Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Friends and Associates”
Our Bible verse for today: “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.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “Jesus walks with us through life.”
Yesterday we considered the fact that Jesus invites us to be His friend. We also thought about what it means for a person to be a friend. It involves things like trust and dependability and empathy; there is a sense of closeness and a deep level of comfort; and it also involves understanding and being understood.
Proverbs 18:24 describes the most advanced form of friendship as one who sticks closer than a brother. It’s the Hebrew word that was used to describe Abraham’s friendship with God, and it certainly applies to the kind of friendship Jesus offers to His followers.
In practical terms, I think the best New Testament description of what that friendship looks like on daily basis is given to us by Jesus Himself in Matthew 11:28-30.
Jesus spoke those words to the Jews of His day, almost all of whom lived and worked in an agrarian (farming) society. They were used to seeing teams of oxen yoked together, working together, to accomplish hard work. They knew that in every team of oxen there was a lead ox which was bigger, stronger, and more experienced, and there was a follower ox. It was up to the lead ox to carry most of the load and to provide the guidance. The job of the follower ox was to walk alongside the lead ox, share the load, and learn.
In this illustration Jesus was saying, “Let Me be your lead ox. Yoke yourself to Me and then let’s walk through life together. I’ll carry most of the load and I’ll provide the guidance. You just stay next to Me and we’ll do this together.”
The truth is that life is always better with Jesus than without Him. Whether that life is lived in a shack in Africa or in a mansion in Beverly Hills, life is always better with Jesus than without Him. And since Jesus is the all-powerful and mighty God of the universe, and since He is willing to walk through life with you carrying most of your burden and providing all of the guidance, He is the best friend you could ever have.
As you celebrate this Christmas season you will of course remember that the primary reason Jesus came as a baby in a manager was so He could one day die upon a cross to pay the penalty for our sins. But another reason He came is so He could be your friend, your best friend, and walk through life with you. It’s all a gift from God.
I encourage you to joyfully and gratefully accept the gift – all of it. Receive the gift of salvation from Jesus, and also receive the gift of friendship with Jesus. Then rely on Him to walk with you through life helping you to carry the load, and providing the guidance you need.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 