There's a more authentic way of living — and that's within the Kingdom of God — and part of that life shows us that mercy matters now more than ever (Matthew 5:7; Ephesians 2:4). Mercy is God's undeserved response, birthed out of His love, to what we otherwise should receive (Luke 10:25-37). Mercy is an extension of God's love because He first loved us. When we are merciful toward others, that's the most powerful demonstration of His love. Mercy is sometimes extending, but it's also sometimes refraining. The key to mercy is a broken spirit. It's us realizing that we are nothing (Matthew 9:10-13). It's hard to forgive the unforgivable, to trust the untrustworthy, to give hope to the hopeless. That's why righteousness in God's Kingdom is not about knowing the right things; it's about doing things right. It means us caring for those around us and sharing His love with all we come into contact with (Colossians 3:12-17; Hebrews 13:1).