Based on Sai Baba's interactions and teachings, what is the importance of faith and devotion in realizing God?

The accounts in Chapter 4 strongly emphasize that unwavering faith and devotion are paramount for realizing God. When Das Ganu challenged Baba that Vitthal must appear, Baba's response was a firm promise conditioned on the devotee being "full of faith." Baba taught that God is not found "for free" and that one must maintain "firm faith." This is further illustrated by the experience of Kakasaheb Dixit, whose meditative vision of Vitthal was a direct result of his devotion. Baba's playful warning to Dixit to "nail him down and make him steady" suggests that the divine presence can be fleeting if one's focus and devotion waver even for a moment. Thus, consistent devotion, like the chanting of the Name which Baba himself loved, is presented as the key to experiencing the divine.