Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7

Mercy is defined as: compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power.

That's exactly what we have received as part of our salvation. We were shown mercy instead of punishment; forgiveness in place of judgement.

Why then it is often hard for even good believers to show mercy, to extend compassion to someone fit for punishment?

It is so because we often forget the mercy we have so freely received.

Mercy is not optional. It is not recommended. It is a must-have. It is expected to be the very nature of us who call ourselves believers.

We are all familiar with the story of the unmerciful servant mentioned in Matthew 18, where a person who received his master's mercy did not extend even a portion of that mercy to his subordinate. This angered the master who then withdrew his mercy and punished him.

Whatever question the master asked the unmerciful servant is aimed at us this morning:

Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you? Matthew 18:33

What do we answer?