February

Yiwuphi “umsebenzi” okufanele uqedwe yikubekezela? Ngumsebenzi wokusinceda ukuthi ‘sikhule njalo siphelele, singasileli ngalutho.’ (Jak. 1:4) Phela nxa sisehlelwa yizinhlupho yikho lapho esibona khona ukuthi kungaphi okumele silungisise khona ubuntu bethu. Nxa singazibekezelela izinhlupho lezo, ubuntu bethu buzaphelela singasileli lutho. Ngokwesibonelo ubunzima bungasifundisa ukuthi sibe lesineke, isihawu lokuthi sibe ngababongayo. Ukubekezela kwenza umsebenzi oqakathekileyo wokusibumba ukuthi sibe ngamaKhristu angcono, ngakho akumelanga siceze izilingo esihlangana lazo ngokwephula izimiso eziseBhayibhilini. Ngokwesibonelo ake sithi uhlutshwa yimicabango emibi. Ungavumeli imicabango enjalo ikuwisele esonweni, kodwa khuleka kuNkulunkulu ukuze akusize ukuthi uyikhuphe engqondweni. Ukwenza njalo kuzakwenza ube ngumuntu ozithibayo. Ulesihlobo sakho esingakhonziyo yini esikuthwalise nzima ngenxa yokuthi unguFakazi? Nxa kunjalo zimisele ukuqhubeka ukhonza uJehova. Hlala ukhumbula ukuthi nxa ungabekezela uyabe umthokozisa uNkulunkulu.​—Rom. 5:3-5; Jak. 1:12. w16.04 2:15, 16

Siyakwazi ukuthi ukuzigqaja ngamasiko, ngomhlobo, ngelizwe kumbe idolobho ohlala kulo akuqondanga ngoba akuhambelani lentando kaJehova. Kuliqiniso ukuthi uNkulunkulu kakhangelelanga ukuthi silahle amasiko ethu ngoba ukutshiyana kwawo kuveza ubuhle bendlela adale ngayo abantu. Loba kunjalo kumele sikhumbule ukuthi kuNkulunkulu akulamuntu ongcono kulomunye. (Rom. 10:12) Akumelanga sizigqaje kakhulu ngelizwe lethu ngoba sicabanga ukuthi lingcono kulamanye. Nxa singenza njalo kungaba nzima ukuthi sihlale simsulwa ezindabeni zombusazwe. Kungenzakala sibili ukuthi umKhristu azigqaje aze edlulise amalawulo. Phela kwake kwenzakala lokhu lakumaKhristu akuqala, kulabanye abasebebandlulula abanye ngenxa yamazwe ababevela kuwo. (ImiSeb. 6:1) Manje thina singabona njani ukuthi sesiqalisa ukuzigqaja ngendlela engafanelanga? Ngokwesibonelo ake sithi umzalwane ovela kwelinye ilizwe ukunika icebo elithile. Uzakwala yini ukucetshiswa ngoba uzitshela ukuthi indlela lina elenza ngayo izinto ingcono kulalokho akutshoyo? Kulokuthi senze njalo, kumele sonke sisebenzise iseluleko esisembhalweni walamuhla. w16.04 4:12, 13

UJesu watshumayela “izindaba ezinhle” zoMbuso njalo ukhangelele ukuthi abalandeli bakhe labo benze njengaye. Ngobani abatshumayela izindaba lezi “ezizweni zonke lamuhla”? (Mat. 28:19) Impendulo isegcekeni, ngoFakazi bakaJehova kuphela. Omunye umphristi ongumnali watshela uFakazi othile ukuthi usehlale emazweni amanengi njalo wayebuza oFakazi kulawomazwe ukuthi yiwuphi umlayezo abawutshumayelayo. Bamphendula bathini? Umphristi uthi: “Bonke babeyizithutha ngoba bangitshela into efananayo bathi, ‘Sitshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso.’” Kayisikho ukuthi “babeyizithutha” kodwa bamnika impendulo efananayo etshengisa ukuthi bamanyene. (1 Khor. 1:10) Abakutshoyo yikho okubhalwe ku-Nqabayokulinda Ebika NgoMbuso KaJehova. Inyanga ngayinye kuphrintwa amakhophi emagazini le angaba ngu-59 miliyoni ngezindimi ezingu-254. Ayikho enye imagazini etholakala njengale emhlabeni wonke. w16.05 2:6

