@thekendrascott
Rather than reflecting on a revelation given me by the Holy Spirit in my quiet time and meditation, I am reflecting on a lesson that helped bring greater understanding to the scriptures, which I learned from a sermon taught by Pastor Bill Shuler of Capital Life Church in Arlington VA.
In a Sunday sermon, Pastor Bill clarified an often misunderstood verse: "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14)
Surprisingly, many Christians (believers) misread the word "yoke" as "yolk." However, it is not surprising that this misunderstanding is accepted and rarely corrected. Oftentimes, we view the scriptures as too spiritual and lofty for our human minds to understand, so we are content being left in the dark about certain truths. Well, such complacency toward scripture is the exact opposite of what God was going for when He gave us His Word. The Lord made scriptures a mystery in order for us to seek Him out and get to know Him better, on a personal level. Trying to better understand someone requires that you have a relationship and fellowship with that person. That is exactly what Jesus wanted. I digress.
To clarify this scripture, Pastor Bill explained that yoke was often fastened onto oxen for plowing soil, while yolk, in the simplest terms, is the yellow part of a bird's egg, like a chicken's egg yolk. The images above and below, give us a picture of what the yoke in the Bible was referring too. Pastor Bill further explained that oftentimes a rancher would yoke a younger ox with an older ox in order to train the younger one on how to plow and keep pace. Nevertheless, each was an ox. The ox was never yoked to a horse or to sheep.
Likewise, 2 Corinthians 6:14 explains that we, as Believers, cannot be yoked with darkness or with those who do not believe (yet) because we move at totally different paces with totally different purposes. If a horse was yoked to an oxen, it may try to outrun the ox, choking the ox; or the ox might try to gore the horse out of frustration. As Believers, it is difficult to keep a stride with those who do not believe. God could be leading us to go one way, while someone else might prefer to go another way. This is not to say that we never socialize with people who do not believe; it simply means that our deepest relationships are with Christ and with those who are like-minded in following Christ.
Do not be unequally yoked with someone who doesn't think or believe the way you do. This applies to any type of relationship. You don't even have to be a Christian to know this to be true. Ask a psychologist. It just won't work. Rather, as Christians, if we are to be equally yoked with others, we want to be sure they too are keeping in step with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25).
Now, go enjoy some egg yolk with your best yoked buddy! :)
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