Morning Devotional

March 29, 2004

"Bewildered" 

by Don Emmitte

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But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. (2 Timothy 3:14-17 NLT),

You may not have been a fan of the TV show staring Fess Parker that ran from 1964 to 1970, which made Daniel Boone's name synonymous with the coonskin cap. I was. It was not a very accurate portrayal of the pioneer. It is not widely known that Boone detested Coonskin caps. It seems that Boone preferred a flat low crowned wide brimmed hat, which most rural people wore in the late 18th and early 19th century. He would only have donned a fur hat on cold days. It didn’t seem to matter to me. I loved the show and didn’t need to do any research to verify the accuracy of the Disney character!

However, there is an interesting story I have discovered about him that illustrates a key truth. As you may know, Daniel Boone is credited with opening the way west into Kentucky from the Carolinas and Virginia. He spent time following Indian trails and learning the lay of the land. His exploration and surveying trips helped open what was then the American West and is now Kentucky and Tennessee to settlers. When Chester Harding was painting Boone's portrait in 1820 (when Boone was nearly 86 years old), Harding asked Boone if he had ever been lost during his travels. Boone replied, " No, I can't say as ever I was lost, but I was bewildered once for three days."

Even Christians can be much like Daniel Boone. We can be saved and covered by God's Grace, but we can also be "mightily bewildered" sometimes by circumstances and tribulation in our lives. We must look to the source of our salvation for direction. When we do, we can overcome the obstacles that hold us back in our relationship with the Creator.

Boone helped generate maps that cleared the way for others to follow. Likewise, God has provided us with detailed directions for finding Him. It's called the Bible. That’s the instruction Paul gives to Timothy in our reading today. It is good advice for us as well. Obviously you care about reading the Scripture or you wouldn’t be reading this little devotional today. Continue to explore the Scripture and you will find it is the map you need to navigate through the unknown of your future!