Luke 5

"Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man!" Peter proclaimed when he realized Jesus' power and holiness vs. his own lack of faith.

I imagine Peter yelling it with tears in his eyes and anger on his face as he turned to face the other direction--much like my exterior when I try and push someone who loves me away.

But Jesus didn't get defensive.  And He didn't give up on Peter either.  He was determined to make Peter one of His disciples and He responded immediately with, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people."

Whoa.

When Peter realized his unworthiness of this call on his life, he tried to run from Jesus.  But Jesus gently pursued him.  Peter's "GET AWAY" probably came off as angry and rebellious, yet Jesus was able to instantly recognize the deeper emotion at play:  Fear.  Fear trips up many of us who are called into this discipleship.  It gets in the way of any of us who are trying to do the Lord's work.  Fear of our own inabilities.  Fear of the spiritual attacks we'll encounter.  Fear of the hardness of our own hearts when we realize how frequently we don't believe God's promises.

But we have nothing to be afraid of because we are signing up for Jesus' team.  He's got it.  He's got us.

Peter tried to run, so Jesus called out this inner emotion in order to break it..  He then spoke Peter's calling over his life:  That he would be a fisher of men.

When we try to run from our callings out of fear, Jesus casts out that anxiety and still expects us to follow Him.  To give up everything and follow Him.  Our families.  Our homes.  Our careers.  Our own expectations for our lives.  We must lay them all at the altar.

Jesus doesn't let us push Him away like we so easily do to the people around us.  He loves us.  And pursues us.  And forgives us.

Even in the midst of us recognizing that we are sinful.