He first loved us:

1 John 4:19

19     We love, because He first loved us.

     

            Of course, we can have human love without Him. But to have the kind of love He has … the kind that would lay down His life for us - that kind of love could only come because He first loved us. Most of the time, we love someone because there is a mutual feeling between us. Our love for someone can grow cold. Sometimes when the ones we love do us wrong, we turn our backs on them. He loved us before we even knew Him. He loved us even though He knew that we would do things that were wrong. That doesn’t mean that He doesn’t expect us to do the right things … just that He loves us anyway.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "When My love fills your heart, it will overflow to others. You will want to show your love towards them in the same way that I show My love towards you. You cannot help but feel this love for others. It is a part of Me, and now it is a part of you.”

            20. I can love others because God first loved me.