hope for the wicked

St John Chrysostom tells us about the wicked today in A Year with the Church Fathers.

If you read yesterday's blog, you get a huge insight into why God doesn't "snuff out" the wicked in this world. Because most of us (all of us?) find ourselves on the wrong side of that line from time to time in our lives. We are all sinful, aren't we? There is none righteous, no not one.

So we should be glad that God doesn't just wipe out the wicked. Because depending on what day it is (or sometimes even what hour it is), we might find ourselves on the side of the wiped out. Fortunately, God is patient with us. He gives us so many opportunities to change. To repent. To start living the wonderful, joyful life that He created us to live.

So let's remember to extend that same patience to those who haven't learned to turn that corner yet. Those who are still wallowing in their mistakes. Those who just can't let go of the sin that is dragging them down. Let's be patient with them... and pray for them.

God knows we needed that patience and those prayers at one time.

God, thank You for Your patience and Your redemption... without which, we would all be in trouble.