Are You Yoked With Jesus?

Yoke is a word we don’t hear much in our modern world unless you are connected to the rural farms of yesteryear. A yoke is a piece of timber that has been hollowed or made to curve near each end and fitted so that the necks of oxen can be secured to it. It binds two oxen together, side by side.

In the ancient world, and in some cases even today, the animals would be placed side by side and joined one another using the yoke. Leather straps or rope would loop under the necks of the animals and fastened to the yoke to hold them in place. Additional straps or ropes were connected from the yoke to whatever load the animals were intended to pull, whether a cart, or a plow, or perhaps a wagon.

It is important that the animals are of the same species, similar in size and temperament. If an ox and a donkey were yoked together, trouble would quickly ensue. If two animals of the same species and size were placed together, but were dominant by nature, they would work against each other instead of together. They may be distracted by events around them and want to pull slower or faster than the other, or even in different directions from each other. Ultimately the very task they were meant to perform would be in jeopardy of failing or being destroyed.

A person should not put together animals that would be considered ‘unequal’ to each other. The proper practice is to place a mature, docile animal, one that has already been trained in the task and/or knows the way to go with a younger animal, similar in size. The older animal would set the pace and stay on the desired path, keeping the younger animal in line as it was being trained. The younger animal must learn to submit to the leading of the older, more mature animal.

We find this to be true with human beings as well. People placed together without a strong leader guiding and teaching them will ultimately resist forward progress and the task assigned is poorly completed, if at all. What does that mean for believers of Jesus?

The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:14;

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

This scripture is telling us that we should not be joining ourselves to a person that is not in the family of God. One that shares the same moral values and principles. It does not mean that we stay away from unbelievers, because our assignment is to go into the world and share the good news with them, just don’t partner with them. Going into contract with someone that does not have the same vision as yourself will ultimately cause failure of your plans.

When we come to Jesus and accept Him as Lord and savior, we must submit to His leading and direction. He knows the way and at what pace we should go. He carries the heaviest burden while we learn. He gently guides us on the path that is best for each of us individually. He does this work through the Holy Spirit that now lives within us.

As a believer, each of us must learn to surrender our stubborn wills to Jesus and allow the work of the Holy Spirit within us to remove our sinful nature, the rebellious part of us, and transform us to His perfect and mature nature.

When you are yoked with Jesus, life gets remarkably better. Matthew 11:28-30 points the way.

28 “ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29  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.  30  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”