God’s Work, God’s Way, God’s Glory

Book Nehemiah Church New Hope Baptist Date 25 May 2025

Bible Reading: Scripture Ref: Nehemiah 3:1-14

Title: God’s Work, God’s Way, God’s Glory

Introduction

Good morning. Let us begin by praising our great God—who strengthens and sustains His people and who has kept His sovereign, good hand upon us.

Previously in Nehemiah, we’ve seen how God raises up leaders, stirs the hearts of His people, and accomplishes His purposes through those who trust and fear Him.

Last time, we were reminded of God’s Guidance in the Work, as Nehemiah carefully surveyed the ruined walls in secret (Nehemiah 2:11–16).

Then we saw God’s Grace in the Calling, as Nehemiah boldly testified:

“Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.” (Nehemiah 2:18)

And finally, we hold fast to God’s Guarantee in the Opposition, when Nehemiah answered the mockers with unshakable confidence:

“The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.” (Nehemiah 2:20)

But that leaves us in suspense.

Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian rose up—not with weapons, but with words—to ridicule and scorn the people of God.

How would the exiles respond? Would they retreat in fear—or would they rise in faith? Would they crumble under opposition—or continue the work with conviction?

That brings us to Nehemiah 3, where we’ll find the answer to the questions.

Spoiler alert.

The people don’t just agree with Nehemiah’s testimony—they strengthened their hands to act. They rise. They build.

Not just individuals, but families. Not just the strong, but the skilled. Not just leaders, but labourers. Not just the men, but also women joined in. Side by side, each one takes up their part of the wall.

Let us now turn our attention to Nehemiah 3:1–14. Please place your bookmark there and, if you are able, stand with me as we read the Word of our living God together.

Scripture Reading

Prayer

Gracious and sovereign Father,

We bow before You this morning with gratitude in our hearts— for Your steadfast love, for Your unshakable faithfulness, and for Your good and sovereign hand that is upon us still.

Lord, You are the Master Builder of Your people. You gather what is broken, You restore what is ruined, You strengthen the feeble hands, and You stir Your church to rise and labour—not by might, nor by power, but by Your Spirit.

As we open Your Word now, we pray: Give us ears to hear, hearts to obey, and hands ready to serve.

Remove from us every excuse, every fear, every selfish ambition and distraction that would keep us from taking our place in the work You have called us to.

We ask not to be made comfortable, but to be made useful. Not to be praised, but to be faithful. Not to build our own kingdom and self, but to glorify the name of Christ our King.

O Lord, unite us under Your purpose. Equip us to walk in Your way.

And through our obedience, display Your glory in our life, in our family, in this church, and in our community.

We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of our faith,

Amen.

God’s Work, God’s Way, God’s Glory Create a Propositional Statement with the 3 points

When God calls His people to His work, He unites them under His purpose, equips them for His way, and uses their obedience to display His glory.

Nehemiah 3 is not merely a historical record or a construction logbook—it is a living testimony of those who acted in faith when God stirred their hearts. It reveals how the people of God respond when they recognise that His good and sovereign hand is upon them.

So that we would not be a people who merely agree with the idea of building, yet fail to put our hands to the task.

So that we would not look at the sinfulness and brokenness around us and wait for others to step forward.

So that we would be stirred to rise and build—not out of guilt, compliance, or pressure, but out of deep conviction that God Himself is at work among us.

Loved ones, we need God’s Word to minister to us—because it shakes us out of spiritual complacency and reminds us that every believer has a place in God’s redemptive work.

It calls us to unity—not in name only, but in shared purpose—labouring together in faith. It comforts us in knowing that even the smallest act of obedience, the most obscure task, and the quietest servant are seen by God and used by Him for His glory.

So that we might be convicted of passive Christianity and mere spectatorship, exhorted toward faithfulness, comforted by God’s remembrance, encouraged by the example of others, and ultimately transformed into a people who treasure His glory more than our convenience.

This is a call not merely to build a wall, but to build up the people of God—to strengthen the church, uphold the truth, and honour Christ our King.

