What did Jesus mean when He said take my yoke upon you?

We put too many restraints and bridle ourselves with too much work, work, work in the Christian community.  I recall sitting on a church pew sobbing right before Christmas one year.  I had literally worked myself into a state of exhaustion.  I thought “is this what God wants for me”?  It took me over the next thirty days to really get this but when I did, it was life transforming.  The Holy Spirit revealed to me to take Jesus’ yoke upon myself because after all didn’t He come to set the captive free? (Matt 11:29) I had bound up myself in what I thought He wanted me to do.  When I look back, I see I was doing what people expected me to do….not what the Holy Spirit was telling me to do.  I pulled back from everything so I could just take a breath and get back my strength.  The people I was around didn’t understand or like it but I stopped working my way to heaven that year. I took His yoke and Grace upon me and what a difference a day makes!!!   We need to get back to the Jesus in the Bible....... 

How come some people get Jesus so easily and others don’t? 

I think we first have to just admit that this is God’s world and He has a perfect timing set for everyone to come into the kingdom.  I look back and see several key times that God sent someone to help me.  I felt so alone at times within myself but, I didn’t want to hear what those people had to say. Whether it was the way they were saying it or because I had been blinded so by my sin, I just couldn’t bear to take that close of a look at myself through the truth of the Gospel.  What I did need was a Father’s love and care but nobody told me in that way….(John 14:18)  Sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and listen to people if they are truly trying to help you.  Then when it is time, you will get it.  

What is tithing?

A tithe is ten percent.  It is ten percent of your gross income.  To keep it simple, take ten pennies and line them up in a row.  Take the very first one away and that is your tithe on the whole ten pennies.  The first penny is God’s and the other nine are yours…they have been redeemed by the first penny.  Tithing is an obedience thing that God requires.  God says, “Test me” one time in the Bible and that is in regards to our money. (Malachi 3:8-12) I have proved Him in this and tithing actually ‘opened the windows of Heaven over my life.’  But then YOU need to test it for yourself….I have proved God over and over and when I give to God where He wants me to give you will always receive something back.  There is a supernatural thing that happens that you can’t really explain…but it is as tangible as you are.  Try it, you’ll like it!!!