Mhlawumbe ufuna ukuba liphayona lesikhathi sonke. Usuqalisile ukuntshintsha izinto ezinengi empilweni yakho ukuze wenelise ukuyifeza kuhle inkonzo yakho. Kodwa uyazibuza ukuthi uzathokoza yini empilweni njengoba uyabe usulezinto ezilutshwana. IBhayibhili kalilawo umthetho othi wonke amaKhristu eqiniso kufanele aphayone. Singaqhubeka simkhonza uJehova singabamemezeli abathembekileyo. Kodwa uJesu wathi labo abazinikela ukwenza okunengi enkonzweni bazathola izibusiso. (Luk. 18:29, 30) Kanti njalo iMibhalo iveza lokuthi uJehova uyathokoza ngalabo abazinikela ukwenza imisebenzi yenkonzo. (Hubo. 119:108) Ukunakana ngeMibhalo le kungakunceda ukuthi uzwisise indlela uJehova acabanga ngayo. Ngemva kwalokho ungathandaza kuJehova ukuze akuqondise ukuthi wenze isinqumo azasibusisa. w16.05 3:13

AmaKhristu asekhulile akumelanga kuwayangise ukubala izinto ezisemabhukwini ethu ezibhalelwe abasakhulayo ngoba izinto lezo zilusizo kuwo wonke amaKhristu. Ngokwesibonelo sonke kumele sizame ukuvikela ukholo lwethu, sibalekele ukuyengwa ngontanga njalo sikhethe kuhle abangane kanye lezokuzilibazisa. Lanxa izinto ezilungiselwa abasakhulayo zibhalwa ngendlela yokuthi zibakhange, sonke singathola izifundo ezingasinceda ngoba amacebo alapho athethwe ezimisweni eziseMibhalweni. Amabhuku abhalelwe abasakhulayo ayabasiza lokuthi baqinise ukholo lwabo njalo basondele kuJehova. Lokhu kutsho ukuthi lasebekhulile bangasizakala ngendlela efananayo nxa bengawabala.​—UmTshu. 12:13. w16.05 5:15, 16

“UJehova uNkulunkulu wethu nguJehova munye.” La ngamazwi alamandla sibili! Abaqinisa abako-Israyeli ukuthi benelise ukulwisana laloba yiziphi izinhlupho ababezahlangana lazo lapho bengena eLizweni Lesithembiso. Lathi singawagxilisa ezinhliziyweni zethu amazwi la azasinceda ukuthi silwisane laloba yibuphi ubunzima obungasivelela ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu. Azasisiza lokuthi sigcine ukumanyana kwethu nxa sesisePharadayisi. Ngakho kasiqhubekeni sizinikela kuJehova kuphela ngokumthanda langokumkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke. Kasibambeni ziqine ukuze sigcine ukumanyana okusebandleni lobuKhristu. Nxa singahlala sikwenza konke lokhu sizakubona ukugcwaliseka kwamazwi akhulunywa nguJesu mayelana lalabo abazakwahlulelwa njengezimvu. Wathi: “Wozani, lina ababusisiweyo nguBaba; thathani ilifa lenu, uMbuso owalungiselwa lina kulokhu kwadalwa umhlaba.”​—Mat. 25:34. w16.06 3:2, 20

Ukuzigqaja kungasenza sibone angathi esikwenzayo kuqondile besekusiba nzima ukuthi uJehova asibumbe. Wena sewake waphanjaniswa ngomunye umzalwane yini kumbe walahlekelwa ngumsebenzi othile obuwenza ebandleni? Wakwamukela njani lokho? Phela ukuzigqaja kungabangela ukuthi wehluleke ukuthethelela umfowenu loba kukwenze ukhalale ukukhonza uJehova. (Hubo. 119:165; Kol. 3:13) Okunye okungenza umuntu angasilaleli iseluleko esivela kuNkulunkulu yikuqhubeka esenza isono ngabomo. Nxa sekunjalo umuntu angenza loba yini ngoba kuyabe kungasathi thiki enhliziyweni yakhe. (UmTshu. 8:11) Omunye umzalwane owayeselomkhuba wokubukela amafilimu abantu abasemacansini wathi: “Ngasengikuthanda ukuchothoza abadala bebandla.” Umkhuba lo wawusuphambanise ubuhlobo bakhe loJehova. Ekucineni lokho ayekwenza kwavela egcekeni njalo abadala bamsiza. Kuliqiniso ukuthi sonke silesono. Ngakho nxa singawona akumelanga sicatshe ngomunwe ngoba lokho kungatshengisa ukuthi sesilobuqholo. Kumele sicele ukuthi uNkulunkulu asithethelele njalo asisize. w16.06 2:5, 6

