The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Part two: The Solution
The Secret of the Easy Yoke (2|2)
Pages 81-88
TOGETHER read the book then the following scriptures slowly and attentively.
INDIVIDUALLY take notes in your journal on what stands out.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) “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.”
John 14:1-7 (NIV) “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
GROUP DISCUSSION:
Dallas Willard wrote this about Matthew 11:28-30: “In this truth lies the secret of the easy yoke: the secret involves living as [Jesus] lived in the entirety of his life - adopting his overall lifestyle. If you want to experience the life of Jesus, you have to adopt the lifestyle of Jesus.
What is your reaction to that statement?
Share just one or two things that stood out to you while reading the book and/or scripture. (try to keep it brief)
TOGETHER pray for one another.
INDIVIDUALLY answer the questions in your journal - process your notes and pray.
Eugene Peterson said: The Jesus way wedded to the Jesus truth brings about the Jesus life… But Jesus as the truth gets far more attention than Jesus as the way.
What is your reaction to that statement?
Frederick Dale Bruner wrote: A yoke is a work instrument. Thus Jesus offers a yoke he offers what we might think tired workers need least. They need a mattress or a vacation, not a yoke.
What is your reaction to that statement?
What Jesus knows is that we are continually yoking ourselves to something.
Why do you think there is so much addiction, escapism, and fantasy of a different lifestyle than the one you have?
That’s why Jesus doesn’t offer us an escape. He offers us something better: “equipment”. He offers his apprentices a whole new way to bear the weight of our humanity: with ease - because Jesus is doing all the heavy lifting. When we are yoked to Jesus we are also yoked to the Father.
Why is it so much easier to reach for the remote? The sugary sweet? The - whatever instant dopamine hit of choice is then to reach for the yoke of Jesus?
Pause and pray - declare to Jesus that you want his yoke over any other yoke. Thank him for his invitation to take up his yoke - his lifestyle.
Extra Reading:
Letter to Diognetus (estimated 130 AD)
”The Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor by language, nor by the customs that they observe; for they neither inhabit cities of their own nor employ a peculiar form of speech. They dwell in their own countries but simply as sojourners. They marry, as do all others; they beget children, but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey prescribed laws and, at the same time, surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death and restored to life. They are poor, yet they make many rich; they are lacking all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonored, and yet in their very dishonor are glorified. They are spoken of as evil, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless; they are insulted and repay the insult with honor; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers.”
- Author Unknown