“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body” (1Cor 6:19, 20)

I heard of a story which illustrated the importance of being a man or woman of conviction, of having a true Christian character. A man was seated next to a beautiful woman on a plane. The man said to her: ‘I find you extremely attractive. I will give you a million dollars if you will spend the night with me.’ The woman thought for a while. She imagined the things she could buy with so much money. Eventually, she consented. After some time, the man said, ‘There’s something I have to tell you. I can’t really give you a million dollars. I don’t have that kind of money. Would you do it for $10?’ The woman was highly offended. ‘What sort of woman do you think I am?’ The man replied, ‘We’ve already established what sort of woman you are. We are just haggling over the price.’ George Washington was quoted as having said: ‘Few men have the virtue to withstand the highest bidder.’

The devil says: ‘every man, every woman has a price’. He believes that all people can be persuaded to sell their souls, their ministry or destiny if ‘the price is right’. For the unbelievers, this may be true But once you are saved, your life, your soul, your body belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus died to purchase you. He shed His precious Blood to redeem you from the slave market of the devil. You do not belong to yourself anymore. You are not for sale! Not even for a million dollars!

This is my testimony: Long ago, as a young believer, I made a covenant with God that it is better for me to die and go to heaven than to compromise with the devil and backslide. For me backsliding is not ‘a small thing’. I do not have the luxury to even think about it. This radical decision has helped me always, has strengthened me in my spirit, but especially in times when the devil attacks and offers me a big price to just bow to him. For me, that means disgraceful death. It is not just possible. Like Paul said: ‘For me to live is Christ and to die is gain!’ There is no ‘plan B’. The matter is settled in heaven and also in my spirit: In the unity of the Spirit, I say with my Lord: “Get behind me Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.'” (Lk 4:8)

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God! Jesus Christ is my Savior and my Lord, now and forever! I am glad that I belong to Jesus! My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I am not for sale! I am not my own! My Righteous King has paid my ‘bride price’ with His Blood. The resurrected Christ is my Bridegroom! I honor God with my body! I honor God with my testimony! I live to worship God and to give Him all the glory! I bow my knees only to the Lord Jesus Christ! I serve Him only! This is my destiny! Nothing and nobody can change that! It is me and Jesus, now and forever! In Jesus’ name! Amen!