PRAY right...!!

Let’s read Matthew 6: 5, 6

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you”.

A simple synonym for the word “hypocrite” is “actor”. The man who acts like “super-man” isn’t a “super-man” in reality. He only acts. Similarly, “hypocrites” are those who talk/act like someone they are not. They only “behave” in a certain way for others to appraise and approve them. An actor gets paid and recognised only because he/she “acted” and not because they “lived” the character out. 

For example, imagine yourself acting in a movie as a great philanthropist who dedicates his whole life for the welfare and protection of the poor. You may even receive an Oscar for your excellent “acting”. But do you expect to receive a Nobel peace prize for all the great things you did in the movie?? Absolutely NOT.

Prayer is one of the many “behaviours” of a Christian. It is very important to have the right “behaviour” or “conduct”, especially in PRAYER. 

If you speak to your earthly father only in front of others and never in private, then there’s something wrong with your relationship with him. The same applies to your heavenly Father. Do you only pray in public? Do you not talk to Him (pray) in private? Then you are nothing but a “Hypocritical Christian – one who just acts as a Christian but is not really one”..!

Pray to be heard and not to prove a point..!!