Labor Day

Dear Pastor, Preacher, or Bible Teacher –

Today (September 7, 2020) is “Labor Day” in the United States. Many workers in the US have a holiday, intended to honor the working men and women of the country.

No matter what country you live in, I’m writing this to you as a servant of Jesus Christ – someone who labors for the Lord’s work. With that in mind, look at these familiar words from Jesus:

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
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.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Jesus directed His call to those who were burdened by their work, to all you who labor and are heavy laden. According to one commentator, labor implies the burdens we take upon ourselves, and heavy laden implies the burdens others put upon us.

To all those, Jesus gave this invitation: take My yoke upon you and learn from Me. When we take the yoke of Jesus, we find that it:

– Is easy and light as compared with the yoke of others.
– Is easy and light as long as I do not rebel against it.
– Has nothing to do with worries that are forbidden to us.
– Does not include the burdens we choose to add to it.

Taking the yoke of Jesus, you will find rest for your souls. This unmatchable gift – both powerful and profound – should be considered the birthright of those who come to Jesus and are His followers.

Jesus summarized this wonderful call with this assurance: My yoke is easy and My burden is light. The yoke is easy and the burden is light because He bears it with us. Borne alone, it might be unbearable; but with Jesus it can be easy and light.

There is still a yoke to bear and burden to carry. Yet with and in Jesus, they are easy and light. If your yoke is hard and your burden is heavy, ask yourself:

Is the yoke and burden of Jesus? Or, is it really from myself or other people?

Am I really letting Jesus bear the weight of this yoke with me?

Dear brother or sister, keep on plowing – just make sure you do it with the yoke of Jesus, and let Him bear the weight of the yoke with you.

Blessings to You in Jesus’ Name – David Guzik

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