The 2022 Kentucky Derby was such an epic race, that I had to re-watch it several times. I smiled big as I watched the unthinkable winner, Rich Strike, inch his way up from the back of the pack and burst into the lead right before crossing the finish line. During the entire race, the announcer had only said his name once…when he was trailing in the very back. But suddenly—there he was—winning in the final seconds of the race. The announcer barely said his name the second time before realizing that Rich Strike—running with the 80-1 odds—had pulled off the win! I love a Cinderella story—don’t you? The owner said Rich Strike was a last minute entry but—he would not have entered him if he didn’t expect to pull off the win. Although Rich Strike was purchased for only $30,000.00—in the 2022 Run for the Roses, he earned $1.86 million!
This story has such a great application for each of us who are born again through Christ!
Paul the Apostle was writing the book of Philippians from a prison that was likely in either Ephesus or Rome. He was imprisoned—not because he had not violated any of the laws of the land—but rather for preaching the Gospel.
Yet—even from prison, Paul had vision about His great purpose.
Paul’s confidence did not rest in his circumstances. He said if anyone would be justified in having SELF-confidence, or as he said it “confidence in the flesh” it was him. He said:
“Though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”
Philippians 3:4-6
Paul was clear that his confidence came from Christ. He wanted to be “found in Him” and have the “power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.”
“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Philippians 3:7-11
We like the thought of having power but—we don’t like to think about “the fellowship of suffering” do we? However, all great accomplishments involve suffering. Do you think Rich Strike, his trainer, his jockey, and owner didn’t—suffer together in his training, care, and even the cost of his purchase? Of course they did! And they did it because they believed he was worth it. So are you!
Your life is worth much more than you think, so…run with confidence!
As a result, we can “press on” and “lay hold” of the glorious calling that Christ has prepared for us to live. As Paul said:
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:12-14
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