The novel Nobody's Boy, by Hector Malot, touches a chord in all our hearts with the story of a boy named Remi who was stolen from his home as a baby. In the tale, Remi passes through his young life in hardship looking for the security of family, unaware of his true identity and of how deeply his true mother loved him. The novel ends with him being reunited with his family, but the story speaks to a desire that lays in every human heart to know that we are securely loved. Living in the fullness of God's grace means living confident, well grounded, and optimistic lives. In our text this morning God reveals to us that he desires that we live in the confidence of his love. In Christ we have a rich heritage, and from the confidence of his love comes strength of heart, stability in life, and expectation of his continual work in our hearts. And this passage speaks to the atmosphere of our church and of our families. If we parents want our children to be courageous and confident in life, we should give them the confidence of our love, and from that love teach them also responsibility. The church that is empowered by God is also a family that celebrates his love and encourages one another with this knowledge, and is ready to follow Christ as he leads us. – Pastor David Packer
