May 2020 - Take My Yoke …!

Living out the gospel does not mean that we won’t have burdens and difficulties during our time on earth. Yet Jesus invites us to allow him to carry the burdens for us. How? Jesus says, “Take my yoke.” 

What does it really mean when Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me?” What can we learn from taking on Jesus’ yoke?  

His Yoke Links Us Together 

Many of us are seeking more independence in our lives, but Jesus issues a radical invitation that should leave us speechless. Taking on a yoke sounds more like dependence and less like independence. Yet that is the very thing that Jesus is inviting us to consider, as his yoke is easy and light. Obviously, dependence on the wrong things is unwise – such as women who stick with abusive boyfriends because they can’t imagine life without them or young adults who keep relying on their parents. Why, though, would we want to be independent from the Creator of the universe, who gives us eternal life, frees us from sin and heals our brokenness?   

What if we stopped trying to do things in our own strength and trusted God to guide us every step of the way? It is when we are yoked to Jesus that we work with him for his greater purposes. 

His Yoke Changes Us 

When we are yoked to Jesus, we learn gentleness and humility. How many of us are striving to learn this on our own or from the messages of the world? As we surrender our own wills to his will, the world will see more of the gentleness and humility of Jesus in our lives. Let’s let go and let Jesus teach us to serve with humility and gentleness. 

This month as we pray for refugees around the world and for more people to recognize and call on the power of prayer, let us take his yoke in the process. May our prayers be submitted in humility and gentleness, trusting God to move in the hearts of the hurting and hopeless. 

Check out “Exploring Hope Today” in this issue for some additional personal thoughts on this topic.