The 1973 Triple Crown winner, Secretariat, had a reputation of running just fast enough to beat his competition. After the racehorse’s death, it was discovered during the necropsy that Secretariat’s heart was perfect, no problems with it, but weighed between 21-22 pounds. [An average horse has a heart weight of about nine pounds.] 

Not to be forgotten is Secretariat’s key rival, Sham. He was a fantastic racehorse who not so surprisedly also had a big heart with a weight of eighteen pounds. If Sham had raced any other year, he might have been another rare Triple Crown winner. But what if it took his running without reserve (He suffered broken teeth out the gate at the Kentucky Derby and quite possibly ran with an undetected leg fracture in the Belmont Stakes.) to bring out the uttermost in his competitor? Where both horses broke the track record but Secretariat’s time was faster?

It wouldn’t be a wild conclusion to think the two horses could do what they did because of their enlarged hearts.

What if we are called to be a “Sham” for someone else and Hebrews 10:25 and 1 Corinthians 14:26 are the starting gates for set-apart believers to gather? A place where every individual’s God-gifting has a vital role to spur others on as they run their race toward the goal to take the victory of the calling of God from on high in Yeshua The Messiah? (Philippians 3:14) Where we can join the celebration with those taking their victory lap or share tears with those whose gallant effort ended with a broken spirit or fractured heart just out of the gate? (Romans 12:15)

After all, no one has a stronger commitment than to lay down his own life for someone with whom he is in a covenant relationship. (John 15:13)