“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).
We all want things to be easy. We want a life of ease, our tasks to be easy and our requirements simple. But, we all know all good things in life come with a price and that price is not always so easy to pay.
Even though our Lord said His yoke is easy, it is a yoke none the less. A yoke is not used as a decoration to be hung about our necks as we would wear a sign calling ourselves “Christian”. Rather the yoke is a tool used to make sure we have a firm grip on what we are pulling. So, just what is it that we are pulling?
There are a great many things that have gone into all the weddings we have seen here at Karns. Parents, siblings and friends work tirelessly to get things done, but even that is usually not enough to get the job done without some help from others.
Our needs as a congregation are much like preparing for a wedding. After all, we are the bride of Christ, and as such we need to be ready for the day that He returns for us. We must get our house in order so it is presentable to Him. We need to invite as many as will come to join with us in serving God. We should be willing and eager to engage personally and directly in the work of the congregation, such as evangelism, edification, and benevolence. The simple admonition is this, find an individual role and fill it.
Meeting and working with each other allows us to experience all of the blessings the Lord provides for His servants. Our being together provides us with encouragement from others to be diligent in fulfilling our roles and responsibilities as Christians. Remember the words of the apostle Paul to our brethren in Thessalonica, “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good” (2 Thess. 3:13). Even if we do not do enough to grow weary, let us all resolve to at least do enough to get really tired. The effort will be rewarding and the results will bring honor and glory to God.
If, after self-examination, we admit that we have been looking for the “easy” way out in our service to the Lord, let’s decide it is time now to put on our yokes, start pulling and give the Lord His due.
For the Elders, Gregg Woodall