As the first week of the Summer Olympics in Paris are underway, all eyes are glued on the medal count score board as the best athletes in the world compete, in the face of two dramatic extremes—the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. But it’s a short video clip featured on social media and ABC-News this week that brought the world a gold medal moment that eclipsed any contests on the Olympic track or in the pool when love and autism competed—and love won. A mother let her five-year-old daughter, who’s nonverbal with autism, borrow her phone to explore for "treasures.” David Muir reports on the priceless moment she heard her daughter say “I love you” for the very first time – all caught on camera: Click and get out the tissues: https://youtu.be/_rB31kSBK2E?si=AjoUYU6WdeFKT4xR
With the help of a cell phone camera, Zoey was able to say to her mother what the world fails to say and show enough, that “love never fails” according to 1 Corinthians 8. Love is undefeated because I Corinthians 13’s agape love is primary, practical, and permanent.
First, agape is primary because it is at the heart of actual love. It is sacrificial. We see that in verses 1-3.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
The Corinthians were hung up on comparing their gifts: my speaking in tongues is better than your teaching. But Paul says that tongues without love is noise. Prophesy without love is pointless. Giving without love is bankruptcy.
Love requires sacrifice. King Solomon understood this. In his dilemma to determine the real mother in 1Kings 3. The mother willing to sacrifice all was the real mother, like Zoey’s mother.
Second, agape is practical —doable—in everything important area of life. We see the practical side of love in verses 4-7. Paul told the gifted Corinthians that they did not always practice what was practical. But agape is “do-able” every day in 8 ways: (1) Love is patient; (2) Love is kind; (3) Love does not envy; (4) Love does not boast; (5) Love is not rude; (6) Love is not selfish; (7) Love is not easily angered; (8) Love does not keep score.
Zoey was able to tell her mother she loved her because her mom showed her a doable love every day.
Finally, agape is permanent, outlasting any fad, failure or even faith. We see the permanence of love in verses 8-13. Verse 8 says: Love never fails. This kind of love is not for immature babies. Listen to verse 11-13:
1 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abided faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1 Corinthians 13:11 - 13
Our bodies may fail; our relationships may disappoint; our motives may sometimes be self-centered, but love’s record against all competitors is: Undefeated. The Olympics are a great showcase of the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat in the arena of athletic competition. But in the arena of the heart like that of a mature child with autism—like Zoey who has been given agape love by her mom—the Spirit speaks in undeniable, photo finish fashion, that the gold medal goes to, once again and always, love..
Comments