August 11
The Two-Part Invitation
“ ‘Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.’ ” (Matthew 11:29–30).
In Matthew 11, Jesus follows His invitation to rest with the invitation to take His yoke and learn from Him. He is telling us there is more; His invitation to rest is a package deal. If we are true followers of Jesus Christ, then we will take His yoke upon us. But what does that mean?
The concept of a yoke would have been readily understood by the people of Jesus’ day. It was a steering device that was placed on animals to guide the plows or carts they were pulling. So Jesus, in essence, is saying, “Take my steering device upon you.” He is saying, “Let me be in control of your life. Let me guide your life. Let me direct your life.”
You might be thinking, “Here Jesus says that He will give me rest. Now He is saying to put on His yoke and learn. That sounds like work.” I want you to know that it will be as much of a weight to you as wings are to a bird. It will be a joy, because now instead of wasting your life serving yourself or living for pleasure or success or whatever else one lives for, you will be channeling your energies into following and serving Jesus Christ.
You may give up some things to follow the Lord. But what you give up can’t begin to compare to what He has given you. It is not just a great thing to do with your life. It is the most satisfying to do with your life.
Copyright © 2004 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
