Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals:
Thursday March 12 2026
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Matthew 11:29-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.
When we choose to follow Jesus, we are making the decision to take His yoke upon us. The yoke had reference to that which joins animals together as they are plowing, under the direction of the farmer. As such, when we take the yoke of a Christ upon ourselves, it signifies that we are willingly entering the work of Jesus Himself.
“He says: ‘My yoke is easy.’ The word easy is in Greek chrëstos, which can mean well-fitting. In Palestine, ox-yokes were made of wood; the ox was brought, and the measurements were taken. The yoke was then roughed out, and the ox was brought back to have the yoke tried on. The yoke was carefully adjusted, so that it would fit well, and not chafe the neck of the patient animal. The yoke was tailor-made to fit the ox. There is a legend that Jesus made the best ox-yokes in all Galilee, and that from all over the country people came to him to buy the best yokes that skill could make. In those days, as now, shops had their signs above the door; and it has been suggested that the sign above the door of the carpenter’s shop in Nazareth may well have been: ‘My yokes fit well.’ It may well be that Jesus is here using a picture from the carpenter’s shop in Nazareth where he had worked throughout the silent years. Jesus says: ‘My yoke fits well.’ What he means is: ‘The life I give you is not a burden to cause you pain; your task is made to measure to fit you.’ Whatever God sends us is made to fit our needs and our abilities exactly.” (William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 2: The New Daily Study Bible, 602-613 (Kindle Edition): Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press)
The Christian life has always been about exchanging the weariness of the world for the work of the Lord.
Are we willing to follow through with our commitment to Jesus? Are we working in the kingdom as we ought?
Lord, help us to serve You faithfully. Amen.