In our battles with sin, we need a team of people. We need teachers to help us understand Scripture, prophets to help us apply it, interceders to pray for us, preachers to focus our eyes on Christ, encouragers to remind us of God’s grace when we feel like failures, wise men and women to discern when we are making foolish decisions, and people of faith to tell us that everything God has said is true in Christ. In other words, God’s gifts to us are people – not just one person, but the church. This is how Christ meets us. The reason we need so many people is that we need Christ Himself. Since His glory and gifts are so immense, we need many people, not just an individual person.
Edward Welch

JERUSALEM THE GOLDEN

JERUSALEM the golden,
With milk and honey blest:
Beneath thy contemplation
Sink heart and voice oppressed.

I know not, oh, I know not
What joys await us there;
What radiancy of glory,
What bliss beyond compare.

They stand, those halls of Sion,
All jubilant with song.
And bright with many an angel,
And all the martyr throng:

The Prince is ever in them,
The daylight is serene;
The pastures of the blessed
Are decked in glorious sheen.

There is the throne of David;
And there, from care released,
The shout of them that triumph,
The song of them that feast;

And they, who with their Leader
Have conquered in the fight,
Forever and forever
Are clad in robes of white.

Oh, sweet and blessed country,
The Home of God’s elect!
Oh, sweet and blessed country,
That eager hearts expect!

Jesu, in mercy bring us
To that dear land of rest,
Who art, with God the Father,
And Spirit, ever blest.