January

Isilinde yalinda indodakazi kaJefitha. Ithi mehlo suka ibone nango uyise ethutsha evela empini. Kuthi gidi kuyo! Iyagijima imhlangabeze njalo isithabe kayisazazi ngoba uyise usenqobile. Kulokuthi uyise ahlabele agide layo, yena udabula izigqoko zakhe ezigcwele igazi abesehlaba umkhosi esithi: “O! Ndodakazi yami! Usungidabule wangenza ngaba lusizi.” Ngemva kwalokho akutshoyo kuhle kuyintshintshe impilo yendodakazi yakhe, kutshabalalise lakho konke engabe ifisa ukukwenza empilweni. Kodwa intombazana le ikhuthaza uyise ukuthi asigcwalise isithembiso asenze kuJehova. Amazwi ayo atshengisa ukuthi ilokholo oluqinileyo. Kayithandabuzi ukuthi izathola izibusiso nxa ingenza lokho okufunwa nguJehova. (Abahlu. 11:34-37) Uyise uyaziqhenya ngayo ngoba uyakwazi ukuthi ukuzimisela kwayo ukusekela isifungo asenzileyo kuyamthokozisa uJehova. UJefitha lendodakazi yakhe babengathandabuzi ukuthi indlela uJehova enza ngayo izinto iqondile. Yikho babemthemba ngenhliziyo yonke lanxa kwakunzima ukwenza njalo. Bakubona ukuthi ukuthokozisa uJehova kungcono ukwedlula loba yiwuphi umnikelo ababengawenza. w16.04 1:1, 2

Uzwa ubuhlungu yini ngenxa yamazwi ahlabayo owatshelwe ngumngane wakho loba isihlobo sakho? Uhlatshwe ngumkhuhlane obuhlungu yini kumbe uhlulukelwe ngenxa yokufelwa ngumuntu omthandayo? Nxa kunjalo indaba kaJobe ingakududuza kakhulu. (Jobe. 1:18, 19; 2:7, 9; 19:1-3) UJobe kazange alahle ithemba lanxa wayengakwazi ukuthi ngubani owayebangela ukuthi ahlupheke. Kuyini okwamnceda ukuthi abekezele? Yikuthi ‘wayemesaba uNkulunkulu.’ (Jobe. 1:1) Wayezimisele ukumthokozisa uJehova kumnyama kubomvu. Kanti njalo uJehova wamsiza uJobe ngokumtshela ngezinto ezimangalisayo ayezidalile ezaziveza ukuthi ulamandla. Lokhu kwenza uJobe waba leqiniso lokuthi uJehova wayezaluqeda ngesikhathi esiyiso uhlupho ayekulo. (Jobe. 42:1, 2) Lakanye wakwenza lokhu! “UJehova wamenza waphumelela njalo wamupha okunengi okuphindwe kabili kwalokho ayelakho kuqala.” Ekucineni uJobe wafa “esemdala njalo eseluphele.”​—Jobe. 42:10, 17. w16.04 2:11, 13

Siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siqaphile nxa singananzelela ingozi isesekhatshana. Kanti njalo ukunamathela ezimisweni zikaJehova lanxa sekunzima kuzatshengisa ukuthi simsulwa. Kumele sinanzelele sibili nxa abantu sebexoxa ngezombusazwe. Ngokwesibonelo nxa utshumayela, kubalekele ukuncoma loba ukuchothoza izinhlelo ezenziwa liqembu elithile lezombusazwe kumbe umbusi othile. Kulokuthi ukhulume ngemizamo eyenziwa ngabantu ukuze baqede izinhlupho ezikhona, namathela kulokho iBhayibhili elikutshoyo mayelana lokuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uzaziqeda njani lezozinhlupho zingaphindi zibe khona. Nxa kungavuka izindaba ezidala izimpikiswano ezinjengokutshadiswa kwezitabane kumbe ukukhitshwa kwezisu, wena tshono ukuthi iBhayibhili lithini uchaze lokuthi thina sikusebenzisa njani lokho ezimpilweni zethu. Engxoxweni yenu, zama ukuthi ungathathi cele, namathela eMibhalweni. Kayisikho kwethu ukutsho ukuthi yiphi imithetho okumele ifakwe, ikhitshwe loba intshintshwe njalo kasibambi muntu ngamandla ukuthi avumelane lathi. w16.04 4:8, 9

Kumele senze abafundi, sibabhabhathize njalo sibafundise. Kodwa kumele siqale ngokwenzani? UJesu wathi: “Hambani.” Enye indoda ecubungula iBhayibhili yathi umlayo othi ‘hambani’ kumele ulalelwe yiwo wonke amakholwa futhi kumele ahambe loba ngaphi. (Mat. 10:7; Luk. 10:3) Lapha uJesu wayengakhulumi ngomsebenzi okumele wenziwe ngumuntu oyedwa. Kodwa wayesitsho umsebenzi ohleliweyo wokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle owawuzakwenziwa ngabafundi bakhe bencedisana. Phela umuntu oyedwa ngeke enelise ukutshumayela “ezizweni zonke.” UJesu waphinda wakuveza ukuthi lo ngumsebenzi wabantu abanengi lapho etshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi bazakuba ‘ngabagoli babantu.’ (Mat. 4:18-22) Wayengakhulumi ngomuntu othiya inhlanzi eyedwa, ophosela iwuka emanzini abesezihlalela amelele ukuthi inhlanzi zidlele. Kodwa wayekhuluma ngokugola inhlanzi ngomambule, umsebenzi omkhulu owenziwa ngabantu abanengi bencedisana.​—Luk. 5:1-11. w16.05 2:3, 4

