My Tract: From Outlaws to God's Kids

I"ve always wanted to write a tract. I sent a few ideas to a tract publisher once, but they returned them (I prefer the word return to reject, don't you?).

One of my prayers is to be a soul-winner. I am so grateful for the goodness of the Lord, I want to introduce others to Him, and find them in Heaven. So, I decided to write my own tract. I'm asking the Lord that one million people find His love as a result of this writing. Here is the text::

From Outlaws to God’s Kids

My husband and I have a friend named Jesse James, with a twin brother named Frank. No joke. Apart from his name, Jesse doesn’t resemble the notorious train robber of the nineteenth century. But his four-year-old grandson, Lucas may be trying to get by with a little outlaw spirit in his own way.

In his preschool class this year, he’d heard the story of a boy who’d received nothing but coal in his stocking. Lucas knew Santa rewarded good boys and girls, but now he was worried. What if he hadn’t measured up to Santa’s standards? Would his stocking, as well as the huge, glistening gift under the tree be stuffed with black lumps?

His usually nimble fingers trembled as he opened each gift in his stocking. Candy. Hot Wheels. Erasable crayons. More candy. Whew. That wasn’t so bad.

Now, to see what the package under the tree contained. In spite of his self-doubt, Lucas ripped apart the sparkling red paper to reveal… a battery powered indoor four-wheeler, the #1 request on his list to Santa! A sigh of relief tumbled from his lips.

Collapsing on the floor, he hugged his belly and laughed, his gingerbread eyes dancing with the tree lights.

“What are you laughing about?” asked his mom.

“Because it’s so funny.”

“What is so funny, Lucas?”

Pointing at the four-wheeler, he roared, “I was bad this year, and I still got really good stuff!”

Although Lucas may’ve thought he put one over on Santa, we can take a lesson about God’s grace from him. None of us deserves the gifts He gives.

I bet you’ve heard this verse from Romans: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” But have you read the verse that follow? “God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity, He put us in right standing with Himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where He always wanted us to be. And He did it by means of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24, the Message Bible).”

So, God has already taken care of the sin problem by accepting Jesus’ blood sacrifice in our place. Just as Lucas couldn’t measure up to the standard of perfection he thought Santa required, we can’t measure up to God’s standard of perfection. We simply open the package of His love by admitting we cannot save ourselves. Then, in spite of our self-doubt, we ask Him to step in and take over our lives.

That’s when He changes us from outlaws to loving citizens of His kingdom. It’s His best gift, wrapped in the sparkling package of a man named Jesus. He calls it “grace,” and it sure beats a sock full of hard black stuff.

Would you like to know that you are one of God’s kids? Please turn the page…


You can know that God has forgiven your sins, and removed them as far away as the east is from the west, simply by saying “Yes” to these questions:


1. Do you believe that Jesus is God’s Son?

2. Do you believe that He lived a sinless life, and died in your place, so you could be forgiven?

3. Do you believe He resurrected from the dead, proving His deity?

4. Do you acknowledge Him as Lord and God?

5. Do you desire to live for Him?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, the Bible says you are a Believer. Find a Bible teaching church to attend, be immersed into Jesus Christ, and you will go from an outlaw to one of God’s Kids!

© Jeanette Levellie, 2010

Will you please agree with me in prayer that God will use this tract to draw people to Him?

Thanks! Jen