The Easy Yoke

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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

Continuing with the thought line from "Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell, when understanding the concept of "Bind and Loose" (previous blog: Forbid & Permit), a Rabbi's yoke is the whole scope of his understanding of how scripture applies to living for God.

When we read about Jesus' condemnation of the spiritual leaders of his day, he was condemning them for putting a heavy burden on the people of God. He was telling them that their yoke was too heavy. Further, he condemns them for getting the minutiae of the law but missing the weightier concepts of the law (Matthew 23:23-24).

I do not believe that the Christian life should be one that is caught up with self-condmenation and recrimination for failing to meet some list of "Christian Values." In some circles of Christianity, we have created a new kind of Pharisee-ism, by having both tacit and explicit rules of conduct for defining what it means to be Christian.

This is not an excuse to sin, or have weak moral fibre (Romans 7), rather it is a call to the believer to seek a closer, more intimate walk with Jesus. When we love someone, when we have a close relationship with someone, we do not find it so difficult to sacrifice for that someone (Romans 12:1-2).

The weight of the gospels, and the exhortation of Paul to various churches throughout the Mediterranean World speak to the importance and centrality of the heart, or the core of our soul. If we know Him in our hearts, then we will know how to live a life that is pleasing to God.

If within our souls, we are seeking to have that intimate relationship with Jesus, then his yoke will be easy and his burden light. If Christianity seems to be a great burden, then I would submit to you that you are not bearing Christ - but someone else's version of what they think it should be.

If your life is dull, if your walk seems not so Christian, if your ears cannot seem to hear God, then perhaps it is time to draw closer to Him. Jesus promised us that if we seek Him, we will find Him.

If you feel down, if you feel over-whelmed with life, if your prayers seem to bounce off of the ceiling, if it seems like the only ears that hear your heart are your own - Then my prayer is that the God all Comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) would draw your spirit unto His. Whatever binds and cripples your heart, whatever keeps it from experiencing the love of God, I pray that it would be cast aside and that you would understand in a deep and personal moment what God's love is for you right now. Your enemy Satan and his minions fear hearts that are unleashed in the power of Christ and upheld by the love of God. May they fear your ransomed heart today!