Yoked

Matthew 11:28-30 reads: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I admit that I have not had any real world experience with actual yokes other than seeing pictures and occasionally seeing them in a museum, old barn or maybe Cracker Barrell (by the way, a friend recently told me he heard Cracker Barrell was like eating at a garage sale - funny, but true). Anyway, apparently the yoke links the animals together for the purpose of sharing the load and creating not only a team, but sort of a teaching opportunity when one animal is more experienced or stronger than the other. 


Some places in life where we don't want to be yoked is "under sin" -- "unequally to an unbeliever" -- or even "under the law" (as in legalistic religion). Here's what we should note pertaining to yokes:

Come to Jesus... when we are burdened, when we are need of rest we come to the One who is drawing us near and able to bring relief. Jesus alone gives true easing of the labors and fatigue of sin, legalism and strife. 

Take His yoke... it is easy and light. We often complicate faith because we tend to trust in things (even some "good" things) other than Jesus (the only true good) the source of faith. When we walk in His way we need not second guess our steps. The weight is lifted for He is strong enough to bear any load.


We learn from Him... He is the ultimate servant/leader, gentle and lowly in heart. Such a compassionate One as none other who will guide and teach us all the way. Let us submit to Him alone and throw off the encumbrances of this world.


Our souls find rest in Christ.


Not really sure how this fits with this little blog here, but I really wanted to pass along this quote and hope that it helps us work when, where and for what really matters... From David Platt's book, Radical Together: "Let's show in the church a gospel that saves us from work and saves us to work."

Let's just chew on that fer a spell and live it out.

Forever in Christ!