September 30, 2024 Daily Devotion

The Purpose of Life…

for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more.

Matthew 19:29

At a recent Each Day is a New Beginning prison ministry, my brother in Christ, Bill and I enjoyed our “holy hour” at the county jail. Bill shared with the men that the purpose of life is to know God, love God, and to serve God. Bill discussed the Old Testament reading from Ezekiel 28: 1-10 and the Gospel reading from Mathew 19:23-30.

In Ezekiel, the prophet warns the Israelites of impending doom, punishment and exile as their hearts have grown haughty from their riches. Foreigners from the most barbarous of nations will draw their swords against them. In the gospel, Jesus reminds us that it will be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God. In his kingdom, whatever we give up in order to follow him is promised back to us “a hundred times more” with the greatest reward of all: ETERNAL LIFE in heavenly glory.