Alesaggio
06-13-2006, 11:16 AM
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WHAT WAS IT ABOUT PETER'S SHADOW?
It was commonly believed among some people that one's shadow was attached to oneself -- an extension of self. In Jewish law (their own addition), if one's shadow touched a corpse one was as unclean as one who physically touched the corpse--to be touched by his shadow, to be touched by him directly.
An Indirect touch - inspired faith many times: Remember the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment? Also in Acts 19:12 -- handkerchiefs from Paul were used as an indirect touch.
Many people couldn't get close to touch directly so theywere laid on side of road where Peter's shadow might be cast upon them. Peter was not consciously paying attention to those whose shadow it was falling on -- it was not that his shadow had any virtue but that their faith was reaching for fulfillment. At a minimum, it inspired their faith, which resulted in healing.
The Lesson?
EVEN THE SHADOW YOU CAST CAN INSPIRE FAITH IN OTHERS
You Never Know Who Will Be Touched By Your Influence. You are a witness - good witness, bad witness - people affected. You may never know whose life you will touch - more indirectly than consciously.
Even in your shadow (negative circumstances that are just part of human life) when everything good seems eclipsed people who are near may see your shadow and there is an opportunity for them to be touched by your shadow (your witness in the dark times)-- the things you say and do in the midst of your "shadow moments" can inspire faith in others.
We All Have Our Shadows--When the sun seems to have set low. When it's not the "high noon" - times of life. Sun declining, health declining, age, (when we feel weak, tired or life disappoints), Can't avoid the shadows - they will come.
Will our "shadow" inspire others to faith in God? Will our words in the midst of our heartbreaks or our actions in the midst of our heartbreaks and our attitudes in the midst of our heartbreaks -- be faith inspiring shadows?
Will The Long Shadows Cast By Our Circumstances Inspire Faith And Courage In Others Who Are Wounded And Suffering that we pass on the roadside as we walk with God?
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WHAT WAS IT ABOUT PETER'S SHADOW?
It was commonly believed among some people that one's shadow was attached to oneself -- an extension of self. In Jewish law (their own addition), if one's shadow touched a corpse one was as unclean as one who physically touched the corpse--to be touched by his shadow, to be touched by him directly.
An Indirect touch - inspired faith many times: Remember the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment? Also in Acts 19:12 -- handkerchiefs from Paul were used as an indirect touch.
Many people couldn't get close to touch directly so theywere laid on side of road where Peter's shadow might be cast upon them. Peter was not consciously paying attention to those whose shadow it was falling on -- it was not that his shadow had any virtue but that their faith was reaching for fulfillment. At a minimum, it inspired their faith, which resulted in healing.
The Lesson?
EVEN THE SHADOW YOU CAST CAN INSPIRE FAITH IN OTHERS
You Never Know Who Will Be Touched By Your Influence. You are a witness - good witness, bad witness - people affected. You may never know whose life you will touch - more indirectly than consciously.
Even in your shadow (negative circumstances that are just part of human life) when everything good seems eclipsed people who are near may see your shadow and there is an opportunity for them to be touched by your shadow (your witness in the dark times)-- the things you say and do in the midst of your "shadow moments" can inspire faith in others.
We All Have Our Shadows--When the sun seems to have set low. When it's not the "high noon" - times of life. Sun declining, health declining, age, (when we feel weak, tired or life disappoints), Can't avoid the shadows - they will come.
Will our "shadow" inspire others to faith in God? Will our words in the midst of our heartbreaks or our actions in the midst of our heartbreaks and our attitudes in the midst of our heartbreaks -- be faith inspiring shadows?
Will The Long Shadows Cast By Our Circumstances Inspire Faith And Courage In Others Who Are Wounded And Suffering that we pass on the roadside as we walk with God?
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