Taking His Yoke - Advent Reflection (December 9th)
December. 10. 2009 07:28 AM
“Though
young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger
and fall, They that hope in the LORD will renew their
strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; They
will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow
faint.” – Isaiah 40:25-31
Jesus
said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor
and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my
yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and
humble of heart; and you will find rest for
yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden
light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
A yoke has a place for two to carry a load. Jesus calls us to come and share His yoke with him. So we take off the yoke of this world—a yoke that weighs heavily on us with immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed, anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language (Col 3:5, 8)—and we “put on” the yoke of “heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Col 3:12). In calling us to share this yoke, Jesus beckons us to share in His joys; share in His love; share in His sufferings; share in His sacrifice.
It is not easy, but it is worth it, for He is with us every step of the way to help us find rest. In the race toward the “goal, the prize of God’s upward calling in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14), we will “run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” Whether we are surging forward in our faith—on fire for God and praying without ceasing—or slowing up a bit, experiencing a “dark night of the soul,” God is there and has been there. For “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15). Jesus has been tempted by the Devil, threatened, hated, abandoned by friends, tortured, mocked, scourged, beaten, and spat upon. Do we not also experience these in daily life, albeit, to a lesser extent? Our father has abandoned or abused us, our mother is constantly critical, our spouse or friends disappoint us, our enemies mock us for our faith, and we are tempted by our insecurities, pride or lust.
Thus, having a sympathetic, compassionate Savior, we “confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help” (Heb 4:16). We do not go at it alone, but we humbly admit that we are burdened—overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, troubled, worried—at the big or small tasks of daily life. And, the Good News is, once we “hope in the LORD,” our strength will be renewed and we will “soar as with eagles’ wings.”
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
A yoke has a place for two to carry a load. Jesus calls us to come and share His yoke with him. So we take off the yoke of this world—a yoke that weighs heavily on us with immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed, anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language (Col 3:5, 8)—and we “put on” the yoke of “heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Col 3:12). In calling us to share this yoke, Jesus beckons us to share in His joys; share in His love; share in His sufferings; share in His sacrifice.
It is not easy, but it is worth it, for He is with us every step of the way to help us find rest. In the race toward the “goal, the prize of God’s upward calling in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14), we will “run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” Whether we are surging forward in our faith—on fire for God and praying without ceasing—or slowing up a bit, experiencing a “dark night of the soul,” God is there and has been there. For “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15). Jesus has been tempted by the Devil, threatened, hated, abandoned by friends, tortured, mocked, scourged, beaten, and spat upon. Do we not also experience these in daily life, albeit, to a lesser extent? Our father has abandoned or abused us, our mother is constantly critical, our spouse or friends disappoint us, our enemies mock us for our faith, and we are tempted by our insecurities, pride or lust.
Thus, having a sympathetic, compassionate Savior, we “confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help” (Heb 4:16). We do not go at it alone, but we humbly admit that we are burdened—overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, troubled, worried—at the big or small tasks of daily life. And, the Good News is, once we “hope in the LORD,” our strength will be renewed and we will “soar as with eagles’ wings.”
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
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