Labo ababelalele uJesu babekhathazeka ngezinto okwakungamelanga bazihluphe ngazo. Yikho uJesu wabatshela ukuthi bangazihluphi, ngoba ukuzihlupha kakhulu kungenza umuntu aswele ukuthi abambe ngaphi, kumphambanise aze ehluleke lokuqakathekisa ukukhonza uJehova. UJesu wayebazwela abafundi bakhe okokuthi eNtshumayelweni yakhe yaseNtabeni wabaxwayisa kwaze kwaba kane ngengozi yokuzihlupha. (Mat. 6:27, 28, 31, 34) UJesu wayezazi izinto abantu abazidingayo nsuku zonke. Kanti njalo wayekwazi lalokho okwakuzakwehlela abafundi bakhe ababezaphila “ezinsukwini zokucina” ezazizakuba ‘nzima’ kakhulu. (2 Tim. 3:1) Lobobunzima babuzagoqela ukuswelakala kwemisebenzi, ukukhuphuka kwentengo yezinto, ukuswelakala kokudla kanye lobuyanga obabuzahlasela abantu abanengi. Kodwa uJesu wayenanzelela lokuthi impilo ‘iqakatheke ukwedlula ukudla, njalo lomzimba uqakatheke ukwedlula izigqoko.’ w16.07 1:8, 9

Aluba sonke besisenelisa ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu ngokupheleleyo, umusa wakhe omkhulu ubuzabe usifanele. Kodwa okudanisayo yikuthi siyehluleka ngoba silesono. Yikho iNkosi uSolomoni yabhala yathi: “Akulamuntu loyedwa olungileyo emhlabeni owenza okulungileyo ongazake enze isono.” (UmTshu. 7:20) Umphostoli uPhawuli laye wabhala wathi: “Bonke bonile njalo bayasilela enkazimulweni kaNkulunkulu.” Waphinda wathi: “Umvuzo wesono yikufa.” (Rom. 3:23; 6:23a) Lokhu yikho kanye okusifaneleyo. Kodwa uJehova wabatshengisa umusa omkhulu abantu abalesono ngokubanika isipho esimangalisayo okwakungamelanga basithole. Lokhu wakwenza ngokuthumela ‘iNdodana yakhe eyiyo yodwa’ ukuze izosifela. (Joh. 3:16) UPhawuli wabhala ngoJesu wathi khathesi ‘usebekwe umqhele wobukhosi lodumo, ngokuba wavuma ukufa ukuze kuthi ngomusa kaNkulunkulu ezwe ukufa ngenxa yabantu bonke.’ (Heb. 2:9) Siyabona-ke ukuthi “isipho sikaNkulunkulu siyikuphila okungapheliyo kuKhristu uJesu iNkosi yethu.”​—Rom. 6:23b. w16.07 3:3, 4

Kujayelekile ukuthi nxa ijaha selikhulile lithathe lokuthi nxa intombi ingakhula yende. Ukuhlola ukuthi umtshado waqalisa njani lokuthi kungani wabakhona kuzasinceda ukuthi siwuhloniphe futhi sikholise izibusiso ezitholakala kuwo. Ngemva kokuba uNkulunkulu esedale u-Adamu wamnika umsebenzi wokwetha izinyamazana amabizo. Kodwa “u-Adamu wayengelaye umsizi omfaneleyo.” Ngakho-ke uNkulunkulu wamlalisa ubuthongo bokufa, wasethatha ubambo lwakhe wenza owesifazana wasemletha kuye. (Gen. 2:20-24) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi umtshado uyisipho esivela kuJehova. UJesu laye wakuvuma ukuthi uJehova nguye owathi: “Indoda izatshiya uyise lonina ihlanganiswe lomkayo, kuthi laba ababili bazakuba yinyamanye.” (Mat. 19:4, 5) UNkulunkulu wasebenzisa ubambo luka-Adamu lapho edala owesifazana. Kungenzakala ukuthi lokhu kwenza indoda le lomkayo bananzelela ukuthi banyamanye. Ngaleso sizatho indoda akumelanga yehlukane lomkayo loba ukuthi omunye wabo athandane lomunye umuntu eceleni. w16.08 1:1, 2

