713: The Yoke of Rest

I’m back from my tour of Civil Rights sites in the southern part of the United States and it was a great week of learning and growing. You can read all about my trip on my travel blog and I urge you to one day make that same pilgrimage I just made. It will change your world.

Last week I interrupted my series on rest to republish a Memo that focused on a sermon by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now let’s pick up again on the rest theme and see what we can learn together this week.

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The concept of rest confuses many believers. A small minority maintains a strict observance of Sunday (sometimes a Saturday), refusing to do much of anything. Others maintain a worship tradition on Sunday, and still others see Sunday as a day for recreation or chores, and some even have to work. Last year when I did my devotional on leadership, I wrote on rest every seventh day and it is from that body of material that I am borrowing for this series.

Jesus mentioned rest in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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.”

Here are some thoughts I have about these verses:

1. Jesus commanded the listeners then and readers today to “come to Him.” The source of true rest is only available in Him, not apart from Him.
2. Jesus will “give” rest to any who come to Him, especially those who are weary and burdened. This does not seem to refer to a work condition, but a spiritual condition. True rest has its roots in spiritual peace, not mental or physical peace or lack of activity.
3. Jesus commanded the listeners to wear His yoke. What does this yoke indicate? It seems in this context to mean that the yoke is to learn from Jesus. The yoke is discipleship, learning a lifestyle and establishing a culture that is different than the lifestyles of those who have not come to Jesus. This yoke is the entire body of teaching that will only bring rest when it is obeyed.
4. There seems to be a connection between rest, humility and gentleness. Pride and agitation seem to take away rest and energy, even when you are asleep.
5. True rest is not physical rest but mental or internal rest, and Jesus said this is something you discover or find when you learn from Him.
6. Jesus said His yoke is easy and light. If your way is hard and heavy, then you cannot find rest until you trade the yoke you have for the one that Jesus has assigned to you.
7. This rest does not seem to be dependent on going to the beach or some other leisure activity, as valuable as that practice can be. Jesus knew about rest and He was saying the source of rest is in freedom from anxiety and the pursuit of wealth or promotion.

Those are just some thoughts I have from these verses. Do you have any of your own? If you do, please feel free to include them on the site where this entry is posted. I anticipate continuing this series next week, but the key issue is not my insight into rest, but your ability to find true rest and come up with a definition and practice that works for you and pleases God. I am coming home after a long trip with many stops, staying in a different hotel just about every night. Yet I am rested and rejuvenated, ready to face my purpose work this week. I hope you feel the same. Have a blessed week and get some rest!

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TRAVEL BLOG: You can check out my updates from my most recent trip "Returning to the Roots of Civil Rights Tour" at my travel blog. Then consider taking the trip next year on your own. It will change your life.

HOW TO RUN A NONPROFIT CLASS: I am hosting a five-week seminar here in Pittsburgh starting July 1 on how to start and manage a nonprofit organization. The cost is $250 plus the textbook and the seminar is five consecutive Wednesday nights. You can find more information here. If you are interested, drop me an email and let me know.