A note to some former associates

Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping. The LORD has heard my supplication; The LORD will receive my prayer.  Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled.  Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.  Psalm 6:8-10

A prayer to open this dismissive missive is appropriate.

Thank you, Father, who orders all His creatures and all their actions to the glory of His Name,

first, for the last three years under Your chastisement, moving me toward being conformed to the image of Your dear Son, and

second, for what I see as the continual work of Your grace in my life in them, and

finally, for how You have led me to see the pricks of chastisement as the marks of adoption which they truly are. 

I beg You now, Gracious Father, to show the greatness of Your mercy toward the ‘Cyruses’ of this recent darkness as You have with me and mine according to Your patient kindness and love shown me in my Lord, Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

And so, with these short remarks, I say, farewell.

These past few weeks have seen the Hand of the Lord grant a relieving severance.  This transfer out of one place to another is a much welcome deliverance.  In this case at least, the deliverance is only secondarily from further exposure to those who lack compunction, and are even now unaware of their souls’ peril.  The primary deliverance has been from those who continue to foment the shenanigans of others through inaction, laziness, and indifference.  I see you’re finally noticing that bulge under rug which has long since shown itself.

The Lord has turned my tears to rejoicing in His continuing to grant to me current and new labors of joy alongside true ministers and elders of Christ, by His grace.  After the inscrutable and toxic asininity I have experienced, it has been refreshing and gratifying to be associated finally with truly repentant sinners –  godly people who shepherd and serve in their congregations together with serious competence, courage, humility, openness, and love.  It has been a welcome change.

I leave my former association with mixed affections.  Those folks I will miss already know that they are/will be missed because I have long since told them so.  As to the rest I have not so informed — well, you can surmise.  I do pray for all those (missed and not-missed) and readily admit (quoting J.R.R.Tolkien’s Bilbo Baggins): ‘I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.’ 

I pray to our Heavenly Father concerning both the souls of those folks I miss and those I don’t miss.  To the not-missed: I only ask the same from you, that is, if you do pray at all; I am thankful that my exposure to the earth versions of you (in this world) will be much more seldom.  Truly, I do look forward to the time when the heaven versions of us all will enjoy unimpeded fellowship; and with all due respect and humility, until then, kindly keep your not-missed earth versions out of my private circle.

My recent and new labors and associations have been the cause of my constant and present awareness our Lord’s divine and irresistible work plainly showing forth in every thing. It is even now redounding to His glory, despite the machinations and languishing of others from whom this merciful severance has been granted.  In all ways, truly, our Heavenly Father has fulfilled and confirmed His grace in Christ to me to the glory and praise of our Savior and King, Jesus Christ.  May all praise be to the Lord.