Mark 4:2 “And Jesus was teaching them many things in parables.”  Jesus often quoted Scriptures in his teaching and real-life encounters.  However, He used many daily-life parables to explain Scriptural principles and the Christian life.  He knew that God’s Word was to be lived out personally and before others in order to change lives and to be a leader.  As our verse today states, He taught them many things in parables; not just one thing.  This should remind us that our lives are really parables for others to see what it means for Christ to live in us.  Our lives should teach our family and people at work many things of eternal importance and about Christ.

We recently witnessed the tributes and funeral services for President George W. H. Bush and how he was a man of faith and family with humility, compassion and many acts of kindness.  When I was President of Texas A&M, I had the honor of working with President Bush in the planning of his Presidential Library on our campus.  He was always just like the gracious eulogies described him and he did not want the library to be an edifice unto himself.  He wanted it to be a part of the university and to focus on public service.  In the many comments about his life, one was repeated a few times and really stuck out to me.  It was a personal statement he had made during his life: “Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words.”  Yes, our words are very important and must often be used, but our daily lives should be a parable that preaches Jesus by how we live it.” Remember that what we do will have more impact than what we say.  And if we don’t do what we say in words, our message will be hollow and empty.”