NYTimes likeness to teaching by Jesus

I just finished reading browsing this [url='http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/world/africa/18egypt.html?_r=1&oref=slogin']NYTimes article[/url] and I couldn't help but thinking about how similar it is to a certain one of Jesus' teachings aimed at the Pharisees.

Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Jesus had it right 2000 years ago. No world religion has done anything different since then.

More:

Matt 23:5-7
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

Hmmm...Raisen marks the spot,huh? well, You don't make wine with raisens ..they are already dry and shriveled...nutritionally speaking they are rich in iron, but not very comparable with fresh grapes..no juice.

We people are funny, huh? It's a sad sort of laughter though..so childish and immature. Jesus wants us childlike, not childish,if you understand the difference.

I felt convicted about being too vocal about my penchant for prayer.Simply because my prayer life is robust and bursting,does not mean I am to flaunt it.I am trusting God to give me a way to call His people into the prayer closet to meet with Him there,without pointing to myself...I believe I do this unwittingly.I surrender this up for you to cleanse and purify..O God.

Thanks for the post,very helpful.

I was listening to the radio interview,yesterday, of brother Gerhart(?) from So.Africa talk to New Zealanders about his prayer life and how it came to be.My heart quickened..this is just like what I've been taught by the Lord! then it saddened me that I should still need so much encouragement from man to validate my personal experience in Christ..How He has taught me to walk and talk with Him..it showed me how much I have suffered for believing Him at such a high cost in terms of acceptance.It showed me that I was still wounded and needed more healing here...also reminded me that when we are wounded we get out of balance..become weakened in that area which is sensitve to the touch...sometimes if someone gets too close and we think they may bump us in this painful place we kneejerk away,overreacting a bit in order to protect ourselves.We often overcompensate in another area where we feel we are strong,forgetting that where we are weak He is strong and that His love is perfected in weakness.

Heal, us Lord Jesus from the wounds we still bear. Hold us steady,trusting you for our protection in all that concerns us.

OOPS! was that not ok to pray spontaneously like that in public? Ahh,dear me.
I surrender. :lol: