We are a
sleep deprived nation. Doctors
say that millions of people
are not getting the necessary
seven or eight hours of sleep
a night. Most of us shake our
head at such news because we
can’t remember the last time
we had eight hours of
uninterrupted sleep. The
result is a multitude of
health problems that range
from high blood pressure to
depression. Some of us are
experiencing the results of
our sleep depravation. Others
are walking through life in
somewhat of a daze.
In a nation that takes pride
in self-achievement and hard
work, it is almost considered
sinful to sleep. We force
ourselves to work hard and to
play hard. We’ve got to be on
the move. The result is that
we are tired—bone tired.
It is to a tired people that
Jesus offers this invitation.
“Come to me all who are weary
and I will give you rest. Take
my yoke upon you and learn of
me, because my burden is easy
and my yoke is light.”
COME TO ME
One of the most discouraging
and depressing places to be is
tired AND alone. Most of us
have been in that position at
one time or another in our
lives. We are overwhelmed by
life and by our circumstances.
We are drowning and there is
no one to throw us a lift
preserver. In these
situations, Jesus comes to us
and invites us to lay our
burdens down.
We carry so many burdens...
• Many of us are burdened by a
lack of job, or the threat of
losing our jobs.
• Many of us struggle with the
demands and expectations of
job, family and/or school.
Burdens literally weigh us
down. Burdens rob us of the
joy of life. Burdens prevent
us from experiencing the
abundant life that is ours
through the cross of Jesus
Christ.
TAKE MY YOKE
Isn’t it odd that Jesus
invites us to come to him when
we are weary and to lay our
burdens down? Jesus then
invites us to pick up another
burden—his burden.
Jesus specifically asks us to
take his YOKE upon us. A yoke
involves two, Jesus and you or
me.
The yoke of Jesus is a
training yoke. This means that
Jesus carries the bulk of the
burden. Jesus only gives us
what we can carry.
Being yoked to Jesus also
means that we are doing what
Jesus wants us to do. We go
where he leads us. We have a
challenge before us. It is
important for us to look at
our calendar and to determine
what we are involved in that
God is not a part of. We are
then invited to get rid of
those obligations in our
lives. After all, we do not
live to impress the boss, meet
the expectations of others or
even attain our goals. We live
to be obedient and faithful
servants of God.
LEARN OF ME
The third element of Jesus’
invitation is to learn of him.
It is interesting that Jesus
does not call us to do things
for him, but rather to love
him and to learn from him.
When we are with Jesus, we
learn of his overwhelming love
for us and of the Spirit’s
power in our lives.
When we are with Jesus we
learn about our total
dependence on God and of God’s
promise never to leave us or
forsake us.
When we are with Jesus we
learn about the hope that come
from faith in an all powerful,
loving God, as opposed to the
despair in the world around
us.
CONCLUSION
We are not very attractive
witnesses for God when we are
tired, grumpy and powerless.
Jesus’ invitation enables us
to be refreshed and renewed by
our relationship with him and
by the power of the Spirit in
our lives.
Kevin E. Ruffcorn
http://www.desertstreams-surprise.org
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