March 23, 2023
“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.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Devotional
Keeping up with and living under the endless religious laws and regulations of the day was quite the burden for the Jews. It was a heavy yoke for them to carry day in and day out. The Pharisees referred to this burden as the “yoke of the Torah.” Jesus offered to them (and to us) a completely different yoke, one that involved getting “yoked to Him.”
A yoke is defined as “a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull.” Jesus offered his followers an opportunity to be paired up with Him. He offered to do life with them, walk beside them to help to carry their burdens, and help them plow the field that he had given them to work. But how often do we try to do our plowing alone and in our own strength? For me, that happens more often than I want to admit.
Sometimes when we plow alone without His help, we make ourselves so weary and numb that we don’t have the energy to live fully and experience the beautiful life that we have been given. Help us to wake up and share the load with you, Lord.
For Reflection
What fields of work are you plowing with Jesus today?
What fields of work have you kept him from plowing with you?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I often try to carry my work and my worries on my own. I am weary of trying to do it alone. I invite you to plow with me and walk alongside me as I work the fields that you have assigned to me. Help me to remember that your yoke is easy and your burden is light. AMEN.
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