We have three points

· God’s Work Begins with Devotion (v. 1)

· God’s Work Advances through Diversity (vv. 2–13)

· God’s Work Restores What Is Disgraced (v. 14)

1 God’s Work Begins with Devotion (v. 1)

(read Nehemiah 3:1)

Chapter 3 begins with the names of those who had a portion, a right, and a memorial in Jerusalem—following Nehemiah’s bold declaration that Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem had none (2:20).

Nehemiah starts with those who were included in God’s covenant—those who responded to the call to build. These names are not randomly chosen; they are recorded in sacred Scripture as a testimony that God remembers those who serve Him.

This list is not merely a construction report—it is a divine memorial.

Notice that chapter 3 is not a typical narrative. There is no prayer like in chapter 1, no petition like in chapter 2, no dialogue between Nehemiah and the people.

Just a list. And yet, it is powerful. In fact, what’s most striking is what’s missing. Nehemiah never tells us how he organised the work.

We are not told how he used the information from his night survey, or how he strategically divided the project.

He doesn’t explain how he motivated each group to work in specific areas. Nor is there any mention of Nehemiah’s ancestral tomb that he brought up to the Persian king.

Why? Because this chapter—and the whole book—is not about Nehemiah or his leadership. It is about God’s sovereign grace at work in His people.

If you fail to see the good hand of God upon Nehemiah in this passage, you’ll be left marvelling at how one man managed to convince and mobilise an entire city. You might call it coincidence, strategy, personality, or luck.

But Scripture won’t let us go there.

Behind every section of this wall stands not just a worker, but the invisible hand of God stirring hearts.

It was God who burdened Nehemiah when he heard Hanani’s report.

It was God who placed him in the king’s court as a cupbearer. It was God who granted him favour with Artaxerxes. It was God who moved the king to send letters, timber, and an armed escort. And now we witness that it is God who is moving the people to rise and build.

The people’s response is not merely the product of Nehemiah’s resolve or sound leadership. It is the sovereign grace of God enabling His covenant people to work.

The work begins with worship.

Verse 1 begins with Eliashib the high priest. This is significant, because in Hebrew narrative, the first name in a list often signals prominence or priority.

The list doesn’t begin with a governor, a nobleman, or a military captain—it begins with a priest. And not just any priest, but the high priest.

Nehemiah is making a theological point: the work begins not with politics or economics, but with worship. The restoration of Jerusalem begins with the restoration of spiritual leadership.

And what does Eliashib do? He doesn’t delegate tasks to others—he arises with his fellow priests and begins to build. It’s the same verb used in 2:18 when the people said, “Let us arise and build.” The spiritual leaders lead by example. They take initiative.

And what do they build first?

The Sheep Gate.

This is no accident or coincidence. The Sheep Gate was where sacrificial animals—especially lambs—were brought into Jerusalem for temple worship.

Located near the Pool of Bethesda (cf. John 5:2), this gate was closely associated with atonement and offering.

It is deeply significant that the rebuilding begins here—not with a royal gate, not with a military tower, but with the gate of sacrifice. Before any other part of the wall is restored, the way of worship is first re-established.

More than that, the Sheep Gate points us forward to Christ. Just as lambs passed through this gate to be offered, so Jesus—the true Lamb of God—entered Jerusalem to lay down His life for sinners.

The cross was not an afterthought—it was always at the centre of God’s redemptive plan.

This is why the priests sanctify the Sheep Gate. It is the only gate in the chapter described as being set apart. Why? Because worship comes first. Before a single stone is laid elsewhere, the people dedicate the first portion of their work to the Lord.

This is the principle Nehemiah 3:1 presses into our hearts:

God blesses the work when worship precedes the work.

The Sheep Gate symbolises consecration, atonement, and the centrality of Christ in all true ministry.

It reminds us that our service flows from His sacrifice. We do not work to earn grace—we work because grace has already been given.

Before we build, we must bow. Before we pick up tools, we must lift up holy hands. Before we act, we must adore.

Loved ones, this is a timely word for us. We live in an age obsessed with productivity—do more, achieve more, get results.

