Don’t Worry… Be Happy
Choose Your Yoke – Part XVII

Scripture Reading: 1 John 2:1-6

Key Verse: 1 John 2:1
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

As we finish up this month’s devotional, let’s rejoice over the yoke of Jesus! It really is a joy to be on His team and taught by His Spirit.

Do not think that we should be happy about God’s discipline that comes our way, but we can be full of joy knowing that we are going to be stronger and better because it.

For us who go to a gym to keep in shape, we are not happy about the pain we inflict on our bodies during a workout, but we are full of joy when we see the results of that hard work.

So it is in our walk with the Lord. We are not happy about the trials and problems that come our way. But we can be full of joy knowing that Jesus is right besides us and gives us what we need to deal with those problems.

Here is why Jesus wants to teach those who choose His yoke:

“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 15:11 NLT)

Once we believers realize that His joy is deeper and more meaningful than superficial happiness, then we choose Jesus’s yoke every day.

Think for a moment how fleeting happiness can be. One minute you can be so happy, then a phone call, some negative words from someone around you, or some other problem arises that quickly ruins those feelings of happiness.

But the joy Jesus gives is that deep feeling and knowledge that all is well with our soul and no matter the negative things that happen, God is on our side and fights our battles with us!

We choose Jesus’s yoke because it fills us with His joy and the joy overflows because of all of God’s promises that are “yes and amen” in Jesus Christ.

Once we understand and trust that Jesus advocates for us when we sin, we feel inner joy rather than dread by allowing the devil to condemn us!

If you are in the early stages of learning these wonderful truths, remember what Jesus said:

“Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30 NLT)

Note the second phrase: “Let Me teach you”. That is all Jesus asks of you in return for wearing His yoke of freedom. Simply tell Jesus often that you are willing to receive His teaching through reading of the Bible and listening to a pastor’s message or sensing the words of the Holy Spirit in your inner heart.

Just be willing to learn and Jesus takes it from there! As we close out this month, whisper this prayer:

Father, I choose the yoke of Jesus. I want You to teach me the eternal truths of Your Kingdom. Help me resist the words of condemnation from the evil one and trust my Advocate and Lord, Jesus. It is in His Name I pray, amen.