The Proper Use of the Word Miracle

God is always working in His world. Hebrews 1:3 says He is “upholding all things by the word of his power.” That’s why Jesus said in John 5:17, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” Both God the Father and God the Son are always working. They sustain the universe by their power, which Colossians 1:17 describes as, “by him all things consist.” Every atom, molecule, and cell stays together because He is keeping it altogether. And that’s not all.

James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Every good and perfect gift comes down from God. These are mighty works. They are supernatural. Are they miracles? They are as or more powerful than miracles, but they are not miracles.

A miracle in the Bible is a “sign.” It is an event designed to especially authenticate or confirm God’s Words. Two verses as an example are 2 Corinthians 12:12 and Hebrews 2:3-4, both of which say that God validates His spokesman as speaking a Divine message. You do not do well to call things “miracles” today. You do better to call them “God’s providence.”

God providentially works in this world all the time in an incalculable diverse manner. Yes, He intervenes in a direct way to accomplish His will, but that is not a miracle, because it is not confirming His inspired Words through His spokesman or author.