Cry Out to the Lord Who Saves

15 October 2026

How can a holy God rescue someone who has rebelled against Him? Jonah ran from the Lord and brought disaster upon himself. He deserved the consequences of his disobedience. Yet God heard his cry and rescued him from the depths. Mark Penrith reminds us that “the Lord saves rebels like you.” That is good news for anyone who knows the weight of their sin. You do not need to pretend that you have everything together. You need to recognise your need and turn to the Lord who saves.

Jonah prayed, “I called to the LORD in my distress, and he answered me” (Jonah 2:2, CSB). Later, he declared, “Then you raised my life from the Pit, LORD my God!” (Jonah 2:6, CSB). Jonah could not climb out of the depths. The Lord had to rescue him. But how can God forgive guilty sinners and still remain holy? Mark points us towards the answer in Christ: “Christ went down for that very sin, so cry out with confidence.” Jesus did not suffer because of His own rebellion. He willingly bore the judgment our sins deserve. He died and rose again so that sinners could be forgiven and brought to God.

Romans 10:13 promises, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (CSB). This does not mean our prayers earn salvation. Nor does it mean we must clean up our lives before we come to Jesus. We come because we need a Saviour. Mark puts it plainly: “Salvation, rescue, deliverance belongs to the Lord. Not to the strong. Not to the clever. Not to the one who deserved it. To the Lord.” If you have never trusted in Christ, turn from your sin and call upon Him today. If you are already a Christian, remember that your acceptance before God rests on Jesus’ finished work, not on how well you have performed this week.

This truth matters in our homes too. When your child does something wrong, teach them to admit it and say sorry. But help them understand that an apology cannot remove our guilt before God. We need Jesus to forgive us and make us right with Him. Our children need to see that Dad needs grace just as much as they do. Mark warns us, “Fear makes bold promises. Comfort forgets them.” Our hope must rest on Christ, not on promises to do better. So ask yourself today: are you relying on your own goodness or the finished work of Jesus Christ?

Lord, thank You that salvation belongs to You. Forgive us for trusting our own goodness. Help us to call upon Christ and rest in His finished work. Teach us to point our families to the grace we need every day. As Mark reminds us, “He bore my abandonment. He is risen.” May that truth strengthen our faith today. Amen.

Read the sermon notes here.

Watch the sermon here.

This devotional content is not penned by the preacher. It is derived from the sermon notes. We aim to provide bite-sized reflections throughout the week for devotion and reflection.