The Priority of God’s Mission

“They shall declare my glory among the nations.”Isaiah 66:19There is an old (but profoundly unhelpful) phrase that is often quoted: “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.”How in all the world can you communicate the gospel without words? You can convey love without words, but love is not the gospel. You can bring hope without words, but hope is not the gospel.The gospel is that Jesus Christ died for your sins, and that He lives in the power of an endless life. He offers forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with the Father, and eternal life to all who will turn to Him in repentance and trust Him as Saviour. How can you communicate that without words?Missionaries will engage in many tasks, just as the local church is involved in many ministries. But whether it be at home or around the world, we want to invest in ministries that are committed to proclaiming God’s glory by putting the gospel of Jesus Christ into words.This is what God says about the priority of the missionaries that He sends: “They shall declare my glory among the nations.”How have you heard this phrase being used: “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words”? Why is it essential to communicate the gospel with words?