"The heavens belong to the Lord but the earth he has given to men." (Psalm 115.6)

"God determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names." (Psalm 147.4)

The Lord God brought the animals he had created to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. (Genesis 2.19)

"For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you." (John 13.15)

From the very beginning of creation God has associated man in his work.  God created all the stars and named each one.  He then wished to share this divine activity and so created the earth and then made man in his image and likeness.  He brought all the animals to the man so he could name them.  The Lord named all the stars then told the man to do likewise with the animals.  We are made in God's image so we can participate in his activity.

When Christ came on earth to redeem a fallen humanity, he restored to us the mandate to become associated in his work.  "I have set you an example," Christ said, "that you also should do as I have done to you."  So we must not think that loving, forgiving and sacrificing ourselves for our brothers and sisters is something foreign to us, a laborious law imposed on us.  Yes, it does involve suffering and sacrifice because we now have a fallen nature, but ultimately it is as natural for us to do this as on that first day of our creation, when the Father of love brought his creatures before us and said, "I have named the stars, I want you to name the animals."

It is an exquisite meditation to realize that loving is an extension, a participation, an association in God's own daily activity.  But we have to be taught this by Jesus, and reminded of it because we are sinful.  "I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous." (Matthew 5.44-45)