05/26/2008 The Brightness of Christ's Shadow

[RandomK]

S. 12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders
were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in
Solomon’s Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the
people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added
to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 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. 16
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.

O. Clearly, the ministry of Jesus had been continued through the acts
of the apostles. It appears that most of the miracles performed were
healing acts, and that seems to be one of the reasons the church grew
so quickly. The idea of people merely wanting to be caught in Peter's
shadow, (not that it says they would have been healed by that act,
just the idea that they had such faith they believed a shadow could
heal the sick) reminds me of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus'
garment, and was instantly healed. What is the significance there?
It is not lost on me the irony of the Shadow. Peter and the other
apostles were living in the Shadow of what Jesus had done, and these
sick, hurt, oppressed people, now desired to merely be touched by the
Shadow of Peter. Is this what we are meant to desire? To live in the
shadow of Peter, who lives in the Shadow of Christ? It seems to be a
"trickle down" effect, am I to mimic those who have gone before me,
Just as Paul says, "Imitate me, as I imitate Christ?" Is this what God
had intended for the Kingdom? That in effect, we are playing a never
ending game of "Follow the Leader," where we are following the steps
of Jesus so closely, nobody can tell us apart? Is this what God
intended when He said, that we are all sons, Joint-Heirs in Christ?
Because when we follow in Jesus' righteousness, we all end up looking
like Him.

A. It is my duty, to follow in Christ's shadow, for He is the one who
went before us. The indication for me, whether or not to accept mentor-
ship from a fellow believer, is to watch how closely they follow
Christ's steps, because if they are truly following Jesus, they will
"look" just like Him.

P. Father, remind me to look to no one else but you. I want to live in
your Shadow, because even your shadow is brighter any light. You light
my path, you are a lamp unto my feet. If I stumble, it is because I
have gone my own way. Gently remind me to return to you. One day,
Lord, may I be able to follow so closely to Jesus that people won't be
able to tell the difference.