Daily Bread 2011 - Matthew 11
Daily Bread Together – Monday – Matthew 11
Verse of the Day: 11:28-30
“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.”
What Does This Mean? As Jesus has done a significant amount of challenging the disciples, he now invites into the “easy yoke” of following him. A “yoke” was what attached the oxen to hitch the load they were carrying. A “well-fitting” yoke was much easier on the oxen and made it much easier for them to carry the burden of the load. Jesus translates this to the burden of following him, and how it is meant to be easy and light, not hard and heavy.
There is a weariness and burden that comes from always trying to do enough good stuff to merit God’s approval. Jesus is telling us to take His yoke upon us and learn from the way He has already carried our burdens to the cross. Importantly this gives rest for our souls. As Augustine said, “Our souls are restless until they rest in thee.”
What Does This Mean For Us?
Is following Jesus wearisome and burdensome to you? Or has following Christ freed you up to be much lighter as you face the burdens of the day? Importantly are you someone who carries your own burdens, are you willing to let Jesus carry them?
I think so often we get so used to carrying our own burdens, we don’t know what it would be like to let Jesus carry them. He says He is willing, but we have to be willing to let go and let him take them. How about your own soul, could it use a rest? Is part of the burden you carry always trying to do enough good things to outweigh the bad things in your life? Jesus wants to give you rest from that particular struggle. He has given us a well-fitting and easy yoke to wear in our lives so our burdens will be light!
Jesus we come to you with our burdens and thank you that you are gentle and humble in heart and that your yoke is easy and burden is light. Give us rest for our souls and as we learn the “easy yoke” way of life in Your name, Amen.
Verse of the Day: 11:28-30
“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.”
What Does This Mean? As Jesus has done a significant amount of challenging the disciples, he now invites into the “easy yoke” of following him. A “yoke” was what attached the oxen to hitch the load they were carrying. A “well-fitting” yoke was much easier on the oxen and made it much easier for them to carry the burden of the load. Jesus translates this to the burden of following him, and how it is meant to be easy and light, not hard and heavy.
There is a weariness and burden that comes from always trying to do enough good stuff to merit God’s approval. Jesus is telling us to take His yoke upon us and learn from the way He has already carried our burdens to the cross. Importantly this gives rest for our souls. As Augustine said, “Our souls are restless until they rest in thee.”
What Does This Mean For Us?
Is following Jesus wearisome and burdensome to you? Or has following Christ freed you up to be much lighter as you face the burdens of the day? Importantly are you someone who carries your own burdens, are you willing to let Jesus carry them?
I think so often we get so used to carrying our own burdens, we don’t know what it would be like to let Jesus carry them. He says He is willing, but we have to be willing to let go and let him take them. How about your own soul, could it use a rest? Is part of the burden you carry always trying to do enough good things to outweigh the bad things in your life? Jesus wants to give you rest from that particular struggle. He has given us a well-fitting and easy yoke to wear in our lives so our burdens will be light!
Jesus we come to you with our burdens and thank you that you are gentle and humble in heart and that your yoke is easy and burden is light. Give us rest for our souls and as we learn the “easy yoke” way of life in Your name, Amen.
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