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
God loved us from the beginning and His love is proven in His suffering. His love is not a reaction but an action. He sent His Love first.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Christ’s death and resurrection made His relationship with us, His beloved, possible. His loved us before we knew Him. He loved us first. And He loves us completely. He made my love for Him possible.
I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine. Song of Solomon 6:3
The love we experience from others will fall short at times. Actually, most times. When we love others, we will fail them too. Sometimes to love hurts - it comes with a cost, a vulnerability and sacrifice. And those who should love us might actually wound us instead – either intentionally or not.
But because God loves us first and loves us perfectly, the failed love of others doesn’t need to destroy us. We are loved fully by Another. I am His beloved. He loved me before I could love. That lets me love others whether I am rejected or praised, if I am experiencing pain, joy, loss, failure or success. His love for me teaches me love is an action, not a reaction. And because I am loved, I can love others first without needing to know their response. In fact, without needing a response. I'm already safe in the arms of the One who loves me more.
I am who God says I am. I am His beloved.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11