Kumele sikuqakathekise ukutaditsha iLizwi likaNkulunkulu ukuze sizwisise indlela acabanga ngayo. Nxa sibala loba sitaditsha iBhayibhili singazibuza ukuthi: ‘Engikubalayo kuvezani ngoJehova, ngezindlela zakhe ezilungileyo kanye lendlela acabanga ngayo?’ Kumele sibe njengomhubi owahlabela wathi: “Ngibonisa izindlela zakho, O Jehova, ngifundisa izindlela zakho; ngikhokhela eqinisweni lakho ungifundise ngokuba unguNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami, lethemba lami likuwe izinsuku zonke.” (Hubo. 25:4, 5) Nxa usucabangisisa ngalokho okubalayo zibuze ukuthi: ‘Ngingakusebenzisa njani lokhu emulini yami? Ngingakusebenzisa yini emsebenzini, esikolo loba ekutshumayeleni?’ Ungavele ubone ukuthi ungakusebenzisa ngaphi kuzakuba lula lokuthi ukwazi ukuthi ungakusebenzisa njani. w16.05 3:9, 11

Okutshiwo ngamavesi athile aseBhayibhilini kusenza sibone ukuthi uJehova ulezimiso afuna zilandelwe yilabo abangabelusi bomhlambi wakhe. (1 Tim. 3:2-7) Ufuna babe yizibonelo ezinhle njalo bazalandisa kuye ngendlela abaphatha ngayo ibandla “alithenga ngegazi leNdodana yakhe.” (ImiSeb. 20:28, NW) UJehova wahlela ukuthi kube labadala ebandleni ukuze basivikele. (Isaya. 32:1, 2) Yikho ke nxa sibala amavesi lawo siyabona ukuthi uJehova uyasikhathalela. Kanti njalo sonke ebandleni singathola izifundo eziqakathekileyo emavesini la ngoba amanengi akhona akhuluma ngalokho uJehova akhangelele ukuthi wonke amaKhristu akwenze. Ngokwesibonelo sonke kumele sibe ngababekekileyo njalo sibe lokwahlulela okuhle. (Flp. 4:5; 1 Phet. 4:7) Abadala kumele babe ‘yizibonelo emhlambini’ ukuze izimvu zifunde kubo njalo ‘zilingisele ukukholwa kwabo.’​—1 Phet. 5:3; Heb. 13:7. w16.05 5:8-10

Yiphi imikhuba okumele siyibalekele? Yikuzigqaja, ukwenza isono ngabomo kanye lokuswela ukholo. Izinto lezi zingenza umuntu abe yisiqholo futhi abe ngumhlamuki. (Dan. 5:1, 20; Heb. 3:13, 18, 19) Omunye owatshengisa ukuzigqaja ngu-Uziya inkosi yakoJuda. (2 ImiLan. 26:3-5, 16-21) Ekuqaliseni u-Uziya “wenza ukulunga phambi kukaJehova” njalo “wazimisela ukumdinga uNkulunkulu.” Kodwa kwathi ‘eselamandla amakhulu, waziqhenya’ wakhohlwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu nguye owayemnike amandla. Waze wangena ethempelini efuna ukuyatshisa impepha, umsebenzi okwakumele wenziwe ngabaphristi benzalo ka-Aroni kuphela! Kodwa abaphristi bathi bemkhuza wazonda wabila. Kwaphetha ngani? UJehova wayitshaya ngobulephero inkosi le eyayizigqaja njalo umkhuhlane lo wayinamathela yaze yafa. (Zaga. 16:18) Lathi nxa singayekela ukuzinanzelela endabeni yokuzigqaja singaqalisa “ukuzazisa kakhulu okudlula okufaneleyo,” mhlawumbe size sale lokwamukela iseluleko esiseMibhalweni.​—Rom. 12:3; Zaga. 29:1. w16.06 2:3, 4

Wena uthini ngabazalwane abalamasiko atshiyene lawakho? Mhlawumbe awujayelananga lolimi lwabo, indlela abagqoka ngayo, indlela abaziphatha ngayo kanye lokudla abakudlayo. Ukhetha ukuzisondeza kulabo abalamasiko afanana lawakho kuphela yini? Kungenzakala lokuthi abakhokhelayo ebandleni okulo, esiqintini okuso loba ewofisini yegatsha lakini bancane kulawe kumbe ngabomunye umhlobo otshiyene lowakho. Uyakuvumela yini lokhu kuphambanise ukumanyana okukhona phakathi kwabantu bakaJehova? Manje singenzani ukuze sihlale simanyene? UPhawuli wanika amaKhristu ayehlala edolobheni lase-Efesu iseluleko esilusizo. Idolobho leli lalinothile njalo lalihlala abantu abanengi abatshiyeneyo. (Efe. 4:1-3) UPhawuli waqala wakhuluma ngokuthobeka, ubumnene, ukubekezela kanye lothando. Lezizithelo zomoya zingafaniswa lezinsika ezibambe indlu ukuze iqhubeke imile. w16.06 3:17, 18

