On Dog Collars and Yokes

Monday night was spa night at the Hasslers. Granted, “the girls” (Lily, 3, and Coco, 1) don’t like spa night, but I try to make it as pleasant as cleaning and trimming ears can be for two malti-poos. Often, they run to Dad, as though he’s not involved in the conspiracy, but eventually, when the grooming is over, they still enjoy a belly rub from monster Mom.

What amazes me most is their excitement when I hold out their collars and re-attach them securely around their necks. Don’t these dogs understand that collars are confining? Don’t the collars sometimes chafe or itch? Wouldn’t life be better if Mom had nothing with which to grab them when they try to scamper away on spa night?

Is it possible my girls see the collars as a security blanket, a way for a stranger to identify them from the attached tags, or even as the vehicle by which I leash them for the highlights of their days—walks around the neighborhood.

Then it occurred to me that I, too, wear a collar of sorts. As a believer, I am “yoked” to Jesus Christ. He told me that in Matthew 11:29-30: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Wait a minute! I thought I had found freedom in Christ! Now I’m reminded that my freedom has limits. If it’s any comfort, we’re all yoked to something. In the case of the Pharisees in Jesus’ day, they were yoked to the 612 laws that had been added to the Ten Commandments. These yokes were strangling them (see Acts 15:9-11).

Others were yoked to besetting sins, evil and immoral acts and debilitating habits. These thoughts and actions were enslaving both believers and unbelievers. Paul told the Galatian Christians, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1).

Would I rather be yoked to Christ or to Satan? You knew I’d find a way to plug my book in here somewhere! To find out more about how Christ sets us free from uncomfortable and confining yokes of the world, pick up a copy of When Christ Sets You Free: Living Between the Ditches series (crossbooks.com).

In my next post, we’ll talk more about Christ’s yoke. Til then, keep living between the ditches!