Focus
Experience silence in the midst of your busy day. Take some time to relax into a time to be with God.
Read
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 (NRSV)
“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; 19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
. . .
At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Reflect
We all experience times when we are weary from carrying heavy burdens. Health, family, financial, relationship, work, and a multitude of other issues alone or in combination often overwhelm us, causing us to wonder how much longer we can continue. When I have shared my concerns with a friend, she raises her arms and reminds me to “give it to God.”
I don’t know about you, but giving my burdens to God sounds wonderful, but is not easy to do. I’ll give everything to God and then pick them back up and start to worry about how I’m going to fix things. That’s not giving them to God!
A yoke is generally used with two animals, enabling them to work together to pull something heavy. Taking God’s yoke means we will work with God to handle the burdens of our lives. It means surrendering control (as if we really had any control) and humbling ourselves as Jesus did. When we are focused on serving others, our own burdens become less.
Pray
God, help us to focus on serving you by serving others. Thank you for taking our burdens and inviting us to join with you in your work. Amen.
Go with God!
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