SCRIPTURE
Jonah 4:11
But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

OBSERVATION
God was concerned about Nineveh. Why? They were not part of Israel and they did not follow God's ways. At first it seems strange that God would send a prophet to them when they are so far from the focus of the Old Testament. And yet, God says, He is concerned because of the souls that are there -- He even says that He is concerned about the cattle.

Sometimes the picture of God that we are stuck with is a picture of a judging, angry God. And yet here we see that God's first response to Nineveh is to give it a second chance! I am reminded of the New Testament when Jesus speaks about the one lost sheep in Matthew 18. He is more concerned about the lost then He is about the found!

APPLICATION
My heart needs to be softened to be like God's heart. I walk around judging people and assuming the worst. He walks around figuring out ways to SAVE people! Mercy and compassion must characterize my life, not just be fancy ideas.

PRAYER
Lord, give me your eyes and your heart for the lost of the world. Your compassion is great, help me to be someone who shares that compassion and pursues the one lost with great energy. Amen.