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Yoked to Christ- Purpose of Heart

Scott Judge · Nov 20, 2018 · 1 Comment

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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 11:28-30). Jesus, in this statement, extends an invitation that is for all. The word “Come” in verse 28 is not an imperative but it is a request. One does not have to go to Jesus. Each person must decide to answer this invitation or not. If one does heed the request, it is of great benefit and profit for the follower. The reason to follow Jesus is to find rest. Every person alive has suffered labor and a heart that is heavy laden. These burdens seem to become even more difficult to bear as we grow older. Any burden that man faces has already been experienced by Christ (Hebrews 4:15). What a great advocate we have in Him. Jesus understands all of our trials and asks that those who follow Him live like Him.

Jesus wants us to be yoked to Him. A yoke is two u shaped pieces connected by a crossbar that is usually made of wood. It was placed around the neck of an animal—usually oxen. It is used for greater strength in pulling a load while working together. Jesus wants to work with His followers in going through this life by being yoked to them. Again the idea is free will for all who will consider this. We do not have to take the yoke. However, if the goal is to get to God, why would we not go to the one who knows the way? Those who go to Jesus can be yoked with Jesus who: 1) Has overcome the world (John 16:33). 2) Has overcome death (Hebrews 2:14). 3) Has gone back to the Father in Heaven (Mark 16:19). 4) Has the perfect understanding of the Master’s commands (John 6:68). 5). Has traveled the path we must go (John 14:6).

When I was younger, my family would put up hay every summer. I was usually throwing the hay from the wagon into the barn, but occasionally I would be on the inside of the barn stacking where some great treasures of a farmer could be found. My great-grandfather had a yoke that was hanging near a wagon away from where we stacked the hay. I always had desire to go over and get the yoke down and look at it but was always overcome by a fear of the snakes that were in that section of the barn. I would always look at the yoke and wonder what it would have been like to actually use such a contraption on a frequent basis. I remember thinking that it would be very difficult to use and get on the oxen. Never did I think that the yoke was easy even though I understood the purpose.

Christ says that His yoke is easy. This means that it is a great fit for the one who will wear it. Christ is the perfect sacrifice for the horribleness of sin. This perfect sacrifice has brought a perfect system for following God. No longer is the Christian paralyzed by the labors and burdens of life that give no hope. In Christ Jesus one can find purpose and hope. The Christian can live a life that gives identity to what is and what is not important. It gives the Christian promise of eternal life that is attainable because of the sacrifice of Christ. From Christ we learn of Him and how He is our great example. He is gentle and He is humble. These are great characteristics to be polished for those that follow Him. Being yoked to Jesus, the work is possible and the work is profitable. It will fill our lives with the greatest of all hope and rest will be given to the soul. Are you yoked with Christ? Won’t you come?

Scott is the minister at the Elm Grove Church of Christ. Meeting times are Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for Bible class and 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. for worship. Mid-week Bible study is on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. All are invited.

Finding Comfort in Times of Sorrow- Purpose of Heart

Scott Judge · Nov 20, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Finding Comfort in Times of Sorrow

“The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want. He makes me to lid down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though, I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil: For you are with me: Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23). This Psalm is one of the most well-known. It is of great comfort to Christians that the Shepherd leads us in this life, protects us from danger and gives us comfort in our greatest trials.

Jesus is referred to as a shepherd in both the Old and New Testaments. In John 10:11, He refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd. Not only is He the Shepherd, but as the Shepherd he is willing to give His life for the sheep. Who are His sheep? Those that follow Jesus are His sheep. The sheep recognize the voice of the Shepherd. The sheep have protection because of the Shepherd’s care.

Looking to the Shepherd, the needs of the sheep have been provided. “I shall not want.” I should not worry or be concerned what may happen to me because the Shepherd cares. The Shepherd’s compassion is that the sheep are always safe. Jesus spoke these words concerning the worries of life, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 3:33-34). Unlike an animal, man has need for more than basic instinctual things. Man has a need for the spiritual, which the Shepherd will provide.