But Scripture teaches that worship is not optional; it is foundational. Without consecration, activity is empty. Without the Sheep Gate sanctified, the rest of the walls are just stones.

So I ask you, beloved:

Have you sanctified the Sheep Gate in your life? Have you begun your day in worship? Have you dedicated your job, your ministry, your family to the Lord before laying even the first stone?

Or are you trying to build with a heart that has not yet worshipped?

Let us be a people who begin with worship. Let our ministry, our labour, and our service—seen and unseen—flow from hearts consecrated, dedicated, and set apart to God.

Like the priests in Nehemiah’s day, may we rise - not just with bricks and mortar, but with reverence and devotion—sanctifying all we do to the glory of our Lord.

2 God's Work Advances Through Diversity (v2-13)

(read Nehemiah 3:2-13)

When I first began reading through Nehemia, while I was wrapping up the book of James, I must confess I skimmed through chapter 3.

A long list of names, places, and repairs didn’t seem, at first glance, to offer much for reflection. But as I slowed down, meditated, and considered why this chapter was preserved by the Holy Spirit, I came to realise something crucial:

This is not merely a record of tasks—it is a testimony to God’s sovereign work among His people.

The names in Nehemiah 3 were not written because the people were exceptional, eloquent, or influential. They were recorded because God stirred their hearts, enabling them to respond in faithfulness.

Their labour was not a display of human greatness, but the fruit of divine grace—and it is remembered not by man, but by God Himself.

A Personal Challenge: Would Your Name Be There?

Loved ones, please listen as this raises a self-reflecting question:

If God were to write a record of the work done here at New Hope Baptist Church, would your name be written?

Would your fingerprints be found on the work of building up this church—God’s people?

Or would you be found missing, disengaged, watching from the sidelines while others build, content to be a benchwarmer or just a name on a livestream?

I remember a moment from my former church when a member apologised in advance to our pastor for missing a Sunday and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be here in spirit.”

Without missing a beat, our quick-witted pastor smiled and replied, “Well, there’s nothing quite like preaching to a room full of spirits.”

How many today treat worship as something they attend only when convenient? How many approach the church as consumers rather than servants? How many come as spectators rather than participants and contributors?

Loved ones, Nehemiah 3 shatters that mindset. It shows us a living portrait of the people of God, united in purpose, shoulder to shoulder, each doing their part—not for show, not for recognition, but for the Lord.

A Diverse Body, United in Purpose

Verse 2 says: “And next unto him (Eliashib) builded the men of Jericho.”

Jericho was more than 25 kilometres from Jerusalem. These men were not locals. They weren’t building for their own comfort or safety. Yet they came, rolled up their sleeves, and laboured—for the good of the people of God.

Do we serve only when it benefits us? Are we only moved when we see a direct return for ourselves or our families? Or are we stirred by the broader purpose of God's kingdom?

Verse 5 is sobering:

“And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.”

The people of Tekoa came to work—but their nobles refused. The Hebrew phrase “put not their necks” paints the image of a stubborn ox refusing to bow under the yoke. These men were too proud to serve. Too dignified in their own eyes.

Let’s be honest: in every church, there are those who labour in love and humility—and then there are those who merely visit from time to time, not committed as members, yet often the most vocal in their criticisms, resistant to leadership, and quick to point out faults while doing little, if anything, to build up the body.

And yet, they want the attention. Like the nobles of Tekoa, they want to be seen as important.

Loved ones, who are you more like—the commoners of Tekoa, who willingly offered themselves for the work, or their nobles, who refused humility to serve?

Verse 8 adds another layer:

8Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries (uh·po·thuh·kuh·reez), and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.

An apothecary refers to someone who made sacred ointments, incense, and perfumes for religious use.

The goldsmiths and perfumers (or apothecaries) were part of professional guilds—skilled artisans known for their delicate and meticulous work. These were men trained to use careful, steady hands—not rough, calloused ones.

They shaped fine metals and blended sacred oils, not stone and mortar. They were craftsmen, not construction workers.

And yet—they came. They built. They served.

