James 1:22-27
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

This Scripture really resonated this morning because unfortunately it is something that I used to do. I can remember from my undergraduate years, "claiming" to be a Christian yet in my actions and speech I was turning from Christ. I knew the Word, but as far as applying it to my life...I did not. I knew what I was doing was wrong, yet my love for the world was apparently greater than my love and reverence for Christ. I had allowed myself to become polluted by the world. I viewed everything with natural eyes...not spiritual. If I had put on "spiritual lens" I would have seen the traps before me and would have dodged them instead of falling right into them. My religion was worthless. I claimed to be a Christian, yet forgot many of the Scriptures and lived an unholy/impure life. Even people in other religions are devout about their faith in their gods. It is so sad when those who claim to serve the One true God, do not give Him their all. Why do we half step in our faith/belief?
I realized after turning back from my backslidden state that I had forgotten the Word. I started back reading my bible and realized that I had forgotten what I looked like, as stated in the Scripture above. That description fits the characteristic of a fool. How can someone forget what they themselves look like?! Yet, I did because I only heard the word and did not do what it says. I thank God for His many chances and for redeeming me. I would still be miserable without Him had He not been there. He was there the entire time waiting for me to grab on to His hand that was always extended. I am so glad I view it as a relationship with Christ now, and not just merely a religion because He's a loving Father...not a task master.