God’s Peculiar People
Titus 2:14 tells us that God gave himself for us and redeemed us. It also suggests that God purified us as a "peculiar people." The word "peculiar" may mean odd or strange, but that is not the meaning here. "Peculiar" comes from two words meaning "around," and "to be." As a dot is surrounded by a circle, so God has encircled us. We belong exclusively to God. We are his unique possession. In fact, the ASV translates this as "a people for his own possession," which some believe may be too weak. In view of what the church cost (Jesus’ life and blood on the cross), he indeed created for himself a very costly possession.
The same idea is suggested in I Thessalonians 1:1, where Paul addresses the church as being "in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ." "In" is in the locative case, the case of sphere or location. The sphere of God is the place where we are surrounded by Him.
How thankful we ought to be that we are under the protection of God. He cares for us. We are his in a unique way. No power outside ourselves can destroy us, or what we are. One of the greatest blessings on earth is that no power can tempt us above that we are able to withstand (I Cor. 10:13). What a great promise!!!
– Max Patterson, 4438 South 89th Road, Bolivar, MO 65613-8012
