Heaven4Sure Bible Bites

Millions believe they must contribute something to their salvation — often because their church has told them so. Perhaps someone has argued that point with you and even attempted to use the Bible when explaining their position.

Moonlighting or having a side gig can run into conflict with your primary employer. There is a spiritual parallel that endangers the fruitfulness of our lives for Christ.

Some Christians have terrible memories and life experiences. How can we process the baggage of life and move forward for the Lord? The family history of King Josiah in the Old Testament was marked by great darkness, yet it did not deter him from accomplishing many things for the Lord.

If an instrument could sense your deepest ambition in life and measure the intensity of your desire to achieve it, what would that goal or purpose be?

Many Christians feel they are plagued by repeating certain sins that they have confessed and have vowed never to commit again. What does the Bible say about this problem?

Jehoiada had the impact of a king, but he was never a king nor did he ever aspire to be one, yet he was buried as one. One person, without a title or a position, can still make a difference today.

What is the source of your joy? Mephibosheth's life revolved around King David. Consider the parallels with your life today.

As a Christian, there will be crises in my life. But there is always an afterward. During the dark times, what attitude should I intentionally choose and what option will I pursue?

God's prophet Elijah was dealing with fence-sitters - people who thought they could take from God what they needed and get from Baal what they wanted. Elijah said it was either one or the other. As Christians, we can try to straddle the fence too - just enough of Christ to feel safe and enough of the world to feel satisfied.

Others may choose differently, and they will have to suffer the consequences, but Paul says: "As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good." 2 Thessalonians 3:13 If you are second-guessing whether doing the right thing or doing good is really worth it, allow this Bible Bite to encourage your heart.

Do you have a heart for children and young people? Your Master did and still does. It is heart work and hard work. How effectively are you bridging the cohorts?

We have a small window of opportunity to influence their lives for good and for God. All too quickly, they leave those tender years behind them and move out into the mainstream of adult thinking.

Reaping what we sow is a timeless and Biblical principle. There can be considerable pressure from the majority to say yes about a certain decision, but if someone you respect says no, and you have an unsettled feeling inside, do not proceed. Choices come with consequences. You won't get away with violating your conscience.

We can be overwhelmed with all we are planning to accomplish. There can be a certain arrogance in human plans and in Christian plans. A busy life does not necessarily mean a quality life for the Lord.

If you are a parent, raising your children is a more significant responsibility than running a corporation. God has entrusted you with the responsibility of raising your family in the fear of the Lord for their spiritual good and ultimately for God's glory. Consider the insights offered in this Bible Bite.

Are placards or peaceful protests targeting lifestyles, locations or events the best way to win souls for Christ? Look closely at the approach Jesus used to win souls to Himself. Consider what the Bible says about soul-winning.

Often, children are afraid of adult strangers. Many are even scared of Santa Claus in a shopping mall. What was it about Jesus that drew children and their parents to Him? What lessons can we learn to improve our interactions with them as we seek to win them to Christ?

Have you ever wondered if you and your Lord share the same priorities for your life? The alarm bells should go off when I discover a divergence in priorities and a disconnect with His will.

Restless nights could be caused by a storm that is raging in a Christian's life. Heavy burdens can cause insomnia. How can the God of Peace calm your troubled heart?

You won't immediately get the connection between the Bible character Abraham and the dog show analogy, but there are lessons to be learned when God said to Abram "Walk before Me."

Often, Christians are faithful and press forward in the face of hard and tough opposition but falter and even stumble when faced with soft opposition. Consider the lessons to be learned from Jesus when He faced the hard opposition of the religious elites and how he dealt with the soft opposition from His earthly family.

The last public address of King David contained a most intriguing challenge to his people. How many of us read our Bibles praying for the privilege of finding additional teachings that we might obey to show our love and affection for the Lord?

There is a verse that specifically mentions "panting" for God's Word. Allow this Bible Bite to challenge your true appetite for the Bible. Are you delighted when you get extra time to read it? How eager am I on a daily basis to get nourishment from the Scriptures?

Lies and lying come in many different forms. What does the Bible say about all forms of deceit and lies? What are examples of lies Christians could tell and sometimes not even be aware of the serious nature of the offence against God?

Have you ever struggled with not being recognized for all you do for the Lord and that your name is never mentioned? While you labour in obscurity and without notice, others get their fair share of recognition in the Christian community.

Sin in my life will cloud and obstruct my communion with the Lord as a Christian. How can I find out if there are sins I may be overlooking?

