Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, vol. 3

December 1888

“‘Thine Is the Glory’,” Bible Echo and Signs of the Times 3, 12.

E. J. Waggoner

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19. BEST December 1888, page 185.1

A finer passage cannot be found in any book in the world. It would seem as though Inspiration itself could not use human language to furnish a more magnificent climax. Paul prays for the same thing that we ought to pray for, namely, that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith, and that so we may be filled with all the fullness of God; and this is nothing less than that we should be able to resist all evil, and to keep it out of our hearts. But how can we do this, seeing we are weak? Why, God will strengthen us with might by his Spirit. But how much might will he give us by his Spirit? “According to the riches of his glory.” And so when the Christian approaches the throne of grace, that he may find grace to help in time of need, he may remember that all power and glory belong to God; and the thought that his draft upon the supply of strengthening grace will be honored to an amount equal to the inconceivable glory of God, must necessarily tend to make him come with boldness. BEST December 1888, page 185.2

The same though is emphasized in a most wonderful manner by the prophet Jeremiah in his prayer to God for the backslidden Jews. He says: “We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against thee. Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory; remember, break not thy covenant with us.” Jeremiah 14:20, 21. BEST December 1888, page 185.3

Surely the prophet must have been filled with the Spirit when he uttered that prayer, else he would not have dared say to the Lord, “Do not disgrace the throne of thy glory.” What may we learn from it? Simply this: God’s throne is a throne of grace; it is also a throne of glory, and he has promised to give grace “according to the riches of his glory.” Therefore if he should fail to impart this full measure of grace to those to whom it is promised, his glorious throne would cease to be a throne of glory; it would be disgraced. What confidence we may have when we remember that God’s honor and glory are pledged to the support of those who trust him. What excuse can we have for not overcoming? “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11. BEST December 1888, page 185.4

“The Lord will give grace and glory.” Grace now and glory hereafter. Yet the measure of grace which he will give is according to the riches of his glory, so that, believing in and loving Christ, when we have not seen, we may “rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” 1 Peter 1:8. And so with Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith, being children of God, “to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6), the trying of our faith will certainly “be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:7. BEST December 1888, page 185.5