"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." - Jesus
There are a few seeming paradoxes in the Bible and especially in the teachings of Jesus. Lose your life and you will find it. Give and you will receive. Humble yourself and you will be exalted. You get the idea.
Perhaps the most mystifying is the directive in the book of Hebrews that tells us that there is a rest promised to the people of God and that we are to "labor to enter into that rest." Prior to that the writer of Hebrews talked about ceasing from striving, just as Abraham ceased from his own efforts and just believed. So did a whole host of others, as Hebrews outlined. So this rest is not Heaven; it is a state of mind, of contentment.
"Labor to enter into that rest." Sounds weird. Kind of like when Jesus talked about the yoke He wanted us to wear. How anyone could find rest with a yoke (physical OR spiritual) strapped on, is beyond human understanding. Until you realize what a yoke does. It focuses the animal on the task in front of it. And ONLY on that task. It trains the ox to live in the moment, to cooperate with every step, to listen to the master. Further, when a young ox needs to be taught how to function in the yoke, how to receive instruction for that moment and that moment only, it is paired with an older, more experienced ox, who will keep the younger one on the path and teach it to respond to the master's commands.
That Jesus would use that illustration not only spoke to the farmers and others in that rural community, but it gave a very powerful hint at the secret to a happy life. That secret is living in the NOW. This is where the illustration above comes in. The New Testament calls the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in us the moment we personally cling to the sacrifice of Jesus as the only way to relationship with God, a Counselor. The Greek word used here is parakletos, meaning advocate, or one "called alongside to help." Fighting against the yoke, being distracted from the moment, causes much distress to the young ox until it gives up its own agenda and works with the older, more powerful ox. Instantly the task becomes much easier, and the drag on the yoke ceases. The job is done in half the time. "My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
In fact, once the ox has learned to live in the moment, it is common to see the pair chewing their cuds while working side by side. A ruminant like a cow or an ox will not chew its cud if it is stressed. Such an animal chewing its cud is a picture of rest, of contentment. It has learned to listen; it has submitted its will to the care and instruction of the master, and it has found peace.
Finding that place of peace takes work. Not busywork. Not following a set of rules and regulations. It takes work to make a priority out of spending time with Him and listening to His voice. Not because we're "supposed to" but because He is our life. Once that willing communion, that ready fellowship and cooperation happens, there is rest.
There are a few seeming paradoxes in the Bible and especially in the teachings of Jesus. Lose your life and you will find it. Give and you will receive. Humble yourself and you will be exalted. You get the idea.
Perhaps the most mystifying is the directive in the book of Hebrews that tells us that there is a rest promised to the people of God and that we are to "labor to enter into that rest." Prior to that the writer of Hebrews talked about ceasing from striving, just as Abraham ceased from his own efforts and just believed. So did a whole host of others, as Hebrews outlined. So this rest is not Heaven; it is a state of mind, of contentment.
"Labor to enter into that rest." Sounds weird. Kind of like when Jesus talked about the yoke He wanted us to wear. How anyone could find rest with a yoke (physical OR spiritual) strapped on, is beyond human understanding. Until you realize what a yoke does. It focuses the animal on the task in front of it. And ONLY on that task. It trains the ox to live in the moment, to cooperate with every step, to listen to the master. Further, when a young ox needs to be taught how to function in the yoke, how to receive instruction for that moment and that moment only, it is paired with an older, more experienced ox, who will keep the younger one on the path and teach it to respond to the master's commands.
That Jesus would use that illustration not only spoke to the farmers and others in that rural community, but it gave a very powerful hint at the secret to a happy life. That secret is living in the NOW. This is where the illustration above comes in. The New Testament calls the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in us the moment we personally cling to the sacrifice of Jesus as the only way to relationship with God, a Counselor. The Greek word used here is parakletos, meaning advocate, or one "called alongside to help." Fighting against the yoke, being distracted from the moment, causes much distress to the young ox until it gives up its own agenda and works with the older, more powerful ox. Instantly the task becomes much easier, and the drag on the yoke ceases. The job is done in half the time. "My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
In fact, once the ox has learned to live in the moment, it is common to see the pair chewing their cuds while working side by side. A ruminant like a cow or an ox will not chew its cud if it is stressed. Such an animal chewing its cud is a picture of rest, of contentment. It has learned to listen; it has submitted its will to the care and instruction of the master, and it has found peace.
Finding that place of peace takes work. Not busywork. Not following a set of rules and regulations. It takes work to make a priority out of spending time with Him and listening to His voice. Not because we're "supposed to" but because He is our life. Once that willing communion, that ready fellowship and cooperation happens, there is rest.
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