Seeking Jesus in the Holy Land

After today, the Pearls of Promise blog will take a short hiatus as founder Lisa Burkhardt Worley travels to Israel. It will resume on Tuesday, December 16th with a three-part series on Lisa’s experiences and revelations from God in the Holy Land. This devotion is based on Lisa’s thoughts prior to departing.

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:1-2).

Three wise men sit on the bookshelf next to my kitchen table year round. At Christmas time, they also carry a position of prominence on my mantle.

Why?

Because, like the wise men, I want to seek Jesus.

Sight unseen, I desire to give everything to the one who gave up so much that I might live.

I want to place my gifts at his feet daily, and ask him to provide opportunities to use them for his glory.

I long to be wise in God’s eyes, not my own.

Just as the wise men did over two thousand years ago, I am about to begin a long journey, and will be seeking Jesus to worship him.

Dallas to Houston. Houston to Newark. Newark to Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It’s more than a 24-hour trip to Israel, far less than what the wise men traveled, but with same desired result.

Friends who have made this pilgrimage before say I will never be the same. I welcome that, and can’t imagine returning without a transformation. How can you ever be the same after walking where Jesus walked, praying where Jesus prayed, and visiting the tomb where Jesus rose again? While I’m a little nervous about such a close encounter, I know God will meet me there.

Many have asked if I am afraid of traveling to Israel at a time of such unrest. The way this trip came together, one week after I prayed for an opportunity to go to the Holy Land, the answer is “no.” I am trusting God to protect our group.

This morning as I read Psalm 78, I realized the Lord was angry with the wandering Israelites not because they whined about their lack of food, but because “they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance” (Psalm 78:22).

As I go to the holiest of all lands, I believe in God’s protection, and trust in his deliverance. I don’t think it’s any accident I booked two January speaking engagements this week. I believe it’s my Father’s way of saying, “Trust in my protection daughter. You will return safely to the United States to continue in your calling.”

So over the next few hours, I will be packing the last minute items, and will head to DFW airport to begin the journey of a lifetime to the promised land of my Jewish father’s ancestors. It still seems surreal to me, but I am thankful for the opportunity, and that God lovingly gave me the best Christmas gift ever.

Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” I pray my entire heart will be focused on Christ, and Christ only. I don’t want to miss him, or anything he has to say to me in Israel.

Wise men and women still seek him, and they do find him.

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him” (Matthew 2:11).