beatitudes
8
Wisdom Literature
charles r. swindoll Derrick G. Jeter steve johnson
11 Mean What You Sing
charles r. swindoll
Bumper Sticker Theology 12 When God Closes a Door, He Opens a Window
steve johnson
Beyond the Broadcast 14 Agapē …Authentic Love
Puzzle 15 Love
Contest entries are limited to one per household, per puzzle. Open only to legal residents of Canada who are of legal age of majority in the jurisdiction in which they reside, and at least 18 years of age at the time of entry. Not open to Quebec residents. Not open to Insight for Living Canada staff or their immediate family. Mathematical skill testing question to be answered correctly to win. No purchase necessary. Puzzle solutions will be posted at insightforliving.ca/puzzle at a later date. Insights is published by Insight for Living Canada, the Bibleteaching 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 © 2020 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 Council of Christian Charities. Printed in Canada.
by charles r. swindoll
Cover & Article Photo: Nathan Dumlao on unsplash.com
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But love must also flex and adapt. Rigid t is February. Overcast, chilly, bleak-andbarren February. If you’re not into skiing love is not true love. It is veiled maniputhe slopes, skating on ice, or singin’ in the lation, a conditional time bomb that rain, there’s not a lot outside to excite you. explodes when frustrated. Genuine love Sure was gracious of God to make it last willingly waits! It isn’t pushy or demandonly 28 days...well, sometimes 29. No won- ing. While it has its limits, its boundaries der bears hibernate at this time of year— are far-reaching. It neither clutches nor clings. Real love is not short-sighted, selfthere’s not even Monday Night Football! ish, or insensitive. It But wait. There is It is February. detects needs and does something extra special about February. Overcast, chilly, bleak- what is best for the Valentine’s Day. Hearts and-barren February. other person without being told. and f lowers. SweetBut when you add As we read in that heart banquets. A fresh and needed reminder love, the whole month greatest treatise ever that there is still a gathers a glow about written on the subject: “Love is patient, heart-shaped vacuum it. So—love! love is kind, and is not in the human breast that only the three most wonderful words jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it in the English language can fill. Don’t think for a moment that such does not seek its own, is not provoked, stuff is mere sentimentality. As a fellow does not take into account a wrong sufnamed Smiley Blanton put it in his book fered, does not rejoice in unrighteousmany years ago, life really does boil down ness, but rejoices with the truth; bears... believes...hopes...endures all things” to Love or Perish: (1 Corinthians 13:4–7 NASB). Without love, hopes perish. Do I write today to a friend? Is love a Without love, dreams and creativity perish. Without love, families and churches perish. dominant force in your friendship...or has jealousy, arrogance, or perhaps a Without love, friendships perish. Without love, the intimacies of subtle competitive spirit driven a wedge between the two of you? Love, remember, romance perish. Without love, the desire to go on living doesn’t seek its own way. Are my words being read by a husband can perish. To love and to be loved is the bedrock of or a wife? Does your mate know how greatly you treasure her or him? Do you our existence.
tell her...show her? Left him a love note lately? How about a candlelight dinner? Remember when you said “I do”? This is the month to add two more words: “I do love you.” Those simple little words—we so easily forget to say them. We assume others know how we feel, so we hold back. Strangely, as we grow older and realize more than ever the value of those three powerful words, we say them even less! “I LOVE YOU.” Simple, single-syllable words, yet they cannot be improved upon. Nothing even comes close. They are better than “You’re great.” Much better than “Happy birthday!” or “Congratulations!” or “You’re special.” And because we don’t
have any guarantee we’ll have each other forever, it’s a good idea to say them as often as possible. It is February. Overcast, chilly, bleakand-barren February. But when you add love, the whole month gathers a glow about it. So—love! Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, “A Month for Love,” in The Finishing Touch: Becoming God’s Masterpiece (Dallas: Word, 1994), 58–59. Copyright © 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Creating a Legacy of Mentoring SINGLE CD MESSAGE
For ordering information visit insightforliving.ca or view enclosed flyer.