Why? Because God doesn’t call only the naturally equipped—He calls the willing. He doesn’t require hands hardened by labour; He delights in hands surrendered in obedience.

You may not think your skills fit the task. You may feel unsuited, unqualified, or out of your depth. But remember: your availability matters more than your ability.

The Lord supplies what is lacking in strength when the heart says, “Here I am, Lord. Use me.”

Verse 12 stands out to me in beauty and significance because it’s so relatable to me.

12And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.

The fact that daughters are mentioned is striking. In a patriarchal (pay·tree·aa·kl) society, manual labour—especially construction—was not typically associated with women, let alone with daughters.

Yet here they are, not sitting in the background, not confined to the sidelines, but building alongside their father who is in charge of half of Jerusalem.

Their gender and youth did not disqualify them from the work of God. It mattered not to the Lord that they were female, nor that they were likely unmarried and young. God was pleased to include them.

And in His inspired Word, He honours their participation.

This stands as an encouragement to the young, especially to young women in our church: you are not excluded from meaningful service in the kingdom.

It is also a rebuke to any who think, “I’m too young… too inexperienced… I’m a girl”. Or to those who hide behind the excuse, “That’s not my role,” or “Let others do it.”

Loved ones, please listen carefully. God is not bound by our categories of ability, stage of life, or societal expectations.

He is pleased to use any who will put their hand to the work—because the work is His, and the strength comes from Him.

A Repeated Refrain:

One thing that stands out in this chapter is the repeated phrase, “Next to him” or “Next to them.”

Why is that significant?

Because the work was not isolated. They were united.

There are 42 groups mentioned in this chapter, and each person, each family, each tribe took responsibility for their section of the wall and laboured side by side.

That’s how God designed His church—not as a collection of individuals, but as one body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament.

God says in Ephesians 4:16

16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Is that what describes New Hope Baptist Church?

Do we serve side by side—or are there gaps in the wall?

Do you come week after week only to receive—or do you come to build?

Let me please speak to you as a shepherd who cares deeply for your soul.

Last Sunday, Pastor Sam reminded us that worship is the overflow of the soul. It is not merely about receiving blessings—as though coming to church were a transaction. True worship is not about - getting from God; it is the heart’s response to God.

We come because we have seen His glory, tasted His grace, and there is nothing left for us to do but to give Him praise.

Yet some come only to receive—expecting blessing because they attended, as if that alone should merit God’s favour. They view worship as a spiritual service station, not as a holy offering.

But beloved, worship is not about what you get; it is about the worthiness of the One to whom you give.

Faithfulness to God is shown in faithfulness to His people.

You cannot claim to love Christ and treat His body, the church, as optional.

Where are you when the church opens its doors for worship, whether on the Lord’s Day at 11am or 1:30pm?

Do you make yourself available to study His Word?

Are you present in family worship?

Do you open your home to others for the purpose of honouring God through Bible study?

Are you present? Joyful? Ready to give God what He is due?

Or are you absent, distracted, or arriving halfway through because you’ve surrendered your time to other commitments—letting them take precedence over the most important appointment of the week, the gathered worship of God’s people?

Too often, we prioritise work, errands, leisure, or even family, convincing ourselves that we’re doing what’s best, when in truth, we’ve allowed lesser things to crowd out what matters most.

But loved ones, Scripture is clear: worship must precede work.

God must have first place. Giving Him our leftovers is not honour—it’s neglect.

When we consistently give Him only what remains after everything else, it is not faithfulness; it is dishonour.

A body where members move at different paces—some absent, some are delayed, some only half-hearted—does not honour its Head.

But when we gather together, in unity and in time, to lift our voices in worship and serve side by side in the work of the ministry—that brings glory to God.

So I ask you again:

Do you come only to receive—or do you come to build?

Do you show up as a consumer—or as a contributor?

Do you live as part of the body—or like a limb that doesn’t move with the rest, disrupting the unity and strength of the whole?

Let us be a church marked by faithful worship and faithful service—side by side, heart to heart, all for the glory of our King.

Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:18–20:

18But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20But now are they many members, yet but one body.

And again in Romans 12:1–5:

1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

4For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

A Call to Repentance and Surrender

This is a call to repent of passive Christianity. To cast off laziness, apathy, comfort, and pride. To stop saying, “Let someone else do it,” and instead to say, “Here I am, Lord—send me.”

Let us not be found like the nobles of Tekoa, who would not bow their necks to the Lord.

Let us be like the men of Jericho, the daughters of Shallum, the perfumers and goldsmiths—who, when God stirred their hearts, responded with willing obedience.

And let us remember the One who ultimately builds His church—the Lord Jesus Christ. For every stone laid in faith, every act of service, every sacrifice made—He sees. He knows. And He rewards.

Not with earthly recognition, but with the words we long to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Let our names not be found merely in a church directory, but written in God’s remembrance as faithful servants—those who loved His house, served His people, and gave themselves to the work of building His kingdom.

And as we labour together, let us remember: it is God who advances His church, uniting diverse members into one body, each part doing its share by His strength and for His glory.

3 God's Work Restores What is Disgraced (v 14)

(read Nehemiah 3:14)

We’ve seen how God stirred the hearts of many types of people—priests, goldsmiths, rulers, and merchants—and how they all united themselves under one purpose: to finally act on the affliction and reproach that had plagued Jerusalem.

But more than that, they were rising up to do something about the disgrace brought not merely to their city—but to the testimony of their God.

And now we come to our final verse. A detail that might easily be skipped over, tucked quietly at the end of this section in verse 14. At first glance, it seems… insignificant.

It’s the Dung Gate.

Unlike the Sheep Gate—where lambs were brought in for sacrifice—this gate was the exit. It was where the city’s filth, refuse, and garbage were carried out. A place of waste and stench. Most would look away. Most would prefer not to talk about it, let alone be associated with it.

But here’s the remarkable thing: someone steps up.

A man named Malchijah, a leader of the district of Beth-haccherem—a town roughly 4 kilometres south of Jerusalem—takes on the repair of this gate. No fanfare. No glory. Just a quiet act of faithfulness recorded forever in the pages of God’s Word.

This is not a task people would rush to volunteer for. This is not a place anyone would be eager to be associated with. But someone was. And in God’s wisdom, He made sure his name was remembered.

Why? Why would God highlight this repair of all places?

Because while other verses may describe the more glorious or central sections of the wall, this verse reminds us that even the most disgraceful, filthy, and forgotten parts of the city were not beyond restoration.

And beloved, do not miss this—God is meticulous with His work. This is no rushed renovation project. This is not like the days of previous kings who rarely gave attention to the maintenance of Jerusalem’s walls and gates—who may have prioritised grandeur, hired skilled professional, but neglected what seemed insignificant.

No, here in Nehemiah 3, we see that God is so comprehensive in His work of restoration that He ensures even the Dung Gate is included in the rebuilding effort.

The very gate where waste, refuse, and temple sewage was carried out. The gate no one would rush to rebuild. The gate no one would want their name attached to.

And yet—God attaches a name to it. Malchijah. A ruler. Not a servant. Not a lowly worker. But a leader—a nobleman—who was willing to get his hands dirty for the sake of God’s glory.

This is deeply countercultural. According to Israelite tradition, anything associated with human waste, filth, or corpses was considered ritually unclean (see Leviticus 5:2–3; Deuteronomy 23:12–14).

A faithful Israelite would naturally avoid contact with such places for fear of becoming defiled. And yet here, in this very place of uncleanness, a man steps forward to do the work.

Why?

Because when God calls, no task is beneath the servant of God. And because God’s glory is not just seen in the grand and glorious—but in the dirty and disgraced being restored.

What does this tell us about our God?

That there is no part of His city, no part of His people, too shameful or unclean for His restoration. The Dung Gate is not beneath Him.

Just as He sent His Son to touch the leper, to eat with tax collectors, to restore the morally filthy—so here, He remembers and records the man who repaired the most disgraceful part of the wall.

