A yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the neck of a single or two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull. The farmers use the yoke to control and direct their animals to where to go. Jesus used the yoke image to describe that His ways are lighter than the religious ways of this world. This world's religious ways put so much pressure on people because it is based on legalism and self-righteousness. They use rules and regulations to relate to God, and if they fail to follow their rules and regulations, they will punish themselves or make themselves miserable.
However, Jesus' yoke does not burden people, but it gives rest to the soul. We relate to God through His grace and love, not through rules and regulations. God knows that we cannot fulfill His law with our own strength, which is why He came to our world to fulfill the law for us. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the penalty of our sin, and when He sent His Spirit to live in us, the Spirit of God helps us obey His ways.
When we take the yoke of Christ Jesus on us, we allow Him to control our lives. We surrender our lives to Him without hesitation. His ways become our ways. His desire becomes our desire. And when we take Jesus' yoke, we start to learn from Him. As we learn from Him, we find rest on our souls. The ways of this world will never give us peace and rest. Although we see many people have smiles on their faces, especially in social media, but deep inside of them, they are lonely and alone because they do not have the yoke of Christ in their lives.
So we need to take Christ Jesus' yoke in our lives. We need to spend time with Him every day to encourage us to continue to walk Him and learn from Him. There is so much that He can show and teach us if we only spend time with Him every day.
Ask yourself these questions: Am I willing to take Jesus' yoke on my life? Why is it important for me to take His yoke? Why is it important for me to spend time with Him daily?
Write down all the worries that you are facing today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I accept your yoke upon my life. I want to learn from you. Please give me the desire and hunger to spend time with you every day so that you can teach me your ways and guide me on the right path. Please help me now with (mention your prayer requests). In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.