Rather than placing demands on us, Jesus offers us new life. What we perceive as His requirements are actually compelling pieces of evidence for us not try to do better but to give up trying to do it ourselves. We’re supposed to see how impossible His standards are. That’s the point.
“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.” (Matthew 11:29)
When Jesus invites us to take His yoke – the piece that binds and guides a beast of burden – upon us, He’s not inviting us to leave a state of freedom for His captivity. We’re Already Captive. We already have a yoke upon us – our own. We’re already slaves to our sense of independence and self-management – and it’s a horribly burdensome yoke.
No, when Jesus offers us His yoke, He is offering us a way out of this self-effort we’ve insisted on for years. He is inviting us to experience His life-giving direction and purpose. He’s generously giving us His own life.
Dependence on Jesus is a prerequisite for obedience. We cannot reverse the order without being crushed beneath the obligations of life and our attempts at self-righteousness. We must be taught dependence first.
There is a huge difference between task master and teacher. Which way do we most often relate to Jesus? Have we been reverting to the self-management to which we were all one enslaved? Let’s learn to see His yoke as a life-giving promise. Though He insists on everything we have in the transaction, it’s for our freedom, not our captivity. Let’s remember the gentleness of our Teacher and know that His yoke never adds to our burden.
Have a rest-filled weekend. Make it better by worshiping The LORD with those who have tossed the yoke of self-management in the fire because they have learned it doesn’t compare to the true freedom found in Him.
All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.
Vic Alvarado 