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, for 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." (NIV)
Most of us haven’t seen a yoke of oxen. I have seen a yoke of water buffalo plowing a field in China, but never oxen. For a beast of burden, a yoke doesn’t appear to be easy or light. But, this is what Jesus promises us.
A good yoke is made in such a way that the surface is smooth so the animal won’t suffer from the apparatus. The animal is still working a long, hard day. But, even a hard day goes better when the yoke isn’t gouging into your neck and the weight isn’t sapping your strength. Relatively speaking, there is comfort and ease amid the labor.
What is Jesus getting at? His words imply that every person is toiling away with a yoke around their neck. Most people are completely exhausted. But, Jesus has a way of going about things where the work can be accomplished, yet we aren’t abused or injured at the close of the day. In fact, Jesus promises “rest for [our] souls.”
What is weighing down your soul today? Right now, take a moment and give your burden to Jesus. Ask to receive his knowledge and his rest.
Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
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