04/14/2025
What does it mean to be yoked with Jesus? This is our concentration for the day. Will we find a life of leisure, hardship, joy, suffering? What will this life mean to us spiritually and physically? When we read the scripture in which Jesus invites us to become yoked with Him, we hear descriptions that sound appealing... restful, gentle, easy, and light... let's read this again:
“Come to me, all 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."”
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
Jesus helps us through life, and encourages us, but before He can ease our burden, we first must bear one. If we look at another passage of scripture it tells us that certain hardships are normal to faith. As a matter of fact, our faith depends on them in order to grow.
“And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?” My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”
Hebrews 12:5-8 ESV
We are meant to teach and discipline our own children as well. We smooth the path before them, but we also let them fall from time to time in order to teach a lesson. A baby that never falls, never walks. A child that never learns discipline at the table, never has manners. A young person that never fails a test never obtains an education. And... a Christian that is never disciplined by God, never grows in faith, love, and obedience to Him.
Pastor Oswald Chambers wrote of this too. He assured us that even the most saintly of people will face trials, hardship, and discipline...
"Where do the saints get their joy from? - Lift the veil. The fact that the peace and the light and the joy of God are there is proof that the burden is there too. The burden God places squeezes the grapes and out comes the wine, most of us see the wine only." - Oswald Chambers
So, to be yoked with Jesus insures us that He will help us stay within the will of God, and that in times of discipline or hardship He will tutor us in the lesson. How often have we faced a trying time in our lives and suffered in it for a long time before finally going to the Word and opening the door to our prayer closet and Jesus? Then, in that moment of tutelage the problem becomes simple to solve and our burden light. This isn't like hitting the easy button, and sometimes the trouble doesn’t go away. Often it is like a light bulb coming on and we see that God is there with us. Our problems don't magically disappear, but we learn to walk the path around or through them, and sometimes we find that we must simply accept, relax, and find comfort in them. This is the true mastery of suffering, and the peace that God can bring us as we face life. This is what teaches us how to praise God in the storm.
If Jesus had not spent His early life being prepared for what was to come, and the 40 days He wandered and was tempted in the desert, would He have been able to withstand the ultimate temptation of Satan with all its allure? If Jesus hadn't spent years with God, His Father, would He have been able to face the cross and all it was? Well, we can rest assured that the Son of God could have... but what of His other half... the Son of Man? Thankfully that is a rhetorical question and one we will never have to answer.
So, we do face hardship, and we do find our burdens eased in Jesus, but each time we call out to Him for help we learn and grow in our faith. Sometimes He comes quickly, sometimes He waits, and sometimes He might not respond at all. It all depends on the lesson. Are we in a dangerous situation that requires immediate attention? Are we being taught a lesson in patience that must be developed slowly? Or a longer lasting lesson of perseverance that has no foreseeable end to us? Regardless of our situation, we must remained yoked to Jesus, and in so doing our burden will be lightened... it will become bearable, and we will be allowed to rest before continuing on.
When Jesus asked us to be yoked with Him, He didn't say He would remove our burden... no, He only said that He would make it lighter. He didn't say that He would take away all the pain, suffering, and challenge... no, in Him they will just become easier for us to bear. Let’s reread our opening scripture reference paying close attention to these nuances, and learn from Him.
“Come to me, all 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."”
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
The yoke of Jesus doesn’t take away our hardships, but He does say that they will become easier, and lighter in Him. When we begin a fast our hunger pains are intense and our desire for food almost overwhelming, but as we pray and lean on the Lord they subside, and we find comfort in Him. Whatever our trial or burden is today, let’s pray that our yoke become the yoke of Christ…
Prayer:
Father I thank you for the yoke of Jesus Christ that doesn’t take all my burdens away, but always makes them lighter and bearable. Father, I thank you for your discipline because it teaches me to know you better and increases my faith. Your lessons prepare me for the greater temptations and challenges of Satan that are to come, and Lord I find the strength in Jesus in each one. I thank you for your Son Jesus Christ with whom I am yoked. He gives me rest when I am weary and eases my burden in those difficult times that I encounter in my life. Holy Father, never take your hand from me, and never spare the rod, because in your correction I find sanctity and righteousness, and by your hand I become Holy and dedicated to your will. When life seems unfair and my infirmities seem to know no end, let me rejoice in you, and call upon Jesus who walks beside me. Your love is without end, your goodness and mercy boundless, and your will for me perfect in every way. Pour your grace over me Abba and let it comfort me and sustain me in every storm as I praise your Holy Name and give you all the honor and glory for the peace and rest that flows over me in the midst of them! Hear my prayers as I ask for your relief Father and remove the burdensome yoke of this world from me as you refit me with the easier and lighter yoke of my Savior Jesus Christ. Hear me as I call out Holy, Holy, Holy, with the heavenly host and say aloud that you are my God who leads me in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. Hear me as I kneel before you and whisper words of love and pray that you will take pleasure in my song as I sing Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, before your throne. Then at last, as I am conformed to your will, reaffirm and strengthen me in my belief and faith, because in this way I will humbly be able to say Amen to you, and receive the merciful yoke of Jesus forevermore.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah… Amen!
“1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.”
Psalm 23 ESV
“As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”
James 5:10-11 ESV
Rich Forbes