by derrick g. jeter
Image: Casey Horner unsplash.com
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n the northern shore of the Sea of ing heat of the sun. Watching her, I heard Galilee there is a hill, green and gently Chuck read the well-known words of Matsloped and overlooking deep, blue waters. thew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” From this hill a panorama unfolds of the (NASB). He explained that the poor in spirit early ministry of Jesus—healing in nearby have “an absence of arrogance and pride... Capernaum, calling His first disciples to [they] aren’t impressed with themselves.” fish for men, and simple yet profound Just then, I saw a man in the crowd grab teaching that continues to change lives to two bus signs and hold them as a makeshift shelter to shield her from the sun. this very day. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they Two thousand years ago, multitudes of people flocked to this hill in hopes of shall be comforted,” Chuck read (Matthew being healed by the young miracle worker 5:4). While Chuck spoke of loss and pain, this (Matthew 4:23–5:1). What they found was a dear woman began to weep. Fending off the Teacher unlike any they had heard before. sun with his signs, the man reached down into his backpack and He left them “amazed” pulled out a tissue and (7:28–29). Chuck had told us that Crowds still gather our time at the Mount of gently touched her shoulder—all without fanfare, at this place to listen to Beatitudes would be an without fuss. Jesus’ words from MatBy the time Chuck thew 5. On a recent tour of unforgettable moment in Israel, my wife and I went our lives. How right he was. read “Blessed are the gentle” and “Blessed are to this hill to hear anew the familiar expressions of “Blessed are” the merciful” (5:5, 7), beads of sweat formed preached by Chuck Swindoll. But there, on on the man’s forehead and ran down his the Mount of Beatitudes, it was what I saw, cheek. I then realized—I was witnessing a more than what I heard, that really demon- living demonstration of Jesus’ words. Chuck had told us that our time at the strated the power of Jesus’s words. The morning light was brilliant. Sun- Mount of Beatitudes would be an unforshine shimmered on the lake below. Trees gettable moment in our lives. How right and grass, awakened from their evening he was. Being there, where these truths slumber, stretched toward the warming were first taught, and seeing them lived sun. And as the sun crept higher, so, too, out before my eyes in such simple gestures, was, for me, the embodiment of being the did the temperature. We sat in a little covered amphitheater Beatitudes—a challenge I’ll take with me on the southern slope of the hill. When for the rest of my life. Chuck began preaching, an older woman at the back of the crowd caught my attention. Derrick G. Jeter, “Being the Beatitudes,” Insights She was unable to walk down the steps to sit (September 2008): 2–3. Copyright © 2008 by in the shade. Instead, she sat on her walker Insight for Living. All rights reserved worldwide. at the top of the steps in the ever-intensify-
by steve johnson
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f I said, “Once upon a time, long ago, and far away there was a magic kingdom,” you would surmise I was telling you a fairy tale. That’s because different literary forms have recognizable features. We don’t interpret fairy tales in the same way as historical narratives. Once we identify the features of the writing, we can determine the type of literature we are dealing with and apply the appropriate methods of interpretation. People have always been concerned with how to live happily and successfully. They have also been concerned with some of life’s bigger questions such as, “Is there meaning to life?” “Why do I exist?” “What gives my life purpose?” Throughout history, people have written brief, memorable sayings to help others, particularly the young, navigate through the complexities of life toward success and happiness. In many of the ancient civilizations, including ancient Israel, this kind of writing was called “wisdom literature.” We find some of this in the Bible. The Bible’s wisdom literature was different from that of Israel’s neighbours because it was rooted in the theology that God has created an orderly universe with both a natural and moral law. God has wired his creation according to those laws. Wisdom seeks to discern and the wise strive to live in harmony with that law. That is why fearing the Lord is the first and controlling principle to gaining wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). The Lord, who made all things, is the great presupposition to all true knowledge.
