In this sermon by Basil E. Shlink, he discusses the longing of a person to draw closer to the Lord and know Him intimately. The treasurer of Ethiopia embarked on a long journey to Jerusalem in order to achieve this relationship, showing his willingness to pay a great cost. Shlink encourages listeners to reflect on what they have sacrificed to know God better and emphasizes the worthiness of this pursuit. He contrasts this with other religions where people go to great lengths to earn God's grace through their own efforts. Shlink concludes by urging listeners to embrace the grace of God through Jesus' sacrifice and to respond with love and gratitude.

God lives and works today, and His greatest deed is that He sets us free from the burden of guilt in our lives. Guilt that makes us unhappy and discouraged. Listen to the following program by Basilia Schlink. In the eighth chapter of Acts, we read about a person whose heart was filled with one longing, to draw closer to the Lord. He longed to know Him, to come into a close relationship with Him. He longed to find the heart of God. This person, the treasurer of Ethiopia, put all his effort into achieving this relationship. He started out on the long journey from Ethiopia to Jerusalem. At that time, a very long journey. Even today, a trip by car from Ethiopia to Jerusalem is a major undertaking. But this treasurer was willing to let the trip cost him something, and a great deal at that. One really has to ask himself, what have I let it cost me to get to know God better, to draw nearer to His heart? Is there a longing in our hearts to know more about Him? We know that in other religions, people sometimes walk a hundred or even a thousand miles in an attempt to come nearer to God. They do it for weeks, even months on end. And why? They think that by doing so, God will be gracious to them. These people have an awareness of their sins, and that's why they do such things, for they say, so to speak, my sin is so great, I must do that which will cost something in my life, so that I can receive God's grace. We can only say how fortunate we are that we may know about the grace of God in our Lord Jesus. However, when God wants to make our inner nature beautiful, when He chastens us a little, or when it begins to cost our ego something, why do we complain so quickly, protesting loudly and rebelling? Isn't it worth it? Grace can be ours. And when God gives us this grace through Jesus' sacrifice, then we can only respond as the Ethiopian treasurer must have responded, by loving Jesus as the Lamb of God who has brought us grace. O Jesus, Lamb of God most fair, my bridegroom, Lord and friend most dear, the heart of love I offer to treasure joy your love will supply, the heavenly kingdom is brought nigh, my thankful heart I give you, my thankful heart I give you. Who is like you, my dearest one, forever will you be adored by me beyond all other, to treasure joy your love will supply, the heavenly kingdom is brought nigh, my thankful heart I give you, my thankful heart I give you. Phoenix, Arizona 85028-4099 That's God Lives and Works Today 9849 North 40th Street Phoenix, Arizona 85028-4099 God bless you.