"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!"
Peter almost ended his relationship with Jesus before it got off the ground.
He listened to Jesus' teachings for a short time, and then Jesus caused Peter's fishing net to overflow with fish after being lowered into waters where the experienced fisherman knew there were no fish to be had.
A miracle.
And then?
Overwhelmed with the sense of his own sinfulness, Peter wanted to put distance between himself and the Son of God.
It's almost as if Peter, anticipating God's rejection, decided to beat Him to the punch.
Preachers and evangelists are always saying "People have to hear the bad news before they're ready for the good news".
By this they mean "I need to convince unbelievers they are God-haters, incapable of good, and unworthy of God's love."
Worthy, in fact, only of death and hell.
(I can't imagine a better foundation for a close, lifelong relationship with God!)
What if the thing people really need convincing of is that God has not rejected them?
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