THE YOKE OF CHRIST
A Disciple that Meets Christ’s Requirements - (Matt. 16:24, 25)
24.Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
A yoke joins two together and takes away one’s rights and independence. This is the requirement of being a disciple of Christ. (This is why most Christians have not experienced this rest of the soul). Most Christians do not want to give up the self-life and allow God to prune them (John 15:1-2). By turning our hearts away from self and looking to Christ, one can learn to see God in everything. Heartaches and irritations become opportunities to reveal Christ to others - not through words but by praising Him in the midst of the pain (Psalm 40:3) and doing good to others. To “shine the shoes of one” whom we dislike can win a friend. It is letting Christ be who He wants to be in you as when He washed the disciples feet or by becoming a friend to the unlovely.
Before our loss, I would visit apartments to share Christ and invite them to church. As far as I know, no one seemed touched or saved (door slammed). But living in the same type of places I had visited, several came to Christ because I became friends to many of them. Sometimes HE puts us down to touch lives that would not be otherwise touched by people on the top. One day I was filled with self-pity having to live there because of roaches. Jesus then spoke to my heart and said, “I thought you wanted me to use you, for I have put you down to touch lives that you have become friends with.” HE then said, “Remember, I was born in a stable and I AM your Dwelling Place.” My heart was transformed with a “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” Having to work, to make ends meet after our loss, a man came to Christ.
We even had to move to a small town where I managed a store (our phone number was on the door in case of emergency.) One night, a man called at 2:00 and said he wanted to get saved, as he heard me talking about Christ during the day to another customer. I asked him to come in early in the morning and I would be at the store. He said he wanted Jesus in the middle of the night, so my husband got up and met him and he accepted Christ. I hated to move, especially with 3 kids, but the Lord seemed to touch at least one life everywhere we would move. Are we willing to be used God’s way?
God gave the land of Canaan to Israel, but they had to learn how to have faith in God for everything. Just as Israel feared the giants, so we have to die to our fears (what we think) and let God do the work of overcoming them in us. To conquer and overcome our enemy of self is denying what we think of the situation. This is the labor that we have to go through to enter HIS rest. Fears tell us that we do not believe that God is in control of every area of our lives. God uses everything (failure, inferiority, self-pity, jealousy, anger, fear, coveting, etc.) to reveal to us our insufficiencies and to show us HIS riches, Life and power. HE uses opposites to reveal HIS positive attributes. HE works all things for our good when we love Him and seek HIS ways; for HE continually gives grace to destroy the lies that come to our minds. Faith knows Who HE IS in us!
I was angry at my husband for wanting something I felt we couldn’t afford. While I was arguing with him, the Lord said so sweetly, “Molly, why are you angry?” I walked away from my husband and before I could give God an excuse, HE said, “I AM your Security!” I immediately saw my sin and asked the Lord to forgive me. I then went to my husband to apologize for my anger, asked him to forgive me and buy what he wanted. My husband then said, “Are you saying if it doesn’t work out, it will be all my fault?” I told him that I would never bring it up again and just forgive me for my anger. He was silent a minute and then said, “Forget it, I’m not going to buy it.” That is when the Lord spoke again to me and said, “That is what reigning in Life is all about”. (Rom. 5:17-.. by Christ = Humility & Righteousness in Christ)
Are we willing to ask Jesus Christ to take away anything in our life that keeps us from knowing HIM and ask HIM to reveal Himself within us. Tell HIM that you are willing to be yoked to HIM and follow HIM as LORD in whatever HE speaks to your heart no matter what the cost. HE will accept you as you are and HE will cause everything in your life to be used for HIS will and glory, as you learn to receive from HIM, moment-by-moment. It is a receiving HIM as The Reward when we seek HIM (Heb.11:6b). Take HIS yoke and learn from HIM for HE is gentle and humble and you will find rest for your soul. For HIS yoke is easy and HIS burden light. (Matt.11:29-30) The secret to this union or rest is knowing HE is in control of everything (especially crosses) in our lives.
(Rom. 8:18, . . 28-39 . . . 35a Who shall separate us from the love of Christ . . . . vs. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.)