In answer to the question, "How does one reach the love of God?" one simply has to try to understand the love of God for us.
When one can grasp something of that, there is awakened the reaction of our love for God.
Apparently, it is not merely a matter of gratitude.
Indeed, there is very little mention of the need to be grateful for God's taking me out of Egypt.
The emphasis is rather on the idea that I should feel something of God's love for me.
And only when I feel this love of God for me can I reciprocate with a similar feeling.
Something is awakened in me and the more intense my emotions and understanding, the more complete and sincere is my response.
–Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz
From The Sustaining Utterance by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz