Monday, October 26, 2009

Lighten your load

I have a favorite pair of dress shoes that I love to wear with dress slacks. They are tight on my feet though and after a few hours of striding around in them, I am ready to take them off.

Getting rid of things that bind us...

I am reminded of the times that I have traveled with my husband and we have had bags overpacked. It takes two of us to drag all of the luggage thru the airport, but many times the bags are so heavy and awkward that I cannot carry my load. Almost always, my husband has to pick up the slack for me and not only carry his but mine as well.

Isn't this the perfect picture of what Jesus does for us? Look at Matthew 11:27, 28:


If you continue on in Matthew chapter 11, the verse reads "Take my yoke upon you, for My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

A yoke? Now that is something that we don't hear about much. In study, I learned that a yoke is actually a bar of wood that attaches to farm animals so they could carry their load. Being a carpenter, I would imagine that Jesus knew exactly what a carpenter had to do to adjust the yoke that was made for the oxen. I am sure that the farmer would bring their oxen to the carpenter, who then would measure the shoulders so a properly fit yoke could be made. Each yoke would fit just right.

Perhaps this is what Jesus is saying in this passage in Matthew. That His hope, His love, His mercy fits just right! He has promised that He would not put more on us than we can handle and when we trust in His yoke ... He will lead us into rest and not misery.

I need His yoke today...how about you?



2 comments:

  1. This was great as always. I have also heard it taught that if a yoke fits the animal just right, they are lead soo much easier. Makes sense huh? If we wear His yoke, it just makes things so much easier for us...Have a great day, Blessings to you, Debbie

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  2. Amen, this was a fantastic post.

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