Be My Disciple

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.

Matthew 11:29

There are two kinds of stress that people need to deal with. First is the stress of sin that is relieved when we come to Christ initially. But second is the stress that accumulates when we don’t live our lives under Christ’s lordship. That is the cause of the vast majority of the stress that Christians live with daily. To use Jesus’ own words, it is the stress that comes from not taking Jesus’ yoke upon us.

A yoke suggests a picture of oxen linked together pulling a common plow. That’s not really what His words mean. Taking on a yoke was a rabbinical expression meaning to become a disciple of someone. Therefore, He is saying, “Come and be My disciple. Begin to let your life be patterned after the dictates of My life and My soul. Come and get involved in submission to Me in lordship. Take My yoke upon you.”

Jesus, as the victorious Lord, the King of kings, is inviting us to be His disciples, to let Him rule over our lives.