“…as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Matthew 6:12b
Chump: a foolish or easily deceived person
There are a lot of chumps in the Bible. As we continue our journey through the Lord’s Prayer, we are going to focus on the one found in Matthew 18. In a parable about forgiveness, Jesus tells the story of a king who decided to settle the debts of his servants. One man had an outstanding balance equivalent to twenty years’ worth of his wages. Unable to repay what was owed, the king ordered the man’s entire family be sold into slavery to recoup his losses. The king responded to his servants subsequent graveling with pity and compassion, canceling the entire debt. This would be such a sweet story…if it ended here.
Newly freed and forgiven, the man found a fellow servant who owed him just a day’s wages. He choked the man and demanded repayment. The debtor begged for patience but was denied. In a real chump move, he had the man thrown into prison until his day’s debt could be repaid. When the king heard about his servant’s lack of forgiveness he reversed his decision and threw him into jail to be tortured until his two-decade loan was repaid.
Jesus finishes the parable with these words: “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Ouch. How foolish and easily deceived are we, like the chump, to think our lack of forgiveness won’t come back to bite us in the end?
So, when Jesus includes “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” in the Lord’s Prayer, we would be wise to act promptly. As you pray today, ask God to forgive you the insurmountable debt earned by your sin and self-righteousness. But then immediately seek out how you can forgive your brother or sister of far lesser offenses than the ones you have already been forgiven of through Jesus.
Pray your heart out for yourself and those found in this guide. Freely receive and offer forgiveness today like the unshackled servant that you are.
Lighthouse Church – Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
From Pastor Ugtakhbayar:
Gerelt Khot (Lighthouse Church) is a church of about 100 people located in the Bayanzurkh district. Founded in 2018, they are currently looking forward to establishing a permanent location for their ministry. They invest in their local community through teaching, but they also reach out to other areas of Mongolia with mission trips. In a country where the vast majority of the population has never heard of Christ, who better to bring the good news than someone speaking your language?
How You Can Pray:
1) For God to provide financially as they balance rent and a prospective investment in a building.
2) For their summer mission trip to a neighboring province in Mongolia. Pray for God to open the hearts of the people there to the Gospel.
3) For the success of classes they are planning for their community this coming year.
Church of God – Quebracho, Nicaragua
From Pastor Martin Lopez (Pictured):
“I am 35 years old and I have been married for 10 years now. I have two kids and two step daughters — I love them like I love the rest of my kids. My wife’s name is Ileana. She is a great help to me. I love her so much and I thank the Lord for placing her into my life. I am new to being a pastor, but I am trying to do my best. I never thought I would be a pastor, but God always has different plans for us. My church doesn’t have a building right now, but we do have services at my humble home once a week. I have a secular job as well, but I hope to become a full-time pastor once we get a building. I thank you all for praying for all us pastors. We will for sure be praying for you and all that you do here. I am talking for all the people of Nicaragua. Thank you for all you do. God bless you and all the people who are a part of this ministry. Keep up the good work, to God be the glory.”
How You Can Pray:
1) For the church in Nicaragua to experience new growth and maturity in Christ.
2) For my family to grow closer and more united.
3) For economic growth in Nicaragua.
Tsetsgee – Cook, Mongolia
About Tsetsgee:
Tsetsgee is a woman of many facets. In addition to being our security guard, she is also the mother of 5 children, a wife to Ganbat (our driver on staff), a lifelong learner, a poet, and last but certainly not least, the cook for New Hope Children’s Home. She has been carefully preparing three square meals a day for the children and staff for four years now.
Tsetsgee is naturally a blast to be around, and you can tell that her relationship with the kids is like that of family. Whether she’s whipping up a helping of soup for the little ones on their day off from school or helping bandage up a sprained ankle, she is constantly making herself available to nurture and encourage those she’s with.
How You Can Pray:
1) For her to continue being faithful in her daily tasks caring for and discipling the children.
2) For her son and his wife to be guided as they consider starting a family.
3) For her to know God and grow closer to Him.
Maria Nela Espinoza Alfaro – Social Studies Teacher, Nicaragua
From Maria:
“I’m 39 years old and I have been working for this ministry for almost 3 years. I used to teach at a university, but it’s different working with adults. I love working here because I have learned so much from my students — the kids here are so sweet because they have Jesus in their heart and share that love with their teachers. I want to share a special moment I had with the students last year. My birthday was on a Sunday, so I didn’t expect it when my students surprised me Monday morning with a mariachi band. I was at the front of the stage during morning devotional when I saw the band walking toward me. I got so emotional and started crying. At that time I knew that the love that these kids have for us is honest and sweet, just like God’s love for us. I thank the Lord because I have learned so much from these kids and from this ministry. God is my motor, the one who gives me the strength I need every day. I will give my best this year like I do every year for these kids and this school. I want to share that I got married this last December; I am so happy that the Lord placed my husband in my path. I also visit a church with my own kids every Sunday, and I am praying that my daughter will come to Christ soon. My kids are my everything — if they are happy, I am happy.”
How You Can Pray:
1) For my sister and her kids that they can come to the Lord soon.
2) For my kids that they can also come to the Lord.
3) Blessings and protection from God for my family.
Ulziibuyan – New Hope Children’s Home, Mongolia
About Ulziibuyan:
This cool kid is Ulziibuyan, but we call him Bondgor! He is 6 years old and in the 1st grade. He came to New Hope Children’s Home in 2016. He’s playful with a heart for drawing and roughhousing outside with the other kids. He may be a little on the short side, but that‘s never stopped him from holding his own in a soccer game.
How You Can Pray:
1) For him to be diligent in his schoolwork and receptive to teaching.
2) For him to grow up big and strong.
3) For God to watch over him and his family the coming year.
Yoenis Aroldis Gonzales – Feeding Program, Nicaragua
About Yoenis:
Yoenis is one-and-a-half years old. He and his 4 year old sister have been a part of the feeding program for a year. Yoenis lives on his grandfather’s property with his mom and sister. His mother is 23 year old Jessenia Gonzales, a full-time mom, and his dad works on a local farm. The whole family goes to a Catholic church together every Sunday. Yoenis loves all the food he eats at the feeding program, especially rice with chicken. He is a very healthy boy, thank the Lord. He started walking when he turned 11 months old and hasn’t stopped since!
How You Can Pray:
1) For his family to grow together and be healthy.
2) For God to provide financially for his family.
Additional Requests
Pray for Mongolia during the coronavirus outbreak
The coronavirus has claimed over 1,100 lives and has infected over 45,000 people worldwide. The virus began in Wuhan, China, a city only 1,250 miles from our ministry in Mongolia. Miraculously, there have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Mongolia and we are asking for prayer for it to stay that way. The government has banned all public gatherings through March, including school and church. As you pray for everyone affected by this outbreak around the world, please specifically be praying for peace and safety for all of our friends and family in Mongolia and for the children at our home as they are out of school for the foreseeable future.