May 13

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew 6:  5  - 8

 5"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 men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But 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. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him

 NOTE:  “Hypocrites”

This Greek word comes from the theater describing the character who wore a mask.  In this passage it is referring to those who pray for credit are like those who are wearing a mask and playing a role for entertainment and show.  Not revealing the true self.

 FOR ME

Prayer is that opportunity where the true self is reveal.  It is almost an unveiling of who we are, no more masks.  This is as good and this is as bad as it gets.  It is in prayer that we reveal to God the inner most of who we are.  It is God’s grace that allows this unveiling, this looking behind the mask, or dropping the mask.  In every day life, there are those who walk around the stage of life, wearing their mask.

 THOUGHT TO PONDER

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts…

“As You Like It” Jaques (Act II, Scene VII, lines 139-166)