S) "28 Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB)
O) This is the heart of the gospel. This is a vital part of discipleship. Failing to properly grasp this, could be the primary reason for apostasy. Jesus does call us to obey Him, following His steps in righteous living, worship, giving, and prayer. All of those actions, though, are external executions of a disciple, and they are exhausting. The Pharisees did these things, and required them of their disciples as well. So, the difference with Jesus's discipleship, is that He offers rest, gentleness, humility. All of the rest of the burdens of the world, Jesus takes from us and puts on Himself. And, the nature of all of those other burdens is sin - that is exactly why Jesus came. When we have taken off the heavy chains of sin (or truly, when Jesus breaks them off us), and we put on His yoke, learning His ways, it is light. It would be light anyway, fulfilling God's design for us, but it is especially light compared to the heavy burden of our sin and brokenness.
A) When following Jesus feels like a chore, that is a humongous red flag, that the core of the gospel has been missed. If I am trying to take His yoke upon me, while I am still wearing the chains of my sin, then I am tormented by the contrast. The weight of sin will wear me down, while I am fooled into thinking it's the weight of His yoke. The solution, then, is to focus on the gospel daily. Doing so will help me focus on the newness of His plan. When I am focused on the beauty of grace and mercy, offered by the suffering and victory of Christ Jesus, then I am lifted from the broken chains around my feet. Taking up my cross, His yoke, is then my joy. While I was enslaved to sin, chained by my burdens, I walked in circles around my death sentence. I was slowly strangling on that tightening chain. When freed of those chains, and under His yoke, I am free to run and follow His path to life.
P) Father, this is so beautiful, and yet I do not think about it often (at least not often enough). I get distracted by a lot of things in this world. Temptations to sin, obligations to family, duties at work... I do not want to miss Your beauty, Father. What Jesus offers me, this is a daily offer of rest and life. Sometimes, it seems like I pick up those heavy burdens, and put those chains back on myself. I forget about the yoke You have given me. Forgive me for those sins, Father God. Open my ears to hear Your call everyday, that I would take up my cross and bear Your easy yoke and light burden. Let Your will be done in my life, as it is in heaven. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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