Peculiar People. Deuteronomy 14:2. “For thou art a holy people unto the Lord Thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto Himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.” When one of God’s people dies, our response to death reveals what we truly believe. We can't help but cry, and those around us understand why. We will miss our loved ones, but it’s okay to mourn with dignity. Making a spectacle or fainting reflects poorly on whether our faith is in the Lord and if we truly believe what the Bible says. Soon, we will face another moment when we are called into a room and watch someone we love cross over Jordan’s flood. Maintaining dignity in the face of death is a powerful testimony. It shows we trust in Christ even during great loss. When we confront what we can't control with faith in God, we find reassurance in knowing that His control means we are not at the mercy of fate.
Even the foods we choose to eat or refrain from eating serve as a way to show those who observe that we are peculiar people. Some may misunderstand why we won’t participate in drinking to share in their joy or sorrow. We must then explain that our decision is based on our convictions rooted in the word of God, not on personal scruples imposed to ignore their feelings. When it comes to handling our money, we are obliged to be very honest. Everything we have and claim as our own comes from God’s gracious hand. It is solely by God’s grace that we have received our money; He has entrusted it to us to be used faithfully and in a manner that considers the needs of others.
Peculiar people are privileged to give back to God a tithe, a designated percentage of what we receive. It originally belonged to God and was lent to us. When we use it responsibly, God enables us to provide for others. After all, this money is not given to us to own or claim that we are entitled to it. Instead, we give back to God what belongs to Him when we meet the needs of our brothers and sisters.