Yokes

by John Thomas

Several men and women of our congregation helped Steve and Cindy [Hale] move. Some even drove to Doniphan to help them get their trucks and vehicles there. On the way down and back, we passed fields, fields, and more fields. Then we got to the BIG fields; we could call the counties, I guess. They were endlessly, as far as you could see, miles dark, brown, fertile soil.

The discussion in the car on the way home, turned to the "old times." "When I was a boy, my daddy would send me out a' plowin with the mules and I would come home for 2 days, with no shoes and hungry as could be." You know how things get exaggerated!

With today's big tractors that have plows tied together side by side, we are far from understanding the concept of mules or oxen being tied together as a team with a yoke, but here are some lessons we can learn.

In Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV "Come to Me, all you 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."

Things about a yoke:

Holds us together
Keeps us going in the same direction
Gives the master control
Unified our efforts (So we don't work against each other)

It is there to restrain us, but it is an easy restraint, a guiding and protecting restraint, a productive restraint, a controlled restraint, a Loving Restraint!

In the Old Testament, the yoke represents a subjection: a servant master relationship,; out of duty!

In the New Testament, the yoke is not a Pharisee's Lawbook Restraint, but one of discipleship and responsibility to the law and commandments. The student accepts the yoke of his Master!

The idea is not Jesus tying us up and beating us down so that we will be His servants, but rather the idea that we want to be under His control, so that we can be most useful in His Kingdom!

Always Serve; Keep on Plowing!

February 21, 1999

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Yokes by John Thomas Several men and women of our congregation helped Steve and Cindy [Hale] move. Some even drove to Doniphan to help them get their trucks and vehicles there. On the way down and back, we passed fields, fields, and more fields. Then we got to the BIG fields; we could call the counties, I guess. They were endlessly, as far as you could see, miles dark, brown, fertile soil. The discussion in the car on the way home, turned to the "old times." "When I was a boy, my daddy would send me out a' plowin with the mules and I would come home for 2 days, with no shoes and hungry as could be." You know how things get exaggerated! With today's big tractors that have plows tied together side by side, we are far from understanding the concept of mules or oxen being tied together as a team with a yoke, but here are some lessons we can learn. In Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV "Come to Me, all you 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." Things about a yoke: Holds us together Keeps us going in the same direction Gives the master control Unified our efforts (So we don't work against each other) It is there to restrain us, but it is an easy restraint, a guiding and protecting restraint, a productive restraint, a controlled restraint, a Loving Restraint! In the Old Testament, the yoke represents a subjection: a servant master relationship,; out of duty! In the New Testament, the yoke is not a Pharisee's Lawbook Restraint, but one of discipleship and responsibility to the law and commandments. The student accepts the yoke of his Master! The idea is not Jesus tying us up and beating us down so that we will be His servants, but rather the idea that we want to be under His control, so that we can be most useful in His Kingdom! Always Serve; Keep on Plowing! February 21, 1999 Related Articles: Print this Article Discuss this Article Back to the Sermon Page	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM