Just a Thought: Yoking is a team sport. To put two oxen under a Yoke is to share the burden of the load. They are teamed up so the burden of the load is shared. Jesus uses this image to call all who will come to Him in childlike faith to be relieved of their burdens and heavy labor by yoking up with Him. Bringing our burdens of quilt, fear or shame to Jesus, He relieves us of carrying those things ourselves. He takes them on for us so that our load is released as it is shared with Him. Burdens of trying to figure life out on our own, gone when we give it to Jesus. The burden of worry, gone when we give it to Jesus. The burden of dealing with difficult people or difficult situations, gone when we give it to Jesus. The burden of addiction, pain from our past and our old heart, gone when we give it to Jesus. When we come to Him in childlike faith believing, here is what he offers. “”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.” (Matt 11:28-29) Yoking is a team sport. Jesus said take My Yoke upon you (which means to team up with Jesus) and learn from me. A team of oxen that are teamed up under a yoke must work and walk together very closely. They are in lock step with each other. To yoke up with Jesus means to come to Him and walk with Him. To be close to Him. To work where He is working and go where He is going. You can’t be that close to someone and not learn intimate things about them. James promises us if we will draw close to God, He will draw close to us. Peter promises we can cast our cares upon Jesus because He cares for us. Jesus promises to Yoke up with us if we will bring our burdens to Him. If you need rest for your weary soul today, this is how you get it. You come to Jesus, get in lock step with Him in childlike faith trusting Him and He will lift our burdens. He will give you rest. Yoking is a team sport. And today, you can when you join team Jesus and find release and rest for your soul and life.
