Max Lucado is, perhaps, one of the best loved Christian authors of our time having written more than fifty books. Drawing on his book, He Chose The Nails, Lucado published a shorter 64-page version entitled He Did This Just For You. This booklet makes a great evangelistic tool and is, in fact, used as such by Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. Having recently attended an event there, I received a copy on my doorstep shortly after.

Broken down into four short chapters: The Parable: God's Longing for you; The Promise: God's Gift for you; The Privilege: God's Invitation to you; and Postcript: He Did This Just For You, Lucado spins a modern version of the prodigal son. Introducing a young girl, Lucado walks the reader through her life as she changes from a loving child to a rebellious teenager. As she becomes a young run-a-way girl who finds herself in a shelter and then dancing as a stripper, he shows how her father never gave up. Going further, he takes the reader into the emotions of shame, longing and pain felt by the young girl. Lucado parallels her attitudes of brattiness, self-centeredness, and stubbornness toward her father with our own relationships with our ulitmate father, God. The subsequent chapters explain the significance of the cross, sin, and grace. Included is a contract that can be signed by the reader upon accepting Jesus as their Savior.

Simply, but beautifully, written, this poignant story is appropriate for teens through adults. It serves its purpose and makes a great evangelistic tool to be used in group outreaches or by the lay person desiring to share their faith.

Available from online retailers such as www.amazon.com, bulk pricing is available at www.cbd.com (Christian Book Distributors).