For the past few years, I try to seek out a verse for that year. With the continued challenge of living under a global pandemic, I’ve decided on these verses from Matthew.
Matthew 11: 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Maybe these verses speak to you as well. Life leaves us glazed, dazed, and amazed. And, and that makes us weary and burdened! But in the midst of our angst, our weariness, and worry, the Lord invites us to come to Him. And that will bring us rest. He says “rest” twice to reinforce the point.
Then He tells us to, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart…”
In his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer states, “A yoke is a common idiom in the first century for a rabbi’s way of reading the Torah. But it was also more: it was a set of teachings on how to be human. His way to shoulder the (at the times) weight of life--marriage, divorce, prayer, money, sex, conflict resolution, government--all of it. It’s an odd image for those of us who don’t live in an agrarian society. But imagine two oxen yoked together to pull a cart or plow a field. A yoke is how you shoulder a load.
“What made Jesus unique wasn’t that he had a yoke; all rabbis had a yoke. It was that he had an easy yoke.”
Jesus is telling us that if we embrace His instructions for our lives, we won’t be weary and worn out. In fact, we will be rested, in spite of our circumstances. And we can learn from Him how to be gentle and humble. Could we all use some gentleness and humility in our culture, on social media, in our lives? “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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Here is this verse in The Message. “28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Stop just a minute and think about what that means: The Creator of the Universe, the Everlasting Father, the Savior of the world and of your soul, the Supreme being (if you’re into sci-fi) is interested in you! So much so that He wants to spend as much close and cherished time with you that you will allow because He is an ultimate gentleman.
Let’s examine the promises provided here. You can get away and recover your life. Anyone here worn down by the constant stress of global threats? If it’s not the imminent threat of disease, it’s the daunting drought and the fear of global annihilation, or political unrest, and let’s not even get started on the economy. Jesus promises us that we can emerge out from under the pressure and live! With Him, we can learn the unforced rhythms of grace. His yoke or set of instructions are doable because He will walk right beside us.
He won’t allow any load that is too heavy or ill-fitting for us to bear. Whatever happens in our lives will be tailor-made for us to handle as we lean on Him to get through it. We can live freely and lightly no matter what our circumstances as we embrace the instructions in His Word.
What instructions do you need today?
Philippians 4:13,” I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Psalm 34:4, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
Psalm 62:6, “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Deuteronomy 31:8, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Psalm 73:24, “You guide me with your counsel, and afterward, you will take me into glory.”
We can embrace His promises and live freely no matter what our situation. I want to live in those promises for the new year. Anyone else?