5/28/23 - Come to me… - Matthew 11:25-30 - Pastor Jason Fritz

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
-Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus says his yoke is easy and his burden is light because he bears it with us. On our own, the burdens feel unbearable, but with Jesus it can be easy and light. And the yoke which joins you to him is made especially for you. The English word easy is from the Greek word chrestos, which can mean "well-fitting.” In Palestine, ox-yokes were made of wood and each was carefully adjusted so that it would fit the animal well. Not too tight and not too loose but crafted perfect to fit the neck. It was tailor-made for each ox.

Having this understanding let me be clear in saying the following...

Be very careful who you get yoked to because what lies in them will lay itself on you and you will feel that weight.

This is very important. Those of you in the business world know this. In your friendships this is certainly true and moreso if you are in Junior or Senior High. Of course it is supremely important in marriage because the quality of that which unites two people will determine the quality of the relationship. If you say, "I married her because she was perfectly pretty." Physical attraction is a good thing, but beauty’s perfection fades. “I married him because he said he would take care of me.” That’s not wrong, but resentment often sets in when one is taking care of another…then what?

What are you attaching yourself to and why? This will determine not only the labor and heavy laden burdens you bear but also the quality of your entire life.

Notice Jesus does not say, “Throw off every yoke you have!” Why? Because this is impossible. By nature every one of us is attached to something or someone, even if that someone is ourselves, our own hearts. Jesus never said, “Follow your heart.” Because the heart is deceptive. Instead, he said, “Follow me.” He never said, “Do what you feel.” The way a person feels is often detached from reality. Jesus never said, “Be yourself.” Rather he gave proper encouragement, “Be who God created you to be.”

Coming to Christ is not a passive experience or some kind of spiritual side hustle. This isn’t a call to a lazy or indulgent life. There is still a yoke to bear and burden to carry. Yet with and in Jesus, the burdens are lightened. Jesus’ yoke is easy, not because it makes less demands, but because it represents entering into a disciple relationship. So if your yoke is hard and your burden is heavy then we can say that it isn’t His yoke or His burden and you are not letting him bear it with you. Jesus makes a sweet invitation, "Come to me, all who are burdened and heavy ladened and I will give you rest. My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” This is a promise and Jesus always keeps his word!

Видео 5/28/23 - Come to me… - Matthew 11:25-30 - Pastor Jason Fritz канала Illuminate Community Church