UJesu wayejayele ukuxoxa labantu ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo waba lengxoxo enhle lowesifazane othile owayezokukha amanzi emthonjeni kaJakhobe owawuseduze ledolobho laseSikhari. (Joh. 4:5-30) Waphinda waxoxa loMathewu umLevi owayengumthelisi. UMathewu wavuma ukuba ngumlandeli kaJesu. Ngemva kwalokho wanxusa uJesu labanye abantu edilini elalisemzini wakhe. UJesu waxoxa labantu abanengi kulelodili. (Mat. 9:9; Luk. 5:27-39) Kwelinye ilanga uJesu wakhuluma ngomusa loNathaneli lanxa indoda le yayibakhangelela phansi abantu baseNazaretha. UNathaneli wantshintsha futhi wazimisela ukufunda okunengi kuJesu umNazaretha. (Joh. 1:46-51) Lokhu kwenza sikubone ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuqeqetsha abasanda kuba ngabamemezeli ukuthi benelise ukuxoxa labantu ngomusa langenhlonipho. Ukwenza njalo kuzabanceda ukuthi labo bayikholise inkonzo. w16.08 4:7-9

Izinhlupho ezingapheliyo emtshadweni zingabangela ukuthi abatshadileyo bacine bekhetha ukwehlukana okwesikhatshana loba ukuchitha umtshado. Ukwehlukana lomuntu otshade laye yindaba okungamelanga ithathwe lula. Abanye bangabona angani ukwehlukana okwesikhatshana yindlela yokulungisa izinhlupho abalazo, kodwa izikhathi ezinengi kubangela ezinye izinhlupho. Ngemva kokuphinda amazwi akhulunywa nguNkulunkulu mayelana lokuthi indoda izatshiya uyise lonina inamathele kumkayo, uJesu wathi: “Lokho uNkulunkulu asekuhlanganisile akungehlukaniswa muntu.” (Mat. 19:3-6; Gen. 2:24) Lokhu kutsho ukuthi akulamuntu otshadileyo okumele ehlukanise “lokho uNkulunkulu asekuhlanganisile.” UJehova ukhangelele ukuthi abatshadileyo bahlale bonke baze behlukaniswe yikufa kuphela. (1 Khor. 7:39) Ukwazi ukuthi sonke sizalandisa kuNkulunkulu kumele kusenze ukuthi sizame ngamandla wonke ukulungisisa masinyane zonke izingxabano, singaziyekeli zilavuka zisiba ngamalangabi angabhulekiyo. w16.08 2:10, 11

Kumele sihlale sivuse inkophe ngoba izitha zethu zingasihlasela silibele loba ngesikhathi sihlulukelwe ngenxa yezinkathazo. Amazwi athi “linganqotshwa ngokubi” atshengisa ukuthi singenelisa ukunqoba okubi. Kodwa okungasenza sinqobe yikuqhubeka silwisa ngamandla wonke. Phela kumele sikhumbule ukuthi silwa loSathane labantu bomhlaba lo kanye lesono esilaso. Yikho akumelanga sibeke izikhali phansi kumbe siyekethise ngoba kungaba lula ukuthi izitha lezi zisigenqule. (1 Phet. 5:9) Lanxa impi le inzima kasikhalali ngoba sifuna ukuhlala silobuhlobo obuhle loJehova lokuthola izibusiso ezivela kuye. UHebheru 11:6 uthi: ‘Ngoba oza kuye [uNkulunkulu] kumele akholwe ukuthi ukhona lokuthi uyabanika umvuzo labo abamdinga ngobuqotho.’ Ibala lesiGrikhi elihunyutshwe ngokuthi ‘abamdinga ngobuqotho’ lilomqondo wokubopha ziqine kanye lokulwisa kanzima.​—ImiSeb. 15:17. w16.09 2:4, 5

ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lisinika iziqondiso ezingasisiza ukuthi senze izinqumo ezinhle ezizadumisa uNkulunkulu. Phela izinto esizigqokayo zitshengisa ukuthi vele thina sithandani sibili. Impahla esizithandayo ziyatshiyana futhi leminwe yethu kayilingani. Lanxa kunjalo izigqoko zethu kumele zihlanzeke, zibe lesithunzi, zingakhubi abantu emphakathini futhi zifanele indawo esikuyo. Kulezinsuku kunzima kakhulu ukukhetha impahla ezilesithunzi. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi ezitolo ezinengi kuthengiswa izigqoko zakulezinsuku ezigijinyiswa ngabantu bomhlaba lo. Yikho kungadingakala ukuthi umuntu ake abhodabhode ukuze athole iziketi lezigqoko ezilesithunzi lamasudu loba amabhulugwe angabambiyo. Kodwa okuhle yikuthi abafowethu labodadewethu bazathokoza kakhulu nxa besibona sigqoka ngendlela enhle futhi ehloniphekayo. Kanti njalo ukwazi ukuthi indlela esigqoka ngayo idumisa uBaba wethu osezulwini kuzasenza sisuthiseke. w16.09 3:15, 16

