Apostolic Fathers: Didache
Chapter 6
1 See, do not let someone mislead you from this way of righteousness, since he teaches you without God. 2 For if you can bear the Lord's whole yoke, you will be perfect, but if you are not able, do what you are able. 3 But concerning eating, bear what you are able, and from too much idolatry give heed, for it is worship of dead gods.
“Do what you are able” encourages us to do good works, even though they will not be perfect. “We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we may walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). We follow Jesus because He has given us good works to do. We are not saved by these works. These works illustrate our salvation.
We are not able to perfectly bear Jesus' yoke; but when we drop it, His forgiveness is available. His forgiveness is living and active in the Christian's life. It is not a vain word from a dead idol's preacher. God's living and active Word allows us to bear Jesus' yoke even in our weakened state.
Our inability to bear Jesus' whole yoke often seeks to mislead us from the way of life (Matthew 24:4). This is the godless temptation to avoid God's Law because we are sinners. God could not possibly want to be near us. But God is near us. That is His purpose in placing the yoke upon us. He is near to all who are yoked with Jesus.