Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. (Ps. 80:3)
Expanded Passage: Psalm 80
I fell asleep on duty, a big no-no. Manning my post as a military police officer in Panama at 7:30 in the morning is hard after a fitful night of sleep. The heater was on. The breakfast had settled. I was alone. My eyes were heavier than a sack of cinder blocks. I dozed for what seemed like seconds, but was awakened by a superior who promptly reported my misdeed.
I was relieved of duty and lost my right to serve until I received my punishment from the battalion commander. By God’s grace, I only lost a day’s wages. I retained my rank and with great joy and renewed determination to stay awake, my commander granted me permission to return to duty. He officially restored me to my intended purpose while on deployment to Panama in 1989.
The nation of Israel pleaded with God for restoration. They longed for God to restore them as a nation. They yearned for God to restore their joy, their freedom, their land, their prosperity, their intimacy, and their favor with God.
And we are no different. The gift of Jesus is God’s unfolding plan for our restoration. Christmas, then, is a seasonal reminder that God can revive our hopes, replace our dread with joy and peace, mend our brokenness, and refurbish our faith. With his gift, he has restored our rightful relationship with the Father.
Answer this question: What has God restored to you?
Jim Miller is a chaplain in the Army National Guard. He and his wife, Renee, live in Washington, DC, and enjoy spending time traveling with their two children. Jim recently released his first book, Vitamin T: Essential Biblical Truths for Growing Disciples (WPH).
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
