Command 25 : Take My Yoke | Day 171

Analyze Your Labor Load!

At a conference for youth leaders, I learned about an event that had attracted thousands of teenagers to hear the Gospel. It was called a "funspiration" and combined fun and games with the presentation of the Gospel.

When I returned home, I purposed to have the greatest funspiration on record for my 1,600 classmates. I rented a huge gymnasium, lined up cheerleaders from a nearby Christian college for the games, arranged a premier showing of the new Billy Graham film, scheduled an outstanding comedian, brought in a large Christian youth band, and advertised the event with posters, radio ads, and newspaper ads. I even promised a box of candy to the first 300 who arrived!

On the evening of the event, I had a temperature of 101 degrees, but I would not let that stop me from carrying out my important program. At 7:00 p.m. the gym was all decorated, and a group of us went into a side room for a time of prayer. At 7:30 p.m. I walked out expecting to see the crowd. Instead I saw a cavernous gymnasium with a small group huddled at one end. I thought, "Maybe there is a traffic jam." So, I looked out the front door and saw an empty street. There was no question about the labor that went into this event: it was my labor, under my yoke, with my results.

"God's work is not man working for God; it is God's own work, though often wrought through man's hands." —Hudson Taylor

The command to take on Christ's yoke and learn of Him is basic to the entire Christian life. Until we come under the yoke of Christ's leadership, we will be totally ineffective for Him. Jesus said, “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Willfulness is an evidence of our own pride. It is demanding our own way and making our own decisions. Willfulness leads to conflicts that produce tension and spiritual burdens. As we put on Christ's yoke, we surrender our wills to Him in exchange for His will and His peace.

Taking the yoke of Christ means that thereafter we say, "Not my will, but thine, be done.” (See Luke 22:42.)

There were many rulers of the Jews, but Jesus conversed in depth with only one (see John 3). There were many sick and diseased people at the pool of Bethesda, but Jesus healed only one (see John 5). Jesus taught the multitudes, but He invested greater time in teaching His disciples. In spite of all the unmet needs, Jesus was able to say to His heavenly Father, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do" (John 17:4).

We tend to make lists of the things we want to do, and we receive a sense of exhilaration when we can check a completed item off the list. However, let's take on Christ's yoke and make sure our list is the one He gives us for the labor of each day.