The Endorsement

        By definition this is a statement or advertisement of a product or person by a greater entity, as Michael Jordan endorses Nike tennis shoes.  Then as applied to human endeavors we want God to endorse our efforts in playing football – Dallas Cowboys praying before the game.  Some air teams ask for the divine endorsement before they race hot airplanes at Reno. (I would too – at least for the sake of safety . . .)  How about the general ordering the chaplain to pray before the battle in recent wars of ours.  (Generals Washington  1775,  Lee 1863, and Patton 1944 did their own praying to get the Divine endorsement.)
     As applied to the individual, can we get the Divine endorsement?  What about that unexplained SOMETHING to shine down on us that brings the “win” or the “victory” more often?  Now generally God is very good-natured according to most church doctrine.  But where is He when we need that “something”.  Lots of folks feel that the Divine Being AND his touch is distant & uncaring towards the details & problems of their lives.
     Sin is a blocker according to scripture – “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."  Psalms 66:18   An old dead preacher named Herschel Ford said, “sin is the hardest of all masters, it promises happiness . . . and brings judgment”.  Biblical Christianity concludes that we need the salvation of Christ to deal with the barrier of sin between people & God’s endorsement.    According to scripture we need to accept His gift to come into Divine favor & be “endorsed” by God.  “Neither is there salvation in any other . . .”  Acts 4:12  I believe this is the basic message of ALL Christian churches:  Make a personal decision for Christ (& avoid sin), and get God’s endorsement/blessing.
    Too many folks deal with problems & crisis & heartaches without end. (Exactly my experience B.C.) They think the idea of divine endorsement is just a fantasy.  “God can’t have pets. He loves all of us the same.”  But according to scripture He has always had friends & others, Abraham & Israel are examples of "friends."  The ancient Canaanites were "others" & God ordered them to be exterminated due to their sinful ways.  The Old Testament is loaded with this concept.  Jesus Christ simplified the issue in John 15:13-14   “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends IF you do what I command you”.  (For more light on this see the previous chapter v.21).  Christ wants us to be born again, and participate in God’s favor.  The natural human condition is without God or his endorsement because of the sin "blocker".  It is our obligation and opportunity to change that. If people have no basic need of salvation then Christ was executed for nothing, which can not be possible.
     How to get “the endorsement” for time and eternity?  Do the praying thing – “Jesus save me, I need & want your blood to cover my sin & make me NEW”.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)  Then ask for the endorsement first thing each day.  “Touch my mind, my body, my goals, lead & guide, radiate that SOMETHING down on me personally because I need it & want it”.   In time we are likely to see this kind of headway – “the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter & brighter until full day”.  Proverbs 4:18.  The Christian life can be a proposition where it all comes together nicely. Choose Jesus, he is alive.   And get yourself endorsed.     See also  link 20, “Set Yourself Up”

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