Yoked

“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 11:29-30 Jesus recognized that his listeners would know how a yoke keeps two oxen together as they plow the fields for a new season of crop planting. The stronger ox leads the weaker ox, one row at a time toward the completion of their arduous task. Humans are unquestionably the weaker ox in this illustration, as we stumble and sin, which raises the provoking question, What am I yoking my life to?

We are a hurried people, always about our business in a frenzied manner. But Jesus invites both you and me to find rest for our weary souls by embracing his death-defeating, freeing, and lovely yoke.