Good Soil - Part III

As I mentioned in earlier in this series of devotions, I had many challenges in planting food plots this year. I found that another bad soil condition existed on this new 700-acre lease. The soil formation on this property is called the Sand Clay Hills. The parent material for that soil is sand stone or sand rock. In many cases the large sand rock can be seen easily on top of the ground. However, in some cases there is about two to three inches of sand and clay sitting atop the rocks and can not be seen. The soil disks up nicely, but it is very deceptive because it is so shallow. It looks good on the surface and the three inches of soil that is there is good soil. However, there is no depth to the soil for the seed to produce a quality root system. Not aware of the situation, I planted one of my food plots in this soil condition. The seeds sprung up quickly in early September, but faded just as fast as the hot Mississippi sun beat down on it. It was amazing how green the plot looked one week and when I returned two weeks later, to my surprise, to see a whole lot of brown. The soil was simply too shallow and the seed never took root.

Matthew 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

Unfortunately there are people in this world that look and appear to be so “good” on the outside only to be very shallow on the inside. They seem to be excited about the things of God one minute and then the next they turn their backs on Him. When they are around one crowd they seem to be growing in the Lord, but when they are around another crowd they have nothing to do with the Lord. In order to stand for the things of God in this world today one must be firmly planted in the Word of God. God wants people who will stand for Him no matter the crowd, the crisis, or the circumstances. It is amazing just how selfish and shallow we humans can be. I know personally in my life I have had many people turn their backs on me and even have turned against me. It is not a good feeling. I cannot help but wonder how God feels when we turn our backs from Him because we are not willing to plant our roots firmly in His Word and take a stand for the Lord.

Friends I urge you to examine you hearts today. Allow the Savior’s Word to permeate into your heart and replace the selfishness and the shallowness that resides there. Try to remember these two simple phrases: Don’t be a plant that fades quickly in the sun. Be a plant that grows steadily in the Son.

God Bless and Happy Hunting.

Posted by Mark Newell