This passage should surprise us.  First, Simon Peter caught a shoal of fish but describes himself as a 'sinful man': then Jesus is kind to the self-confessed sinner and makes him the first disciple!  What is going on?  Well, Simon Peter did not really believe any fish would be caught.  He protested to Jesus and then put out his nets to demonstrate that Jesus did not know what He was talking about (Luke 5:4-5).  In fact, it was Peter who was out of order. That was proved when so many fish came aboard the two boats that they were in danger of being swamped by the waves (Luke 5:6-7).  

Peter's conscience was now working overtime.  He had not believed in Jesus.  Although he accepted the authority of the Master and obediently let down the nets, he did not believe that anything would happen.  When two boats were full to the brim of fish that came into his net, the fisherman realised that Jesus was right, and he was wrong.  That is the basis on which sin is charted.  Sin is rebelling against Jesus in deed, word or thought: and Peter knew that his thoughts were not worthy of the Lord and Peter was frightened by Jesus’ awesome power and begged Him to go away.

So why should Jesus want to take him on as a disciple?  Surely the Christ would not choose sinners?  Well, He does - at least sinners who admit it (and implicitly ask for mercy).  Of course, everybody is a sinner, but all those who confess their mess will find pardon (1 John 1:9).  Jesus not only accepted Peter's admission of failure, but He also selected him for Divine service as a disciple (John 15:16).  Interestingly, only those who believe in Jesus will admit they are not right, but they are made right; those who think they are right, are excluded from an eternity with Jesus (John 3:16-18).

Many think that Christians have got everything right.  No!  In fact, you cannot become a Christian unless you admit that even your best efforts are rubbish (Philippians 3:7-8).  Christ does not seek clever people with amazing ability: He wants self-confessed sinners who make themselves available to His grace and mercy (Ephesians 2:8-9).  None of us can ever be good enough for God, but those who admit their sin and believe in Jesus will be saved (Romans 10:9-10).  Perhaps this truth is not well understood by your friends and colleagues.  Maybe they even think you are so much better than them and that they could never earn God's favour.  If so, they need the truth.  You are no better than them: the only difference is that you have taken your sin to the cross of Christ and you have been forgiven (Luke 24:45-47).  But that can be true for them too.  So, do not leave them in the dark!  Tell them that Jesus welcomes confessing sinners, broken people, failures and outcasts.  But they will need your encouragement to come to Jesus, because they may believe they will be rejected – instead, they will be welcomed!