“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).

Every believer is called to serve God in some way. We may serve Him in the business world, in our personal lives or in official church ministry but we are all called to serve. The challenge is the fact that it is an awesome responsibility. So what guarantee do we have that we will be successful? Simply this—we have the entire Godhead on our side enabling us.

This verse explains God’s role in what we do for Him. The Lord Himself calls us to a particular service we are to pursue. Whether we are teachers, encouragers, leaders, helpers or mercy-givers, we do that ministry because Jesus called us to do it. The Lord chose us for that task.

Whatever we do requires a set of gifts that will enable us to be successful. The Holy Spirit supplies those gifts. None of us can do everything. We aren’t each given all the gifts every form of service requires. We can be confident, though, that when Jesus calls us to do something the Holy Spirit will supply the gifts we need.

Behind everything we do for God, He is at work to make us successful. The phrase “It is the same God at work” uses the Greek word “energeia” which we translate “work.” It is behind our word “energy” and it had specific uses in the culture of that day. It was used of medicine that actually made one healthy. It was used of a battering ram that successfully knocked a wall down. In other words, Jesus gives us an assignment, the Holy Spirit gives us the gifts we need and the Father makes it all “work” successfully.