How is it possible for a person to have animosity in their heart toward another person they have met, and love a God whom they have not met? 

When one speaks of God's love, they are not talking about the physical intimacy between two people, but the love from the heart that pours forth for another’s good.  Like a loving parent is to a child, so is Gods Love guiding us to follow His ways and not our own.  In this way we can begin to see that love does say, “No!”  A LOT, and it also disciplines to correct because of love.

  True, unconditional love is the extension of ones self for the betterment of another without any expectation of receiving anything in return, in this life or after.  God’s love for us is unconditional in this way because there is no expectation God has of us when we truly follow the Spirit within.  To love is the most important command from God, yet the desire to be loved can be more overpowering than ones own ability to love.  When we give up this desire to be loved and choose to love, then love enters into our life.  It is nothing we seek, but the results of our love that brings us love.  Only God, through the Spirit, can truly fulfill this love that we seek. 

1 Corinthians 13

⁴Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. ⁶It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance………¹³There are three things that will endure--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love.

Isn’t it a pity that so many people today, especially in America, have come to believe that ones own belief or faith is more important than love?  Any belief that is not founded and based upon love at its core is not focused or centered upon God.

When one comes to a willingness to truly humble themselves, to love and respect all the diversities of God's creations, they strengthen their Spirit and become receptive to understanding God's will for them to love others and not their own feelings of ill will any longer.  They can then grow in wisdom and understanding the difference between these two and avoid animosity coming into their lives any longer.

For God there is but one truth, one peace, one word, and that is TO LOVE.  Anything that denies love also denies God.  Love cannot co-exist in ones heart with animosity, resentments, arrogance, self-righteousness or pride.  When one finds love, they find that there is no self.  They find that this love is found in giving and not receiving for the receipt is in the gift.

1 John 4

⁷Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸But anyone who does not love does not know God--for God is love.

 Through constant focus and practice of making love the highest priority in ones life, one will get to know and better understand themselves and others.  It is here where this person will get to know God.  By inscribing love upon ones own heart they inscribe God upon their life.