“The work is a lot easier when you’re working WITH Me, rather than FOR Me.” That’s what the Lord said to me yesterday evening, as I was wrapping up my work for the day.
Then he brought to mind Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.
A yoke is like a curved wooden bar or frame that fits around the necks of a pair of oxen to join them together for pulling something. When He calls it HIS yoke, it’s because HE is in it, too. We’re working WITH Him, and He’s working with us. We’re in it TOGETHER! I read once that the fastest way to train a young ox to pull, and obey commands, is to yoke him together with an old well-seasoned ox that knows exactly what to do.
That describes just what I’ve been feeling lately… like seeing what God’s doing, and just doing what He does. Then it feels like you’re just being carried along with Him… and learning fast.
In John 5:17, Jesus says, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” (Together, not independently.)
Then in verses 19-20, He says, “…Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that Himself doeth: and He will shew Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.”
Even Jesus, the Son of God, said He could do nothing of Himself. But He was yoked together with His Father. He watched His Father, and worked WITH His Father. That’s how the greater works come. (vs.20) So we ought to be praying, “Father, show me all things that you’re doing, and I’ll do likewise.”
That is SO much easier than the old grind of… Work, work, work… “OK, God. Are you pleased with me, yet? Oh… Still not good enough?” Then MORE work, work, work, work… “OK, God… NOW am I doing enough to please You?” Actually, God is grieved with that kind of thinking, and working. But He’s calling to those, too, “Come unto Me. I’ll give you REST.”
So, what exactly are we going to learn of Him, when we take His yoke upon us? Meekness. Lowliness. That’s where the rest is. It takes meekness and lowliness to take His yoke upon you, and then once you are yoked with Him, you’ll learn even more meekness and lowliness… knowing you can do nothing on your own. Otherwise, you ARE on your own, and life is going to be one hard, frustrating grind.
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