In many rural parts of the world, animals are still used to plow fields and carry heavy burdens. And it’s just cowboy logic that when you’re yoking animals together, you should always pair two of the same kind.
It’s much easier to plow a field when you yoke two oxen together instead of an ox and a Shetland pony. A Shetland pony just isn’t built for the same kind of work. You need a team that works together—one that’s united in strength and direction.
Now, you might not be a farmer in Indonesia, so using oxen to plow anything might seem pretty foreign to you. But in Jesus’ day, this was common knowledge. And He used that everyday image to teach us a powerful spiritual truth.
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
The first thing to notice is that Jesus invites you to come to Him and put on His yoke. Coming to Jesus with the heavy burdens of your life should always be your first step. But too often, we yoke ourselves to worldly things.
And when we do, the “animal” pulling next to us—whether it’s money, sin, greed, unforgiveness, or something else—looks nothing like Jesus. That makes life more difficult than it needs to be. The rest we long for remains out of reach.
Jesus is asking you to partner with Him and learn from Him. When was the last time you let Jesus be your teacher?
If you’re not yoked with Jesus, there is no “rest for your soul.”
Jesus already took the burden of your sin with Him to the cross. He carried what you could not—your sin and shame—so you can find true rest through Him.
That doesn’t mean your life will suddenly be problem-free. But it does mean you can face life’s hard parts with Jesus by your side. He’ll show you how to walk through them, and He’ll do the heavy lifting along the way.
So come to Him. Take His yoke. Walk in step with Him.
Think about it:
- What are you currently yoked to that might be pulling you away from the rest Jesus offers?
- In what area of your life do you need to let Jesus do the heavy lifting and teach you His way?
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