Have you ever felt like you were a slave to something? It just doesn’t sound good, does it? Something about the word slavery just makes us shudder. And yet, if we were to take a long, honest, soul-bearing look at our lives…I wonder if we might find that we have been taken captive by something and find ourselves enslaved. It takes guts to ponder that kind of question, and I think it’s worth asking.
The likelihood is that if you are wearing a yoke of slavery, it has become “normal” in your life, the yoke is (as bad or harmful as it may be) comfortable. You’ve adapted to it. You’ve become accustomed to it, addicted even. Maybe you really believe you need it. And yet, you were NEVER meant to wear it. I wonder what your yoke was or what yoke of slavery you are wearing now.
“Christ has liberated us to be FREE. Stand firm then and DON’T submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1HCSB
I don’t know what your story or situation may be, but I’ve worn many of yokes in my life:
Hurt. Perfectionism. Fear. Selfishness. Insecurity. Crippling insecurity, actually.
My yokes of slavery were meant for my destruction and not for my freedom. So are yours. But, I can write this article of the week today telling you that I was set free by Jesus Christ. And I actually got to exchange those harmful, horrible, life-sucking yokes for one that is easy and light. Freedom feels really good! He is the only reason that I stand before each of you ready to love and give and serve. More than anything in my life, I want other people to be free as well. Jesus Himself says it best in Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
