Treasures in the Mud: The Grace of Being Searched

The surpassing grace of God is seen very clearly in that we were not only sought, but we were also sought out. People seek for something that 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 something is sought out.

Blessed be His name! He never gives up the search until the chosen are sought out successfully. They are not people sought today and cast away tomorrow.

Blessed be His name! He never gives up the search until the chosen are sought out successfully. They are not people sought today and cast away tomorrow.


Treasures in the Mud: The Grace of Being Searched | Devotional by Charles H. Spurgeon

You will be called, “Sought out.” (Isaiah 62:12)

The surpassing grace of God is seen very clearly in that we were not only sought, but we were also sought out. People seek for something that 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 something is sought out.

We were mingled with the mire. We were as when some precious jewel falls into the sewer, and people gather outside and carefully inspect a clump of abominable filth, and continue to stir and rake and search among the filth until the treasure is found. Or, to use another example, 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 as soon as it showed up, but had to search for us and seek us out. As lost sheep, we were so desperately lost and had wandered into such an unfamiliar country that it did not seem possible that even the Good Shepherd could track our errant wanderings.


Glory be to unconquerable grace – we were sought out! No gloom could hide us, and 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 were written down, would fill us with holy astonishment.

Strange and marvelous are the ways God used to find them. Blessed be His name! He never gives up the search until the chosen are sought out successfully. They are not people sought today and cast away tomorrow. Almightiness and wisdom combined will make no failures; they shall be called Sought out.

It is matchless grace that any should be sought out, but that we should be sought out is grace beyond degree! We can find no reason for it except God’s own sovereign love, and it can only lift up our heart in wonder, and praise the Lord that this very night we wear the name of Sought out.

Image of Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was an English Baptist pastor. He is still known to people as the Prince of Preachers. Charles Spurgeon throughout his life evangelized about 10 million people and often preached 10 times a week in different places.