I love thy kingdom, Lord,
the house of thine abode,
the church our blest Redeemer saved
with his own precious blood.
I love thy church, O God:
her walls before thee stand,
dear as the apple of thine eye
and graven on thy hand.
For her my tears shall fall,
for her my prayers ascend;
to her my cares and toils be giv’n,
’til toils and cares shall end.
Beyond my highest joy
I prize her heav’nly ways,
her sweet communion, solemn vows,
her hymns of love and praise.
Jesus, thou Friend divine,
our Savior and our King,
thy hand from ev’ry snare and foe
shall great deliv’rance bring.
Sure as thy truth shall last,
to Zion shall be giv’n
the brightest glories earth can yield,
and brighter bliss of heav’n.
Timothy Dwight, 1800
Read Ephesians 5:23-27
“I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord” in later verses becomes a hymn about the church. While it’s popular sentiment now to love Jesus, but avoid, neglect, and disparage His church, this hymn and Scripture itself will have none of that. As followers of Christ, we want to love what Christ loves. So, we need to love the church as Christ did. Granted, it’s far from a perfect institution (because it is made up of people in all our imperfections), but remember Jesus is perfecting His church. May we follow the example of the hymnwriter, praying for the church, giving her our full effort in the work of the Kingdom, and find our joy in worshipping together.