READ: 1 John 5
THINK: Reread the first 3 verses from The Message twice more:
Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-begotten. If we love the One who conceives the child, we’ll surely love the child who was conceived. The reality test on whether or not we love God’s children is this: Do we love God? Do we keep his commands? The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome.
What do you think of the connection between loving God and loving others? Does one or the other feel more difficult for you? Which one? What about it is difficult?
PRAY: Talk to God about the difficulties you experience in this area. Openly share with him your feelings about your struggle. Spend some time right now listening for what he might have to say.
LIVE: C.S. Lewis wrote, “It may be possible for each of us to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor…The dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship…There are no ordinary people.” How does Lewis’ suggestion alter the way that you view others today? How does it alter the way that you view yourself? As you go through your day, ponder this more but also be ready to put it into practice. As you come across God’s children during the day, look for small ways to love them.
– Adapted from Eugene Peterson
throughin2.com 
Some verses in this chapter (kind of like the rest of 1 John) are clear and comforting and some verses leave me struggling to grasp the meaning or even practical application…..