Whether young or old, man or woman, boy or girl, people everywhere are in search of true love.

Everyone is searching for that special someone who will love them. Whether hurt by love or relationships from the past, many look for that special someone who will care about and affirm them. And why?

Because we were created to love. We are all created after the image and likeness of God.

According to 1 John 4:5, God is love, so we were created in the image and likeness of love, who is God.

Well, if this is so, then where do we miss it? We miss it when we define love by the world’s standards instead of by the word of God.

We miss it when we judge love only by what people can give us or do for us. That’s not necessarily what love is. One definition of love is strong emotion or positive affection.

The Bible declares in 1 Corinthians 12:31 that love is the most excellent way, the better way. A great way to define love is found in 1 Corinthians 13 … “Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous of others, love isn’t arrogant and prideful, it’s not rude to people, love isn’t selfish, love isn’t oversensitive or easy to be angry, love doesn’t think evil, love doesn’t keep a record of offenses or wrongs.”

However love rejoices in the truth, love thinks of s more than itself, love forgives, it endures through good and bad, thick and thin.

Love is hope, love is having faith to believe things can change, things will be better, and when everything else fails and nothing seems to be working, look to love, look to God!

If you remember anything, remember this: you cannot have true love, or even really give love, until you develop a relationship with the one who is love. His name is Jesus.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17

Sylvester Mixon is the pastor of Unity Christian Center in Saginaw.