I absolutely love Matthew 11:28-30 when Jesus says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.”
In order to really fall in love with this passage, it’s really important to understand the meaning of the word yoke used here. For years I read it at face value and it meant nothing. I was like, “Why is Jesus talking about eggs?” When I studied the meaning of the biblical use of the word “yoke” though, this verse became one of my favorite sources of refreshing and encouragement.
Just in case you’re like me and have never understood what this word meant, let me give you a quick explanation. The literal description of a yoke is a device used for joining together a pair of draft animals, especially oxen, usually consisting of a crosspiece with two bow-shaped pieces, each enclosing the head of an animal in order for the animals to stay close and in stride as they pull a heavy load such as a cart or plow. It was intended to bind them together. The yoke prepared the animals to carry a hard, heavy, burdensome load.
I appreciate this visual so much. It’s so powerful.
So many times in this life, we find ourselves strapped into a tightly bound union with thoughts, pressures, and burdens that we were never intended to be yoked with. Often times without even realizing it, we carry a crushingly heavy load by yolking ourselves with things like, approval of people, pressure to perform, striving for perfection, worry, fear, control, and comparison. As you read that can’t you literally feel the heavy, binding, crushing weight upon your shoulders? We were never meant to carry the weight of these burdens.
As children of God, we are intended to be yoked to Jesus.
Let’s be honest though. Sometimes, even though the heavy load super sucks (remember we're being honest), it somehow feels like the safer option doesn’t it? Why do we have a tendency to choose the life sucking, joy stealing, peace robbing, abundance zapping union with thoughts, feelings, words, even actions that don’t serve us well? Why so often do we choose the heavier yoke when Jesus freely offers us relief?
I believe the answer is this – we fear our greatness.
I firmly believe that the Enemy of our souls has sold us on the idea that discovering how great we can be is far too risky. He cons us into believing thoughts like, “Who am I without this stronghold?” He convinces us that hiding behind a yolk of suffering is less risky than discovering the very best, freest, most effective version of ourselves. He dupes us into agreeing that God may not come through to carry an equal share of the load. We may end up plowing the way solo and that would be far more excruciating than our current pain.
Vile. Evil. Life stealing lies.
Jesus says to YOU, child, friend, beloved, make the exchange! Will you please choose to exchange all those heavy burdens and walk with me? Will you stay so close to me that we are perfectly in stride?
Here’s the amazing thing about choosing the yoke Jesus offers. The reason His burden is light is this - He bears ALL the weight. You simply walk next to Him. You stay linked up to Him through prayer, through worship and praise, through surrender and confession, and by declaration of His Word and promises. That’s it. He does the rest.
If you’ve been carrying the weight of the world, weight that you were never meant to carry, will you choose to lay it down today? Will you declare, “Lord Jesus, thank you for the offer to haul my heavy load for me. I accept! I choose to exchange the idols, the strongholds, the fears, the life choking thoughts and words I’ve been bound to in trade for you today. I take your perfectly fitting yoke upon my shoulders. As I slip into the yoke that binds me to you I instantly feel the weight release and instead I walk lightly and freely in peace, joy, contentment, gratitude and freedom today.”
Let’s lay today the weight Jesus offers to carry and choose instead to enjoy the abundant life our Lord intends for us!
As I intentionally yoke myself to the Lord each day, I’ve been deeply minister to by these songs, I pray you will be too.
on this blog post
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