Abantwana bayenelisa ukuyibamba imizekeliso ngoba izingqondo zabo zibukhali. Yikho bazali sebenzisani imizekeliso nxa libafundisa. Imizekeliso elula futhi ezwisisekayo inganceda abantwabakho babone ukuthi iBhayibhili limumethe iqiniso. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngamazwi asembhalweni walamuhla. Ungenzani ukuze umntanakho abone ukuthi umbhalo lo uphefumulelwe? Kulokuthi uphongumtshela ukuthi uJehova nguye owaphefumulela umbhalo lo, mncede acabange. Mtshele ukuthi kwakungaba nzima ukuthi abantu bakholwe ukuthi into enkulu njengomhlaba yayingaphongulenga emoyeni kungelalutho oluyijekileyo. Phela bona babesazi ukuthi into enjengebhola kumbe ilitshe kumele ihlale phezu kwento ethile ukuze ingawi. Mkhumbuze lokuthi uJobe waphila kudaladala kungakabi lemitshina yakulezinsuku esetshenziswa ukuhlola izinto ezisemkhathini. Ukwenza lokhu kuzamnceda abone ukuthi lanxa iBhayibhili labhalwa kudala, likhuluma iqiniso ngoba livela kuJehova.​—Neh. 9:6. w16.09 5:9, 12

Ukuba lokholo kayisikho kuzwisisa nje ukuthi iyini injongo kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa ukholo luyamfuqa umuntu ukuthi aphilele ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu lokuthi azimisele ukunceda abanye ukuthi bazwisise lokho uNkulunkulu akwenzileyo ukuze abasindise. Ukuba lokholo lokulugcina luqinile yikho okungasenza sithole umvuzo wokuphila phakade emhlabeni omutsha. Ukholo lungafaniswa lamaluba. Ukuze ahlale ephilile njalo ebukeka kumele athelelwe njalonje. Nxa angancitshwa amanzi ayabuna njalo afe. Lunjalo lokholo lwethu, nxa singayekela ukulunakekela luyafa. (Luk. 22:32; Heb. 3:12) Kodwa nxa singalunakekela ngazo zonke izikhathi luzahlala ‘lukhula’ futhi ‘luqinile.’​—2 Thes. 1:3; Tit. 2:2. w16.10 4:4, 5

Ngesikhathi uDanyeli labangane bakhe bethunjiwe, abaseBhabhiloni bazama ukubenza ukuthi balandele amasiko abo ngokubafundisa ‘ulimi lwaseBhabhiloni.’ Kanti njalo lenduna yezikhulu eyayinikwe umsebenzi wokubaqeqetsha yabetha amabizo aseBhabhiloni. (Dan. 1:3-7) UDanyeli waphiwa ibizo elalithethwe kunkulunkulu omkhulu wakuleyondawo owayethiwa nguBheli. Kungenzakala ukuthi iNkosi uNebhukhadinezari yayifuna uDanyeli akholwe ukuthi unkulunkulu waseBhabhiloni ulamandla amakhulu ukwedlula uJehova uNkulunkulu. (Dan. 4:8) Langesikhathi uDanyeli enikwa ithuba lokudla izibiliboco zasesikhosini, “wazimisela” enhliziyweni yakhe ukuthi “angazingcolisi” ngalokho kudla. (Dan. 1:8) Okwamenza wahlala elokholo oluqinileyo lanxa ekwelinye ilizwe yikuthi wayeyifunda kokuphela imibhalo engcwele ngolimi lwakhe lomdabuko. (Dan. 9:2) Yikho langemva kweminyaka engu-70 eseBhabhiloni wayelokhu esaziwa ngebizo lakhe lesiHebheru.​—Dan. 5:13. w16.10 2:7, 8

UJesu ubeke ‘inceku ethembekileyo’ ukuthi kube yiyo indlela esithola ngayo ukudla okusiqinisayo ekukhonzeni. (Mat. 24:45-47) Kusukela ngo-1919 uJesu Khristu ubelokhu eyisebenzisa inceku le ukuthi incedise abantu ukuzwisisa iBhayibhili lokuthi balalele iziqondiso ezivela kuyo. Ukulalela kwethu izimiso eziseBhayibhilini kuzakwenza ibandla lihlale lihlanzekile, lilokuthula njalo limanyene. Yikho ngamunye wethu kumele azibuze umbuzo lo: ‘Ngiyayilalela yini inceku esetshenziswa nguJesu ukuthi isiqondise lamuhla?’ ILizwi likaNkulunkulu liyasinceda sizwisise okwenzakala engxenyeni yasezulwini yenhlanganiso yakhe. Ngokwesibonelo umphrofethi uHezekheli wabona embonweni inqola kaJehova ihamba ngesiqubu esikhulu. (Hez. 1:4-28) Inqola le imela ingxenye yasezulwini yenhlanganiso kaJehova. Njengoba sekuseduze ukuthi uKhristu kanye lezingilosi ezithembekileyo basuse bonke ububi obusemhlabeni, inqola kaJehova ilokhu isiyaphambili ilungela ukuphakamisa ubukhosi bakhe lokungcwelisa ibizo lakhe. w16.11 3:9, 10

