Yokes
—Scott Erickson
One of my favorite things about Jesus (of all time!) is that He was a rebel with a cause. A rebel against this world. He was 100% obedient to His Father, while not giving a fig about the standards of the world! He was willing to live in an extreme way if it meant honoring God. Jeremiah 17 urges us to receive the the blessing that comes from trusting in the Lord, in exchange for the “curse” that comes from trusting in man. I’ve wondered what that curse has been in my life. Usually, it comes in some form of “mental separateness” from the God who deeply loves me. Lies!
One of the number one enemy schemes (especially in the DC area) is to get us living a life of heaviness again–a life of slavery. Once we are free, if the enemy can convince us to think we are not free, then virtually, we are not free. We are not living free. We are not living. Sure, we are saved for all eternity, but are our lives really reflective of that John 10:10 FULLY aliveness?
One of the weights that I regularly intuit in prayer is that kind of heaviness that captures us right at the neck…it reminds me of slavery…yoked animals ready to go to work…to slave away.
Also, heaviness of the chest— of not being able to breath with the Holy Spirit— the breath of life. This is a yolk of oppression also.
Lastly, the heaviness of the gut—where shame and guilt weigh us down, yoking us to the expectations and disappointments of this world. Slavery.
Thankfully there are at least 49 mentions of yokes in scripture! Perfectly applicable imagery for people who would have been acquainted with farming and working land.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1).
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 (Matthew 11:29).
A pastor once told me that Jesus was speaking about a religious yoke in this passage from Matthew. That makes a lot of sense to me. When I have tasted freedom and I think I “must” follow some man made rule/law/routine/Christmas tradition, and heaviness arises in my body, that’s when I know…
This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves (Galatians 2:4).
The subtle ways that law and rigidness creeps in around Christmastime is very insidious. It might sound like, “I must go to this party…after all, everyone else is doing it” or maybe, “I must buy a gift for so and so, after all, they will surely be expecting one” or “I should…” or “just keep pushing” (I truly think that word “should” often carries a law after it!).
“I must, I must, I must. I should, I should, I should, push, push, push.”
For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering (Romans 8:3).
Hallelujah to the King who is able to free us from every burdensome yoke!
Who the son sets free is free indeed! (John 8:36)
Thankfully, scripture tells us there is a time for everything under heaven. Therefore, we do not even need to worry about when the Holy Spirit will heal, when He will deliver. HE WILL! I recommend going and listening to Ellie Holcomb’s song, “He Will.” What a beautiful reminder that God will unburden every yoke. It’s just a matter of time…
