Once upon a time there was a town cat who was such an effective hunter, that he had captured and eaten all the mice in his town. So he ventured out into the fields, where he hunted for mice and rats and lizards. After some time the field mice, who prided themselves on being smarter than their city cousins, were able to avoid the cat.
Undeterred the town cat came up with a clever ruse. It stayed away from its usual haunts for a few weeks, then returned, carrying a prayer book and bible and with a large wooden cross hanging around its neck. The cat then lay down before one of the mouse holes and pretended to sleep, purring loudly.
One of the mice started out of the hole, saw the cat and promptly ran back inside. "Why do you run away?" cried the cat. "Is that any way to treat an old friend who has just returned from a religious pilgrimage? Come and visit me. You've nothing to be afraid of."
Surprised that the cat was friendly, the mouse moved back to the mouth of the mouse hole. "You're the mortal enemy of my species" answered the mouse. "Why should I come visit you? Surely, as soon as I step foot out of my mouse-hole you will pounce upon me and eat me."
"Yes" said the cat sadly, "It is true I have been guilty of terrible deeds against your species. But I have changed. Do you not see my bible and my prayer book and my crucifix? I once hunted, but now I am dedicated to prayer and meditation and learning the wisdom of the holy Scriptures. Go, my generous and forgiving friend, make my change of life and sentiments known to the rest of your people and bid them no longer shun my society. Whilst you are absent I shall resume my prayers. Purr, purr, purr."
Surprised by the news he had just heard, the mouse made it known to the rest of the tribe. Of course, no one believed it...at first. incredulous. But as each one peeped from the mouth of its hole and saw the whiskered ascetic - purr purr purr - meditating upon the holy Scriptures they thought that there might be some truth in the matter, and called a meeting of mice and rats to discuss it.
After much debate it was decided they would carefully test the reality of the cat's conversion. A large and experienced rat was sent out to inspect. The cat did not attack but allowed the rat to prowl unmolested for a long time in the hope that other rats and mice would come out, making its prey easy and plentiful. But no others came, and its hunger got the better of it.
The rat, however, was on the alert and ran off the instant he noticed movement of the cat's muscles.
"Why do you go away?" mewed the cat. "Are you tired of hearing me repeat scripture?"
"Neither," answered the rat as he peeped from the hole in which he sheltered. "I am convinced that, however much you may have learnt by rote, you have neither unlearnt nor rejected your habits of pouncing upon us."
Application 1: Bible, discipleship, obedience, application. There is a big difference between knowing Scripture and doing it, a distinction the rat recognised.
Application 2: conversion, hypocrisy, repentance, change, sanctification. Repentance is more than belief. It is a change of heart and habit.
Application 3: James 2.22-25
Source: Based on a Palestinian folk tale.