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, because 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.”
Dear Lord Jesus,
Your words bring us sinners so much comfort. This world’s pressures, troubles, commitments, and obligations, and let’s not forget the past mistakes and guilt, can weigh us down. Then we have our vocation, how we serve others in this earthly kingdom; by the end of the day, we become tired. So for everyone who suffers under the pressures of the world, you say, “I will give you rest.” I love the picture you have given us of this yoke—the custom-made apparatus to fit over a pair of oxen so they could plow the fields, carrying the weight together. I have to admit; I am often afraid to let go of all my baggage because it is familiar. But when I am yoked together with you in faith—with the yoke, you custom-made for me—you lift all my burdens and cares from me. You encourage us to sit at your feet like Mary Magdalen did with you and learn from you to focus on our eternal life. To realize that the things of the world do not matter. Our sin’s guilt we have, you already lifted off of us on your custom-made yoke, the cross. In all humility, you paid the price for every rotting, stinking sin I have ever committed, and you went like a sheep, before the shearers, is silent. Send us your helper, the Holy Spirit, that we can learn from you, learn today you have removed every one of our sins. In you, we have rest from all the pain and sorrows we face; we turn them ALL over to you. Yes, Jesus, when we hand it to you, your yoke is easy, and the burden is nonexistent because you pull all the weight. Thank you for being my Savior. Amen.
Pastor Roger Emmons
What is the lure of clinging to our baggage from this world? Yes, it is familiar, but perhaps, we should make Christ’s yoke the new standard, and through faith, we can.