We cannot love first. Therefore God comes, takes hold of the heart, and says: "Learn to know me."
"We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
How does one come to love? The heart of man is so base that it cannot love unless this first seen the benefit of loving. Therefore when God in the Old Testament Times smote the people like. Dealt with them and terrible severity it did not love him. Then God thought: I must deal with you in such a way and with such kindness that you must love me. So he took his Son and sent him into our mire, sin, and misery and poured forth the entire story of his mercy that we might boast in all his goodness as though it were our own. He made himself a beloved father. He gave us his Son. Poured out his great treasure most generously and sank all our sins and filth in the vast sea of his great goodness.
The heart cannot but let this great love and blessing draw it to love in return and then be prepared willingly to fill the divine Commandments. Otherwise, the heart cannot love; it must find that has been loved first. We cannot love first. Therefore God comes, takes hold of the heart, and says: "Learn to know me."
Why? Who are you?
"I am Christ; I have plunged into your wretchedness, I have drowned your sin of my righteousness."
This knowledge softens your heart, therefore, you cannot but turn to him. When one learns what Christ is - love is taught.
This is an excerpt from a collection of public domain sermons given by Martin Luther.