And beloved, this is not just a pattern in Nehemiah—it is God’s pattern throughout redemptive history.

He restores what is disgraced—not merely stone and mortar—but broken, sinful people.

He assigns value to the unwanted. He cleanses what others discard. He heals what the world tries to hide.

This is the gospel: our Saviour did not come for the polished and the proud, but for the stained and the outcast. He touched the leper. He ate with tax collectors. He embraced the unclean. And at the cross, He bore our filth so that we might be washed clean.

Conclusion Application

So then, what about us?

Will we only serve in places that are pleasant and noticed? Or are we willing to do the unseen, uncelebrated tasks for the sake of God’s glory?

Will we look away from the broken and disgraced parts of our church, our community—even our own hearts? Or will we take up the work that others would rather ignore?

Loved ones, there is no area of disgrace that the gospel cannot reach. No person too far gone. No failure too foul. God’s work restores what is disgraced.

Let us then be a people who don’t run from the stench of sin and shame—but who run toward it with the hope of Christ. Let us repair the dung gates of our lives and our churches—not for honour, but out of obedience.

Let us build, even in the smelliest places—because we know that God is at work even there.

But now, as we step back from the Dung Gate and look at the rest of the remaining walls and gates, another question arises:

How long can this last? (suspense)

Can such fragile unity hold? Can these people—so varied, so vulnerable—endure the full stretch of this task?

Opposition is coming. Tensions are rising. The work is not yet done.

Can the wall truly be completed?

And if it is—what does that say about the God who called them to it?

Oh, beloved— let us behold the wisdom of our God!

He chooses the weak. He honours the lowly. He builds with broken stones and disgraced gates.

His glory is not only in the temple, but in the trash heap turned testimony.

To God be the work, for it is His hand that stirred every heart. To God be the way, for it is His wisdom that assigns each part. To God be the glory, for even the gates of filth become monuments of grace.

Let us then rise and build—not for praise, but for the pleasure of the King. Not with pride, but with perseverance.

Not for our name—but for His Name, which is above every name.

Prayer

Our Sovereign and Faithful God,

We come before You with hearts full of gratitude for Your Word.

Today, You have reminded us that You are not a distant God, but One who draws near—stirring hearts, strengthening hands, and building Your purposes through willing servants.

We thank You for the work You began in the days of Nehemiah and for how clearly it displays Your sovereignty. You are the God who leads with wisdom, who assigns each task with care, and who goes before us in the work You call us to do.

Lord, we’ve seen that You strengthen Your people—not with worldly might, but by Your good hand. You lead us with hidden wisdom, placing us exactly where we need to be. Teach us to seek You first, to walk with patience, and to move only at Your prompting. Help us not to rely on the strength of our flesh, but on the power of Your Spirit.

We’ve seen also that You call and use all kinds of people—priests and goldsmiths, rulers and merchants, those within the city and those beyond the gates.

You delight to involve Your people in Your purposes. No one is too small. No one is insignificant in Your kingdom. O Lord, stir in us that same readiness—men and women, young and old, each one doing their part for the glory of Christ.

And most of all, we have seen that You are the God who restores what is disgraced. You do not ignore the broken places. You do not avoid the gates of filth. You step into the stench—and You redeem it for Your glory.

You take what others reject and make it a testimony of grace. Thank You for reminding us that no sin, no shame, no person is beyond the reach of Your mercy.

May our church not be known for ease or comfort, but as a people stirred by Your Spirit to labour in love and truth.

May we not seek fame or recognition, but be found faithful in making disciples, bearing one another’s burdens, and building up the body in love.

Though we are many and diverse—different in giftings, backgrounds, and seasons— Father, make us one in heart, one in mind, one in purpose.

For it is You, O Lord, who has called us together, who has stirred our hearts as one to serve, to go, and to proclaim Christ.

Let every act of service, every word of encouragement, every quiet faithfulness not draw attention to us—but to You.

To the One who strengthens us, To the One who calls us, To the One who restores us— Be all glory, now and forever.

In the name of Jesus Christ our the Rock of our salvation, Amen.