The Peculiar People

Have you ever noticed how, when you are talking to people who are not involved in the racing community, they may look at you strangely when you describe your weekend or something else that you would not give a second thought about?  Here is a case in point.  Our family wanted to get together on one of the recent holidays.  Our youngest son and his wife, along with our grandson, went with Claire and me to Missouri to be with our oldest son and family.  Our middle son, with his family, came from South Carolina.  We all drove straight through to Missouri; 17 hours for us and 12 hours for our middle son.  To those of you who are reading this, that may not seem strange.  But try to tell some people who are not used to traveling 6 or 9 hours to a race as normal and you will see what I mean by strange looks.

One way I have heard this described is that “racers are an odd lot.”  That made me think that we are a peculiar people, and there are many things that the Bible has to say about peculiar people.  First, let me say the word “peculiar” can mean strange or odd, but also unique, and distinctive, or characteristic according to Webster’s Dictionary.  The Bible uses the word “peculiar” seven times.  This in itself is unique as the number seven in the Bible is the number for perfection.  It is also used five of those times to describe the nation of Israel, (Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 14:2, 26:18, Psalms 135:4, Ecclesiastes 2:8) all of which mean peculiar treasure, or enclosure.  The word is used two times for Christians; Titus 2:14 meaning beyond ordinary, and I Peter 2:9 where it means an acquisition.

It’s not bad to be peculiar…you are in with a good group of people.  So the next time that someone doesn’t understand your behavior or thinks it’s out of the ordinary and that you might be a little odd, just let them know that you are a peculiar one of God’s chosen ones; especially as a Christian and one of the redeemed.  “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14. ”This gives us one more chance to witness for the Lord and what he has done for us. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” I Peter 2:9.  Remember to give God the praise; after all, it’s only through his mercy that we can do what we do anyway.

                                                Dan Laterza