Men's Prayer Devo 05/12/22

Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV

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.”

Do you ever feel like you’ve given every ounce to your job or to a specific project or group of people?

It’s so easy to get drained! (Physically, emotionally, mentally)

It you’re like me and have to be a perfectionist about everything…it takes a toll!

Sometimes Lauren and I just have to look at each other and remind each other that we’re in this together and this hectic time WILL pass…just plow ahead through that tough ground!

In verse 28, the word for “labour” is the Greek word kopaio which describes “the most wearisome kind of laborer.”

This is somebody who gives it all to their project or assignment

He is striving, laboring, and working with every fiber of his being

The Greek tense also suggests that it’s someone who’s been laboring like that for a very long time.

The work has been wearisome and exhausting.

“Heavy laden” describes who these people are so weary from their labors.

Greek word phortidzo which describes a burden or load that is normal and expected for an individual to carry in life

This was a military term that described the backpack or bag that ever soldier was required to carry as a part of his career as a soldier.

Carrying this weight was normal and expected from a soldier

The weight of these backpacks and bags was determined by the length of the soldier’s journey.

If his trip was short, the weight would be less.

But if the assignment required a longer journey, the weight of the backpack or bag would be “heavy laden”

Jesus was referring to people who had been doing their job for a very long time - and their job wasn’t done yet.

The journey had not been quick, short, or easy and much of it was still ahead of them.

Knowing how exhausted they were, Jesus said, “Come to Me…and I will give you rest “ (v. 28)

The word “rest” is from the Greek word that means to rest, to relax, to calm, or to refresh.

We might say, “take a breather,” or “take time to get away”

JESUS NEVER PROMISED THAT HE WOULD TAKE DIFFICULT ASSIGNMENTS AWAY FROM US. BUT, HE DID PROMISE THAT IF YOU WOULD COME TO HIM, HE WOULD GIVE YOU THE REST YOU NEED IN ORDER TO BE REFRESHED FOR THE CONTINUATION AND CONCLUSION OF THE JOURNEY.

WHEN IT SEEMS THAT YOU’VE GIVEN ALL YOU HAVE, BUT THERE’S STILL SO MUCH MORE FOR YOU TO DO BEFORE YOU FINISH, JUST TAKE A BREAK FROM YOUR JOURNEY AND GO TO JESUS FROM SOME SPIRITUAL REFRESHING!

Then in v. 29, Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you”

The yoke was the wooden device that joined two animals together so they could combine their strength to pull a load that would be too difficult for one animal to pull by itself. But the “yoke” made the team inseparable.

As a result, they were stronger and they combined their strength to make their task easier.

This is what Jesus does for the tired and weary worker: He offers to come alongside the worker and join him in his assignment.

BUT THE WORKER - THE WEARY ONE - HAS TO MAKE THE CHOICE TO ENTER INTO THIS WORKING RELATIONSHIP AND TO COME UNDER THE YOKE OF JESUS.

He had to take the “yoke” of Jesus upon himself - by faith putting it on himself

Becoming “yoked” to Jesus in our businesses, homes, and affairs of life is a DELIBERATE CHOICE

It never happens by accident

When we do, we strengthened to do things we could never do on our own

The job is much easier when we’re yoked to Jesus!

Jesus went on to say, “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Easy is the Greek word chrestos and means pleasurable or comfortable

It’s a delight to work with the Lord!

Things that would usually make you uneasy become comfortable

Being yoked to him changes the atmosphere and brings peace and strength to you

Then He uses the word “light”

Greek word elaphron which describes something that is not burdnesome, but light or easy.

Something that was once hard or brought you trouble because you were doing it all alone becomes pleasurable and lighter when you partner with Jesus!

Stop pulling through solid ground alone

Allow Jesaus to become partnered with you in whatever you do today!

Going at it alone is the hardest course you can take - but when we choose to be yoked to Jesus, you suddenly have the best partner in the universe who will turn a once hard situation into a pleasurable experience for you!