We love from acceptance
Not for acceptance
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11
We Forgive from forgiveness,
Not for forgiveness
Bekind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you Ephesians 4:32
We give from gratitude
Not for gifts
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17
We are merciful from being given mercy
Not for mercy
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8
We serve from having been served
Not for show or favor
Jesus washed His disciples' feet, saying, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:14-15
God always went first – loving us, pursuing us, giving to us – though we are unworthy. There is nothing we can do to earn that which He has already done. Now, we need to fulfill our calling to do the same to others. Go first – in the name of God and by His strength.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10
