Exodus 19:1-8 KJV
1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.
2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. 3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

Psalm 135:4-5 KJV
4 For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.

Do you ever get curious why Israel seemed to be so important in scripture though there were other nations. Why did God declaration so important to the tribe of Israel, especially when they seem to reject after giving the commands of God in chapter 20 of Exodus in the since of needing an intercessor to talk to them. One can not deny God's holiness and how we approach God(Father, Son and Holy Spirit). If I was not a Jew was there any hope? If I was not Israelite was there any hope for me during the time before Christ, the answer is yes. God was using Israel to be a peculiar people, a people that would intercede for the world or nations around them, called to be a holy priesthood. Their holy status was not based on works, but based on righteousness(belief). To believe in God and not always live in holiness, how can this be, maybe a better question, how can a person be consider holy and yet be dirty in the sight of the world at times. Their clothes might be spotless but their sin of how they dealt with people as filthy rags. Less mercy, less grace in situation and complete obedience of the law or face the consequences when caught by the law. The sacrifice for sin given to receive forgiveness happening more then once and year to year. Yet they were not a lawless people or a godless nation. If holiness is not based on our work, but first our righteousness, for Abraham is consider a holy man of old, like Moses and Samuel. Yet the sin in his life was apparent to not trusting God in regards to Sarah conceiving, instead being tempted by Sarah to take another woman as a wife. If his holiness was not based on how well behaved he was in regards to waiting on God's promise, then we have to ask ourselves is our holiness based on faith. Yet without repentance, without admitting fault are we righteous?

Job righteousness came by his faith not his works, yet his works were outstanding to the point Job could not understand why bad things kept happening. He even done the sacrifical laws for others in his family, including himself when needed. He finds his life in turmoil with sores on his feet and so forth. Yet God would restore him when Satan had his understanding nothing would cause Job to bow to him, he would only bow to God.

When we grasp how important Israel is to the world in regards of before Christ, we see man coming to God in all impurity, repenting and being forgiven. That the pagan life style was not to be observed by God's people. They were to serve one God who was a jealous God which was all anyone needs in their life. Israel would be a testimony of what faith was about in God, a testimony of our human failings and triumphs during the time before Christ. The very symbol to the world of God's interaction with mankind, and his love for us, yet he still allowed evil to tempt, to destroy, to control his people. The weeds and wheat gather and separated, a story of God dividing those he called peculiar because he called them to believe in him. Yet he calls all of us to believe and have faith in him. What we do we has peculair, because it easier to follow our desires and wants, to listen to the deception and lies of Satan. Yet we must wait on God and void the enemy. The video game where the hero beats all of the enemy based on how well they play the game. You complete the game you win. With God you are already the winner upon belief in Jesus.

God calling people and every nations out to declare who his people are as peculiar people. Israel failed and would be cast out of Israel for a time, until his people of faith were at a place he could return them home and still be called the people of God. Not only Jewish people returned but other tribes went as well and desire to worship God but not all were allowed into the temple because of pagan worship of other gods. Same reason Rachel died perhaps given child birth, for she had to give up foreign gods to enter the promise land with Jacob. A spiritual purging, and yet one could give up something material but never give up the spiritual desire of idolatry of the heart. Outward shows is all man sees, but God sees the heart of man and woman. Nations has a whole might worship God but some still have idolatry within them. Israel even allow Idolatry into their nation. People faith would be one sort of people and those of many beliefs would think God's people were peculiar or unusual in their faith. God called his people to be different, to stand in truth, righteousness, faith, love, mercy, forgiveness, hope and so forth.

In the New Testament in 1 Peter 2:9 God's children, the ones that were new born by the spiritual milk of the word were called to be peculiar as well. The law of sacrifice done away with and the ideology of newborn babies of faith we are to drink of the spiritual milk of his word and grow in it and even eventually eat the meat of the word. People all backgrounds were welcome to be saved, and they become the children of God through faith. Israel had begun to be total separist right before Christ coming with the rebuilding of the temple and obedience to sacrificial laws in the promise land of Israel. Christ was to bring all people Jews and Gentiles together to learn about faith. Christ did teach the gentiles as the Priest did in their gentile courts. Israel would reject Christ and his teaching because of their need of greed, and desire to live in peace and harmony with other nations. Instead of chosing God's way they were choosing their own way. When the prophetic word that one man would have to die for a nation, it almost sounds as a word of plot and not a word from God. One has to remember God's word comes in truth, but God's word must also be prophesied among unbelievers of who Jesus is as Messiah, in order for his death to take place. They seen someone that could draw a crowd as the enemy. Christians still draw a crowd today in their churches, and in their gatherings. Are they a threat to society? Those of us that grew up in church and raised in the Christian life style wonder how anyone could be seen as a threat. I will tell you how, you get the devil in the pulpit and the generation of itching ears that know not that Christ is of peace, love, joy, hope, long suffering, patience, and more. If you feel you got to crank a crowd up as a rock concert to get a crowd of believers to listen to the word you are total wrong.

