Evening, March 11
Go To Morning Reading
“Thou shalt be called, Sought out.”
Isaiah 62:12
The surpassing grace of God is seen very clearly in that we were not
only sought, but sought out . Men seek for a thing which is lost upon the floor of the house, but in such
a case there is only seeking, not seeking out. The loss is more perplexing
and the search more persevering when a thing is sought out . We were mingled with the mire: we were as when some precious piece
of gold 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; we wandered hither and thither, and when
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 should 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
restored us!
The lives of some of God’s people, if they could be written would fill us with holy astonishment.
Strange and marvellous 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 to-morrow. 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, and can only lift up our heart in wonder, and
praise the Lord that this night we wear the name of “ Sought out .”