USathane ufuna sibe yizigqili zenotho kulokuthi sikhonze uJehova. (Mat. 6:24) Abantu abasebenza ubusuku lemini bebuthelela inotho bacina bephila impilo engelanjongo. Bahlala bekhathazekile futhi kwezinye izikhathi bangena ezikweledeni ezesabekayo. Okubi kakhulu yikuthi bacina bengaselalo ukholo kuJehova. (1 Tim. 6:9, 10; Isam. 3:17) Okwenzakala kubo kufanana xathu lalokho okwakhulunywa nguJesu emzekelisweni wakhe womhlanyeli. Walandisa ukuthi lapho umlayezo woMbuso ‘uhlanyelwa emeveni . . . , izinkanuko zezinye izinto ziyeza ziliminyanise ilizwi, zilenze lingatheli.’ (Mak. 4:14, 18, 19) Ukuphela komhlaba lo sekuseduze, ngakho lesi kayisiso sikhathi sokuthi sibe silokhu sibuthelela inotho. Akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi izinto esilazo kasisoze sidlule lazo ekuhluphekeni okukhulu lanxa singabe sizithanda kangakanani loba sizibona zilugugu.​—Zaga. 11:4; Mat. 24:21, 22. w16.07 1:5, 6

Ngelinye ilanga umlimi othile wavuka ngovivi waya emakethe ukuze ayeqhatsha abantu ababezasebenza esivinini sakhe. Lakanye wabathola basebevumelana ukuthi uzabanika malini basebehamba bayasebenza. Umlimi lo wayelokhu efuna izisebenzi ezinengi, yikho waphinda wabuyela kanenginengi emakethe wayaqhatsha amanye amadoda amanengi. Wathembisa ukuwaholisa imali eyayifanana leyalabo ababeqhatshwe ekuseni. Sekuntambama waqoqa zonke izisebenzi zakhe ukuze azinike umholo wazo njalo wazinika umholo ofananayo kungelani lokuthi zaziqalise nini ukusebenza. Kwathi labo ababeqhatshwe ekuseni bekubona lokho baqalisa ukumsola umlimi. Yena wabaphendula wathi: ‘Kalivumanga yini ukusebenzela udenariyu? Kangilalungelo na ukwenza loba yini engiyithandayo ngemali yami? Kumbe lilomhawu ngokuphana kwami na?’ (Mat. 20:1-15) Umzekeliso kaJesu usinika isifundo esihle kakhulu mayelana lomusa omkhulu uJehova awutshengise abantu.​—2 Khor. 6:1. w16.07 3:1, 2

Khathesi kumele sibambe ziqine emsebenzini wokutshumayela ngoba ukuphela sekuseduze. (Mak. 13:10) Izindaba ezinhle zitshengisa umusa omkhulu kaJehova. Akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi nxa sitshumayela, injongo yethu ngeyokudumisa uJehova. Manje singakwenza njani lokhu? Singakwenza ngokuchazela abantu ukuthi zonke izibusiso ezizakuba khona emhlabeni omutsha ziyibufakazi bomusa omkhulu kaJehova. Nxa sitshumayela kumele sitshele abantu ukuthi ngesikhathi uKhristu esebusa umhlaba, sizathola zonke izibusiso zomhlatshelo wenhlawulo lokuthi kancane kancane isono sizasuswa ebantwini siphele nya! IBhayibhili lithi: “Indalo yona ngokwayo izakhululwa ebugqilini bokonakala ilethwe kunkululeko elenkazimulo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.” (Rom. 8:21) Konke lokhu kuzakwenzakala ngenxa yomusa omkhulu kaJehova. w16.07 4:17-19

Lanxa iBhayibhili lingabeki imithetho mayelana lokuthi abatshadileyo kumele badlale njani loba okwesikhathi esinganani bengakayi emacansini, liyaqamba ezinye izindlela zokutshengisana uthando. (INgoma. 1:2; 2:6) Yikho-ke abatshadileyo kufanele baphathane ngozwelo. Ukuthanda uNkulunkulu lomakhelwana kumele kusifuqe ukuthi singavumeli loba yini iphambanise umtshado wethu. Abanye abantu abatshadileyo kabasathembani njalo eminye imitshado seyachitheka ngenxa yokuthi omunye phakathi kwabo uyabe ebuka imifanekiso loba amavidiyo atshengisa abantu besemacansini (iphonogirafi). Kubi ukubukela izinto lezi ezingcolileyo loba ukwenza eminye imikhutshana etshengisa ukungahloniphi umtshado. Omunye umkhuba ongalunganga yikuzidlisa satshanyana komunye umuntu ngapha wena utshadile ngoba kutshengisa ukuthi awumthandi omunye wakho. Kufanele sikhumbule ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyakubona esikucabangayo lezenzo zethu futhi ukwenza njalo kuzasinceda ukuthi sihlale sithembekile kulowo esitshade laye.​—Mat. 5:27, 28; Heb. 4:13. w16.08 2:7-9

