Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Acts 10:45, “And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.”

Background

Have you ever been the odd man out? If so, it leaves you with a sort of feeling that you never quite forget. When you find yourself in a similar situation anytime after that, your mind cannot avoid recalling what it was like to be the one who was different from all the others. But sometimes, the odd man out can be a good thing. If you’re the only one of the group who hoped for the best or expected the unexpected, when your hopes come true, it’s a wonderful sense of validation and source of encouragement for the uncertain times that are sure to come along in the future. I think Peter was the odd man out in his experience with Cornelius and the group of Gentiles in Caesarea. While he was preaching to them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and moved them to speak in tongues and magnify God. But the crowd of Jews that came with Peter from Joppa were astonished at what they witnessed. It was odd enough that Peter was preaching to the Gentiles, but they certainly weren’t expecting the Holy Spirit to show up and change their lives.

Application

But Peter did. He was the odd man out. For God had been working on him, preparing him for the ends of the earth. Not too long ago, Peter wouldn’t have expected God to gather the Gentiles to Him, but that was before the Lord changed his heart. First, he stayed with a tanner in Joppa. A tanner worked with dead animals, so they probably weren’t regarded too highly among the Jews. Then God gave Peter his vision of the different types of animals being let down from heaven in the sheet. And God told Peter that all that God calls clean is clean. And then the men of Cornelius, the Italian centurion, came and called for Peter to come and speak to him. So when he begins preaching, I think his heart is fully expecting God’s mighty working to take place, even among these Gentiles. His buddies might not, but Peter has been changed, and he now expects big things from God. Being that odd man out just comes with the territory. But it’s the right place to be. Is it where you are?

Charge

As we seek Him today, ask God to enlarge your expectations of Him. Confess to Him if you have thought less of your Lord than you should. Ask Him to make you the odd man out, the one who expects the unexpected.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words