The Faith of Jesus

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This past weekend was our girls' dance finale for the school year. We are blessed to have a church in the area which offers several dance, music and art classes. The goal of this program is to encourage the students to use these artistic expressions as a means to glorify and worship the Lord. The finale was an entire worship service, full of beautiful music and dance. The theme was the hope that comes from our Lord.
 One thing was mentioned during this beautiful service, that has given me food for meditation. Galations 2:20 was quoted, but there was a slight change in wording from what I was most familiar: 
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith OF the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." KJV
Newer translations read "... faith IN the Son of God..." and this is what I am used to hearing. 
I had to look into this more closely. Is this faith that Paul was talking about an action I am called to accomplish, or something that Christ does? I had never considered that before. 
Studying out the original text in this one proved pretty confusing for me. However, the Lord is so gracious not to leave us without other Scriptures to clarify things for us. 
Consider Hebrews 12:2: "Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith..." Some translations say "Founder of our faith". Ephesians  4:5 says that there is only ONE faith...
Putting these thoughts together impressed on me that I am not placing my hope of eternal security in my faulty, weak, imperfect faith. I don't have to wistfully hope that my faith is good enough. My faith is the faith OF Jesus! He is the author, Finisher, perfecter of the the ONE faith! His faith is in us and becomes ours! As we abide in HIM, the Spirit fills us and transforms us daily into a more perfect reflection of Jesus. Abiding in the Word, the Word indwelling us, and HIS faith in us...those connections were an AHA moment for me.  And yes, I was in tears as I pondered the amazing faithfulness of God to provide not only His Son, but the faith we could not even possess on our own.
What a comfort I found in knowing that this is not on me and my imperfect understanding or frail trust in an seemingly intangible object. No, this is a living faith that is not mine, but the faith OF Jesus living in me. 
I don't know about you, but that is a reason to sing and worship, if ever there was one (and there are so many!).

❤️Heather Sparks❤️


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