On this final day of The Fast, we look at two changes you can make that will help you to experience greater at.one.ment with God, with others and within the Body.

The first change is advocated both by Jesus and by the apostle Paul.

In Matthew 18:15-18, Jesus prescribes a simple process to make amends with anyone who has sinned against you. (You may wish to read the DWOD from March 23 as a refresher)

1. Meet with them in person. If that doesn’t work,
2. Take one or two with you. Still not resolved?
3. Tell it to the whole church. Did not bring about change? If not,
4. Have nothing to do with them.

Paul applies this specifically to divisive people within the Body: After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions, since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned. (Titus 3:10-11)

Notice how both processes end with a warning to dissociate from those who continue to cause rips in the fabric of unity within the Body.

Yesterday, we heard the admonition to stop sowing judgment ourselves. This word takes it one step further. In addition to stopping the behaviour yourself, stop associating with those who continue to sow those seeds.

This may be as simple as changing the topic when divisive comments are made in a conversation rather than encourage further sowing. It could be as drastic as choosing not to spend time with the persistent perpetrator of judgment. Sorry to say this could result in refraining from coffee and meals with some, resigning from a group/committee or removing someone from your present friendship circle.

Yes, it sounds harsh…but, after exhausting all attempts at correction, you may be left with no other choice but to cut some out. Your friends/family may not approve, but, take heart, Jesus does!

The second change is stated by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:29: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

When our churches went through The 4 C’s Fast, we discovered that it was not just enough to refrain from something negative, it was also necessary to replace it with something positive.

So, we trained ourselves to praise rather than criticize, to forgive than condemn, to give thanks when tempted to complain and compliment when we wanted to compare.

The litmus test is very simple. Does it edify, build up another? If yes, we let it out of our mouths. If it does not edify, we edit it. If it will tear someone down, we re-frame and re-phrase it so that it builds them up instead.

This replacement therapy works wonders! Sulojana and I have almost made a game out of it.

Let’s say that we are driving along and I start to say something that is not edifying of another. In the early days of practising this, she would pipe up: “4 C’s!” That’s all it would take for me to stop mid-sentence and turn it around.

These days, praise God, I catch myself just about every time and promptly apply a gentle slap on my mouth with one hand. That serves to “give my head a shake” and moves me from tearing down to building up in a big hurry!

Please note I am not advocating self-flagellation here, but, editing 4 C’s out of my speech is the single most important change that has helped me grow in my Christian walk over the past two years. Not surprisingly, there has also been a noticeable change in the way God has been using me in ministry.

Could it be because I do not “grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Ephesians 4:30) with my speech as much as before?

In any event, dear friend, as we conclude this journey, would you also cut out and add on, as prescribed by Jesus and Paul?

May we all continue to experience greater at.one.ment with God, with one another and within the Body all the days of our lives.