Sought Out!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; and you will be called Sought Out!" Isaiah 62:12

The surpassing grace of God is seen very clearly in seeking out His elect people. We were mingled with the mire-we were as when some precious jewel falls into the sewer, and men gather out and carefully inspect a mass of abominable filth, and continue to stir and rake and search among the heap until the treasure is found.

Or, to use another figure, we were lost in a labyrinth and we wandered hither and thither. When sovereign mercy came after us with the gospel, it did not find us at the first coming-it had to search for us and seek us out. For we as lost sheep were so desperately lost, and had wandered into such a strange country, that it did not seem possible that even the Good Shepherd could track our devious roamings.

Glory be to unconquerable grace-we were sought out! No gloom could hide us, no filthiness could conceal us-we were found and brought home! Glory be to infinite love-God the Holy Spirit sought us and saved us!

The lives of some of God's people, if they could be written-would fill us with holy astonishment. Strange and marvelous are the ways which God used in their case, to find His own. Blessed be His name-He never relinquishes the search, until the chosen are sought out effectually.

They are not a people sought today and cast away tomorrow. Almightiness and wisdom combined, will make no failures-they shall be called, "Sought out!"

That any should be sought out is matchless grace, but that we should be sought out is grace beyond degree! We can find no reason for it-but God's own sovereign love! We can only lift up our heart in amazement, and praise the Lord that we wear the name of "Sought Out!"