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… 1 Peter 2:9  (KJV)

Peter is speaking to an isolated group of believers suffering persecution in Northern Asia Minor. They weren’t sure what good they were doing themselves, or anyone else, with their faith.

Do you feel that way sometimes? Like sometimes it IS, in fact, easier to hide your light under a bushel?

That’s certainly how they felt.

But Peter tells them in the verse above…”Ye are a chosen generation…”

Chosen! God picked them! And if you are saved, He also picked you. At some point in our lives we all deal with not being selected. Whether it’s a work promotion, cheerleading tryouts, recess teams…we’ve all experienced the rejection that comes with not getting picked.

But God CHOSE us. He called our names. And in that way that only God can, we weren’t called last, or first, or before/after our friends. Because with God, there’s no comparison to others. Only to Him.

But I really like the part about being “a peculiar people” because this speaks to my heart.

Growing up, like most kids, I just wanted to fit in. To blend in with the crowd. I hated anything that made me different.

As a teenager, it was even worse. I hid my true self so I’d seem cool, like everyone else. Little did I know, everyone else was doing the same. We hid our eccentricities, those little things that made us unique.

The older we get, the more we appreciate our peculiarities. These are the things that make us stand out- to suitors, to employers, to friends. The things we once tried to hide, we now put on full display. We like being different.

1 Peter 2:9 shows us that it’s perfectly okay to be a peculiar people.

That’s good news for kooks like me!