Trust in the yoke of Jesus Christ
Matthew 11:29 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
A yoke is a heavy wooden harness that fits over the shoulders of an ox or oxen. It is attached to piece of equipment the oxen are to pull. A “heavy”laden animal has a big load to pull. A heavy laden person may be burdened with (1) sin, (2) excessive demands of religious leaders (23:4) Acts 15:10 (3) oppression and persecution, or (4) weariness in the search for God.
Matthew 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Jesus frees people from all these burdens. The rest that Jesus promises is love, healing, and peace with God, not the end of all labor. A relationship with God changes meaningless toil into spiritual productivity and purpose.
What makes Jesus’ yoke easy and His burden light it is his own active obedience (i.e., His perfect fulfillment of the Law of God), He carried the burden that we were meant to carry.
His perfect obedience is applied (imputed) to us through faith, just as His righteousness was exchanged for our sin at the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21). 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Our obedience to Jesus then becomes our “spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). Furthermore, we are indwelt by the Holy Ghost who works in our lives to mold us into the image of Christ, thereby making the yoke of Jesus easy and His burden light. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
The life lived by faith is a much lighter yoke and a much easier burden to carry than the heavy and burdensome yoke of self-righteousness under which some continually strive to make themselves acceptable to God through works.
Isaiah 28:12
To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Jeremiah 31:25
For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
John 7:37
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
John 7:37
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
Written by Pastor Rolando Ramos
www.fghconline.com
