"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:1–3).

How does John tie in the love of God with the love other fellow believers have and with keeping the commandments? Why would he link all these together?

The commandments are not only about a right relationship with God but
they are also about a right relationship with man. The first part of
the Decalogue deal with our relationship toward God, and the second
part deal with our relationship to man.

The two commitments of the Decalogue are intertwined and one can not
separate them therefore we can not separate right relationship with
God from right relationship with man.

Do you really love God? If so, how do you know? (Might you be deceiving yourself?) What do you do or say that reveals the reality of this love? In other words, what evidence is there that this love is real?

I would say our love to God is most clearly seen by the way we
prioritize our time to spend with God. Also it can be seen by
the things that we do or do not do for Him. Another way which
reveals our love to God is the way that we treat our fellow
brother. We can not say that we love God and treat out brother
any kind of way.

Prayer: Father I pray that you will help us to be righteous for you, help us to love God and to love man. Let us not take any false glory but let us only receive of your glory and your righteousness. Thank you Father in Jesus name I pray amen.