We are a Peculiar Treasure

by Gretchen Rodriguez

“Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” Exodus 19:4-6

Specific words have continually come forth from the body of Christ over the past six months – words like: transition, change, and shift.

Many people have felt very stuck in their current situations and are now hearing the Lord prompt them to step out into new areas of ministry, employment, and even physical moves to different states and countries. Yes, everywhere we look it seems that if people aren’t already stepping into new things, they are feeling the pull of the Spirit to do so.

At the beginning of 2009 one of the most important things the Lord spoke to me was to be very careful not to do anything that wasn’t birthed out of a place of worship and intimacy with Him. As the year has progressed, I have found that to be valuable advice! The Lord never wants us to step out to do anything that wasn’t birthed from being with Him. Many good ideas aren’t necessarily God ideas, and to step into them arbitrarily will result in stress and confusion.

The Scripture from Exodus 19:4-6 talks about the Lord baring us up on eagles’ wings and bringing us unto Himself. It is when we respond to the Lord by remaining near Him that we are able to soar above the adversities that the “Egyptians” of our day encounter. The Lord continues to say that out of the place of intimacy with Him, we will hear His voice; if we not only hear but obey, we will be a peculiar treasure unto Him. Peculiar is synonymous with other words like: odd, unusual, and abnormal. I find it sad that those who hear His voice out of intimacy and obey are the peculiar (abnormal) treasures to Him. As His body, peculiar should be normal! The Lord clearly lets us know that although all of the earth is His, those peculiar ones who do out of the place of being will be His priests.

Let’s make some declarations along these lines, in accordance with the Scripture from Exodus.

• The Lord loves us and draws us unto Himself; we are faithful to take time to respond with praise, worship, and stillness in His presence.
• The Lord is faithful to help us organize our time in order for us to spend focused time with Him.
• We repent for doing anything that was not birthed by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Wisdom leads us and sets things in order before us.
• Everything we do flows out of our times of stillness with the Lord.
• We are learning to walk in constant awareness of His presence, and out of His presence He reveals His will to us.
• Jesus is our Shepherd. We are His sheep who hear His voice and obey Him. We are not distracted by other voices.
• Because we aim to let every thought, action, and deed reflect the Lord, we shine as lights in a dark world.
• We walk in peace and full knowledge of what the Lord would have us do in each and every situation.
• There is grace and provision for every assignment that the Lord gives us.
• We are God’s peculiar treasure and are unto Him a kingdom of priests.
  

Blessings, grace, and peace be multiplied to you as you become one with Him!

Gretchen Rodriguez