In the 1960s my father was a packaging manager for Hunt
Wesson foods in Fullerton, California. One day a man
working on the labeling machine
stopped the packaging line because
something was wrong.
When my father got to his station the
man explained that the machine that put
the labels on the Wesson Oil bottles four at a time
was off. He said that one of the labels was peculiar.
When my father looked closer, he discovered that one label was correct and
the other three labels were crooked.
What an appropriate example for us in 2023.
The world looks at those of us who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God as a little
“odd.” They might think that if we trust that God is able to do the impossible like raising
His Son from the dead that we are a little “off.”
The world might think that anyone who tries to live by the precepts and commandments
in the Bible is somewhat peculiar. And they would be correct.
I Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of
darkness into his marvelous light.”
That world might translate the word “peculiar” as being odd, strange, or weird. But the
way the Bible translates that word is far different.
If we are peculiar, we are unique, distinctive, and special in the sight of God. We have
been chosen to be God’s very own possession. The Lord sees us as His own special
people.
In this world, we are the ones who are straight and
true, but compared to the rest of the world we
seem a bit “off.” I don’t know about you, but I
like the idea of being a little different.
That is what I think. J <><
