Yoked

I have never liked the idea of being controlled by anyone or anything. I must confess I get testy when I even perceive I’m not in the driver’s seat. I want to be in control. The idea of being yoked in any way seems oppressive to me.

Certainly there are yokes of bondage that need to be broken. In Isaiah we read,

…to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
and to set the oppressed free and break every yoke… (Isaiah 58:6) 

Isaiah described yokes of social injustice and oppression. So is it possible that a yoke could be good? Jesus tells me that His yoke is good for me.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:30) 

What is this yoke and how can it possibly be good for me? In days of old the master hand crafted each wooden yoke to fit the body of each individual beast of burden. This was done to make the burden lighter. Christ has tailored my yoke to fit me well so as to lighten the burdens I must bear and accomplish the task of growing my faith. Will I trust the Master’s yoke?

Will you choose to put on Christ’s yoke this week with me rather than be burdened with the yoke of our own way?

Sharing the journey with you,