Isn't that notion of God seeking something difficult to grasp? Scripture plainly states that the Father seeks.  What is it that the Father seeks? He seeks true worshippers! Unless I am deceived, all that the Father seeks in this world is true worshippers. 

This Scriptural phrase is found in the 4th chapter of John. A woman is revealed to us at the well of Jacob in Samaria in Sychar. Jesus being alone asked her for a drink of water. This woman was not at all like the virgin Rebekah who let down her pitcher and gave Abraham's servant to drink. This woman at Jacob's well was contentious. She made it clear to Jesus that Jews have no dealings with Samarians. Aren't you glad that Jesus didn't answer saying what communion hath light with darkness? All men born of Adam abide in darkness until the Lord shines in their hearts. Aren't you glad that Jesus didn't say what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? All that are without a work of grace are without faith and without Christ having no hope and without God in the world. That is the condition of all born and left in Adam. 

Jesus asked for a sip drink of water. In return this woman informed Jesus of the way of the world. Our Lord began to speak to this woman about the gift of God. Saying, "If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, Thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water." One cannot and will not ask anything of God unless that one has experienced the gracious gift of God. That doesn't come by knowledge of the way of the world but by being born again of the Spirit.

Jesus went on to say to the woman, Whosoever drinketh of this water (from Jacob's well) shall thirst again: but whosoever that drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up onto everlasting life (v.14).  Such shall never thirst as they used to for the worldly refreshments but they may well hunger and thirst after righteousness.  God will graciously fill them out of His abundance.

 The woman went on to elaborate on ways of worship. She said, "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain, and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Search the Scriptures and see if Jesus ever said that Jerusalem is the place that men ought to worship. Jesus said, the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father: Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth; for the father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth.  

The woman said that she knew that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come He will teach us all things. Jesus said, "I that speak unto thee am He." I believe she being born of the Spirit suddenly knew the gift of God and knew the Truth of the gift of God in Jesus Christ. She left her water pot, and went into the city rejoicing in Christ Jesus.  And many no doubt heard of and believed on Him for the sayings of the woman, but it was later written that now they believe not because of (the woman's) saying: for we have heard Him ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. So it is still. The Son seeks out all the elect and speaks to all His children calling them from death to life. He brings them up out of their horrible pit, out of the miry clay and sets their feet upon a rock and establishes their goings. It is He that puts a new song in their mouth even praise unto our God. But not all the elect shall walk in the way of the true worshippers.

True worshippers walk according to the established goings of the Lord. True worshippers praise honour and glorify their God in obedience. If God didn't seek out His elect and show them how they ought to walk, then there would not be any true worshippers. It is by the grace of God that anyone has a home in the Lord's Church. There wouldn't be one Old Baptist except for the grace of God and Him seeking them and showing them the way the true worshipper. 9/21/2005 Elder M. Hoogasian