We love because He first loved us. - 1 John 4:19

Another mark of a true Christian is the love we have for one another. John goes so far to tell us, If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar (1 John 4:20). These words may sound harsh, but the are necessarily so. John wrote his letter to help believers know whether their eternal destiny was truly secure. Loving God and others goes hand in hand, because we love others in response to God's love for us. It is not enough to just have head knowledge of God's love. The knowledge of God's love must penetrate our hearts deeply enough that it causes a response of love on our part. Pray that God would penetrate your heart with a more profound knowledge of His great love for you so that you would love others more deeply.

For further study: 1 Peter 4:8, 1 John 4:19-21