Come

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."" Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

These verses show us God’s intention for us, it’s not to weigh us down, but to give us rest. God has a purpose for you, but his purpose isn’t an unbearable burden, it’s an appropriate weight. And you don’t have to accomplish it alone, you are yoked to Jesus. 

They should be a breath of fresh air. In a world that is exhausting with its toil, demands, and trials, God has a different way for his people. His way is life-giving and it allows us to experience the fullness of life.

As we are navigating the waters of unrest in our world. Add on the emotional roller coaster we've all taken and the ever-moving targets of health and safety in our communities, there's one word I would use to describe my at the moment tired.

Tired of the fear driven state our country and world is in. I'm emotionally, physical and even spiritual drained some days by it.

In these verses Jesus uses farmers who would take an inexperienced ox and pair him with an older ox and they be yoked together as they pull the plow side by side. This was so the older ox would set the pace for the younger ox, keep him on track and teach him how to do the work properly.

The older ox would do the heavy lifting until the younger figured out how to plow along side him and become experienced, not going off course or burning himself out before the work is finished.

In these verses Jesus calls us to be the younger ox and He is the one setting the pace, keeping us on track and teaching us the work all the while doing the heavy lifting as we learn alongside Him.

This is a beautiful picture of Jesus as He teaches us and trains us to do the work of ministry as we minister to our friends, family, coworkers and neighbors. If we are becoming overburdened, burnt out or off course, we may have tried to take the lead away from Jesus and in doing so we are bearing the brunt of the work that Jesus is willing to take on for us.

I would suggest, we haven't learned to come under Jesus as the mature and older ox. So, if you’re feeling burdened and heavy, as I have felt some days, I would remind me and you that Jesus is the one who sets the pace and keeps us on track.

If we're feeling heavy, we aren't allowing the older ox to do His and teach us, because if we did, the yoke would be easy and the burden would be light as we learn how to do the job correctly and well side by side with our Lord.

Let's lean not on our own understanding but allow Jesus to lead us in ways that refresh us and teach us and care for our soul. When we're yoked with Jesus, we move together with Him. We move in the same direction and at the same speed. And we move in the right direction and at the right speed.

We’re in the yoke with Jesus. The One who calls us to live with righteous is the One who gives us the power to live with righteousness. The One who beckons us to trust God is the One who enables us to trust God. Jesus has invited us to be in the yoke with Him, to experience His power, His strength, His grace, His mercy working in and through us on a moment by moment basis all throughout this day.

In need of rest for your weary soul on today? Jesus is the answer!!! 

Father thank You for this day and Your strength to press on through it. Lord let Your abundant blessings be my friend and family's portion today. Lord help us to face the challenges that we must confront. Lord give us thankfulness for all that You have done to bless us. Lord give us clarity to see that living for You is the best of all choices. Lord thank You that You give us true rest for our soul and perfect peace in our heart - and that in the midst of any storm Your peace that passes all our understanding. Lord give my friend and I the charity to deal appropriately with those we meet today.

Father we love you amen !