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09-25-2007, 08:40 AM
Put on Christ’s Yoke!
A yoke is a wooden beam that is placed over the necks of two oxen or other bearers of burdens. Under each end of the beam the wood is curved, and metal or wooden bands slide over the heads of the animals. Once yoked together, the pair must work in harmony, or there will be continual chafing and strain.
To avoid a constant struggle, one member of the team must be dominant and the other submissive. The dominant one leads the way, and the submissive one learns to anticipate the moves of the leader and work in perfect harmony. If two strong-willed oxen are yoked together, there will be constant tension as one ox pulls one way and the other tries to pull in another direction.
Strain and pressures in the Christian life may indicate that we are out of step with Christ.
It is obvious that an ox can be yoked to only one partner and that the two oxen must be of equal size and strength. Otherwise, the weaker member will be under continual tension. The Law of God forbade the yoking of two animals of unequal strength, such as an ox and a donkey. (See Deuteronomy 22:10.)
How then, can a weak and faulty human be yoked with Christ, Who has infinite strength? The exciting answer is that when we take on Christ’s yoke we also take on His strength, which allows us to accomplish all the tasks before us, as Paul declares in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”1
“We must so learn of Christ, as to learn Christ, for He is both Teacher and Lesson, Guide and Way, and All in All.” —Matthew Henry
Christ’s invitation is to put on His yoke and learn of Him. We must submit ourselves to His training, will, and leadership in all things, and let our whole lives become one with Him. We must learn to abide in Christ. It is when we are truly yoked with Christ that we will be conformed to His image and become like Him. (See Romans 8:29.)
It is equally true that if we are yoked together with unbelievers we will take on their nature and characteristics. Thus, Paul warns, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (II Corinthians 6:14).
Pastor Charles Sheldon wanted to help his congregation learn to see the practical implications of a life yoked to Christ. Through stories, he encouraged them to make decisions based on what they believed Jesus would do. These stories resulted in his classic novel, In His Steps, which still challenges believers today with the question, “What would Jesus do?”
The benefits of being yoked with Christ become ours only as we yield to His leadership and learn to walk in harmony with His ways. Today, let’s choose to put on Christ’s yoke and begin asking ourselves the question, “What would Jesus do in this situation?”
Through Christ our Lord,
Bill Gothard
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
A yoke is a wooden beam that is placed over the necks of two oxen or other bearers of burdens. Under each end of the beam the wood is curved, and metal or wooden bands slide over the heads of the animals. Once yoked together, the pair must work in harmony, or there will be continual chafing and strain.
To avoid a constant struggle, one member of the team must be dominant and the other submissive. The dominant one leads the way, and the submissive one learns to anticipate the moves of the leader and work in perfect harmony. If two strong-willed oxen are yoked together, there will be constant tension as one ox pulls one way and the other tries to pull in another direction.
Strain and pressures in the Christian life may indicate that we are out of step with Christ.
It is obvious that an ox can be yoked to only one partner and that the two oxen must be of equal size and strength. Otherwise, the weaker member will be under continual tension. The Law of God forbade the yoking of two animals of unequal strength, such as an ox and a donkey. (See Deuteronomy 22:10.)
How then, can a weak and faulty human be yoked with Christ, Who has infinite strength? The exciting answer is that when we take on Christ’s yoke we also take on His strength, which allows us to accomplish all the tasks before us, as Paul declares in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”1
“We must so learn of Christ, as to learn Christ, for He is both Teacher and Lesson, Guide and Way, and All in All.” —Matthew Henry
Christ’s invitation is to put on His yoke and learn of Him. We must submit ourselves to His training, will, and leadership in all things, and let our whole lives become one with Him. We must learn to abide in Christ. It is when we are truly yoked with Christ that we will be conformed to His image and become like Him. (See Romans 8:29.)
It is equally true that if we are yoked together with unbelievers we will take on their nature and characteristics. Thus, Paul warns, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (II Corinthians 6:14).
Pastor Charles Sheldon wanted to help his congregation learn to see the practical implications of a life yoked to Christ. Through stories, he encouraged them to make decisions based on what they believed Jesus would do. These stories resulted in his classic novel, In His Steps, which still challenges believers today with the question, “What would Jesus do?”
The benefits of being yoked with Christ become ours only as we yield to His leadership and learn to walk in harmony with His ways. Today, let’s choose to put on Christ’s yoke and begin asking ourselves the question, “What would Jesus do in this situation?”
Through Christ our Lord,
Bill Gothard
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).