And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. (Acts 5:14-16)
Happy Groundhog's Day! What a fine thing that Peter's shadow could heal the sick and free the possessed. Perhaps we do not realize just what a wonderful work of the Lord this was for us. How easy would it be to get a prideful heart by having the healing touch? For me, I don't know about you, it would be a real danger. How much control does a person have over his shadow? Not much. It would be like I wasn't even doing the healing. Which is of course the point: God did it when Peter's shadow passed over.
A shadow is such a flimsy thing. There is no real substance to it. The length of it grows without my doing a thing, but also shrinks and even disappears with the absence of light. Well do we recall that the power of the Highest would overshadow Mary (Luke 1:35). I would find it difficult to ascribe anything to myself by the actions of my shadow. It is a fine thing when the Lord works through us without giving us cause for pride. Peter could hardly take credit for his shadow falling on a person and the healing of the Lord coming at that time. Great is our Lord who would do this for us! Peter could then tell of the Lord's Christ while the healed made way for others to know the healing power of God through a shadow. What a fine thing - receiving grace by way of the Good News through the ears while the power of the Most High overshadowed the illness of the body.
May God our Father work through us on this day!
Bucky
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