The other day Lisa noticed that in the flower pot on our sidewalk, something was peculiar. It was filled with mostly white periwinkles.

And the reason I say “mostly” is because right in the middle of all those white flowers was a pink periwinkle!

Lisa is not sure how that happened since she didn’t plant it that way, at least intentionally.

She immediately pointed this oddity out to our son, Britton, and told him there’s a good Bible lesson in there somewhere!

So, on the off chance that Britton (typical teenager) is not going to write out a Bible lesson based on his mom’s flower pot (at least in time for me to meet my newspaper deadline), I decided to go ahead and write something about it.

For my Bible study, I normally use the English Standard Version, the New International Version, or the New American Standard Bible.

But for my thoughts today I want to use the King James Version because I like the way it words a passage that refers to the early Christians in the first century, and still applies to us today.

“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 marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9, KJV).”

Normally, people do not like to be described as peculiar.

But in spiritual matters, which is what really counts, being peculiar is not a bad thing at all.

When you look around at how the world defines peculiar, Christians find themselves at the butt of every joke, the minority, and the odd-balls that are seemingly out of touch with what is hip!

Here’s the deal. God never called Christians to be in the “in crowd”, popular, or normal by the world’s standards.

God calls us to be radical, different, peculiar, or “a people for God’s own possession (ESV, NASB).”

The one loan pink periwinkle teaches a great lesson!

It is much like the Christian who refuses to go along with what the world has decided is normal and acceptable.

This does not mean that committed Christians are trouble-makers or trying to be difficult or hard to get along with.

 It simply means that committed Christians have their eyes on the prize, and refuse to settle for any earthly reward that conflicts with the eternal reward of heaven that awaits those who are found to be faithful.

Committed Christians are beautifully peculiar, just like the odd flower that God blesses with amazing beauty and perseverance in spite of its circumstances.  

God bless you and have a great week!

Reach Barrett Vanlandingham at the Fort Gibson Church of Christ at (918) 478-2222 or barrett@ftgcc.org.