114. Same Spirit, same Lord, same God
1 Corinthians 12:4, 5, 6 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
Within one group of believers, one fellowship or local church there will be varieties of gifts, services and activities. Every person, every word, and every deed will look much different than every other person, word, or deed. Every group of Christians is also much different than every other group of other Christians. All these diversities among believers do not make us jealous, nor do they divide us. This is because it is the same Spirit, the same Lord and the same God who is working it all out.
God has a purpose and an end goal in mind. He is going to one place, and all those in Christ are going to the same place; one God is working it all out to lead us to the one God who is all in all. Jesus is the same Lord of all. It is the same Spirit, Lord and God who is doing all this. The Spirit, Lord and God is the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who is mysteriously One God, although three distinct persons. Just as we cannot understand the Trinity, neither can we understand the diversity of gifts, service, and activity. But we trust God to know what He is doing and how He is leading us to the one Lord and God. Diversity looks like difference since each does not look the same. Sameness is not unity, but as different as two believers in Christ can be each of them is united to the same Lord and God. The people and their gifts and services are different, but their God who is working the activity is the same.
It may seem difficult to believe that someone so different from me has the same God as I do. The Spirit uses the same Gospel to bring the two of us to the same faith in the same Lord Jesus Christ who brings us to the same God and Father of all. Let the same God work it all out. We celebrate our diversity as we worship one God.