Lathi njengabalandeli bakaJesu bakuqala siyahlangana ukuze sifundiswe futhi sikhuthazane. (1 Khor. 14:31) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu asebelesikhathi eside bekhonza labo bayakudinga ukukhuthazwa. Ngokwesibonelo uJoshuwa wayeseleminyaka eminengi ekhonza uNkulunkulu. Lanxa kunjalo uJehova watshela uMosi wathi: “Beka uJoshuwa esikhundleni, umkhuthaze njalo umqinise, ngoba uzakhokhela lababantu abachaphise njalo uzakwenza balithathe lelolizwe ozalibona libe yilifa labo.” (Dute. 3:27, 28) UJoshuwa wayesezathwala umsebenzi omkhulu wokukhokhela ama-Israyeli awangenise eLizweni Lesithembiso. Yikho wayekudinga ukukhuthazwa ngoba wayezakulwa izimpi ezinengi futhi wayezahlangana lobunzima kwezinye izikhathi. (Josh. 7:1-9) Lathi kumele sikhuthaze abadala, ababonisi beziqinti ngenxa yokuthi basebenza nzima benakekela umhlambi kaNkulunkulu.​—1 Thes. 5:12, 13. w16.11 1:12, 13

ABafundi beBhayibhili bakubona ukuthi kwakungenelanga ukuphongutshela izihlobo, abangane kanye labanye ababesonta labo ukuthi bona sebetshiya inkolo yamanga. Basebezimisele ukwenza kube segcekeni kubo bonke abantu emhlabeni ukuthi iBhabhiloni Enkulu iyisifebe. Ngokwesibonelo kusukela ngoDecember 1917 kusiya ekuqaliseni kuka-1918 aBafundi beBhayibhili bahambisa amaphetshana angu-10 miliyoni ayelesihloko esithi: “The Fall of Babylon.” Umlayezo owawusemaphetshaneni la waveza lokho inkolo eyayiyikho futhi lokhu kwenza abakhokheli bezinkolo bazonda babila. Kodwa lokhu akuzange kubabuyisele emuva aBafundi beBhayibhili, baqhubekela phambili ngomsebenzi lo oqakathekileyo. Babezimisele ‘ukulalela uNkulunkulu kulokulalela abantu.’ (ImiSeb. 5:29) Manje lokhu kusitshengisani? Kusitshengisa ukuthi abafowethu labodadewethu abazange bathunjwe yiBhabhiloni Enkulu ngesikhathi seMpi Yomhlaba Yokuqala kodwa babelokhu bephuma eBhabhiloni Enkulu futhi babencedisa labanye ukuthi benze njalo. w16.11 5:2, 4

Abanye bacabanga ukuthi lapha uPhawuli wayekhuluma ngabantu abangakabi ngamaKhristu lalabo abasebengamaKhristu. Kodwa wayebhalela “bonke abaseRoma abathandwa nguNkulunkulu njalo ababizelwe ukuba ngabangcwele.” (Rom. 1:7) Yikho uPhawuli wayeqathanisa amaKhristu ayephila ngokwemvelo yesono lalawo ayephila ngokumayelana lomoya. UPhawuli wathi: ‘Sisabuswa yimvelo elesono izinkanuko zesono zazisebenza emizimbeni yethu.’ (Rom. 7:5) Ngakho lapho ekhuluma ngalabo ‘abagxilise izingqondo kulokho abakufisayo,’ uPhawuli wayesitsho labo abaqakathekisa izifiso kanye lezinkanuko zabo ezimbi kungaba sezindabeni zemacansini loba kwezinye nje izinto. w16.12 2:5, 7