Ukubala imibhalo engcwele kwakuzakwenza ukuthi amaKhristu aseKholose ‘aphile impilo efanele iNkosi lokuba ayithokozise ngezindlela zonke.’ Kwakuzawanceda lokuthi ‘athele izithelo kuyo yonke imisebenzi emihle,’ ikakhulu emsebenzini wokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle. (Kol. 1:10) Yikho ukuze lathi sihlale siqinile ekukhonzeni, kumele silibale nsuku zonke iBhayibhili. Kumele sincede lalabo esibafundisa iBhayibhili ukuthi bakuzwisise ukuqakatheka kokubala iBhayibhili bebodwa. Kuba lula ukwenza njalo nxa wena ngokwakho uvele ulibala nsuku zonke. Yikho ngamunye wethu angazibuza imibuzo elandelayo: ‘Nxa abantu ekutshumayeleni beveza imibono engahambelani lalokho okuseMibhalweni loba bebuza imibuzo enzima, ngiyenelisa yini ukubaphendula ngisebenzisa iBhayibhili?’ Nxa singaxoxela abanye ukuthi ukubala iBhayibhili kusinceda njani labo bazazimisela ukulibala ukuze libasize. w16.08 4:3, 4

Kuqakathekile ukuthi silwisane lezinto zomhlaba lo ezingasithandela lula. Izinto lezi zimfundiso zabantu, imibono yezinjulangqondo kanye lemikhuba engalunganga egoqela ukungaziphathi, ukubhema, ukudakwa lokusebenzisa izidakwamizwa. Okunye njalo okumele siqhubeke silwisana lakho yimikhuba engalunganga esingabe silayo kanye lezinto ezingasiqeda amandla. (2 Khor. 10:3-6; Kol. 3:5-9) Manje singenelisa yini ukuzinqoba izitha lezi ezilamandla kangaka? Ye singenelisa nxa singabopha ziqine. UPhawuli wafanisa lokho ayekwenza lesibonelo sabadlali basendulo ababephosa inqindi. Wathi: “Kangilwi njengomuntu onqinda umoya.” (1 Khor. 9:26) Umuntu osemdlalweni lo kumele aziphose izibhakela ukuze anqobe isitha, lathi kumele silwe ukuze sizinqobe izitha zethu. UJehova uyasiqeqetsha njalo uyasisekela ukuze sinqobe empini le. Uyasiqondisa esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe. Uphinda asincedise esebenzisa imfundo ejulileyo esiyithola emabhukwini ethu, emihlanganweni yebandla, eyeziqinti leyezabelo. Ngakho kusebenzise konke okufundayo. w16.09 2:2, 3

UJesu wayeqakathekisa izinto ezazithokozisa abanye ukwedlula lokhu yena ayekuthanda futhi wayekwazi ukuthi ukwenza njalo kuyamthokozisa uNkulunkulu. Yikho lathi kungaba kuhle ukuthi sitshiyane lempahla loba indlela yokugqoka engakhuba abantu esibatshumayezayo lanxa singabe siyithanda kakhulu. (Rom. 15:2) Abazali balomlandu wokufundisa abantwababo ukuthi basebenzise izimiso eziseBhayibhilini. Lokhu kungatsho ukuthi bona labantwababo bazimisele ukwenza inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu ithokoze ngokugqoka langokuzilungisa ngendlela elesithunzi. (Zaga. 22:6; 27:11) Abantwana bafunda ngcono esibonelweni sabazali babo. Yikho abazali kumele babe yisibonelo esihle ukuze basize abantwababo ukuthi bahloniphe uNkulunkulu wethu ongcwele. Lokhu bangakwenza ngokubaqeqetsha ukuthi bafunde ukukhetha impahla ezilesithunzi. Kumele babakhumbuze lokuthi akufanelanga bakhethe impahla ezibathatha umoya kuphela kodwa okuqakathekileyo yikuthi bakhethe impahla ezizakwenza kukhanye ukuthi bayizinceku zikaJehova uNkulunkulu. w16.09 3:13, 14

UJesu wayesiba leqiniso lokuthi uyafinyelela izinhliziyo zalabo ababemlalele nxa efundisa. Lokhu kwakusenziwa yikuthi wayemthanda uJehova kanye leLizwi lakhe futhi ebathanda abantu. (Luk. 24:32; Joh. 7:46) Labazali bangenza njalo kuzakuba lula ukuthi bafinyelele izinhliziyo zabantwababo. (Dute. 6:5-8; Luk. 6:45) Ngakho bazali khuthalani ekufundeni iBhayibhili kanye lamabhuku esiwanikwa yinhlanganiso yethu. Okunye elingakwenza yikuhlolisisa izinto ezidaliweyo njalo libale lamabhuku ethu akhuluma ngazo. (Mat. 6:26, 28) Ukwenza lokhu kuzalinceda ukuthi libe lolwazi oluzikileyo, limazi ngcono uJehova futhi lenelise ukufundisa abantwabenu. Nxa iqiniso olifunda eBhayibhilini selisenhliziyweni yakho lizakufuqa ukuthi uxoxele abantwabakho izinto ezingabanceda. Kodwa ungaxoxi labo nxa lilungiselela imihlangano kumbe lisenza ukukhonza kwemuli kuphela. Kwenze loba ngasiphi isikhathi elisitholayo. Lanxa kunjalo ungababambi ngamandla ukuthi baxoxe, benze bakhululeke ngokungenisa ingxoxo yakho ngesikhathi likhuluma ngokunye nje. w16.09 5:6, 7

Ukungenelisi ukuzwisisa kuhle iLizwi likaNkulunkulu ngolunye ulimi kungaluxegisa ukholo lwethu. Ngokwesibonelo uNehemiya wathi ebuyela eJerusalema wakhathazeka kakhulu lapho ethola ukuthi abanye abantwana bamaJuda ayevela ekuthunjweni eBhabhiloni babengenelisi ukukhuluma isiHebheru. Ukwehluleka kwabantwana laba ukukhuluma isiHebheru kwakuzakwenza ukuthi bangayizwisisi iMibhalo besekubangela ukuthi bangabi lobuhlobo obuhle loNkulunkulu kanye labantu bakhe. (Neh. 8:2, 8) Abanye abazali abakhonza kwezinye izindawo sebekunanzelele ukuthi abantwababo abasakukhwabithi njengakuqala ukukhonza uJehova. Yindaba? Nxa umuntu angabala ulutho ngolimi olungayisilo lwakhe alusoze lumthinte, kodwa nxa angalubala ngolimi lomdabuko wakhe luhle lungene luthophele enhliziyweni yakhe. Kanti njalo ukwehluleka ukukhuluma kuhle olunye ulimi kungamenza adane aphinde adonse nzima lasekukhonzeni. Yikho kuhle ukuthi sihlale siqinisa ukholo lwethu nxa sifuna ukuqhubeka sikukhwabitha ukukhonza uJehova sisebandleni elikhuluma olunye ulimi.​—Mat. 4:4. w16.10 2:4-6

Ukholo luqakatheke kakhulu kodwa kayisibo bonke abantu abalalo. (2 Thes. 3:2) Loba kunjalo uJehova unika abantu abamkhonzayo ‘isilinganiso sokholo.’ (Rom. 12:3; Gal. 5:22) Kumele simbonge ngenxa yokusinika kwakhe ukholo. UJehova usondeza abantu ukuthi babe ngabangane bakhe esebenzisa iNdodana yakhe. (Joh. 6:44, 65) Ukuba lokholo kuJesu kwenza sithethelelwe izono. Ikanti ukuthethelelwa izono khona kusivulela ithuba lokuba ngabangane bakaJehova kuze kube phakade. (Rom. 6:23) Phela akulalutho esalwenzayo olungenza sifanele ukuthola isibusiso esikhulu kangaka ngoba siyizoni futhi umvuzo osifaneleyo yikufa. (Hubo. 103:10) Lanxa kunjalo uJehova wabona ukuthi singenelisa ukwenza okuhle futhi ngenxa yomusa wakhe omkhulu wasincedisa ukuthi sifunde iqiniso. Saqalisa ukuba lokholo kuJesu njalo saba lethemba lokuphila phakade.​—1 Joh. 4:9, 10. w16.10 4:1, 2

UPhawuli wayebancoma abanye abazalwane ezincwadini ayebabhalela zona. Abanye babo wayeke wahamba labo okweminyaka eminengi futhi kumele ukuthi wayewabona amaphutha abo. Lanxa kunjalo wakhuluma kuhle ngabo. Ngokwesibonelo wakhuluma ngoThimothi wathi ‘uyindodana yakhe ayithandayo, ethembekileyo eNkosini’ njalo elendaba lenhlalakahle yamanye amaKhristu ngobuqotho. (1 Khor. 4:17; Flp. 2:19, 20) Waphinda wakhuluma kuhle ngoThithusi kulabo ababesebandleni laseKhorinte esithi “ungohlanganyela lami loyisisebenzi kanye lami phakathi kwenu.” (2 Khor. 8: 23) Kumele ukuthi abazalwane laba bathokoza bekuzwa lokhu. UPhawuli loBhanaba bafaka ukuphila kwabo engozini ngokubuyela ezindaweni lapho ababeke bahlaselwa khona ngabaphikisi. Ngokwesibonelo babuyela eListra ukuze bayekhuthaza abafundi abatsha ukuthi babambelele ekukholweni. (ImiSeb. 14:19-22) E-Efesu uPhawuli wadibana lexuku elalizonde lisifa! Lanxa kunjalo kazange ayekele ukukhuthaza abafundi ababelapho.​—ImiSeb. 20:1. w16.11 1:10, 11

