What is Peculiar?

“As a man’s god is, so is he.” Jeremiah Burroughs

Surely, whether true or not, we are a reflection of what we value and what we believe about ourselves. A poor man may well covet wealth and have barely a morsel to eat. And, of course, if we act contrary to what we say we value and believe, then our hypocrisy is evident to all. Such is the man who desires wealth but would not take a menial job; preferring to wait instead for one where the pay is more and labor less demanding.

As a Christian, it is written that I am to be holy; even as my Lord is holy. I am called to be peculiar. What is peculiar? Oh, about everything, but most importantly, that people who know me see Christ in me today as He reveals Himself from within me; such workings coming from a pure and humble heart; Spirit-led and sealed. This peculiarity is even strange to me; since it is the product of an alien righteousness (Christ’s) and God’s Spirit Who indwells and guides me.

Sadly, however, I have not always lived that way. And, as I am sure, many face their own transgressions and hypocrisy. And, I’m sure as well, there are those who will remember our ‘former man’ and will serve to remind us. We can count on that.  However, can I encourage you to accept what is meted out first by God and then man?

First, God in His mercy and long suffering promised to remove our guilt through the blood of Christ, and if you know this liberty by faith alone, and that by grace, then you know this is true. However, guilt-free is not guilt-less. For that reason, men may remind us of what we had done. We have hurt others. Accept it. Those who say that God has forgiven them but say so only to elicit mercy from another and avoid ‘hearing about it further in the future,’ are liars. They will be found out. No, what we must and will do is accept the skepticism and bitterness as an earthly consequence of our sin, but we should also see in trust and prayer that what is happening is an opportunity for Christ to show through us the effectual workings of His mercy. Most importantly? We should pray for them and seek God’s will for them!

With respect to prayer in our current times, may I say that while sinners everywhere are coming out of their closets more and more, I pray that sincere Christians are more aggressively seeking and finding theirs.