6/13
2 Chronicles 12:8
8Nevertheless, they shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries."
When Sheshak, king of Egypt, came against the southern kingdom of Israel, a prophet told the people that they had forsaken God so He had forsaken them. Rehoboam and all the people repented and turned back to God. God promised they would not be destroyed, but that they would have to learn a lesson. The service of God is much lighter than the service that man requires. Sheshak would make them serve him by exacting a yearly tribute.
Jesus picked up this theme in the gospels. He invites us to come to Him and learn that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). We will all serve sin or be freed from sin to serve Jesus. Some people are like Rehoboam. They get tired of serving God and they decide they will serve themselves, not realizing that yoke becomes much heavier than God's yoke.
Whom are you serving? The only ones that are truly free are those that serve the Lord. It sounds like a contradiction, but He transforms our will so that we desire the same things that He desires. What we once desired is a product of our fallen nature. It is not who we were created to be. It is a deceptive and destructive mindset. The Spirit of God renews our mind through the Word of God so that our thinking is transformed and the result is the freedom to joyfully serve God. That is why Jesus' yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Consider: How heavy is the yoke you are wearing?