Day 8: Disney and Prayer

When I was eight my family traveled to Disney World for vacation. Of all the entertainment and venues Disney World had to offer, I was most excited to see Cinderella’s castle. I had seen the castle on TV and in pictures and could just see myself wondering and exploring the inner sanctums of the castle, exploring the dungeon, wondering the halls where knights that had gone before, going to the King’s chamber and see where the King and his close advisers discussed upcoming battles, and finally, climbing to the top of the turrets to overlook the whole Magic Kingdom (I was eight, go with me). When we arrived at Disney World and I finally got a glimpse of the castle, it was larger and more astonishing that I had imagined. I quickly ran over the bridge and through the enormous wooden medieval doors. However, when I got inside, I sadly discovered it was all a facade. Not in the literal sense, however, but from my imagination, it simply didn’t measure up. Instead of a dungeon, there was a small trinket store where you could buy overpriced Disney memorabilia. It was breathtaking and impressive on the outside, but it was principally for show, not for living or exploring.

Jesus noted in the Sermon on the Mount for us not to 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" (Matthew 6:5). In Mark 12:38-40, Jesus said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” These men prayed as loving and godly men on the outside; however, they were just like Cinderella’s castle- simply a show.

Similarly, Jesus also reminded the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27-28 that they were like whitewashed tombs- beautiful on the outside but full of death on the inside. Instead, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:6-7, “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."

As an example, the Bible tells us that when Jesus prayed, he prayed in private (Luke 6:12-13 and Mark 14:32-42). As He does many times, Jesus reminds us that it is the man’s heart that matters. God knows our sincerity and our motives. Our Father wants to know our thoughts and our concerns, not what others think of our eloquent speech. Some of the most sincere prayers I have ever heard have come from children with no motive but to tell God what is on their heart.

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant, and they said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise'?" (Matthew 21:15-16)

Written by Jason Haley, a deacon at Mt. Juliet

# posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Sunday, November 21, 2010

Comments:

Hey just read the blog! Way to go!

Scott

(note the time)

# posted by

scott : November 21, 2010 at 4:26 PM



Day 8: Disney and Prayer When I was eight my family traveled to Disney World for vacation. Of all the entertainment and venues Disney World had to offer, I was most excited to see Cinderella’s castle. I had seen the castle on TV and in pictures and could just see myself wondering and exploring the inner sanctums of the castle, exploring the dungeon, wondering the halls where knights that had gone before, going to the King’s chamber and see where the King and his close advisers discussed upcoming battles, and finally, climbing to the top of the turrets to overlook the whole Magic Kingdom (I was eight, go with me). When we arrived at Disney World and I finally got a glimpse of the castle, it was larger and more astonishing that I had imagined. I quickly ran over the bridge and through the enormous wooden medieval doors. However, when I got inside, I sadly discovered it was all a facade. Not in the literal sense, however, but from my imagination, it simply didn’t measure up. Instead of a dungeon, there was a small trinket store where you could buy overpriced Disney memorabilia. It was breathtaking and impressive on the outside, but it was principally for show, not for living or exploring. Jesus noted in the Sermon on the Mount for us not to 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" (Matthew 6:5). In Mark 12:38-40, Jesus said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” These men prayed as loving and godly men on the outside; however, they were just like Cinderella’s castle- simply a show. Similarly, Jesus also reminded the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27-28 that they were like whitewashed tombs- beautiful on the outside but full of death on the inside. Instead, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:6-7, “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." As an example, the Bible tells us that when Jesus prayed, he prayed in private (Luke 6:12-13 and Mark 14:32-42). As He does many times, Jesus reminds us that it is the man’s heart that matters. God knows our sincerity and our motives. Our Father wants to know our thoughts and our concerns, not what others think of our eloquent speech. Some of the most sincere prayers I have ever heard have come from children with no motive but to tell God what is on their heart. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant, and they said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise'?" (Matthew 21:15-16) Written by Jason Haley, a deacon at Mt. Juliet # posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Sunday, November 21, 2010 Comments: Hey just read the blog! Way to go! Scott (note the time) # posted by scott : November 21, 2010 at 4:26 PM Post a Comment << Home	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM Past Archives: November 2010 December 2010

Day 8: Disney and Prayer

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