Tag Archives: take my yoke

July 5, 2023 · 5:37 AM

Bothering Jesus

I’m the type of person who doesn’t like to bother famous people. If I see them in public, I’ll usually make eye contact and nod instead of trying to go up to them because they get it all the time. Several years ago I was at a conference put on by a household name. You could pay $150 to get a professional photo with them, but I had already spent a ton on the conference, plus flight and hotel. They told us that if we couldn’t afford it, we could ask them for a photo when we saw this person walking around. Sure enough they happened to walk right past me with their entourage. I called out, “Could I get a quick photo with you?” They stopped, but didn’t turn around to face me. A person in the entourage said, “They’re a busy person who can’t be bothered. We can’t stop and take photos with anyone who asks. You should sign up for one.” I bit my tongue in that moment, but lost a lot of respect for them.

In Mark 10, Jesus and His disciples were sitting around talking. A group of parents noticed Him and thought that they would take their kids over to be blessed by the Messiah. As they approached, the disciples jumped up and stood in their way. They scolded the parents for bothering Jesus. Verse 14 says, “When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children’” (NLT). It turns out He wasn’t bothered at all by these people who simply wanted to request a blessing.

I’m afraid that you and I feel like we’re bothering Jesus at times with our prayers or requests. We don’t take them to Him because He has enough people bothering Him. If that’s you, I want to remind you what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” The phrase “all of you” jumps out. Jesus is inviting you and me to come to Him with our problems and burdens. He’s not too busy for us, nor is He overwhelmed by everyone else. It’s time to quit thinking you’re a bother to Him and to quit carrying that heavy load. It’s not yours to carry. He has a burden for you that is light and easy to carry, but you must approach Him. You are not a bother. You are His child.

Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash

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February 7, 2023 · 6:00 AM

Good Trade

There’s a scene in “Dances With Wolves” that I always remember. After Lieutenant Dunbar tells the Native American tribe that the buffaloes are moving through and they hunt, Dunbar is invited to their camp for a feast. After dinner, Wind In His Hair wants Dunbar to she a story again, but Dunbar is tired of sharing it. He sees that Wind In His Hair is eyeing his military jacket. He immediately takes it off and offers it to him. Wind In His Hair tries it on and loves it. He then takes off his chest beads and gives them to Dunbar, who puts them on. Wind In His Hair then hits hit chest and reaches across and pats Dunbar’s chest trying to communicate that he wants to trade. Dunbar accepts and says, “Good trade.” It reminds me that even though trades like that aren’t very common anymore, but we still make trades every day.

In Genesis 42, there is a severe famine in Egypt and it’s surrounding areas. Jacob and his sons are deeply affected by it. He hears that there is food in Egypt and sends ten of his eleven sons to get food. He refuses to let Joseph’s younger brother go. When they arrive, Joseph recognizes them, but they don’t recognize him. They ask for food, but he accuses them of being spies and locks them up in jail. He then agrees to let all but one go home until they bring back their other brother. When they tell Jacob.he refuses. He’s now lost two sons and Benjamin is his favorite now. They try to convince him to let them go back, but in verse 38 he says, “My son will not go down with you. His brother Joseph is dead, and he is all I have left. If anything should happen to him on your journey, you would send this grieving, white-haired man to his grave” (NLT). Jacob refused to let go of his son to trade him for food to live. It would take a long time before he let go, thereby delaying the blessing God had for him.

In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” God offers many trades with us. We give Him our burdens and He gives us rest. We give Him our sin and guilt and He gives eternal life. We give Him our old life and He gives us a new one. What are you still holding onto that God is offering a trade for? Don’t let fear or pride keep you from making a good trade. He takes our worst and gives us His best in exchange. Release it to Him today. By holding onto it you’re denying yourself the blessings He has for you in exchange.

Photo by Francesca Veronesi on Unsplash

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December 26, 2019 · 5:30 AM

Returns And Exchanges

The day after Christmas is one of the busiest days of the year in the retail world. Everyone is out returning what they got for Christmas. Either it didn’t fit or they didn’t like it, so they returned it. Today, you and I have the same opportunity in our lives. We have the choice to send back the things that we don’t like in our lives and exchange them for the things we want. It boils down to a choice that you make. You can hold onto the things you don’t want in your life and accumulate a bunch of junk that weighs you down or you can return it.

Each of us have picked up things in our lives this year that we don’t want. Each of us have had things happen that we didn’t see coming. Each of us have held onto something too long and it’s keeping us back. In order to make 2020 the year we want it to be, we have to let go of the things that are holding us down. You can’t pick up the good things that will come your way if your hands are full of the things you’d rather return. You can’t be free unless you let go of the things that are keeping you in a self imposed prison. You make the choice to stay locked up in the past or to be free to receive what the future holds.

Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on The Lord releasing the weight of it and He will sustain you (AMP).” He doesn’t mind you returning the things that weigh you down or hold you back. He wants you to release the weight of those things that are holding you back and He will strengthen and support you. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus tells us to go to Him when we’re weary from carrying the things that hold us back. Give them to Him and take His yoke. In The Message, Jesus says, “I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.” What He gives fits and is perfect for you. Get Free today by exchanging the things in your life that you don’t want for the things He wants you to have.

Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other writing ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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