Devotionals

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Lord, save me!" Matthew 14:30


This is one of the shortest verses in the Bible and yet full of theological truth. Under the circumstances it would have been natural for Peter to address his master as simply Jesus meaning saviour but instead he addresses Jesus as Lord. It wasn't "Jesus, save me!" but "Lord, save me!"

This was Peter's usual way of addressing Jesus Christ and we should take note of this when we address the second person of the Godhead. It's not just Jesus but it's the Lord Jesus.

This passage and many others including Romans 10:9 testify against the idiotic ramblings of those opposers of Lordship salvation who think people can receive Jesus as Lord sometime later in life while professing Him as their saviour now. No such warrant will be found in Scripture that I'm aware.

Salvation doesn't come apart from our acknowledgment that Jesus is first Lord and then a Saviour.

We find that when Peter saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, "Lord, save me"
And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith..."

Notice Peter's cry for help was addressed to Jesus as Lord for this was the foremost thought in Peter's mind. How could anybody but a Lord, a Master, a King help anybody in such a situation? Supposing Peter could swim yet the sea being tumultuous at the time was ready to swallow Peter alive and Peter dare not trust in his own human ability.

Blessed be God that the Lord's arm is not so short that it can not save. (Isaiah 59:1) God doesn't have an arm because He is a Spirit but in this case Jesus Christ was the God-man who came to earth and He did have an arm to save Peter.

The Lord could have simply said rise Peter and do not doubt and Peter would have been walking on the sea once again but the Lord chose to use the body He was given to perform His saving act. Let us also do good with the arms God has given us. We can feed the poor both in body and spirit and so rescue the perishing as the Lord Jesus did. Praise God!

Consider that Peter had walked and talked with Jesus for some length of time and witnessed many miracles and so Peter knew better than others that no mere man could command power over the creation. Only somebody who was in fact Lord or King over the creation could help such a dangerous and desperate situation.

Now I note that this prayer of Peter's was not long winded as some of our prayers tend to be. It was straight to the point. Peter was sinking because he was fearful and the Lord Jesus was nearby and so Peter cried "Lord, save me!"

Another lesson to be learned here is that Peter was lacking in love and faith. He wasn't a perfect man but still full of doubt and unlawful concern or worry which is a sin and should not be part of the Christian's character.

We read in 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

Now we can see why Jesus said in Matt 14:31 "...O thou of LITTLE FAITH, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

Notice Jesus didn't say O thou of no faith or o thou faithless one as though Peter were not really converted at all but rather "O thou of little faith.

Why do any of us doubt? Is anything too hard for the Lord?

When we doubt let us be reminded that we are not yet perfect in love and that our faith is still small and in need of increase.
Pray to this end daily and walk in that faith you now possess if indeed it be from the Lord and if not then pray for the saving faith of Jesus Christ and for the Holy Spirit that you might be made whole and lacking in nothing.






Carlton Pruitt ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member)and junk removal expert he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns and poems and doing street preaching. See his videos on http://www.youtube.com Type LAStreetPreacher in the search bar. CONTACT at [email protected]

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