The Yoke

A very good morning to you. It is Tuesday morning. I greet you in Jesus’ precious name. It is the 13th of September 2022, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

“It is good for a man to bear
The yoke in his youth.”
Lamentations 3:27

“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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29-30

It is good to bear the yoke. Do you know what a yoke is? A yoke is put between a pair of oxen when they pull a cart or a plough. The yoke prepares us for future tests. You know what they say - no pain, no gain, but who wants pain? No one. I love what C.H Spurgeon, the great English preacher said, “Praise intoxicates if it be not preceded by abuse.” I will give it to you in layman’s language. If you get praised all the time and have never been through hardship or knocked down, it goes to your head and makes you drunk. Praise intoxicates if it be not preceded by abuse. Men who rise to greatness without hardship, without a struggle, usually fall into dishonour. None of us prays for hardship or suffering, obviously, but there is no doubt that it prepares us for future challenges. 

Many, many years ago I went to Australia. I was working on a beautiful Hereford beef stud. The owner of the farm employed me, but the chief stockman didn’t particularly like me. He thought I didn’t know much and that he would have to do more of the work. I will never forget it as long as I live, the first day I got there, he said, “Mate, you see that black horse over there in the field?” I said, “Yes sir.” He said, “that is your horse, go and get it.” Well, when I went into the paddock I couldn’t catch the horse. He kept running up and down the field. Eventually, I cornered him in one corner of the field and then he showed me his back hooves. It took me about an hour or two, but I caught that horse and I got on him and he bucked me off a few times. But do you know something? That horse taught me how to ride and I have never forgotten it ever since! 

Don’t be afraid of taking the yoke. It will prepare you for the future. 

Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day.
Goodbye.