Trading Yokes: The Great Exchange

“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

Here’s Jesus’ deal with those that believe in and follow Him:

1. Opt-in! His demographic prequalification is to admit you are one of His burdened or exhausted people. Opt-out by being too busy, afraid what “God might say to me” or by procrastination.
2. Follow His instructions to “Come to me.” Jesus saved his invitation to abide until after he had dispatched Judas and the Last Supper; right after He had realized that after 3 years together, these 11 men had finally BELIEVED in Him, And He called them His friends–no longer slaves–for the first time. This means come set a while–abide–STAY in Him. Rarely is any churchgoer taught this critical  discipleship cornerstone, yet the outcome of our salvation depends upon it!
3. Think of your home. The place where loved ones gather and where you can unwind after a stressful day. But is it your home or a house? Jesus breaks up the paradigm here by using ‘abiding’ (or ‘aboding’) in and with Him as your true home–not just in Heaven one day, but NOW. Home means a safe place, your protected domicile from the elements and forced entry. Home is supposed to mean rest, but for most, it is a mortgage, taxes, upkeep–plus where the worlds most fearsome and painful harm comes to most. The Deal requires we change our definition of home from a street address to being alone with Him–in Him–as the Scriptures often teach. And “in Jesus” is not a theological construct, it is a real place of Heaven on Earth where we find rest and peace for our souls. It is the place He says come and unload your heavy burdens, fears, pain, and anxieties onto His shoulders.
4. Abide also means to STAY or REMIAN–the regular place you live and return to whenever you need to be refreshed or encouraged and strengthened. It is your true place of clarity, priority, and of Joy as well.
5. Follow the steps with weak faith–like I do–and you will find true rest for your soul

 Is this not what our heart, mind and body yearns for the most? Real REST, clarity, and peace for my soul?

• First, I chose to set my calendar–block out the beginning of my day (with coffee)–and repeat each day per week, et. al.
• I get ready with Bible, pen, and a journal–and focus on His Word–and Jesus–as I dig into a few select verses
• After filtering out all of the worthless and alien voices and reminders, my ultimate goal is to step into His arms–sometimes the arms of our Abba, Father God. It is hard to do at first for His invitation is called “dwelling in the ‘secret place” of the Almighty” (Ps 91:1-2).
• Give specific thanksgiving first–I made a list of 32 things that I’m grateful for from Him and edit it as I go. The Psalms teach us thanksgiving opens up the Gates and the Courts of Heaven for us to come boldly!
• I lean in directly, to engage Jesus in silence–actively listening to Him
• Breathing in–then out a few times, I press in to become one with my Lord–and see Him move very close to me) and we Abide together
• Housekeeping: I confess–asking for forgiveness for a stinky sin–or selfish, ego-spawned attitude, repent and let Him wash me.
• I choose to forgive anyone I have a grudge towards. The grudge that ruminates can be the most damaging and toll-taking burdens
• My fears and cares bubble up and I and push them away from me to Jesus–to Him alone. I SURRENDER MY LIFE and CONTROL–for truly, I have none!  I see Jesus smile at my act of trust. I cast all of my worries, (seemingly) giant problems, and my angst to CONTROL–onto His great shoulders, and soon feel lighter as my faith and love for Him rise! I’m thinking…He’s got this!
• I release my weighty burdens by name to Him. This does not mean avoid taking care of true responsibilities during the day.
• The phrase “learn of me” means learn by patient waiting–practicing with Him–imagining Him at your side each day. This is living “in Christ”.
• “For I am gentle and lowly in heart.” Lowly means “living low to the ground.” Do the same and you will find Jesus there with you.
•  By putting first things first, His is an “easy yoke” and “you will find rest for your souls” which puts my day on the right track for serving others.

As our Vine, Jesus is now connected with the flow of His health and Spirit to bring about a fruitfulness of life you cannot ever have imagined!
He gives you the REST you long for–and so much more!

Back to my impossible funding burden . . .

After this sweet and humbling communion with my Lord, I went back to my PC to work. Immediately I saw a new text from an old friend, who had been our largest Donor for Core 300 during our first 6 years in Kenya. Covid had taken his business sideways and he had to rebuild. He told me he would be back one day, but he had not returned my calls for a few years–so I gave up.

He wrote:

“Hello Art! The Lord wants to bless your ministry to allow you to buy all the motorcycles, vans, supplies, training and travel your prayers have asked for. I need to know how to make this happen. God bless

P.S. We talked today and he is sending the large sum God put in his mind, and one that supplies 58% of our entire Kenyan Q3 Capacity Building Budget!                  

 “Arise, come away my Beloved (you) . . .my beautiful one, come away with me! 
–Song of Solomon 2:13

So Others May Live,

Art Hobba
President, Core 300

PSS: We are Still $35,000 Short, so look for our Newsletter this Wednesday with MIRACULOUS UPDATES from our KENYAN TEAM