IN TENDERNESS, HE SOUGHT ME

  W. Spencer Walton (1850-1906) was a missionary and evangelist who worked with the South Africa General Mission in the latter part of the nineteenth century. About 1889 Walton founded The Sailor’s Rest, in the city of Durban, Natal and ministered to the spiritual needs of seaman there. During the Boer War he distributed Bibles to the English soldiers. Walton’s missionary work is known mainly through the books and pamphlets he wrote. He is also credited with writing one hymn, “In Tenderness He Sought Me”, published in 1894.  Although Walton grew up in the church, at the age of 22 he marked February 17 as his “new birthday.” The change is easily seen in his journal where he expressed his regret of 22 years of a “hypocritical and wasted life” of hoping works would save him. Walton wrote, “Conversion without consecration is a death blow to progress. Consecration without faith is destitute of power.” The beauty of the gospel he portrayed in his hymn led him to a life dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus to the world. He knew that we were sought by Christ’s love and bought by his blood in order to share God’s love with others.  While on vacation with his family, Walton’s health plummeted in a span of just a few days. He did not realize he was dying, so his wife felt he must be told of the seriousness of his illness. She recounts his response in her diary. “Well, darling, He knows I’m ready. I’ve been ready for 34 years. Bless His Name!” He spent his remaining days blessing his children and having messages written to his friends and the missionaries he was leaving. He died at the age of 56.  Concerning his beautiful hymn, the first stanza draws upon a parable the Lord Jesus told about a shepherd seeking his lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7). The second stanza echoes the loving actions of the good Samaritan in another parable (Luke. 10:30-37). Walton applied both of these images to Christ and our own personal redemption by Christ. Walton also wrote “He whispered to assure me I’ve found thee, thou art mine”.  Doesn’t it feel good to have someone important to you say nice things to you  – to tell you that you are special?  Christ has sought us and bought us, and then in His gentle, loving way, He tells us that we are His.  What amazing truth!  Finally, I appreciate the truth of the words that Walton has expressed in his chorus, “O the love that sought me!  O the blood that bought me! O the grace that brought me to the fold, wondrous grace that brought me to the fold!” That sums up the astonishing story of the Gospel.