UJehova usebenzisa ‘inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo’ eqondiswa nguKhristu ‘inhloko yebandla’ ukuze akhokhele ingxenye yasemhlabeni yenhlanganiso yakhe njalo ayinike ukudla ngesikhathi esifaneleyo. (Mat. 24:45-47; Efe. 5:23) Inceku le iyakwamukela lokho okutshiwo liLizwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumulelweyo njalo iyaliqakathekisa kakhulu. Lokhu yikho kanye okwakusenziwa liqula elibusayo ngesikhathi sabaphostoli. (1 Thes. 2:13) IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi singene imihlangano zikhathi zonke. (Heb. 10:24, 25) Lisikhuthaza ukuthi sivumelane kulokho esikukholwayo. Lithi kumele sifake uMbuso kuqala ezimpilweni zethu. (Mat. 6:33) Lisilaya lokuthi sitshumayele endlini ngendlu, ezindaweni zomphakathi, laloba ngaphi lapho esikhona. (Mat. 28:19, 20; ImiSeb. 5:42; 17:17; 20:20) Likhuthaza abadala ukuthi bagcine ibandla limsulwa. (1 Khor. 5:1-5, 13; 1 Tim. 5:19-21) Kanti njalo lisitshela lokuthi uJehova ukhangelele ukuthi bonke abasenhlanganisweni yakhe bahlanzeke emzimbeni njalo babalekele imicabango lemikhuba engaphambanisa ubuhlobo babo laye.​—2 Khor. 7:1. w16.11 3:7, 8

Eminyakeni eminengi kungakafiki iMpi Yomhlaba Yokuqala, uCharles Taze Russell labangane bakhe bananzelela ukuthi izinkolo ezinengi ezazikhona ngalesosikhathi zazingafundisi iqiniso. Lokhu kwabenza bazimisela ukuthi bangadlelani lazo ngoba basebekubonile ukuthi zifundisa amanga. NgoNovember 1879 iNqabayokulinda eyayisabizwa ngokuthi yi-Zion’s Watch Tower yakubeka kwacaca ukuthi iMibhalo ithini. Yabika ukuthi loba yiphi inkolo ezibiza ngokuthi ingumlobokazi kaKhristu othembekileyo kodwa yona imanyene njalo isekelana labohulumende bomhlaba, layo iyingxenye yeBhabhiloni Enkulu, ebizwa ngokuthi yisifebe eBhayibhilini. (Isam. 17:1, 2) Amadoda labesifazana ababethembekile kabazange bapholise amaseko ngoba basebenanzelele ukuthi babengasoze bathole isibusiso sikaNkulunkulu nxa belokhu bephakathi kwenkolo yamanga. Masinyane nje bahle babhala izincwadi ezazibika ukuthi sebephuma emasontweni ababekuwo. w16.11 5:2, 3

Mhlawumbe uyake umbale uRoma 8:15-17 ngesikhathi seSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaJesu. Amavesi la ayasinceda sazi ukuthi abalethemba lokuyaphila ezulwini bagcotshwa njani. Alandisa ukuthi umoya ongcwele yiwo ofakazelana lomoya wabo. Isahluko lesi sibhalelwe abagcotshiweyo ngoba yibo abamukela ‘umoya’ futhi ‘abalindele ukwamukelwa njengamadodana, lokuhlengwa kwemizimba yabo [yenyama].’ (Rom. 8:23) Ikusasa labo ngelokuyaphila ezulwini bengamadodana kaNkulunkulu. Ithemba labo liqinisekile ngoba ngemva kokubhabhathizwa uNkulunkulu wabathethelela izono ngenhlawulo kaKhristu, wababala njengabalungileyo ukuze babe ngamadodana akhe. (Rom. 3:23-26; 4:25; 8:30) Amazwi akuRoma isahluko 8 ayasebenza lakulabo abalethemba lokuphila emhlabeni ngoba uNkulunkulu ubabona njengabalungileyo. Iseluleko esisembhalweni lo siyabanceda ngoba sisebenza kubo bonke abalungileyo. w16.12 2:1-3

UJesu wayesitshoni lapho esithi: “Lingazihluphi”? Wayengatsho ukuthi inceku kaNkulunkulu kayisoze ikhathazeke loba nini. Kodwa wayesiza abalandeli bakhe ukuthi bangaphonguzihlupha kumbe bakhathazeke kakhulu ngoba ukwenza njalo akululungisi uhlupho. Waveza ukuthi usuku ngalunye lulenhlupho zalo, yikho akumelanga amaKhristu angezelele ezinye inhlupho ngokuzikhathaza ngezinto ezadlulayo loba ezingakenzakali. Okunye okubangela ukukhathazeka yikucabanga ngezinhlupho ezingabakhona kwelizayo. Kodwa akumelanga sikhathazeke kakhulu ngezinto ezingakenzakali ngoba izikhathi ezinengi lokho esiyabe sicabanga ukuthi kuzasehlela kusuke kungabi njalo. Kanti njalo kumele sikhumbule ukuthi akulalutho olungehlula uNkulunkulu. Woba leqiniso lokuthi uzabanika umvuzo bonke abathembekileyo kuye njalo uzabasiza ukuthi bangakhathazeki ngezinto zakudala loba ezenzakala khathesi kumbe abacabanga ukuthi zizabehlela kwelizayo. w16.12 3:13, 16

