January 16 Readings: Genesis 33–34, Matthew 11:20–30, Psalms 10:1–4, Proverbs 2:6–7

Links to Today's Readings: Genesis 33–34, Matthew 11:20–30, Psalms10:1–4, Proverbs 2:6–7

Let's face it; life today can be hard. Remember when you were a kid and you couldn't wait to grow up? But the reality of life as an adult in this world is not what we imagined it to be. There is work to do and bills to pay. It never seems like we can get on top of things, get everything done, or get all our ducks in a row. Raising children is not just expensive but a daunting challenge. The new is filled with wars and crime, with the bizarre and the perverted, with stories that make our heads shake and our knees tremble.

This just is not an easy world to live in.

And in many minds, Jesus makes things harder. He demands that we deny ourselves and live for him. He calls on us to say no to our own sinful natures and submit to him. Submit - there is a world no one likes to hear, right? When we serve Christ, we have to go to church, give our money, and give our valuable time to church work.

Many people, if they are honest, will admit that they see the demands of Christ as an added hardship, a burden to their lives.

But Jesus is not a harsh taskmaster. His Lordship is a blessing, not a burden. Look at Matthew 11:28-30.

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Jesus calls us to come to him with our burdens, our weariness. In Christ we will not find stress or harassment, but peace of mind and a heart of rest. Oh yes, we must take up his yoke - that is a picture of giving control of our lives to Christ. We cannot have the blessings of Christ while living in disobedience or living for ourselves. Yes, we must take the yoke of Christ, but his yoke is not heavy. He is no tyrant; cruel and mean. His yoke is easy and his burden is light. 

When we come to Christ with our burdens, our stresses and our hardships, when we submit to him and take his yoke upon us, we find a peace and rest that we have never know, that we can find nowhere else. 

Lord, I take your yoke upon me. Too often I walk in rebellion and self-centeredness, but today I give myself to you. I give you my stress, my hurt and my burdens, with the confidence that in doing so, I will find your rest. Thank you, Lord, for the peace and rest that only you can give.