It’s the title of a very old song originally written in 1927, but can you remember the fascination of discovering your shadow? Along came Peter Pan, and the shadow concept took off! Most of us have probably tried to make hand shadow images of animals and birds on the wall (mine were pathetic). Even still, as an adult, I sometimes find my shadow amusingly humorous when it towers over me on a sidewalk or distorts my hairstyle or shape.
God’s shadow is a place of protection and safety for us. The Amplified Bible says it so beautifully in Psalm 91:1, He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand]. Again, in Psalm 17:8 (KJV), we read, keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wing.
One of our fiercest enemies is disease. As Jesus and the disciples walked among crowds of people, the need for healing of disease and deliverance from demonic spirits was overwhelmingly great—impossible, really—except by the power of God working through them. We should never underestimate the power of God working in us and through us! Here are the words of Jesus, Himself, as recorded in Mark 16:17-18 (NLT), “These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed."
That’s exactly what was happening, and here is a remarkable account of “just another day” in the life of Peter and the apostles, as described in Acts 5:12-16 (NLT): The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon's Colonnade. But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. As a result of the apostles' work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter's shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.
Just Peter’s shadow did that? God’s shadow, yes--that we can understand. Surely we want to stay safely tucked under His shadow at all times because as Psalm 91:1 infers, no enemy can withstand the power of God when we are under His shadow. But God, through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross, has given US that power. He gave it to Peter and all the apostles. They moved and operated in God’s power against disease and demonic spirits, and as verse 16 says, they [the sick and those possessed by evil spirits] were ALL healed. Crowds came from villages around Jerusalem, and as the power of God flowed through these men into the people, many miraculous signs and wonders were happening. It’s highly improbable that Peter and the apostles could have actually touched every single sick or demon-oppressed person in such a large crowd. But when the power of God is moving, and His anointing is flowing through someone, just being in the presence of God’s power can yield healings and deliverance.
Have you ever been in the presence of someone who walks closely with the Lord? There’s just something so peaceful and calming that emanates from his/her spirit. Perhaps you’re going through a troubling time or a serious illness, but the Presence of the Almighty within that person overshadows the trouble, and peace comes as you pray together. Healing may come. Deliverance. Burdens lift. You have been overshadowed by the Almighty.
Your shadow—your presence in the lives of those around you—can bring healing and peace, just as Peter’s did. How far does your shadow extend? For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow (Psalm 144:4 NLT). Let my “passing shadow” be a powerful one, O Lord, full of Your love and healing and grace to anyone who may need Your touch.
© 2021, Chris Werre
Komentarai