Find Hope in God's Unfailing LoveSample

We Love Because God Loves Us

“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 (NIV)

One reason God wants us to love is because he is love, and he created us to be like him—to love. The only reason we’re able to love is because God loves us: “Love comes from God . . . because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8 NIV).

We were created in God’s image to do two things on earth: Learn to love him and other people. Life is all about love.

But love all started with God. The Bible says, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19 NIV). He loved us first, and that gives us the ability to love others. The only reason you can love God or anybody else is because God first loved you. He showed that love by creating you, by everything you have in life—it’s all a gift from him—and by sending Jesus to earth to die for you.

In order to love others well, you first need to understand and experience how much God loves you. You shouldn’t just talk about, read about, or discuss love; you need to encounter his love.

You need to reach a place when you truly understand how he loves you completely and unconditionally. You need to become secure in the truth that you cannot make him stop loving you.

Once you’re secure in God’s unconditional love, you’ll start cutting people a lot more slack. You won’t be as angry as you’ve been. You’ll be more patient. You’ll be more forgiving. You’ll be more merciful. You’ll give others grace.

But you cannot give something to others that you haven’t received yourself. I hope that as you learn how much God loves you, you’ll also let him heal your heart so that his love can flow freely through you. It’s impossible to love others until you really feel loved yourself.