March 11 | Evening

12. The surpassing grace of God is seen very clearly and that we were not only

but sought out. Men seek for a thing that is lost upon the floor of the house,

but in such a case there was 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 Maya.

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 maze. We

wandered here and there, 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. If 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 romanks. Glory be to uncunkable grace. We were sought out.

No darkness 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.

If the lives of some of God's people could be written, they would fill us with holy astonishment.

Strange and marvellous are the ways that God used in their case to find his own.

Blessed be his name. He never relinquishes the search until the chosen are sought out

effectively. They are not a people sought today and cast away tomorrow. All mightiness 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 we can only lift up our heart in wonder and praise the Lord

that this night we were the name of sought out.

This has been morning and evening a production of Crossway.