The Yoke of God

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Yoking up Jesus we will learn how to live and labor under His leadership, direction, guidance, and care.

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Scriptural Text: Matt 11:28-30

“If God had told me some time ago that he was about to make me happy as I could be in this world, and then had told me that he should begin by crippling me in arm or limb, and removing me from all my usual sources of enjoyment, I should have thought it a very strange mode of accomplishing his purpose. And yet, how is his wisdom manifest even in this! For if you should see a man shut up in a closed room, idolizing a set of lamps and rejoicing in their light, and you wished to make him truly happy, you would begin by blowing out all his lamps, and then throwing open the shutter to let in the light of heaven” (Samuel Rutherford, Letters of Samuel Rutherford).1343
Yes, So that he can taste and see that the Lord is good!

The Great Invitation: Given to This Generation, 11:28–30, (see also Ac 17:30; Pr 8:4; Is 45:22; Is 55:1; Mt 9:13; Mt 11:28–30; Mt 22:9; Jn 7:37; Ac 2:39; Ro 10:18; Ps 19:4)

God’s summoning of individuals and people (everywhere) to himself, so that they will belong to him and serve him in his world. The calling of a believer may involve a specific place, task or vocation in life.
Proverbs 8:4 (ESV) — 4 “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.
Isaiah 45:22 (ESV) — 22 “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
Isaiah 55:1 (ESV) — 1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Lord cry to us is, “Come unto me.”

Come to me (v. 28), the weary and the burdened

Who is to come? The weary and the burdened—the person who is laboring, heavy laden, exhausted, despairing, weighed down, ready to stop and collapse.
Some examples:
work, being overburdened with too much to do • worldliness and carnality (fleshly pleasure) • sin and guilt and the power of both • money and material possessions and their lack of fulfillment • fame and the emptiness of it power and the loneliness of it religious rituals and traditions and the powerlessness of both • rules and regulations
Many people become lackadaisical, without interest, vigor, or determination; listless; lethargic (drowsy, sluggish, apathetic)
Why come? Christ will give you rest
To be at rest spiritually is to find peace with God through Jesus Christ. This rest is promised to all who put their trust in God and obey him.

Spiritual rest is to be found in God alone (Mt 11:28–30, see also Ex 33:14; Ps 23:2; Ps 51:12; Ps 62:1–2; Ps 62:5–8; Ps 91:1–13; Is 26:3–4; Jn 14:27; Ro 5:1; Ga 1:3; Ga 5:22; Col 1:20)

Psalm 23:2 (ESV) 2He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
John 14:27 (ESV) 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Romans 5:1 (ESV) 1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:20 (ESV) 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
this is the rest of sanctification:
It is a rest of refreshment: a rest of refreshing one’s body, mind, and spirit.
It is a rest that fits one for life: a rest that infuses a person with true purpose, meaning, and significance.
It is a rest of encouragement and motivation of soul: a rest that stirs a person to live and undertake his God-given task with enthusiasm and vigor and endurance.
Therefore, Jesus said

Take my yoke—learn of me (vv. 29–30).

The yoke refers to a man’s life and task while on earth. God made us; therefore, He has the right yoke (life and task) for us.
as God spoke to Jeremiah,
Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV) 16Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Christ’s yoke is easy (well-fitting); His burden is light (v. 30)

Christ is saying that His yoke, His life and task, are fitted to a person. It is just what a person needs, and it is easy, the easiest life and task the person could live and undertake.
Christ is meek and lowly. He cares and looks after us; He is concerned and compassionate knowing how far we can go and how capable we are.
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (He. 4:15).
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Pe. 5:7).

Point: This is a command. If we wish rest, we must take His yoke upon us.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Lu. 9:23).
“I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10).
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing [of lasting value]” (Jn. 15:5).
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 Jn. 5:3–5).
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