Okunye ukukhathazeka kungabangelwa yizinto esingabe saziphambanisa kudala. Kwezinye izikhathi iNkosi uDavida layo yayikhulelwa yikukhathazeka ngenxa yamaphutha ayo, yaze yathi: “Ukona kwami sekungisinda.” Yaphinda yathi: “Ngiyabubula ngobuhlungu benhliziyo.” (Hubo. 38:3, 4, 8, 18) Kuyini okwakumele uDavida akwenze esimeni esinjalo? Watshengisa ukuhlakanipha, wathembela kuJehova ukuthi uzakuba lesihawu kuye futhi amthethelele. (Hubo. 32:2, 3, 5) Kwezinye izikhathi singakhathazeka ngezinto eziyabe zisenzakala ekuphileni kwethu. Ngokwesibonelo uDavida wabhala iHubo 55 ngesikhathi ezingelwa yizitha zakhe ubusuku lemini. (Hubo. 55:2-5) Lanxa kunjalo uDavida kazange avumele okwakusenzakala ngalesosikhathi kumkhathaze kakhulu aze ehluleke ukuthembela kuJehova. Wathandaza kokuphela kuJehova embikela izinhlupho zakhe njalo kazange akhohlwe ukuthi laye kwakumele enze okuthile ukuze alwisane lobunzima ayephakathi kwabo. (2 Sam. 15:30-34) Lawe yenza njengoDavida. Kulokuthi uvumele ukukhathazeka kukuthwalise amagabha avuzayo, thandaza kuJehova njalo udinge lezindlela ongalwisana ngazo lohlupho okulo. w16.12 3:14, 15

UDavida wavuma ukuthi uJehova amsize abuyele endleleni eyiyo. Wakutshengisa lokhu ngokwamukela iseluleko asiphiwa nguNathani umphrofethi kaJehova. Okunye akwenzayo yikuthandaza kuJehova evuma izono zakhe njalo etshengisa lokuthi uyafuna sibili ukuthi amthethelele. (Hubo. 51:1-17) Kazange avumele isono sakhe simenze abhazalale kodwa wafunda isifundo futhi kasiphindanga lesosono. UDavida wafa ethembekile njalo uJehova ulokhu ebukhumbula ubuqotho bakhe. (Heb. 11:32-34) Sifundani endabeni kaDavida? Sifunda ukuthi nxa singenza isono kumele siphenduke njalo sicele uJehova asithethelele. Kufanele sivume izono zethu kuye. (1 Joh. 1:9) Kanti njalo kumele siye lasebadaleni ngoba yibo abangasinceda ukuthi silungisise ubuhlobo bethu loJehova. (Jak. 5:14-16) Nxa singenza njalo kuzakhanya ukuthi sifuna uJehova asithethelele futhi asiduduze ebuhlungwini esiyabe sibuzwa. Ngakho kumele sifunde emaphutheni ethu, siqhubeke sikhonza uJehova njalo sihlale silethemba eliqinileyo ngekusasa.​—Heb. 12:12, 13.w17.01 1:13, 14

Ngezinjani ‘izenzo zokuziphakamisa’? Yikwenza into ethile ngamawala wena ungelamvumo loba ilungelo lokuyenza mhlawumbe ngenxa yokuzigqaja kumbe ukuswela isineke. Kwezinye izikhathi siyake senze izinto esingelamvumo yokuzenza ngenxa yokuthi silesono. Kodwa isibonelo sikaSawuli sitshengisa ukuthi kuyingozi ukwenza njalo ngoba kungaphambanisa ubuhlobo bakho loNkulunkulu. IHubo 119:21 lithi uJehova “uyabakhuza abaklolodayo [loba “abaziphakamisayo,” NW].” Ngenxa yani? Ukuziphakamisa kubi kakhulu. Okokuqala kutshengisa ukuthi awumhloniphi uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu onguMbusi wendawo yonke. Okwesibili kungadala ingxabano phakathi kwakho labanye. (Zaga. 13:10) Ikanti okwesithathu kungakwenza uyangeke ikakhulu nxa abanye bangabona ukuthi wenze amawala. (Luk. 14:8, 9) Izikhathi ezinengi ukuziphakamisa kuba yingozi. Yikho kuqakathekile ukuzithoba ngoba kwenza senze izinto ngendlela eyiyo. w17.01 3:4, 5

