Recently, I finished reading C.S. Lewis’s book Miracles. In the opening, Lewis defines a miracle

as an “interference with Nature by supernatural power.” Jesus performed many miracles during

His lifetime, but during the Christmas season, we tend to focus on “The Grand Miracle,” as

Lewis discusses in chapter 14.

In the opening sentences of that chapter, Lewis writes of the Grand Miracle: “The central miracle

asserted by Christians is the Incarnation. They say that God became Man. Every other miracle

prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this.”

Of course, we all know the story. God sent His Son, Jesus, to be born of a virgin and grow up

fully man and fully God to eventually sacrifice Himself to save the world from sin, evil and death.

I’ve celebrated Christmas since I was a little kid, so every year I have to remind myself what an

incredible fact this really is.

One of my favorite passages about Jesus is John 1:1-2: In the beginning was the Word, and

the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

I’ve always liked that passage because it reminds me that Jesus was WITH GOD when He was

creating the world. God and Jesus knew humans would sin and rebel, and they knew what

sacrifice Jesus would have to make to redeem humanity. And yet they created humans anyway. 

That also means before Adam sinned, separating humanity from God (before that problem even

existed!), God already had a plan for how to save us. He already had the Grand Miracle of

Christ’s Incarnation in mind.

From the beginning, God not only knew about our need for salvation but also knew everything

else we would need and made plans to provide for us. He not only has the answers now; He

had them before our problems even existed! Whatever you’re facing now, remember this: God is

with you, He knows how it will turn out, and He prepared a way for you—whether through a

miracle or through ordinary means—even before you could see the mountain. 

As we reflect on the Grand Miracle of Christ’s birth this Christmas, let us remember that God is

still in the business of doing miracles.

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

(Psalm 77:14)

by Melissa Landon Schnell

Melissa is an editor at automation.com, a member of Immanuel Baptist Church, a cyclist, a book lover,

and a grammar enthusiast. She lives in Lexington with her husband Daykin, dog Zoey, and cat Scooter.

Your Daily Missions Moment:

Missionaries depend on believers in churches for their prayers. Please pray for these missionaries:


Michael and Rachel Koch: Bogotá,  Colombia

Lucas and Faith Henegar: Southeast Europe