“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
I love what my study Bible said in the side column. “We must be harnessed to Christ.” Traditional yokes had two animals together, so that the younger, weaker and more inexperienced one, could learn from the stronger, older and more experienced one. This allowed the smaller animal to be trained and guided by the older one.
I’ve always focused on the “rest” aspect of this passage, but as my pastor was preaching on Sunday I underlined the words in my Bible of being harnessed to Christ. I love that…because how can we truly have rest if we aren’t allowing Him to lead us, guide us and learn from Him through His Word and prayer. The relationship we have with Christ should be one of total dependence. He even says Himself, “my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Take it upon you.” He didn’t say, “figure it all out.” He wants us to rely on Him.
In my mind, I kept seeing this picture of a cross with yokes on each side. Isn’t that how our lives as a believer and follower of Christ should be?
Harnessed to the cross.
Without the cross, there is no remission of sin. That causes a lot of unrest in our souls whether we believe it or not.
Without the cross, there is no eternal life. Death has a sting. There’s no rest in that either.
Without the cross, there is no victory.
Victory IS rest! When you have won the war, it’s easy to get comfortable.
Why wouldn’t you want to be harnessed to Christ? If your soul is weary and you feel there is no rest in sight, maybe you are harnessed to the world and the things it has to offer.
“Come into me. I will give you rest.”
Jesus said it…it’s in red letters. 😉
That’s a promise you can depend on. His yoke is so much easier. I’ve seen it time and time again in my own life. When my mama scared me 2 weeks ago, I couldn’t help but shed tears and be utterly terrified. But, each and everytime I went to The Word…either by reading my Bible or in prayer…I was at rest.
Is it sometimes difficult to depend on God and allow Him to lead? Absolutely. But, I’ve learned that His yoke is easy and is burden is light. When that sinks in your spirit, you can help but turn over everything to Him and just follow along…learning and growing in Him.
