The Lord's Yoke

Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to Me, all you 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."

When we think of a yoke, we naturally think of something that is quite cumbersome, hard and difficult to live with. But in the case of the Lord's yoke- it is just the opposite. He said His yoke is easy and His burden light. The word "yoke"- in the original means to join. How can something hard and heavy that binds us to something or Someone else be easy and light?

In the days when farmers worked with yoked animals, the animals had to learn to work together. If one got out of step, the load shifted and possibly overturned. The animals HAD to be in step together. And they had to have one leader. One would emerge as the leader. It is the same with a Christian. We have to allow Christ to be the leader. We must be in step with Him- or the work won't get done. And we won't be at rest.

There were specific yokes for specific animals. The yokes were fashioned just for that particular animal so that the yoke would not chaff or cause bruises. I think this is so wonderful when comparing it with us being yoked to Christ. He knows EXACTLY what we need. Think of it-- He, who in His earthly life, learned the craft of the carpenter-- cutting wood, fashioning furniture and other articles, smoothing and sanding- and doing what a carpenter does to design the perfect article. In the Spirit He is still doing the same thing. He fashions our yoke specifically with us in mind. No two yokes are alike because no two people are alike and no two people go through the exact same trial. When Christ puts His yoke upon us, it is for our good. It fits us perfectly! We can rest in that yoke and stay in step with Christ to get the job done! When we get out of step with Him or try to get out from under His yoke-we become disobedient and do not please the Lord. And we are restless and always trying to do things for ourselves.

Christ is saying to us to rest in Him. That word "rest" means to "make to cease".  We are to be still.

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." Cease from your toil and labor and striving- be still- be quiet-- and know that God is God. He knows what He is doing with us and with the rest of the world. He is in charge and nothing is taking Him by surprise. Rest in the Lord! Stop fighting and trying to figure everything out- let God be God- and just get in step with Him. Let Him do the pulling and leading and just let Him be in charge. Don't be afraid of His yoke. It has been fashioned with you in mind.

Are you feeling like your life is a drudgery? Are you feeling weighed down and out of step as a Christian? It is possible that you are not allowing the Lord to lead. Settle down into His yoke, trust in Him, rest in Him.

Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths."