12 Steps To Heaven: #11, Don't Be Bought

Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?...

He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent…

Psalm 15:1, 5 (NKJV)

Actors, models, and talent for Christ: You are NOT for sale. 

  • 'Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, Whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body' (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Jesus redeemed you
(as in bought you back)
from Satan, sin, and death… now and beyond!

The price God’s only Begotten God’s Son paid for your freedom is immeasurable.

  • You're worth far more than the Sistine Chapel,

  • More than Apple or a Lamborghini.

They’re all destined for increasing decay… but you’re destined for increasing glory.

Therefore…

Don't sell yourself short. You’re not called to an on-and-off spotlight… one day to leave you as yesterday's news.

Nevertheless, the devil will tempt you to believe what he offers is worth it… with big names, big glitz, big fame, and big bucks.

If you bite into the enemy's bribe, it’s not just what you're giving up (God's plan), but also, who you're bringing down (your fans).

Because…

Every artificially sweetened deal… has secretly sickening side effects. Victims are twofold:

  1. Saints, by deadening their senses to Christ, and…

  2. Fans, by the dark shine of bad examples.

As Psalm 15:5 states, when you sell out, you take 'A bribe against the innocent.'

Therefore,

  • 'You shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous' (Deuteronomy 16:19), because…

  • 'A bribe debases the heart' (Ecclesiastes 7:7).

  • 'For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, Who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe' (Deuteronomy 10:17),

'And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ' (Deuteronomy 27:25).

12 Steps To Heaven: #11 Don’t Be Bought (Part 13)

SPECIAL NOTE: THE SERIES CONCLUSION WILL COME ON JAN 4, 2024.

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings. Parts of this series are edits of a prior Carey Lewis Devotion series, first published in 2014.

Carey Arban