Do you like going to fancy dinners, banquets, and feasts? Jesus did! He enjoyed the opportunity to meet new people and whet their appetite for the Kingdom of God. The Gospel accounts make it clear that Jesus loved to have others—friends, disciples, new converts, even religious leaders who opposed His ministry—throw parties for Him.

When Jesus invited Matthew to become one of His disciples, Matthew must have been shocked. [Matthew 9:9-13] Yet immediately he gave up his lucrative tax-collecting business and held a huge banquet that evening. The banquet wasn’t in Matthew’s honor—a “retirement” party of sorts. Instead, Matthew somehow knew Jesus wanted to meet his friends. So he invited them over to his home.

The word about Matthew’s party got out to that city’s religious elite, who condemned Jesus. Jesus used their harsh criticisms, however, as an opportunity to demonstrate His love and compassion for the “scum” of the earth.

Like Matthew, you have work associates, friends, neighbors, and relatives who don’t know the Lord yet. Some may be rather shady characters even. But the Lord loves them and wants you to eat with them and find a way to introduce them to the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is Luis Palau.