Daily Devotional for Thursday, March 19, 2009 Have you missed any of our devotionals? Remember they can be found in the Archive section of our Website
http://www.gospelines.com "My Yoke is Easy" "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." (Matthew 11:30) We've all read these words of Jesus; but, have you ever thought deeply about their meaning? I must admit that until recently, I thought Jesus was talking about the wooden bar that is fitted on the neck of oxen to allowed two animals to be coupled (yoked) so that they might work together more effectively to pull a plow, cart, or other heavy load. I assumed He was somehow referring to us being linked (yoked) to Him or to the Church or other believers. Consider these words in Acts 15:10. "Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?" I don't think Peter was talking about "yoking" two disciples together. He was referring to them as individuals. The yoke Jesus (and Peter) were referring to was not an oxen yoke, but rather a water-carrying yoke. These wooden yokes were custom made to fit the individual's shoulders. They had to be strong, yet comfortable, light and well balanced. They were made by skilled carpenters. The load they carried was determined by the size of the buckets fitted to the yoke. The bigger the load, the more important comfort (custom fit) and balance became. However, no matter how well the yoke was constructed, if the load was too big, the wearer couldn't carry the water very far. What did the carpenter Jesus say? "Take My yoke" - Custom made by My gentle hands to fit your shoulders. When you "Take My yoke upon you" and feel its comfortable fit and its smooth finish, you'll be able to see into My heart and learn about Me because I put My Soul into My work. He also said, "My burden is light" - So light that you can even rest while carrying it. You may be thinking, "Wow, what an interesting insight into these words of Jesus." That's ok; but, if we stop here, we'll miss one of Him most significant points. Jesus also said, "My yoke is easy." Jesus will never tie you up in rules, regulations, exceptions and strange or confounding traditions. His Words are simple and easy to understand: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself. Do this and you will live." (Luke 10:26-28) Take His yoke upon you and learn from Him, for He is gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For His yoke is easy and His burden is light. O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [email protected] or [email protected] window live messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
