Superficialness

Superficialness -

Matthew 6:5-7 ESV 

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 

This blog is about superficialness which in this case basically means going through the motions of a spiritual walk. That reminds me of a bad marriage. People falling out of love for whatever reason and putting on a front for other people to see. Bad marriages usually look good on the outside but what's on the inside is a different story. I don't have to be married to know that. The sad truth is, are we not the bride of Christ? Are we not called to be the prime example of a Proverbs 31 woman of virtue? Are we going to be a people who's walk with the Lord is real and prosperous and growing or will it be a superficial relationship?

In the passage, we see that Jesus called people that prayed to look good, hypocrites. I believe that happens a lot in today's generation. Not necessarily with prayer alone. Why do we do things that make us look good or feel more spiritual? Whether it's because of tradition or whatever. We've all heard the story of the guy that asked his wife why she cut of the ends of the roast or whatever she was cooking and she said she didn't know why, it was just how her mom did it. So he asked her mom and she said it exact same thing. A couple of generations more, he went to and asked the original great great great great grand mother (I'm butchering this story, BTW) and the last women in the family line lifted her 735 year old head and said, "Because my pan was too small." Anyway, my point is, sometimes we cling onto traditions and have no idea why. it just seems comfortable to be on familiar ground, to the point where we are violently fighting them. Traditions and beliefs that have no Biblical basis, why fight for that? That's so weird. He also talks about the Gentile's praying with "empty words". Who can quote the prayer most Baptist pray at fellowships over the food? Let me try: "Our Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time we share in fellowship. Now bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies and our bodies to your service. And bless the hands that prepared it. Forgive us of our many sins. We ask these things in your Name, A-Men." I know there's several versions of that prayer but it's all pretty redundant. I can't help but wonder what God thinks about those kinds of prayers. But them again, what do I know, maybe He's just happy you're talking to Him at all. I just feel that our prayers and our relationship with the father could have more depth and meaning. Stop using empty words when you talk to the Lord. Seeping your relationship with Him and talk to Him as if He already knows what's really on your heart, 'cause He does. Let me leave you with this point. Jesus didn't superficially die on the cross. Let's make sure everything we give back to is not superficial, but real.