Ngesikhathi uSawuli eqalisa ukubusa ko-Israyeli wayezithoba futhi labantu bemhlonipha. (1 Sam. 9:1, 2, 21; 10:20-24) Kodwa ngokuya kwesikhathi waba liqhalaqhala njalo wenza lezinto ezinengi ayengelalungelo lokuzenza. Ngokwesibonelo waphelelwa yisineke lapho ebona umphrofethi uSamuyeli esephuzile ukufika eGiligali. Ngalesosikhathi amaFilisti ayesefuna ukuhlasela njalo ama-Israyeli ayeseqalisa ukubaleka etshiya uSawuli. Kungenzakala ukuthi uSawuli wazitshela ukuthi kungcono enze okuthile masinyane ukuze angabhuqwa yisitha. Yikho wathatha umhlatshelo wawunikela kuNkulunkulu. Wayengelalungelo lokwenza lokhu ngoba kwakungumsebenzi okwakumele wenziwe ngabaphristi kuphela. Lokhu kwamzondisa uJehova. (1 Sam. 13:5-9) Lapho uSamuyeli efika eGiligali wamkhuza uSawuli ngesenzo sakhe. Kulokuthi avume ukukhuzwa waqalisa ukucatsha ngomunwe, wesulela icala kwabanye futhi wenza angathi kaboni ukuthi wenze inkalakatha yecala. (1 Sam. 13:10-14) Ngemva kwalokho wenza ezinye futhi izinto ezacina zibangela ukuthi uJehova amlahle njalo amthathele ubukhosi. (1 Sam. 15:22, 23) Lanxa uSawuli wayeqalise engumuntu ozithobayo futhi ohloniphekayo wacina esifa kabuhlungu ngenxa yokungalaleli.​—1 Sam. 31:1-6. w17.01 3:1, 2

Kunengi okuhle uDavida akwenzayo empilweni yakhe. Lanxa kunjalo wawela esonweni ngokufeba loBhathisheba. (2 Sam. 11:1-21)UDavida wayengeke enelise ukubuyisela emuva umonakalo ayesewenzile. Wayengenelisi lokubalekela impumela ebuhlungu eyayizakuba khona ngenxa yesono sakhe. Eminye impumela yakhona yayizamthwalisa nzima okwempilo yakhe yonke. (2 Sam. 12:10-12, 14) Yikho kwakudingeka ukuthi abe lokholo. Kwakumele athembe ukuthi nxa angaphenduka ngeqiniso uJehova wayezamthethelela njalo amncede ukuthi enelise ukubekezelela impumela ebuhlungu eyayibangelwe yisono ayesenzile. Sonke siyaphambanisa ngoba silesono njalo ezinye izono esizenzayo zinkulu kakhulu. Kwezinye izikhathi kasenelisi ukususa lokho esiyabe sikuphambanisile. Kuyabe sekumele siphile layo impumela yakhona. (Gal. 6:7) Kodwa sileqiniso lokuthi nxa singaphenduka ngenhliziyo yonke uJehova uzasisekela njalo asincedise ukuthi senelise ukubekezelela ubuhlungu obubangelwa yimpumela yesono esisenzileyo.​—Isaya. 1:18, 19; ImiSeb. 3:19. w17.01 1:10-12

Ukuzithoba kungasinceda senelise ukukhetha kuhle lanxa siyabe singakwazi ukuthi izinto zizahamba njani. Ngokwesibonelo ungabe ulesifiso sokungena enkonzweni yesikhathi sonke kodwa ubusuzibuza imibuzo enjengale: Ngizakwenzani nxa ngingahlaselwa ngumkhuhlane othile? Ngizakwenelisa yini ukunakekela abazali bami nxa sebegugile? Ngizayithatha ngaphi imali yokuziphilisa nxa sengiluphele? Kawungeke wenelise ukuyiphendula imibuzo le lanxa ungaze ukhuleke njalo ucabangisise ngayo kanengi. Kodwa nxa ungathemba uJehova uzabona ukuthi zikhona izinto ongeke uzenze ngamandla akho. Yikho zimisele ukuthandaza kuye ucele ukuthi akuncedise ngomoya wakhe ongcwele njalo uchwayisise ngaleyondaba futhi ubuze labanye ukuze uzwe ukuthi kuyini okubancedileyo ukuthi baphumelele. (UmTshu. 11:4-6) Ungenza njalo uJehova uzakubusisa njalo akuncedise ukuthi wenze okunye nxa obukuhlosile kungasaphumelelanga.​—Zaga. 16:3, 9. w17.01 4:14

U-Adamu lo-Eva kwasekumele bakhethe ukuthi ngubani abazamlalela. Kodwa kuyadanisa ukuthi bakhetha ukulalela uSathane. (Gen. 3:6-13) Ukuhlamuka kwabo kwenza baba lesono esabangela ukuthi baguge futhi bafe. Abakwenzayo kwabehlukanisa loJehova ngoba ‘amehlo akhe ahlanzeke kakhulu ukuba akhangele okubi.’ Ngakho ‘wayengeke akubekezelele okungalunganga.’ (Hab. 1:13) Aluba wababekezelela abahlamuki laba, ukuthula lokumanyana kwezinye izidalwa zakhe ezulwini lasemhlabeni kwakuzaphambaniseka. Kanti njalo ngabe waphongubayekela nje, ezinye izidalwa zazingabona angathi kami eqinisweni. Kodwa khumbula ukuthi uJehova uthembekile kukho konke akwenzayo, kakaze loba nini ephule izimiso zakhe. (Hubo. 119:142) Yikho lanxa u-Adamu lo-Eva babelenkululeko yokuzikhethela, kayisikho ukuthi babengazenzela umathanda bengelandaba lomthetho kaNkulunkulu. Bafa babuyela othulini lapho abavela khona ngenxa yokuhlamukela kwabo uJehova.​—Gen. 3:19. w17.02 1:8, 10, 11