My soul is restored when baptism for remission of sins takes place. The sin that separated me from God has been forgiven through the sacrifice of the Shepherd. The Shepherd died for the protection of the sheep (Matthew 27:50). I have been re-established with a relationship with God in which hope now reigns supreme. Because of the care of the Shepherd, I may be in the presence of God one day throughout all of eternity. The Apostle Paul states to the Romans, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in a newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

This newness of life gives me the path in which I should walk because the Shepherd is my example. His path leads me to God. His path was of perfection on this earth. When the Shepherd came to the end of His earthly path, He sat down on the right hand of God (Hebrews 12:2). The path of righteousness is not an easy one to follow. It is a path that must be traveled with sacrifice and obedience. The path is narrow (Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus however, leads us in the way of righteousness on this path, giving us all comfort from the evils of the world. This comfort comes from knowing that in Him a greater home awaits (John 14:1-6).

The goodness of God will dwell in us regardless of what the situation may be. Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Many times we are unclear as to why things happen the way they do. So many are dealing with the death of close family members while others are suffering with their own mortality. I don’t always have the words to give the comfort that I would like others to experience. However, the words of comfort that I do speak are from the greatest comforter of all. Apostle Paul stated, “Be anxious for nothing for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ” (Philippians 4:6-7).

One of the greatest comforts is that I can face death with joy and confidence in my heart. All mankind will walk through this valley. For those that are not of the Shepherd, it is a dreadful valley that has no promise. For those that walk in paths of righteousness, there is no fear. It is my prayer that you are a faithful sheep of Jesus. In Him all comfort and hope may be found. When we die faithful in Christ, we do not have to mourn as those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13). We can rest assured that one day they will stand before Christ with the hope of Heaven being cleansed by His shed blood. If you are not faithful to Christ, please prepare yourself for that day. For those of us who are faithful in Christ that wait with heavy hearts of sorrow, take solace in the great promise in Christ Jesus that one day we may all be reunited to never be separated again.

Happy Thanksgiving- Purpose of Heart

Scott Judge · Nov 20, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Happy Thanksgiving

This is such a beautiful time of the year. I have always enjoyed Thanksgiving. It brings me wonderful excitement of family members I will soon see as well as fond memories of family that have passed on from this earth. I have so much to be thankful for as I celebrated this holiday with my loved ones. This is a day of thanksgiving that was first celebrated in 1621 as a Harvest Celebration. Those that first celebrated were thankful for a harvest food to eat. Blessings come in many different ways and it is good to remember and celebrate that which has been given. I reflect on this day about the things of this life that I am thankful for, but I do so not on this day only. For the Christian, every day should be a day of thanksgiving.

The Christian is thankful for the Father who is in Heaven. God loved all within the world and sent Jesus to die an incredibly painful death so that everlasting life could come to the sinner. “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and knowledge” (1 Corinthians1:4-5). The love of God is endless in the promise to save a repentant sinner. God is good, all things of Him are good, and He deserves praise, glory and honor. “I will give thanks to the Lord because of righteousness; I will sing praises of the name of the Lord Most High” (Psalm 7:17). Without God, man is separated eternally.

The Christian is thankful for Family. The Christian has a biological family and also a godly family. God’s desire is that there is love between all families. Fathers and mothers love their children. Children love their fathers and mothers. Each one should bring joy to the lives of the others. My Dad taught my brothers and me about the importance of needing one another. After fighting at the bus stop one morning, my father sat us down after supper and told us, “Boys, we do not have a lot of money. We do not have a lot of possessions. We have each other”. As tears welled up in my eyes, I understood that having two brothers was more important than any prestige, honor, money, possession, or my so called spot on the side of the road while waiting for the bus. God’s family should be the same way. We have each other. Jesus perfected love for the family—those that would enter the kingdom through Him. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). What a friend we have in Jesus. He is our example in relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2). The Christian has a family to help in times of trouble and a family to rejoice with in times of gladness (Romans 12:15).

A Christian is thankful for the Future. That is because the Christian knows who holds the future. Life on earth is filled with uncertainty. As time passes, there is no certainty in what will remain or for how long. All things will come to pass. The Christian looks forward to the future in heaven. It is a pain-free, sorrow-free, death-free place where God resides. Jesus sits on the right hand of the throne. One day all those that have been faithful in Christ will be together with no worries or fear. It is eternal peace in the presence of all those that have obeyed God. The Christian can meet every day as the Apostle Paul did. He said, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor: yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better.”

On this Thanksgiving Day, please remember the great privileges and blessings that you have been given. Be thankful for the Father who loves us, the family who comforts us and the future that sustains us. Blessing come in so many ways. If you are not blessed in these three ways, please call that we may talk about your soul’s salvation.