While the wisdom literature of the Bible is scattered through parts of the Old Testament it’s mostly found in Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and some Psalms. It is identifiable by its various themes, such as contrasting the wicked and the righteous, the fear of the Lord, practical advice about life, and those big life questions like, “Why do the righteous suffer?” Wisdom literature is also identifiable by the forms it takes. There are proverbs, which are short, pithy expressions of experience, observational statements about life, admonitions and warnings, and even wisdom hymns and prayers like Psalm 1. It is also identifiable by stylistic features and characteristics, such as parallelism. Some parallelism shows comparisons and similarities, some shows contrasts. Still other types are synthetic, where the second line completes or supplements the first line. All of this can seem very academic so here are some general keys to remember when interpreting and applying wisdom literature. 1. The purpose of wisdom writing is not to teach theology but to make us wise and able to discern truth from error in everyday life and make righteous life choices. 2. The writers of wisdom literature were not making promises. They were giving brief general truth about life based on observation and experience filtered through biblical revelation. The briefer the statement is, the less likely it is to be totally precise and universally applicable. This means
the mocker is one who is antagonistic while they are generally true, they can’t and hard-hearted. be claimed as a promise to hold God to. Some wisdom writing is merely descrip- 5. Context determines meaning. Wisdom writing needs to be fully contextualized tive, showing life as it is. “A bribe is like a to include its historical context of the lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosAncient Near East and to be read as a per!” (Proverbs 17:8). Some is prescriptive, whole collection. Job needs to be taken attempting to influence behaviour, “The as a whole rather than by single verses LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, or chapters to comprehend how God’s but he delights in accurate weights” justice is vindicated in (Proverbs 11:1). light of human suffering. 3. Wisdom literature uses Wisdom seeks to Ecclesiastes can only be many figures of speech discern and the understood when viewed and stylistic devices to wise strive to live from the context of living a make a memorable point. in harmony with life as if God doesn’t exist. Hyperbole is deliberate Problematic passages in exaggeration. Similes that law. all wisdom writings need make comparison. to be understood in the context of the Stylistic devices such as parallelism, rest of Scripture. repetition, and synonyms are used for All wisdom literature is to point us foremphasis. Unless we recognize the many different figures and stylistic ward to Jesus who made ultimately wise devices we will make all kinds of strange decisions and lived a perfect life in the midst of this broken world. It helps us see our foolmisinterpretations. 4. It is important to correctly understand ishness and need for His grace. the characters of wisdom literature. A fool is not dim-witted but rather an unbe- Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for lieving pagan. The simple are those who Living Canada. are immature and naive. The sluggard is one who is unproductive and lazy. And
Did you know Insight for Living airs on radio stations across the country every day? To find the program on your local station visit insightforliving.ca/find-station
by charles r. swindoll
Image: James Barr on unsplash.com
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othing touches the human heart deeper than music. This is never more true than when a group of Christians sings heartily unto their Lord. Many a cold heart on skid row has melted as the strains of some old hymn lingered in the steamy streets and sleazy alleys surrounding a gospel mission. When congregations sing the praises of the King, even the demonic hosts stand at attention. “The powers of darkness fear when this sweet chant they hear, May Jesus Christ be praised!” Such moving melodies hold out a warm welcome to strangers, comfort to the broken, refreshment to the lonely, and affirmation to the discouraged. Great music from God’s people instructs and reproves, blesses and relieves. Who hasn’t nodded in agreement while singing, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love”? Who hasn’t stood taller or felt more confident after all the stanzas of “And Can It Be?” or “Am I a Soldier of the Cross?” or “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”? And who hasn’t found himself lost in wonder, love, and praise while declaring “My Hope Is in the Lord”? Or received fresh strength from “It Is Well with My Soul”? Charles Wesley, perhaps the most prolific hymnist of all time, realized the value of corporate singing as he wrote “Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise.” There is nothing to compare to that sound. Nothing. But have you noticed the fly in our melodic ointment? It is not a lack of beauty or harmony, nor is it insufficient volume or intensity. It is, plain and simple, the presence of words with an absence of meaning. We sing well, but we fail to heed the message hidden behind the bars.
