Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

As you know, a yoke is the apparatus that connects two animals at the neck area so they can work together. Jesus uses the yoke as a metaphor for one who follows Jesus’ ways. It may not seem like it, but doing things the Lord’s way gives us rest. But what kind of rest?

“…you will find rest for your souls…”

It’s a spiritual rest, a process that happens on the inside. Peace. As I write this blog post I’m tired. I’m away for a pastor’s conference and don’t generally sleep well away from home. Something about my own bed and my own pillow that help me sleep. But that’s okay because I’ll get a short nap during break time after lunch.

But the truth is I’m a bit tired spiritually as well, and I know why. I haven’t been honoring my Sabbath day on a consistent basis. I’ve allowed other things to crowd out Sabbath – and I’m paying a price. I can just feel it. Giving up a full day to the Lord each week for rest and for engagement with God sounds like it would get me behind on things I need to do. But that’s not what happens. When I keep the Sabbath the Lord pours out grace on the other six days of the week so I’m actually MORE productive, not less. I know this, yet still I stumble.

Lord Jesus, your ways give life. My ways don’t. Give me grace to take your yoke upon me that I might find rest for my soul. Amen.