The Endorsement

The Endorsement

It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.

Acts 11:26

In the Christian publishing business, where I have served for about twenty-five years, we often help new authors promote their books by asking more seasoned authors or people with important credentials to read and endorse the new author’s book. They typically write a short paragraph praising the author and the book, and we place it in the front of the new book. Those endorsements help to give the new author and his or her book credibility in the eyes of potential buyers and readers.

In the same way, God puts his stamp of approval—his endorsement—on us as his beloved children. As Christians, we wear his Son’s name, and he smiles with pleasure when we go about his business in the world.

Endorsements are sometimes tricky things to get, though, depending on whom you approach to request them.

A young bride walked into a bank to cash a check. She was somewhat taken aback when the clerk informed her that she would need to endorse the check before it could be cashed.

“But it’s a good check. My husband sent it to me. He’s away on business.”

“Yes, madam, it’s perfectly all right. But please just sign it on the back so that your husband will know that you actually got the money.”

The bride walked to the writing desk, seemed to be lost in deep contemplation for a moment, signed the check, and then returned to the teller’s window and handed the check to him.

The teller was surprised when he saw, scrawled across the back of the check, “Your loving wife, Ethel.”

Dear Father in heaven, please accept my humble gratitude for adopting me into your spiritual family and for putting your stamp of approval and endorsement on me through your Son. I wear his sweet name with honor and great joy. Amen.