Man, life can be a real burden at times. The economy, family life, work life, health concerns, and of course the Surgeon General WannaBe, Joe Biden, on Swine Flu. Everywhere I turn, life is heavy with challenges. Then along came Jesus in Matthew 11:30 with what He called a yoke that is light. The yoke He is referring to is our belief system, how we view God and how we have a relationship directly with God. My life , and yours, would feel greatly different if we could exchange my burdensome, heavily yoked life for one that is light as a feather. I could rest easier, breathe better and smile more! If I could just learn to take on the Yoke of Jesus. In other words, If I could simply believe as He does and seek His counsel on my choices and challenges, then I wouldn't be so dependent on my own abilities. If I were to take His Yoke, I might feel less pressure, frustration, discouragement, anger, or helplessness. It would be a great way to live. But do any of us really live that way? I don't! About the time I start whining and complaining about carrying my burdens and my yoke, I need to search and rediscover that they are MY burdens and MY yoke. Jesus can, and will remove MY yoke and replace it with HIS, but I must ask Him to do that and trust that He can. When I come to the proper conclusion that I need Him to relieve me of my junk, then I can freely ask Him for relief and a new, lighter yoke. Relief that only He can give. Jesus causes the burdens I bear to become light as He begins to carry and solve them for me. That's what the life of the Christ-Follower should feel like, not a life filled with keeping a list of church or denominational rules. May you discover a lighter life through carrying a lighter yoke. may you breathe a little easier and live a little lighter as He exchanges your yoke for His.
Peace, Chuck
