“Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me;for I am meek and lowly in heart:and you shall find rest unto your souls”. Mathew 11:29
The above verse tells the need to allow Jesus to put His yoke on us,the way a farmer would put one on his live stock to direct it. It means allowing Jesus to control us and letting Him direct our efforts.
Our yoke which make us weighed down is our guilt,worries,troubles and responsibilities.Jesus offers us the yoke of the fear of God. It I s a light yoke and the major part of the weight rests on Him.It is lighter than the yoke of the fear of man ,fear of death,evil,judgement, failure, fear of unknown and future.All our earthly fears will feel lighter as the Lord Himself lift our minds.In Bible wearing a yoke often speaks of as slavery and hardship .
1King 12:4 “your father made our yoke harsh, you , therefore, lighten your fathers harsh service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you”.
Removing or breaking a yoke represents freedom.Isaiah 58:6 says” Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free,and that you break every yoke.”It is the freedom of acceptance with God and of access to God through Christ. God’s grace, confirmed by the blood of Jesus, gives us freedom from slavery to the law and release us from sin and death.
(Galatians 4:24-31)By faith in Jesus Christ,the Jews and gentiles are accepted into God,s family.
“ We are made right with God by placing our faith inJesus Christ”.(Romans3:21-22)The yoke of Jesus are the godly principles.He taught us for remembering, observing and keeping.So that we can build our lives on the rock foundation. Jesus is the rock.The yoke that Jesus offers is fruitful or productive in terms of our character and qualities. Those who do not trust in Jesus are heavily burdened, restless and weary. They are weighed down by their own pride.So they don’t admit that they are overburdened and tired. It is manifested in anger.We can rise in every situation and circumstances in the wings of prayer and the word.
Our identity is derived from Him —-In Exodus3:14 God says”I AM WHO I A M”John10:11,14 says “I AM the good shepherd “. John8:35 says. “I AM the bread of life” John15:1-17says”I AM the true vine” John10:7 says “I AM the gate or door” John 11:25 says”I AM the life and resurrection “ John14:6says”I AM the way,the truth and the life”.
The above seven identities are the seven parts of the yoke of Jesus.It is a yoke which lighten our load,eases our pain,meets our needs,equip us,leads ,guides and one that lighten up our lives.By accepting the lighter yoke we can renew our minds with the word and the spirit of God .We have a living yoke inside us which is fruitful. The living and the lighter yoke is the Word of God.It penetrate our souls and release grace and power.
Heavenly Father We thank you for giving us a lighter yoke and took away the heavy yoke which weighed us down. Thank you for helping us to imitate Jesus’s humility and gentleness to get the victory.In Jesus name I pray,Amen
Sol.Gigi Jacob