Kusukela ngesikhathi eqalisa inkonzo yakhe, uJesu wayevumela ukuthi iMibhalo imqondise kukho konke ayekwenza. Esezakufa watsho amazwi aphathelane loMesiya atholakala eMibhalweni yesiHebheru. (Mat. 27:46; Luk. 23:46) Kodwa ngalesosikhathi abafundisi bamasonto babengakulandeli okwakutshiwo liLizwi likaNkulunkulu ikakhulu nxa babebona kuphikisana lamasiko abo. UJesu wakhuluma ngabo ethatha amazwini ayeke aphrofethwa ngu-Isaya wathi: “Lababantu bangihlonipha ngezindebe zabo, kodwa izinhliziyo zabo zikhatshana kwami. Bangikhonza ngeze; izimfundiso zabo yimithetho kuphela efundiswa ngabantu.” (Mat. 15:7-9) UJesu wayelisebenzisa kakhulu iLizwi likaNkulunkulu lapho efundisa. Nxa abafundisi bamasonto babemphikisa wayengasebenzisi ukuhlakanipha kwakhe kumbe ulwazi ayelalo kodwa wayebaphendula esebenzisa iMibhalo.​—Mat. 22:33-40. w17.02 3:18, 19

OFakazi bakaJehova bayazama ukwenza okusemandleni abo ukuthi bahloniphe iziphathamandla zikahulumende. Imithetho yamazwe itshiyene futhi lokho okungabe kukhangelelwe yiziphathamandla kungatshiyana kusiya ngendawo. Okuqakathekileyo yikuthi sibambisane lazo iziphathamandla. Kodwa kwezinye izikhathi zingasicela ukuthi senze okuthile okungavumelani lomthetho kaNkulunkulu. Nxa sekunjalo kumele sizimisele ukulalela uJehova kulokulalela abantu. (1 Phet. 2:13-16) Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu endulo zazibahlonipha ababusi kanye leziphathamandla. Ngesikhathi umbusi weRoma esithi kubalwe abantu embusweni wakhe, uJosefa loMariya balalela. Lanxa insuku zokuthi uMariya abelethe zasezisondele basuka emzini wabo bayabhalisa eBhethilehema. (Luk. 2:1-5) UPhawuli ngomunye owatshengisa ukuthi uyazihlonipha iziphathamandla. Ngesikhathi abantu bembeka icala, wazivikela ngenhlonipho enkulu phambi kweNkosi u-Agripha kanye loFestu owayengugavena weJudiya.​—ImiSeb. 25:1-12; 26:1-3. w17.03 1:9, 10

Lapho ama-Israyeli eqalisa ukulandela izindlela ezimbi zabantu baseKhenani, uJehova kazange esawavikela. (Abahlu. 2:1-3, 11-15; Hubo. 106:40-43) Kumele ukuthi kwakunzima ngalesosikhathi ukuthi izimuli ezazikhonza uNkulunkulu zihlale zithembekile kuye. Lanxa kunjalo, iBhayibhili liveza ukuthi bakhona abantu abaqhubeka bethembekile. Abanye babo nguJefitha, u-Elikhana, uHana kanye loSamuyeli. (1 Sam. 1:20-28; 2:26) Lamuhla lathi siphila labantu abanjengabaseKhenani, baqakathekisa inotho, ubudlwangudlwangu kanye lezemacansini. UJehova usinika izixwayiso ezicacileyo ukuze asivikele ebantwini ababi njengoba wenza kuma-Israyeli. Akumelanga senze iphutha elenziwa ngabako-Israyeli. (1 Khor. 10:6-10) Kumele sizame ngamandla wonke ukulahla yonke imicabango emibi efanana leyabantu baseKhenani. (Rom. 12:2) Wena uyakwenza yini lokhu? w16.04 1:4-6

Ukubala iBhayibhili lokuthandaza kuJehova kungakunceda wenelise ukukhetha kuhle nxa usenza isinqumo esiqakathekileyo. Kanti njalo ungakhohlwa ukuthi uJehova angakusiza ube lezithelo zomoya ezidingakalayo ukuze wenze izinqumo ezimthokozisayo. Nansi imibuzo okumele uhlale uzibuza yona : ‘Isinqumo lesi sizatshengisa yini ukuthi ngiyamthanda uJehova? Sizakwenza kube lokumanyana lentokozo emulini yami yini? Sizatshengisa yini ukuthi ngilomusa lesineke?’ UJehova kasibambi ngamandla ukuthi simkhonze kumbe simthande. Ngamunye wethu ulelungelo lokuzikhethela ukuthi uyafuna ukumkhonza yini loba hatshi. (Josh. 24:15; UmTshu. 5:4) Lanxa kunjalo ukhangelele ukuthi sifeze izinqumo esizenzayo. Ukuba lokholo kuJehova lokulandela izimiso asinike zona kungasisiza senze izinqumo ezinhle njalo siphumelele kukho konke esikwenzayo.​—Jak. 1:5-8; 4:8. w17.03 2:17, 18