God's people are a peculiar people in small groups of four to a large group of ten thousand. All that is ever need is the teachings of Christ. Either people will receive the teachings of God's word or they will not. I seen a minister that came out of our area that went to another state and began to preach because of his sons' death, but was he in ministry before his son's death or did it fuel his fire? I have to ask that about what fueled my fire to write, the Holy Spirit or things I seen and witnessed on my journey. I like to think the Holy Spirit fueled my fingers, because in truth I can not remember that much scripture in a course of life time nor obey that much scripture in a life time without failing.

What then when God called us to be peculiar is it how we deal/and treat others. How we do thing unexpected by the Holy Spirit, showing up to someone house with groceries when someone is in need. Taking the battle of illness with faith and hope, to pronounce in hardship God still looking after me. Speaking the words of truth when a lie would be simpler. Is it because people of God are seen as a treasure to God because they receive his Son has a peace offering? I think it because God not only calls us to be holy, but because we has his children receive his peace offering. We receive Christ as our Lord, and allow him to be our sacrifice and our intercessor and not man or beast. Do you not hate it when someone intercedes in your behalf and does not let you speak your peace. I do, or take care of your responsibilities on your own. They like a devil. Will God does not like men and women taking care of his reponsibility either in regards to having to have them intercede on his behalf and one day when his Son returns he going to straighten that out with those that do not believe and still need that intercessor.

A boss needs intercessor to his people that work for him, and he uses his spokesman to relay information when he can not speak directly to someone for some reason, yet at the same time, things sometimes still get messed up. That why we need Jesus, because minister mess things up, lie, makes assumption and make mistakes. They are human just like you, but they choose to listen and do their best in obeying God. God's people are the same way, they do their best to obey God, and trust in his guidance through the Holy Spirit.

You might be a newborn believer, but you are not without the ability to be an overcomer of faith, to live up to those peculiar person of faith, because Christ is now in charge of our life as intercessor. Our desire to be the warrior in Christ, to be a strong believer, is just begin for a new believer. Yet there were new believers that faced persecution with faith. There were others that escape to tell their story of survival. Peter escape persecution in scripture only James to loose his head. Peter would eventual die to his faith in Christ, by being hung upside down.

What then can we say if God is able to empower us at any level of our Christian faith from new born babes to old timers, what then, the strength we need is found in Christ alone for the journey. Why worry about what may come, God is in control of his will and his story, we think we are in control of our life, until God enters our life and it upsets the apple cart or only proves that God had a purpose and we need to testify of his power. I first taught scripture at age 13, I even worked at a christian camp for girls at age 16 and 17. I was thrown a curve ball in my life and did not know how to handle it, the words hold on to faith did not cut it for the moment, but what I realize God never let go of me, and when the daylight came, what I seen was the struggle all my life was because of the enemy. Yet I realize something else God allowed time of running for purpose to help me understand the need of faith even more in my life, not just as a remedy for sin and separation from God but that continual relationship with him.

Yes God's people are peculiar treasures of God. Each one with the same base but each one made differently. A crocheter may have many patterns to follow, and every pattern starts with a ball of yarn and crochet hook, but each creation is different, even if you try and make a carbon copy, it made for a purpose that way to be used in a certain form or fashion. A hot pad used to protect the table, a pot holder used to pick up something hot out of the oven or off the stove. That why singers do not need to be all in one church, or to many lead pastors in one church can be a problem, or two many evangelist in one empty church, can lead to a church being full and now they need to find another empty church. That my friend is proof we all are different but all have roles to play in God's kingdom and we all might wear certain smocks to represent where we belong a far as position but one covering we need is the blood of Jesus. Guess what we still his children upon belief in the Savior. Doing peculiar things through out our life time to be a witness for God has his treasured possession.

Dear Heavenly Father you calling everyone to one location, to believe, to hope in you as you did Israel and then scattering the Christian believers to be witness outside our home. Because faith begins with belief there is God and then belief in his Son and then your Holy Spirit. Help us to be in a place we desire to draw all that will hear your word to you and make disciples so they to will grow to be peculiar treasure for you. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Thank The Lord For His Peculiar People.

Continual Scripture Study: 1 Peter 2:1-10 KJV
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 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 marvellous light:
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.