Kwathi u-Adamu eselesono, wayengeke enelise ukulingisela uNkulunkulu ngokupheleleyo. Kazange alahlekelwe yikusasa elihle kuphela kodwa watshiyela bonke abantu isono lokufa. (Rom. 5:12) Ukona kwakhe kwabangela ukuthi balahlekelwe lithuba elihle lokuphila phakade. U-Adamu lo-Eva bazala abantwana abalesono njalo lezizukulwane zabo zonke zizala abantwana abalesono. Lalamuhla uSathane ulokhu edukisa abanengi. (Joh. 8:44) Lanxa u-Adamu lo-Eva bahlamuka, uNkulunkulu kazange ahle abalahlele iganga abantu. Ulokhu efuna ukuthi babe ngabangane bakhe njalo kafisi ukuthi loba ngubani abhujiswe. (2 Phet. 3:9) Yikho ngemva kokuhlamuka lokhu uNkulunkulu wahle wavula indlela eyayizasiza abantu ukuthi baphinde babe ngabangane bakhe futhi lokhu wakwenza engazange ephule izimiso zakhe.​—Joh. 3:16. w17.02 1:12-14

Okungasinceda ukuthi sizithobe yikukhangela okuhle okwenziwa ngabanye hatshi amaphutha abo. Kasifuni ukuthi sihlale sitshela abanye okokwenza kumbe sizibone singcono kulabo kodwa kufanele samukele imibono yabo kanye lezeluleko zabo. Kuzasithokozisa ukubona abanye bephiwa imisebenzi ethile ebandleni futhi sizadumisa uJehova nxa sibona indlela abusisa ngayo ‘abazalwane bethu emhlabeni wonke.’ (1 Phet. 5:9) Izimiso eziseBhayibhilini ziyasinceda sibone indlela uJehova acabanga ngayo ezindabeni ezitshiyeneyo. Manje singenzani ukuze izimiso lezi zisincede? Kufanele sithandaze, sifunde iBhayibhili nsuku zonke futhi sisebenzise esikufundayo. Lokhu kuzasinceda sibe lomzwangedwa omuhle. (1 Tim. 1:5) Kanti njalo lokhu kuzakwenza sibahloniphe abanye. Singenza njalo uJehova uzasiphathisa ukuze senelise ukuhlala sizithoba futhi sibe lobuntu obuhle.​—1 Phet. 5:10. w17.01 4:17, 18

Kumele sihloniphe esikhonza labo njalo sibanike udumo ikakhulu labo abakhokhelayo ebandleni. Siyabahlonipha abazalwane laba kungelani lokuthi bavela kuliphi ilizwe, ukuthi bafundile yini loba ukuthi balemali enganani. UNkulunkulu usebenzisa bona ukuze anakekele ibandla njalo iBhayibhili lithi ‘bayizipho ebantwini.’ (Efe. 4:8) Abanye babo ngabadala emabandleni, ababonisi beziqinti, amalunga eKhomithi Yegatsha ikanti abanye ngamalunga eQula Elibusayo. Abafowethu labodadewethu abaphila ngesikhathi sabaphostoli babewahlonipha kakhulu amadoda ayekhokhela ebandleni futhi lathi yikho esikwenzayo. Kodwa akufanelanga senze angathi sesibakhonza abazalwane laba abakhokhelayo kumbe sibaphathe njengezingilosi. Loba kunjalo kumele sibanike udumo lenhlonipho ngenxa yomsebenzi onzima abawenzayo kanye lokuthobeka kwabo.​—2 Khor. 1:24; Isam. 19:10. w17.03 1:13

UJesu wayetshiyene kakhulu loHerodi Agripha Wokuqala, owaba yinkosi yeJudiya. Ngelinye ilanga yenza umbuthano omkhulu ‘yagqoka ezobukhosi.’ Abantu bathi beyibona futhi beyizwa ikhuluma bamemeza bathi: “Leli lilizwi likankulunkulu, hatshi elomuntu.” Kumele ukuthi uHerodi wakhukhumala esizwa abantu bemncoma njalo kazange anike uNkulunkulu udumo. Kodwa masinyane “ingilosi yeNkosi yamtshaya yamlahla phansi wadliwa zimpethu wafa.” (ImiSeb. 12:21-23) Kakho ongathi uHerodi wayekhethwe nguJehova ukuthi akhokhele abantu bakhe. UJesu wayetshiyene loHerodi futhi wayekunanzelela ukuthi uJehova nguye uMkhokheli omkhulu njalo wayemnika udumo sonke isikhathi. Kwakhanya ukuthi wayekhethwe nguNkulunkulu sibili. UJehova uhlose ukuthi iNdodana yakhe ikhokhele okwesikhathi eside hatshi okweminyaka emilutshwana nje. Ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe, uJesu watshela abafundi bakhe wathi: “Wonke amandla ezulwini lasemhlabeni aphiwe mina. . . . Ngempela ngilani kokuphela, kuze kube sekucineni kwesikhathi.”​—Mat. 28:18-20. w17.02 3:20, 21