My friend and I were playing on the merry go round at the park the other day. I noticed that when we sat close to the center, it was a slow ride. Then he started creeping out to the edge and it started to spin faster and faster. Next thing you know, he was flying off the edge into the grass. He got a huge hole in his britches. The merry go round is a lot like my relationship with God. When I spend time centered on God, listening to the Word, forgiving those that upset me, helping those that need my help, things are slow and a lot of fun. But when I move away from the center, things can get out of control. The good thing is when I fly off and end up in a free fall, I can cry out and God is right there to catch me.
This story is based on James 1:19-27
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 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. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 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.
NIV: New International Version
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