I have struggled with being different my entire life, from body image issues to how I thought about things and everything in between. My struggles have led me to make some regrettable choices, all for the sake of assimilating with the masses. So, I understand all too well the need to fit in. It took the Holy Spirit’s introduction to freedom to set me free from assimilation through a relationship with Christ. In the King James Version of the bible 1st, Peter 2:9 states, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” The NIV puts it this way “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” I must confess I like the original verbiage of the KJV, especially (Peculiar People) when I read that I knew I was home with God. It finally hit; I was always different because I was always a child of God.
I did not always represent Him because I did not understand who I was until I met Jesus. I grew up in church, so I knew about Jesus, but I did not invite Him to be my Lord and Savior until much later. Today I want to encourage all the peculiar people in Christ to understand that the fullness of your life is already set apart and waiting for you. It is wrapped up in your relationship with Christ. You see many times we see ourselves as small, like what Saul said to Samuel in verse 9 “And Saul answered and said, Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?” The call or anointing God placed on Saul’s life did not change because of how Saul saw himself, at times, even when we accept a life with God through Christ. We still must fight to allow God’s image of us to shine through. The good news is God does not give up on us. So, our walk with God requires a daily commitment of choosing Him over all the regrettable comfortable choices of the past. Love always
introduces you to the best version of yourself. Temporary pleasures may appear to empty us and offer freedom. However, only the love of God can truly empty us of the need to fulfill the ways of the flesh and replace it with a purpose fit for a queen and king in God’s family.
Remember, God loves you, and so do I.