One of our challenges for 2015 is to learn and live
all 50
commands of Jesus. Jesus told us that following his commandments
is a way to love him and a way for his love and his joy to fill our lives (John
15:9-12). In his Great Commission, Jesus tells his followers to make
disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything he commanded us
(Matthew 28:19-20). So each week in this year we are learning and living
one command of Jesus. Here is our command for this week...
Week 29:
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No
one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son
and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are
weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn
from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light,” (Matthew 11:27-30).
Application:
What is a yoke? My
wife told me a good one this morning.
Why was the broom late? It over
swept. Ok, that was a joke. So what is a yoke? Imagine a farmer plowing a field with the
help of two animals who pull a cart. A
yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and
attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull.
Jesus commands us to take his yoke upon us. For his yoke is easy and his burden is
light. When I read this, I was tempted
to disagree with Jesus. It is not always
easy to follow Jesus. Sometimes he calls
us to do things that are really hard and heavy.
But God helped me see the error in my thinking.
I was focusing on the cart. Jesus is talking about the yoke. This is my fatal flaw. I often focus too much on the cart. I focus on the task to be accomplished, the
goal to be achieved, the work to be done.
Then, I stress and worry and exhaust myself trying to do it by my own
power. No wonder I often feel so weary
and burdened. I hear Jesus is saying to
me, “Don’t focus on the cart; focus on getting linked up with me.” If I am linked up with Jesus – if I get
connected and stay connected with Him – he will take care of the cart. He will show me which cart to pull and where
to pull it. Better yet, he will pull alongside
me. From his unlimited store of wisdom
and strength, Jesus will guide and provide every step of the way.
Perhaps, like me, you have been putting the cart before
the horse. Perhaps you have been
focusing more on the cart than on the yoke.
This command calls us to get linked up with Jesus. We are to connect with the love that comes
from his heart, the wisdom that comes from his revelation, the rest that comes
from his gentle power.
Speaking of a wooden crosspiece, I cannot help but think
about the wooden cross where Jesus took the burden of our sin upon himself and
made it easy for us to receive God’s free gifts of love, forgiveness and
eternal life. If this is an indicator of
the kinds of things Jesus offers to those who are linked up with him, then I want
to make sure I am connecting with Jesus every day, every moment.
In order to do this, I may need to get over myself so
that his yoke can get over me. I need to
get over the idea that I know best which cart to pull and that I can pull it on
my own. I need to get over the idea that
I can make it through a day without taking time to connect with Jesus through
reading his word and listening to him in prayer. I need to get over the idea that my life is
all about pulling carts, when it is really all about developing a close
connection with our God and Savior.
How can you take his yoke upon you?
Share your comments and application ideas…
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