Follow the leader

My yoke is easy, and my burden light. (Matthew 11:30)

While the image of a yoke was familiar to Jesus’ audience, we modern readers may not be able to relate to a yoke and how it works. A yoke is made for two, like a team of oxen. When oxen are young, they are taught to pull together when hitched to the yoke. When one ox tries to go one way and the other a different way, they experience the pain of pulling against the yoke. The harder they fight it, the worse it gets. In a sense, the yoke punishes and burdens them. But when both are going in the same direction, the yoke actually makes their work much easier. Usually one ox is in the lead, setting the direction, and the second ox learns how to follow. Over time they learn the positive and negative effects of the yoke, until practice makes perfect. 

This helps us understand Jesus’ saying that being yoked to him lightens our burdens. That’s the way a yoke is supposed to work! It teaches us to let the “lead ox” set the course. It teaches us to follow the One who is walking beside us. We experience what happens as we try to go our own way. We see how fighting God’s lead causes us pain. As Paul understood in Acts 26:14, by “kicking against the goad” (a tool used to drive oxen), he only hurt himself. But when he followed Jesus, he was far more peaceful—and far more fruitful!

Because we are humans, we are designed to learn through trial and (sometimes painful) error. That may sound harsh, but we can be confident that Jesus is extremely patient. He never stops loving us and trying to lead us. He knows that we will become more docile to his leading as we experience the wonderful effects of following him. He is confident that we will learn. 

Yes, Jesus’ yoke is easy—because the One who leads us is walking beside us in the yoke. He shares all of our burdens. He invites us to enter into his rest. All he asks is that we follow his lead. 

“Jesus, I will follow you. I want to learn your gentleness and humility as I walk with you. Teach me to move in unison with you and your Spirit.”

form wau.org

Remember

Do not be afraid. (Matthew 10:26)

Psychologists tell us about the three common reactions to a frightening situation. We will (a) choose to face the situation and work through it, (b) shut down and do nothing at all, or (c) run away from the problem. In other words, fight, freeze, or flee.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples three times, “Do not be afraid.” Each time, he addresses the fears that could cause them to give up on their very first preaching mission. First, he tells them to be persistent in announcing the “secret” of the kingdom despite opposition (Matthew 10:26). Then he reassures them that his Father is the One with ultimate power, so they shouldn’t worry about detractors (10:28). Then he tells them that his Father knows every intimate detail of their lives and that he’ll never abandon them (10:29-31). 

Jesus isn’t just comforting his disciples here. He’s giving them truths that they can fall back on whenever fear rises up and tries to convince them to give up on their mission. He’s filling their memories with foundational truths about who he is and how much his Father cares for them—truths that they can use as weapons to defend themselves and as engines to propel them forward in faith.

We have all encountered fears that have threatened to paralyze us or tempted us to run and hide. Fear is a normal part of our lives, and there are times when it’s a healthy emotional reaction. But we should never let fear keep us from moving forward with the Lord.

Whenever you find yourself in a fearful situation, try your best to step back, take a few deep breaths, and remember the truths of your faith. Remember Jesus’ cross and resurrection. Remember your Father’s love and protection. Remember that the Holy Spirit lives in you. Remember that you belong to Christ and he will never abandon you. Remember, remember, remember!

As you practice this holy remembering, you’ll feel the Lord standing right beside you. You’ll find the courage to fight your fears and to take the next step forward, whatever your situation. God doesn’t want you to be afraid. He wants you to find all your confidence in him!

“Jesus, help me to hold onto my faith when I am afraid. Lord, I trust in your unending love!”

from wau.org

Freedom and Peace

They made idols for themselves. (Hosea 8:4)

Ornately carved dragons, stoic Buddhas, calves, bulls, even human forms with animal heads—the ancient world offered an extraordinary variety of idols. Today, we’re more likely to treat athletes, rock stars, or luxury cars as idols. But in the end, an idol is anything that we allow to influence our thoughts, emotions, and actions more than it should. Perhaps the Pharisees who opposed Jesus idolized their own narrow observance of Judaism. So when Jesus came neither looking nor acting as they thought he should, they plotted against him.

Here’s the thing about idols: they’re tricky. They can have great sway over us, yet not appear as idols at all! But if something erodes your peace, causes your heart to tremble, or drives rational thoughts from your head, there’s probably some kind of idolatry behind it. 

That’s not to say that we’re all idolaters who willingly and greedily bow down to the modern world’s false gods. It’s hard to find someone who “worships” money or someone who is truly “obsessed” with gaining power. Still, if the everyday ups and downs of the stock market send you into a panic or if the slightest tickle in your throat brings on visions of a fatal illness, then something has a greater hold on you than it should. 

It doesn’t have to be this way! Nothing has to rob you of your peace or your trust in the Lord. If you can get into the habit of guarding and examining your thoughts during the day, you’ll find yourself more peaceful. Just try to be aware of the thoughts that grip your imagination, and see where they lead you. Don’t engage in a witch hunt; just take a look at what goes on inside of you. If the thoughts are making you more agitated or more self-focused, try to redirect them. 

For example, tell yourself, “God holds my life in his hand, and nothing can snatch me away.” Or “God is a God of hope; I know he can satisfy the longings of my heart.” Where you find fear or gridlock in your heart, take it to your heavenly Father. Remember that he sent his Son to give you freedom and peace!

“Jesus, you are the one true God! Teach me how to find my hope in you. Lord, I want to know the peace that comes from surrendering to you.”

from wau.org

"My Lord and my God"

Unless I see … I will not believe. (John 20:25)

Try to imagine yourself in Thomas’ sandals. How do you feel when Jesus appears? No doubt, you are astounded to see him alive. Certainly, you are awestruck to see him as the risen, glorious Lord. Perhaps you become lost in worship as you look into his eyes and touch his wounds. You are filled with gratitude as you realize that he has accomplished nothing less than the salvation of the world.

But if you were Thomas, you might feel like laughing at yourself as well! You’ve spent three years with Jesus, watching him heal the blind and the lame, drive out demons, and raise the dead. You heard how the tomb was found empty and the stone rolled away and how Mary Magdalene and the others saw Jesus alive. But still you wanted proof. And now here he is, standing right in front of you. It’s almost as if he’s saying, “Thomas, it really is me! Trust me; I will never abandon you.”

It may be hard to imagine Thomas as finally being relieved of his doubts and even chuckling over them. Besides, it can be very easy for us to identify with the first part of his story—especially when we ourselves feel stressed or anxious. We may be going through a serious illness, financial problems, or some other crisis, or maybe something horrible is happening to someone we are close to. We may wonder if God is really going to come through and help. We may even blame ourselves for not having enough faith.

Whenever this happens, think of Thomas. Let Jesus tell you the same thing he told this wavering apostle: “Look at me and trust! Believe, even when you cannot see.” Who knows? He may even tell you to laugh in the face of your problem. Jesus promises that if you take just one small step in handing over everything to God “with thanksgiving,” then his peace, which “surpasses all understanding,” will come to you (Philippians 4:6, 7). So no matter what you are dealing with, look at the cross, and see the finished work of Jesus. Then, with a heart full of praise, cry out, “My Lord and my God!”

“Thank you, Jesus, for being with me at every moment, in good times and bad. I praise you, Lord, for being my Savior!”

from wau.org