1 John 4:10
[10] “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
One of the great mysteries of God’s love is that He loved us first. God did not turn his heart toward man because man sought after God. He took the initiative in our life. God saw the need in man’s life before man was aware that he even had a need. God knew the end result of man, and what his eternal state would be if he was not delivered. He knew that man had nothing to offer God within himself. God knew that in order for man to properly love Him, He would have to put His own love in man’s heart. It is such a mystery that God took the initiative to do all of this for us. You might ask yourself, “Why would God do all of this for me?” The answer is very simple, He did it because He loves you.
Think back to a time when you did not love God. Remember how you lived and what your attitude was like. Consider how sinful and shameful your life was at that moment. Now consider this thought, God loved you as much then as He does right now. He has always loved you. Even in those times when you and I had no love for Him he loved us. What a mystery!
You might be someone who would say, “I grew up in church around the things of God, and I’ve always loved church, His Word and His people.” Let me help you by saying first, that you never really knew how to love any of those things until you were saved and experienced His love. Another thing to consider, is that you can love the things of God and not love God Himself. You can love the fellowship with people, the religious works, actions and gatherings, and still not have a personal relationship with God. When you experience the love of God, you will love those things even more. You will love them because they are about Him and for Him, and not about you and for you. The mystery of God’s great love is that He first loved us.