How “glory Face” Got His Name

Psalm 145:1-7

A psalm of praise of David.

1I will praise you, my God and King,

and bless your name forever and ever.

2I will bless you every day,

and I will praise you forever.

3Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!

His greatness is beyond discovery!

4Let each generation tell its children

of your mighty acts.

5I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor

and your wonderful miracles.

6Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;

I will proclaim your greatness.

7Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;

they will sing with joy of your righteousness.

The Chinese called him Mr. Glory Face. Since his given name was Archibald Orr-Ewing, you can’t blame the Chinese for finding a nickname. But how Archibald became Mr. Glory Face is an interesting story.

He came from a wealthy Scottish family that had one castle in Scotland and another on the Isle of Wight, which they occupied during the yachting season. When Archibald turned twenty-one, an uncle offered him a partnership in the family business. But Archibald wasn’t Glory Face yet.

Trusting Christ through the ministry of evangelist Dwight L. Moody, Archibald went to China as a missionary. He walked sixty miles a day to preach the gospel. (After his marriage, his wife talked him into cutting his treks back to fifty miles a day!) And he did this in spite of very difficult circumstances. He lived a spartan life and gave what money he had to build buildings for the China Inland Mission.

So when the Chinese called him Mr. Glory Face, it wasn’t simply because they couldn’t pronounce his name. The joy of this psalm was exemplified in his life. He felt that if he spent time meditating on the Lord’s glorious splendor (145:5), some of that glorious splendor should spill off onto him. And it did.

Has any of that glorious splendor spilled off onto you yet? Would anyone ever think of nicknaming you “Glory Face”?

Our souls, we know, when He appears,

Shall bear His image bright;

For all His glory full disclosed

Shall open to our sight.

ISAAC WATTS

Fascinating Fact

Jewish rabbis taught that if you pray this psalm from the heart three times a day, you will prepare yourself for the world to come.

Notable Quotable

“These qualities of God’s character and deeds should not merely be talked about and extolled in song but be deeply pondered and laid close upon our heart, so that the impression may be wrought into our very soul and may mold our whole spirit and character into God’s own image.”

HENRY COWLES

Thought to Ponder

Too many witnesses of God’s goodness are silent witnesses.