“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:30
People sometimes imagine following Jesus as having to follow an endless list of rules. Do this, and this, and this… Don’t do that, or that, or that… All too often, they got that impression from Christians who’ve turned following Jesus into endless rule following. That isn’t what following Jesus is all about! To follow Jesus is to yoke yourself to Him, like one horse or ox connected to another. A yoked team moves together in the same direction and at the same speed. A yoked team has the combined strength of both members.
That’s the invitation of Jesus, to be yoked to Him. Obviously, there’s a certain commitment to that. But consider Who you get connected to…. Jesus Himself. Following Jesus isn’t about gritting your teeth and following rules. It’s about binding yourself to Jesus and letting Him set the direction and pace of your life while He also does the heavy lifting as the stronger team member. It’s about being so connected to Jesus that as He moves, you move. It’s about letting Him strengthen you. His Spirit fills you. He lives in you.
Committing to follow Jesus isn’t a commitment to check boxes of behavior and follow rules. That’s what the Pharisees did and Jesus condemned them for it. Following Jesus is about doing what He does through His power living in you. This is why Jesus said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. If you’ll truly follow Him, He will work through you to make extraordinary things happen! His life will flow through you and make you more and more like Him. But, you will need to agree to truly take His yoke…to walk where He walks, do what He does, and move at His speed rather than your own. Will you do that? #FollowJesus