— From the distaff side —

 

Yokefellows

Nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus issued a timeless invitation to you, me and all mankind when He said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  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.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" — Mt 11:28-30.  Rest is always welcome, but what’s a yoke?

A yoke is a “bar or frame of wood by which two draft animals, especially oxen, are joined at the heads or necks for working together, as for drawing a plow or load”.  Though hardly sounding easy, yoking portrays a wondrous spiritual union with Jesus; a relationship that is light on our shoulders.  His "Come unto Me" reveals such a compassionate yearning for every one of us to have this eternal and loving, yoke-relationship.  The Amplified Bible describes it as "wholesome, useful, good — not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable, gracious and pleasant." Seemingly formed to fit each person’s uniqueness, it suggests that being yoked with Jesus is a sheer joy of fellowship.  His yoke fits well, feels right and is easy to bear while walking and laboring alongside Him (Ephes 2:4-10; Col 3:3; Acts 17:28).  Then again, could being in partnership with God, the Son, be anything less?  (Jn1:1)

How do we become yoked?  By responding in faith to God’s invitation (Jn 3:16,17).  Our relationship with Jesus begins by believing He died for our sins and raised again from the dead; repenting and asking forgiveness for our sins and inviting Him to become our personal Lord and Savior.  By giving Him our temporal life, God gives us His eternal life.  He credits us with the righteousness of Jesus’ finished work of perfect obedience that culminated in His suffering and death on the cross (Phil 2;7,8).  We are counted worthy to receive all the blessings conferred upon Jesus in His triumph over sin, satan, the flesh and the world (Eph 1:3; Rom 8:32; 2Cor 2:14).  Now listen to this: Faith and acceptance are our only cost to become yoked — Jesus paid the rest.

What power comes with embracing this!  What reward accrues to the one released from the heavy burden of sin, guilt and the futility of trying to live by their own strength only (Gal 2:20; Phil 4:13).  Harnessed with our Yokefellow, we have His promised rest, unmatched peace, relief, ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet to our souls for we are bonded with the perfectly obedient One (Mt 11:30 AB).  By yoking with Jesus, He becomes our Saviour, Lord, Burden-bearer and the pre-emanate example of God’s loving nature.  He shows us the way — humble yet glorious!

ABOUT US:  Founded in 1993, Hallelujah Living Ministries is a donation-based, non-denominational Christian outreach to uplift, inform and challenge followers of Jesus Christ.  For more information or a copy of our always-free print newsletter, please include a  postal mail address along with your comments and prayer requests. Thank you for visiting  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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