You are not Yours

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? - (Matthew 16:26)(NKJV).

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A 24-year-old Chinese young man announced in the internet through an auction company that he is auctioning his soul for 10 Yuan. Fifty eight people bid for that soul. Within a week the bid went up to 681 Yuan. But the auction company finally withdrew the auction saying that the ownership of souls is with God. This is a true incident. What a strange happening!

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Why should a man auction his soul for such a meager amount of 10 Yuan? But if you look at the actions of some people, this does not seem that strange. Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and lost his soul. Achan lost his soul for a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels. (Joshua 7) Gehazi, Elisha's servant, lost his soul for two talents of silver and two change of garments. (2 Kings 5) Alas, Esau lost his birthright for a bowl of stew. What pitiable precedences!

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Many people are losing their souls for such trivial matters. They sell the souls to the devil. They don't realize how precious their souls are!

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Jesus said, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Yes, even if a man has lot of wealth and rules over a vast territory but lost his soul he is the most pitiable person.

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What can he give to redeem his soul? The authority over this world was given to the devil from the moment Adam and Eve sinned and handed over God given dominion to the devil. That is why the devil came even to the Savior of this world, Jesus Christ, took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, `You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" (Matthew 4:8-10) He overcame the devil with His word and kept His soul. Hallelujah. Likewise, we too, when Satan bids for our soul showing us the worldly pleasures, should keep our souls using God's words. We should not sell our souls for the temporary pleasures of this world.

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Besides, our souls belong to Jesus Christ because He redeemed them shedding His blood as the price through His death on the cross. "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. "(1 Corinthians 6:19,20) Now we are not ours. Jesus is the owner. We cannot use it as per our wish. And, Satan also does not have any right over them. Amen, Hallelujah.

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No rich man can buy your soul even if he is prepared to give all his wealth as the price. It is so valuable. God the Father sent His Son to give His own blood as the price. So great is His love and mercy for us. Let us be watchful not to sell our souls for the pleasures of this world.

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You do not belong to yourself,

Oh, redeemed (former) sinner

You do not belong to yourself!

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Are you attracted by the old sins?

Attracted towards Satan again?

Showing an instant pleasure

He will push you into hell!

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You do not belong to yourself!

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Prayer: Our Loving Heavenly Father, we thank You for saving us, the sinners, with your great love, sending Your only Son to die for us. Guard us from losing our souls for the temporary pleasure of this world. Give us the realization that we don't belong to us. We submit our body, spirit and soul to You. Accept us and shape us according to Your will. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."