John 16:26

In that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you; for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.

This is a further exhortation for the apostles to pray directly to God in Jesus' name, on the grounds that the love of God for Christ is extended to Jesus' disciples. This love of God was the result not merely of their belief in Christ (last clause) but was also based upon their love of Christ; the importance of this requirement being seen in the order of its statement here (being first), and also because, as used elsewhere in John, such love means keeping Jesus' words and obeying his commands (John 14:15).