I don’t easily take to new ideas. I ponder, weigh my options, and slide away without committing. I rarely sign petitions and I refuse to join social media campaigns. I don’t want to tie myself to a cause I might regret later.

So when Jesus encourages me to turn my life to him, I pause. His invitation sounds challenging, yet appealing:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Our world is all about throwing off yokes and experiencing freedom in every sphere of life. But lack of boundaries leads to anarchy, both in society and in our hearts. The yokes we throw off end up tangling our feet, causing us to stumble.

More often we choose the heaviest of yokes. I pursue self-love only to find that I’m the only one who loves me. I stack up burdens of social recognition, wealth and experiences. We all choose our yokes, and these yokes calcify into hulking burdens.

Consider again this word from Jesus. His yoke is easy, his burden light, and his offer still stands.

Matthew 11 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Marcus Dall Col