Blessed Are the Merciful part 2

I have been studying and teaching on the Beatitudes. However when I got to the Blessed are the merciful..., things slowed up a bit. The aspect of mercy that has so arrested our attention is that of forgiveness. Even though those who profess to be believers in Christ know that we are supposed to forgive, it is often quite difficult. Matthew 18:21-35 is an encouraging section to study in order to get a handle on forgiving others. There are a few points I would like to make from it. 1)God periodically calls us to give an accounting. It is a periodic check-up that is best seen when we are made aware of failing God. This could come in the form of a sermon, good book, song, or better yet, from another believer. 2) In the case in Matthew 18 it is seen as realizing I have a grudge or general attitude of unforgiveness toward someone. 3) The key, of course, is realizing God's forgiveness of me. He fully paid the debt I owed Him and the He fully aid the offense of the other person to me. When I am struggling with someone's offense to me, I am forgetting my offense to God. I think the offense of the other person to me is greater than any offense I have ever done to God. 4) God expects me to make things right with the other person even if he was the main offender (see Matt 5:21-26). Notice the "quickly" in this passage. What strikes me here is that making things right with someone is more important to God than my service, tithes, singing, etc. At least until things are made right. 5) If I do not, God will use pressure and pain to correct me (see Heb 12:7-15). When I pray "Father forgiven me as I forgive others, I am actually asking God to not forgive me if I do not forgive. There are at least a couple of things to remember in order to make this happen: Eph 2:11-18 reveals that Christ died on the cross to reconcile people together who were at one time enemies. Christ is right in the middle of the conflict. Heb 12:13 reveals that the conflict is a moment of God's presence and grace. This situation with someone else is what Christ is most concerned about, what He is doing in my life, and where He is working because of what is most important to Him.