At the last “Charge” (Campus for Christ’s weekly large group meeting), the speaker Brad spoke on the passage in Matthew 11, and in particular verses 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.”

Something he really took time to explain was why Jesus asks us to take his yoke. First, this is what a yoke looks like:

During Jesus’ time, carpenters would have to properly fit the yoke around the necks of oxen or cows. The origin of the term “stiff-necked” came from oxen that refused to “bow their necks” (ie: had stiff necks) to the carpenter while he fitted them with the yoke. And so, stiff-necked oxen would have improperly fitting yokes that would chaff the neck and hurt them.

All of us have burdens of some sort…And often times it seems way too heavy for us to carry by ourselves. But Jesus’ yoke is easy to weary and easy to bear.

See how there are two “hooks” in the picture? A farmer would often pair untrained oxen (young ones) up with a more experienced (and I guess bigger) oxen. The experienced one would pretty much bear all the weight of the yoke and give direction as to where to go, while the young ox would just be cruising along for the ride. Thus, when Jesus calls us to take his yoke, he means we don’t need to carry our burdens – He’ll carry it for us (all the weight is on Jesus! We just need to be guided by him). The condition is though, that we “bow our necks” to God, and allow the yoke to be fitted properly. Sin and areas where we refuse to let God work are often the causes of us feeling “burdened” and weary.

We need to

-Repent
-Release (the sin)
-Receive His grace

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steafast because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal (Isaiah 26:3-4)

“His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:10

The way we continually talk about our own inability is an insult to the Creator. The deploring of our own incompetence is a slander against God for having overlooked us. Get into the habit of examining in the sight of God the things that sound humble before men, and you will be amazed at how staggeringly impertinent they are. “Oh, I shouldn’t like to say I am sanctified; I’m not a saint.” Say that before God; and it means – “No, Lord, it is impossible for You to save and sanctify me; there are chances I have not had; so many imperfections in my brain and body; no, Lord, it isn’t possible.” That may sound wonderfully humble before men, but before God it is an attitude of defiance.

Again, the things that sound humble before God may sound the opposite before men. To say Thank God, I know I am saved and sanctified is in the sight of God the acme of humility, it means you have so completely abandoned yourself to God that you know He is true. Never bother your head as to whether what you say sounds humble before men or not, but always be humble before God, and let Him be all in all.

There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go, but maintain that at all costs, and God will fulfil His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.

~Oswald Chambers (from My Utmost for His Highest, Nov 30)