Take the Yoke of Jesus
As 2009 unfolds, none of us knows what the future may bring. We have a general idea, to be sure. We are pretty certain of the unfolding economic shortfalls and woes that we, as a nation, will experience. More than ever, we are going to have to rely on God to work His correction for our greediness that got us here, and we will be needing His direction, as to how to get out of this mess.
I envision our national path as one a farmer would take, as he plows rows across his fallow field. In general, we have an idea of what will probably happen, but the specifics (as rocks, stones, old roots, & other impediments) will be learned as they are encountered.
Jesus calls us to follow Him, when He invites us to “Come unto 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.” (Mtt. 11:28 – 30)
Reflecting on these verses, Max Lucado wrote the following vignette. I envision us as the young, inexperienced ox that he described.
Farmers in ancient Israel used to train an inexperienced ox by yoking it to an experienced one with a wooden harness. The straps around the older ox were tightly drawn. He carried the load, but the yoke around the younger ox was loose. He walked alongside the more mature ox, but his burden was light. In this verse Jesus is saying, “I walk alongside of you. We are yoked together, but I pull the weight and carry the burden.”
I wonder, how many burdens Jesus is carrying for us that we know nothing about? We’re aware of some. He carries our sins. He carries our shame. He carries our eternal debt. But are there others? Has He lifted fears, before we felt them? Has He carried our confusion, so we wouldn’t have to? Those times, when we have been surprised by our own sense of peace: Could it be that Jesus has lifted our anxiety onto His shoulders and placed a yoke of kindness on ours?
In this walk of life, whether individually or as a nation, we are all “learners,” aren’t we? Oh, how we need Jesus!
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