Peculiar People, Peculiar Living
Have you ever seen the movie musical Annie? It’s the story of a scrappy little orphan with a head full of curls, endless hope, and a voice big enough to fill a theater. She’s raised in an orphanage, longing for love and belonging. But through some wild twists of fate (and some great songs), Annie is chosen and adopted by a wealthy, powerful man. As she becomes a part of his family, that one act of being chosen transforms her world. Suddenly, she’s not just surviving; she’s living with purpose and joy, and she then is able to find ways to help those who need the same kind of rescuing as she once did.
Pastor Jay’s sermon reminded me of Annie’s story. She is a “peculiar” child, chosen for a new family. Once she grasps her identity, everything about her changes. She walks (and sings) with a new confidence, a new strength to fight those who want to hold her back, and and the ability to reach out to others.
In the same way, 1 Peter 2:9–10 tells us that God’s people are chosen, set apart for a purpose:
“But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling…, peculiar people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.”
One of the most powerful truths in this passage is the expectation of transformation that comes from realizing we are chosen. Human beings crave belonging. When we truly understand that we are God’s, that He has claimed us, not because of what we’ve done but because of His mercy, it changes how we see ourselves. We stop living like orphans in a world that wants to remind us of our old lives. We stop chasing approval, comparing ourselves to others, or trying to earn love. And as our self-perception changes, so does our perspective on the people around us.
Being chosen makes us peculiar, but in the best way. It frees us to love freely, give radically, offer generous hospitality, and extend mercy without keeping score. Knowing we are accepted by God, even with all our flaws, allows us to accept others, notice the lonely, the overlooked, the hurting, and offer them a place at the table with us. Just as Annie’s joy and hope changed the lives of those around her, God’s chosen people carry an invisible yet powerful light that shifts the atmosphere wherever they go.
Being chosen is a call to action. God’s mercy doesn’t just shape us inwardly, it flows outward. The identity we receive from Him transforms our actions, creating ripples of compassion, generosity, and hope. When we embrace our identity as God’s chosen, we move through the world differently, with confidence and courage.
Belonging to God changes everything. It changes how we carry ourselves, how we see others, and how we impact the world. When we know we belong, we can love with an open hand, the hope and joy we carry will touch lives, and we might even break out in song.
Peculiar People Questions::
• In what areas of your life do you still feel like an “orphan” rather than someone chosen by God?
• How does knowing you belong to God change the way you see yourself and others?
• Who around you might be feeling overlooked or left out, and how could you offer them a place at your table?
• How can being God’s chosen person inspire you to love, give, and show mercy more freely this week?
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