The other day I came home from work to find a plate of peanut butter snack bars on the kitchen counter. Accompanying the delectables was a note from my 12-year-old daughter Melissa to her grandparents. “Dear Grandma and Grandpa, I made these for you. Love, Melissa.”

No one told her to do this. She didn’t have to. She just did it.

But why? Was Melissa trying make sure that they loved her? Was she trying to win Brownie points (well, snack-bar points) with her grandparents'

No she cooked up this little confectionery delight just to show her grandparents she loves them. It was evidence of their close relationship. She did it because she is their granddaughter, not to somehow earn the right to be their granddaughter.

That’s how it is with the good works we should do as followers of Jesus Christ. We don’t do good works so we can win a place in heaven. Rather, our good deeds show evidence of our salvation and faith in Christ.

Jesus did all the work of providing salvation. But we still have to work. Why? Not to win His favor but to show our love. It’s an outpouring of a grateful heart. - JDB

Our Daily Bread, Sept.-Nov., 1997, page for Sept. 7