About 15 years ago I earned a suffix. A comma rests between my last name and the letters “APR” in my professional signature. APR stands for “Accredited in Public Relations.”

The process of achieving my professional credentials was exacting.

First, I had to pay my dues by being employed in the public relations/communications field for at least five years. After another year of intense preparation, I spent eight hours in an exam room where I filled hundreds of circles with a no.2 pencil — crafting case studies, a crisis communications plan, and a myriad best-practice essays. An official interview, packed with grilling questions, finished the assessment.

Then, after several anxious weeks of waiting, I received a congratulatory letter — along with a shiny gold name tag bearing my new suffix.

As soon as the credentials were officially mine, I began adding my new initials to everything. I went completely overboard and even signed my grandfather’s birthday card with “Cheers to a Fabulous Year! Love, Angela Nazworth, APR.”

Over. The. Top.

I was shout-from-the-mountain proud of my credentials.

While I’m a little less enthusiastic about those three little letters today, they’re still special to me. I worked hard for the right to place them next to my name. Each letter means something to me and to the professionals in my field who truly understand public relations.

While my professional achievements are a part of my life story, they don’t define me. Just as there is more to my career than me earning an accreditation in a certain field, there is more to who I am than how I perform.

Lately I’ve been thinking about the “credentials” I carry as a Christian. Not the kind of credentials that are earned. Not the type of credentials that will advance my career or boost my chances of snagging a job interview. But the type of credentials that come to all who earnestly follow Jesus.

Here are a few that come to mind:

Angela Nazworth, COG – Child of God

“All of you are God’s children because of your faith in Christ Jesus.” {Galatians 3:26}

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” {John 1:12}

Angela Nazworth, FD – Forgiven Daughter

“For this is My blood that establishes the covenant; it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.” {Matthew 26:28}

Angela Nazworth, WWWM – Womb-Woven and Wonderfully Made

“For it was You who created my inward parts;You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.Your works are wonderful,and I know this very well.” {Psalm 139:13-14}

Angela Nazworth, WDF – Worth Dying For

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” {Romans 5:8}

Angela Nazworth, HOC – Heir of Christ

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” {Titus 3:4-7}

Angela Nazworth, NC – New Creation

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” {II Corinthians 5:17}

I didn’t take a test or do anything special to deserve such distinction. In fact, had there been a test, I would have failed it miserably. My God-given credentials do not belong to me because of who I am, but rather because of to Whom I belong.

When I take time to reflect on my significance born of Christ’s sacrifice and independent of worldly acclaim, I am acutely aware of a quiet strength that rests within me. I also am reminded of the responsibility I carry as a representative of Jesus . . . how I am to boast about Him to His glory.

I’d love to learn what you think are some of your God-given credentials. If God handed you a business card, what initials would be placed after your name?

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My God-given credentials do not belong to me because of who I am, but rather because of to Whom I belong. {Tweet this!}

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