Once again, God does not color inside the lines. He seems always to be the exception and not just the rule. How else could we marvel at His exceptionalness? So the promise was to be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, right? Well, why do the Samaritans not receive the Holy Spirit when they're baptized? It requires Peter and John to leave Jerusalem and go to them and lay hands on them to receive the Spirit. Why? Was it more for the benefit of Peter and John than the Samaritans? Did they have to actually see them receive the Spirit since they weren't pure Jews? And why is it that we read so much now about Philip and Saul and Ananias and not the apostles doing the amazing stuff? The leadership of the church has so quickly moved beyond the apostles. The other example of God coloring outside of the lines is Saul. Ok, now we're going to 13 apostles rather than the prescribed 12. Why? Why couldn't Saul be like Philip and preach and be a disciple? Why does Paul have to be an apostle? An as an apostle, he is definitely an exception. He didn't follow Christ in life. Christ revealed himself to him. God does things His way. And there's not nearly the nice little tidy pattern that makes us so comfortable. God's way is exceptional.
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