URGENT MISSION: Reach Lost From Neighborhood to Nations
FOCUS TEXT: Jonah 4:10-11
This past Sunday, we concluded our series “Relentless Grace: Jonah’s Story and God’s Mercy” by examining Jonah 4:10-11. These last two verses bring into sharp focus God’s heart for the lost and the urgent call for us to join Him in His mission to reach those far from Him. As we reflect on Jonah’s story, we see that it is not just about a rebellious prophet but about our own response to God’s grace and the urgency of reaching the lost.
We Must Not Care More About Fleeting Things Than the Salvation of Lost Sinners
In Jonah 4:10, God says to Jonah, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night.” Jonah’s attachment to the plant—something temporary and insignificant in the grand scheme of eternity—exposes his misplaced priorities. He cared more about his own comfort than the salvation of thousands of people in Nineveh.
How often do we fall into the same trap? We pour our energy, time, and resources into things that give us comfort or satisfaction, while neglecting the souls around us who are lost. God’s words to Jonah challenge us to examine our own hearts. Are we more invested in temporal things than in the eternal salvation of those who don’t know Christ?
God Loves the Nations and Calls Us to Join Him in Reaching Them
In Jonah 4:11, God asks Jonah, “Should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” God’s heart is for the nations—for people who are far from Him and living in spiritual darkness. In His mercy, He cares for those who don’t yet know Him, and He calls us to do the same.
Do we share God’s heart for the lost? Are we burdened for the billions of people around the world who are spiritually blind, living without hope in Christ? God’s mission to reach the nations is not just for missionaries overseas—it’s for every believer, right where we are. There are people in our own community who have never heard the name of Jesus, and many of them come from unreached people groups. Will we step out of our comfort zones and join God in His mission to reach them?
As we conclude our series on Jonah, reflect on the Great Commission’s call to “make disciples of all nations.” Ask God to break your heart for the lost in both your neighborhood and around the world. How can you begin to engage with God’s global mission right now—whether through prayer, support, or sharing the Gospel with someone in your community?
QUESTION TO CONSIDER:
What “plants” have taken priority in your life over God’s mission to reach the lost?
How is God calling you to join Him in His mission, both locally and globally?
Are there specific steps you can take this week to prioritize reaching the lost?
PRAYER RESPONSE: “Father, thank You for Your relentless grace and mercy. Help us to shift our focus from fleeting comforts to the eternal mission You’ve called us to. Break our hearts for the lost and give us the courage to join You in reaching them with the hope of the Gospel. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
MEMORY VERSE: Jonah 4:11 — “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”
