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20 Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Msg.)

So often in the past, we were taught formulas instead of faith. Do this, don't do that. You must, you mustn't. To be a Christian, you have to talk this way, act this way, think this way, even dress this way! All of these outward behaviors only serve to cast us into the image of man's concept of Christianity.

There is a kind of security in authority figures setting the rules, and us being in control of our Christian lives by following the rules. With this kind of life, faith is barely necessary. You know that if you do this, then God will do that, because that is what you were taught. And not only that, you will fit into the church culture, and be favored for your good performance.

Paint by numbers spirituality removes the fear of the unknown. As such, it removes uncertainty, and it gives you opportunities to move up in the ‘religious’ church world! But, it also removes trust in God, and trust forms the tender fabric of our relationship with him. It is how we were born into the Kingdom, and the only way to live in it. There is no other way!

Our trust is meant to be in a Person, not formulas, and not leaders. So there must be uncertainty so that trust can be exercised. In this “new and living way” we have faith in the Person and not the outcome. We also learn that we love him and trust him whether our prayers get answered the way we want or not. Following is a glimpse into the heart of Jesus concerning our faith journey. This picture of Jesus’ compassion for Peter at the moment his faith failed instills great hope for us!

Jesus lovingly prayed for Peter’s faith (Luke 22:32) even though he knew he was about to enter into the greatest failure of his tender faith journey-denying his Savior three times at the most critical moment of his life.

“But I have prayed for you, Simon (Peter) that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." (NIV)

Simon (Peter), I've prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start."(MSG)

Not one of us can cast stones at Peter’s denial of his faith in Jesus! We have done the same when faced with difficult times; fearing man instead of implicitly trusting Jesus. “The fear of man is a snare.” Our faith frees us from the fear of man. What Peter discovered is that Jesus was the “author and perfecter of his faith-the source and completion of it”. Jesus literally gives each of us a more than sufficing portion of his faith.

In his great gift of faith, we can love God for whom he is not what he gives us or does for us. It's a different concept. It's not just another in the list of World Religions! It’s not a ‘religion’ at all. It is the New Covenant way and message of Jesus.

Our only hope of finishing well is by faith. I am presently experiencing the greatest faith battles of my entire relationship with Jesus. Thank God there is only one option! “Fight the good fight of faith and you will hear, well done thou good and faithful servant!” (Parts of this devotion were inspired by a Facebook post of Gaye Stradwick of Auckland, New Zealand.)

In the grip of the faith of Jesus! Ron Ross