Title:  An Invitation to Soul Rest!

Topic:  Rest

Scripture:  Matthew 11:29a -- Take My yoke upon you and learn from me...

Observation:  Jesus ends His prayer to the Father with an invitation.  It's a call for weary, burdened people to find rest.  The motivation is to switch yokes: from my yoke to Jesus' yoke.  The inference seems to be that my yoke is too heavy.  It tires me out.  Switching yokes, according to Jesus, would be a good thing.  One of the benefits of wearing Jesus' easy yoke is that Jesus says I will learn from Him. I've understood that yokes for oxen were in two's.  I imagine being yoked to Jesus.  Side-by-side we journey together.  I wonder if my yoke becomes easier because Jesus carries more weight.  Like a wise older brother I see Jesus teaching me "the ropes" of the kingdom.  He takes the lead.  He's the captain.  I'm the follower.  Learning from Jesus is a very good thing.

Application:  I am so used to being the leader and the teacher that it is a very good thing for me to be led and for me to be the student.  Jesus extends this invitation to rest.   Leading and teaching consume my life...often to my own detriment.   Jesus offers me rest.   Rest is what my soul needs.   What will bring it to me?  Coming to Jesus!  Simply being with Him; being yoked to Him.  I need to heed this motivation to soul rest with Jesus.