Good Afternoon

For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body (1 Cor. 6:20)

We Have been rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of God's beloved Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:12-14). That rescue did not come without a great price being paid to make it possible (1 Thess. 5:9-10; 1 Pet. 3:18; 1 Pet.2:21; Heb. 2:9-10; Heb. 13:12; Heb. 5:7-9). Realizing that we have been bought with a price should lead us to praise, exalt and honor God in our thoughts, words and deeds as we walk the pathway of life.

Long ago Solomon stated "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Prov. 23:7). I has been said that nothing, good or bad, is done without the thought having first been planted in the heart. We should give diligent heed to "Watch over our heart with all diligence for from it flows the springs of life (Prov. 4:23). Be mindful of the things you put into your heart. We may deceive our fellowman but in reality, what we think is really what we are and God knows every thought of our heart (Heb. 4:12-13). It will be much easier to glorify God if we fill our hearts with that which is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, good repute, excellent and worthy of praise (Phil, 4:8).

In glorifying God our speech must be sound. "Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another"--Eph. 4:25. "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such word as is good for edification....so that it will give grace to those who hear"--Eph. 4:29. "From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way"--James 3:10. "Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God"--1 Pet. 4:11.  I wonder, will the words we speak and write every day pass the test of these four passages? Always keep in mind that our words whether spoken or written reveal much about us (Matt. 26:73).

Glorifying God in our body is going to require that we walk worthy  of Him and please Him in our conduct (Phil. 1:27; 1 Thess. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:1; Matt. 5:16; James 1:27; 1 Cor. 15:58; Rom.12:1-2). Study carefully Eph. 4:17-32 and Romans 12:1-21 and learn some of the great rules that govern our walk as a child of God. Living by these rules, we will be honest and honorable people living lives of truth and integrity. My friends, if we conform to these rules we will glorify God and come to the end of the journey with no regrets.

Charles Hicks