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.Matthew 11:29
Jesus’ words struck chords with ordinary folk who were poor and worn down by the burdens of getting by. He spoke often to them with analogies and metaphors from their everyday life.
A yoke is a steering mechanism meant for a team of oxen. It looks like a device of torture, a collar of wood and steel, cumbersome and unyielding. The oxen walk together as a team and turn because they simply have no choice and it would be painful to resist the harness. Jesus invites each of us to take His yoke and be led exclusively by Him. His yoke is not heavy and unforgiving. It is easy and gentle. Unlike the oxen’s yoke, the yoke we are invited to is our choice.
Jesus, the Son of God, the sacrificial member of the Holy Trinity, humbled Himself to become lower than man’s most despicable sin. This Christ calls us to a place of rest because He is offering to carry our burdens. If we take His yoke, He will chose the route, the perfect pace of forward motion and always provide sustenance for daily living. Jesus will lead, we will follow. The perfect Global Positioning System (GPS) traveling team.
Plodding Along,
Gretchen