Stop and think. There’s a line in “Take My Life and Let It Be” that always makes me pause as the words stick in my throat: “Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold.” Imagine! Not even “a mite”! We all sing that with such ease, yet I have known few who wouldn’t withhold something. Including me. And how about this one? Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will While I am waiting, yielded and still. Really? Truly yielded? Genuinely still? Absolutely willing to be moulded and made after His will? Last Sunday after the service our congregation sang “I Give All My Witness to You”...and then we left. We all got into our cars, drove away, and most of us have not seen one another since. What’s been happening? Has He had our witness? Have the days that passed been that much different than two weeks earlier? A month? Those thoughts haunt me. Think of each song or hymn as a promise to God, a binding statement of your commitment. Picture the results of this commitment as you sing it with gusto. Then, after the song has ended, apply it with the same gusto. God not only loves a cheerful giver, He honours a sincere singer. Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll, “Mean What You Sing,” in The Finishing Touch: Becoming God’s Masterpiece (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1994), 486–87. Copyright © 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
Bumper Sticker
Theology by steve johnson
“When God closes a door, He opens a window.” This phrase is most commonly used for reassurance in the face of missed opportunity. When you lose your job because the company is downsizing people say, “When God closes a door He opens a window.” What they mean is that the job wasn’t any good for you anyway and you’re sure to find another job that’s even better. At face value the statement seems simple and true but much is left to subjective interpretation. How do I evaluate what’s a door or window and what’s not a door or window? What if there are multiple doors and windows? How do I know who
it is that is opening and closing? Isn’t it possible that Satan could be obstructing our path to something and opening a window to something outside the will of God? Isn’t it possible to say that when Satan closes a door he opens a window? Or when God closes a door, Satan opens a window? Two other problems with the door/ window statement as with much bumper sticker theology are the underlying assumptions and limitations. One assumption is that God’s goals for us are the same as ours. Therefore, when a path to something we pursue or desire is closed we just need to do some looking
around to find the window to access and need to knock for a while or apply some effort before it will open. achieve our goal. The major limitation with this stateBut we need to understand there is a real possibility a particular desire we ment is in thinking it is all-encompassing, want to fulfil is not God’s goal at all and something to be believed under any and there is no window to be found. It may all circumstances. In reality doors do be outside God’s will for us. The path to close for good and there is never a winfulfilling that desire righteously is closed. dow opened. Sometimes a relationship Are we now expecting God to open a win- ends and there isn’t another one. There are doors in Scripture that at one point dow for that desire? A second related assumption is that are open but then are closed and there because God is sovereign, He has infinite is no window. When God closed the door ways to get us what we want and where of the ark there was no other opened or a we want to be. And so when He does close window for an unbelieving world. Jesus, who called Himself a door it’s not that He’s actually saying “no” to How do I evaluate what’s “The Door,” foresaw a day when lost people us. He’s merely provida door or window and would try to enter yet be ing an alternate path to what’s not a door or unable to do so because our fulfillment. This idea is read into window? What if there it will be too late. The one door of salvation many verses and Bible are multiple doors and be forever closed to stories such as Romans windows? How do I know will them (Matthew 25:11). 