Be careful when reading the Bible not to twist the Scriptures to justify what you want to do. Intentionally, truthfully and prayerfully subject your decision-making process to the scrutiny of the spiritual microscope of the Word of God.

Grace is a disposition, that springs from knowing and growing in Christ and blossoms into behaviour that reflects the actual behaviour of Christ as He mixed and mingled with people unlike Himself.

Naturally speaking, we gravitate towards doing the wrong thing – not the right thing. The right thing is invariably more difficult than the wrong thing. But you will never be the loser for doing the right thing. The Lord is able to give you much more.

More important than whether one is tone-deaf is whether one has a song to sing. Not all do. This Bible Bite looks forward to a day when tone deafness will not exist and Christians will sing on-key the universal anthem of praise.

Christ's love for us and my love for Him is the secret to how we expend our energies, deploy our abilities, spend our time and yes, live our lives. Good works and faithful service flow from a heart that throbs with love for Christ.

Hebrews 13:5 is one of many verses that speak to covetousness and a love for money. How does loving money compare to other sins? How can I distinguish covetousness from legitimate and prudent money management goals?

We enjoy safe roads and drivers who operate their vehicles with due care and attention. Standard Field Sobriety Tests are used by police to determine the likelihood of impairment or driving under the influence. Spiritually, there is a very reliable road test to determine deviations and influences along the Christian pathway of walking in the truth.

When the burdens are heavy, and the sky of Christian experience is dark and bleak, where is the Lord? Does He know? Does He care? The Lord not only knows, but He knows how. He will carry you.

What did Paul Simon mean when he penned his classic lyrics: "Slip slidin' away..." Some Christians wonder if they are secure in Christ. This Bible Bite provides a Biblical short answer.

Now is the perfect time to ensure your essential daily routines include a dedicated time and plan for reading the Word of God. The daily intake of Scripture nurtures our spiritual growth, equips us for life's challenges, and strengthens our relationship with the Lord.

There is nothing more important in our lives than enjoying Christ. A doctrinally sound appreciation for the Person of Christ is essential to our Christian lives. May this Christmas be a Christ-centered season for all of us.

The Bible teaches that we must remember our Creator while we are young. What are the advantages of being God-conscious and spiritually-minded in the days of our youth? Consider five things that make youthfulness ideal for developing a relationship with Christ.

Could you tell a friend exactly why you love the Lord? Do you tell the Lord Himself why you love Him? Peter wrote to Christians who had never yet seen Christ, but they loved Him. Psalm 116 starts with: "I love the Lord because ..."

There have been no confirmed sitings of the Loch Ness Monster. Similarly, there have been no visual sitings of the eternity-factor in every person. The former is probably a legend, whereas the latter has been reliably documented with mountains of corroborating evidence.

If you are a Christian, your approach to business and management should be refreshingly different. If anyone should respect and promote fairness, equity, and access it should be the Christian manager. If anyone should practice honesty, respect and compassion, it should be you. Consider what the Bible says.

If Christ truly reigns in my heart now, others should see that I value people, relationships and community in a way that points forward to the beautiful character of Christ's reign on earth in a future day.

Could a genuine Christian fall prey to idol worship? When social media influencers begin to shape my perspective on life what is happening to me as a Christian? What does the Apostle John say?

Old stumps can be eyesores. There is nothing hopeful about a tree stump. But in the Bible, there is good news from the old stump. A shoot of life springs forth from the stump of Jesse.

The Apostle Paul wrote Titus to make the reason for his presence on the Island of Crete crystal clear. Have you discovered the reason why God has left you here?

A combination of circumstances and remarkable developments are insufficient reasons for me to forge ahead with my plans. The will of God is not proven by circumstances alone.

A vital part of the Christian armour is the Belt of Truth. Truthfulness, integrity and authenticity are critical factors in our ability to stand for the Lord and to honour Him in our lives.

Why is the human heart never satisfied? Why does lust never say: "That's enough?" Why does the craving persist? Consider the only true source of satisfaction and contentment.

Christians literally leave a fellowship of believers over the issue of tongues and the use of tongues in local gatherings. Are you receiving Biblical teaching on tongues and the practice of tongues when you meet with other believers? The wrong practice of tongues causes damage of significant proportions. Never underestimate the havoc, harm and hurt that the unregulated use of tongues has had in the past and continues to have this very year.

Christian conduct in business must always be characterized by integrity, sensitivity, compassion and care. Does it make sense to the corporate mindset?