Oluwamuyiwa Okuseinde
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Today’s Bible verse says many wonderful things about the believer. The summary is that the Christian is a unique creature of God, a different specie altogether.
The distinctive nature of the Christian is specifically captured by the word, ‘peculiar’. To be peculiar is to be different, uncommon, and perhaps, even strange. Your acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Saviour differentiates you from the rest of the world. As a child of the Most High, please understand that your case is different.
One implication of the above is that you are not meant to suffer what the world suffers. When men are cast down, you will say “there is a lifting up” because your case is different (Job 22:29). Remember what happened when plagues hit Egypt. While the Egyptians suffered from the devastation of the plagues, the covenant children of God in Goshen were spared from harm.
Another important implication is that as a Christian, you cannot afford to behave like unbelievers because your case is different. You can no longer speak the way the people of the world speak, dress the way they dress, play the music they place, go to the same places they revel, nor fear their fear. Thus we are warned not to be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2). Indeed, it will be a tragedy of eternal proportion if your conduct as a believer conforms to that of the world.
Beloved, it is a rare privilege and an uncommon honour for God to project you as a peculiar person. That honour, however, comes with a huge responsibility to be different from the rest of the world in thoughts, words and deeds. You will not disappoint the Lord.
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FURTHER BIBLE READING: EXODUS 9:1-7.
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EXERCISES
- What new insight have you gained from the above message? Please write it down in your journal.
- What would be your prayer points and what are the steps you will take?
- If you have been blessed by this message, please share it with your friends and loved ones.
TODAY’S MESSAGE
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