8:28. “And we know who it is that is opening Our assurance as that God causes everybelievers is that God has thing to work together and closing? a plan and a purpose for for the good of those who love God and are called according us and He is constantly working behind the to his purpose for them.” The idea read scenes in every circumstance in our life to in is that since God wants good for us, if further that plan. We need to remember it something happens to hinder or stop that, is His plan, not ours. So living as Christians He will find a way to make the good thing isn’t about us making our plans and going happen. Again, the problem is our idea through the doors and windows of our of good—achieving our goal—may not design to accomplish what we desire. It be the same as God’s idea of good, which is about submitting to God’s will and purposes for us and seeking first His kingdom. is being like Christ. Finally, there is the assumption that all As we pursue those things, God provides the responsibility to close doors and open along the way what He deems best accordwindows is God’s and we are to just wait. ing to His plan. He will always provide a But there are times when it is our respon- way to do His will. sibility to close a door to something in our life and to seek out that window whatever Steve Johnson is the executive director at Insight for that may be. It may be we need to close a Living Canada. door so God can open the window. Also it could be that a door seems closed but we
Agapē…Authentic Love
“Jesus’ love was one massive crescendo that never diminished. He loved to the end, the Lover of my soul.” - CHUCK SWINDOLL
The quality that distinctively sets His divine love for them, and an impact in apart believers as followers of Jesus is not the world that still exists today. a pithy bumper sticker or a fish emblem The Dynamic—Divine Love The dynamic is love, but not just any dangling from a necklace or a gilded dove pinned on the lapel. These are only love. The Greek word John used for “love” symbols of our faith. The true mark of a is agapē , which essentially means to seek the highest good of another. Although the Christian is love. In John 13, Jesus gave His 11 true dis- Mosaic Law commanded God’s people to ciples a mandate that added a new dimen- love one another (Leviticus 19:18), there sion to the meaning of love. And this new was something about Jesus’ command to dimension not only changes lives but, in love one another that made it new—that is, a compelling way, shows the world we fresh, unprecedented, or unique. This message teaches three truths belong to Jesus. about how we should express Christ’s His Command Anticipating His followers’ insecurity, love to others. Jesus set their drifting ship on a new course • Authentic love is unconditional in its expression and filled their sails with fresh wind: “So now I am giving you a new • Authentic love is unselfish in its motive commandment: Love each other. Just • Authentic love is unlimited in its benefits Which of these applications is the Holy as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another Spirit pointing your heart toward? Real, will prove to the world that you are my authentic, vulnerable agapē is the hardest thing in the world to carry out. You can’t do disciples.” (John 13:34–35) Our Saviour’s great mandate to His fol- it without the Spirit’s power. lowers included a dynamic internal power, “Agapē...Authentic Love” is from Chuck Swindoll’s series Following Christ...The Man of God. You can stream this message online anytime at insightforliving.ca/audiolibrary.
Puzzle — Code Breaker
LOVE
Difficulty ● ○ ○ ○ Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a number 1-26. Can you crack the code to solve the Bible verse? Three letters are already in place to get you started.
6
5 22
2 1 9
6 12
5 26
2
8 16
2
, 5 11
2
5
25
5
8 25 25
22 21
7
1
23
5 13
11
5 16
3
2 19 16 10
1
5 2 6 1
1 12
1
8 23 21
, 5
2 21
23
5
7
6 10 25
1 26
11
1 26 22
2 19
5 26
25
5
7
1
8
2 10
3
1 5 1 1
. 22 19 16 22
1
E
14
2
T
15
3
4
5
16
17
18
O
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
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First and last name
Email address
Phone number
INSIGHT FOR LIVING CANADA PUZZLE CONTEST RULES
Insights magazine subscribers are invited to submit their completed puzzles by mail, email, or fax for a chance to win a Swindoll Study Bible. Each month from January 15, 2020 to October 31, 2020 there will be a new puzzle challenge with another opportunity to gain a contest entry. Completed puzzles received before November 13, 2020 will be entered into a draw. One grand prize winner will be selected by random draw and notified by email or phone. Further details can be found on page 2 of this issue. Mail: 1-30445 Progressive Way Abbotsford BC V2T 6W3 // Email: info@insightforliving.ca // Fax: 1.604.870.8743
Jesus told His disciples to love one another “as I have loved you” (John 13:34). That wouldn’t be so hard if the love Jesus displayed was primarily the write-a-cheque or call-once-a-month kind of love. But Jesus set the bar immeasurably high. Is that an impossible example to follow? You bet it is! That’s why God sent the Holy Spirit to live inside us and empower us with His supernatural love. Want to learn more? Visit our topical page and let the resources set you on the path of loving with the Saviour’s love. insightforliving.ca/love
