It always amazes me when the Lord leads me where I didn’t expect to go, or He shows me something I didn’t expect to find. Such was the case today. I’m continuing on in my journey with my word of the year, “treasure.” I’m following through the scriptures and my third treasure, literally! I found in Exodus 19, primarily verses 5 and 6, but I’ll give you 7 and 8 for context of today’s message.
Exodus 19:5-8 KJV
[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.
While it’s an awesome scripture and an awesome thought on it’s own, it bears significant meaning to me because may life verse is 1 Peter 2:9 KJV
[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:
My New Testament life verse, given originally to the Nation of Israel, and yet, I too am allowed to claim it because of the great mercy of Christ that engrafted me into the Kingdom of God. I’m sure I’ve read it, and yet I didn’t know it was there, and would not have known still if God had not laid the word “treasure” on my heart for 2021.
God’s People are Still Rebellious
Obedience has not always been my forte. As a matter of fact, I’m ashamed to say, it’s still not. I rebel in so many aspects of life. And yet, God chooses to use someone such as I. Praise God for grace! I’d have not last 2 seconds under the law, and it’s why I would not ever throw stones at Israel. While I’ve questioned why they turned their backs on God again and again having seen His miracles first hand, I know in my heart I’m no different. I too have seen His miracles and yet when He calls me out to do something for Him, or do something I know is right, I fail. Again and again just like Israel. I will choose the rebellious path knowing that there is a high price to pay later just to avoid reality for one more minute.
God’s People are Still Peculiar
Or we should be. The back story on why 1 Peter 2:9 is my verse is because a preacher called me peculiar one day. I didn’t know what he meant, but I knew it was good, and so I looked up the word in the concordance and it so it became my word. I loved it! I knew God had a purpose for my weirdness. I don’t always (or ever) understand it, but I know He’ll be glorified in it if I allow myself to follow His heart and my desire.
The problem with human nature is, we want to go the way water is flowing. It’s hard to flow against the current, and yet that’s what God expects us to do. What’s right and acceptable in the world is far from right and acceptable in God’s eyes. But so many churches have adopted policies rather than the principles and peculiarities of God. Their mission statement are politically correct rather than biblically correct, and so are the lives of their people. The very fact that we have shut down 9/10 of the churches in American proves it. (That’s my number, not actual fact) I don’t know the percentage, I just know it’s too high.
I know there’s real fear. And I can sympathize and empathize with it. But there’s got to be real faith too!
God’s People are Priests
I don’t begin to understand it all. But in reading the commentary of John Gill, my soul is stirred, so I’ll share it with you.
Priest, a character which one of the Jewish commentators says shall return to the Jews לעתיד לבא, “in time to come”; and well agrees with all the people of Christ, whether Jews or Gentiles, who are all of them kings, through their relation to Christ; and at the present time have a kingdom which cannot be moved, or taken away from them; being not only brought into the Gospel dispensation, the kingdom of the Messiah, and having a right to all the privileges and immunities of it, but have also the kingdom of grace set up within them, or grace, as a reigning principle, implanted in them; which lies not in anything external, but in righteousness and true holiness, in inward peace, and spiritual joy; and they have the power of kings over sin, Satan, and the world; and the riches of kings, being possessed of the riches of grace now, and entitled to the riches of glory in another world; they live like kings, they wear royal apparel, the robe of Christ’s righteousness; they sit at the king’s table, and feed on royal dainties; and are attended on as kings, angels being their life guards, and ministering spirits to them; and hereafter they shall reign with Christ on earth, and that for the space of a thousand years, and, after that, for ever: being raised up from a low estate, to inherit the crown of glory, to wear the crown of life and righteousness, and possess the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world, of which they are now heirs: and they are “priests”, as well as kings; being made so by Christ, and through his priestly office; are anointed with the Holy Ghost, and sanctified by his grace, and allowed to draw near to God, and offer up by Christ their spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise; and are enabled and assisted to offer up the sacrifice of a broken heart, and their bodies also, and even their lives when called to it; the allusion is to the kingdom and priesthood being formerly together, and which met in Christ, Zechariah 6:13 and in his people. The Jews were wont to call the priestly dignity and office כתר כהנה, “the crown of the priesthood”:
I am not so eloquent in speech as Mr. Gill, but I feel as he does, he just explains it better!
How exciting to look forward to a time when this world will not be in the dismal torment it is now. But peace shall reign. Christ shall be with us and we with Him and our jobs will assigned according to our work here below. Oh God, help me be a peculiar treasure every day…