June

UJefitha wayelendodakazi eyodwa qekele. Yiyo yodwa ayezathola ngayo isizukulwane esasizakhulisa ibizo lakhe njalo sigcine lelifa lakhe. (Abahlu. 11:34) Kodwa kuBahluleli 11:35 uJefitha waphetha ngokutsho amazwi la: “Ngifunge isifungo kuJehova engingeke ngisephule.” Ukuthembeka kwakhe lanxa wayezalahlekelwa kwenza uNkulunkulu wathokoza njalo wambusisa. Wena wawuzakwenza njengaye yini? Ngesikhathi sizinikela kuJehova samthembisa ukuthi sizakwenza intando yakhe loba sekutheni. Sasikwazi ukuthi ukwenza isithembiso lesi kwakusitsho ukuthi kasisoze senze lokho okufunwa yithi. Kodwa-ke kakulula lokhu ikakhulu nxa sesicelwe ukuthi senze into esingayithandiyo. Lanxa kunjalo, siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi sithembekile nxa singazinikela ukwenza lokho esiyabe sikuceliwe loba kunzima. Izibusiso esizazithola zinengi ukwedlula ubunzima esingabe sihlangane labo.​—Mal. 3:10. w16.04 1:11, 14, 15

UJesu ukhokhela ibandla lobuKhristu esebenzisa umoya ongcwele. Lathi siyawudinga umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu ukuze usinike amandla okunqoba izilingo njalo usenze sibe lesibindi. Uyasinceda lokuthi sibe zingcitshi ekutshumayeleni futhi senelise ukwenza kuhle izinqumo. Ngakho-ke kasizimiseleni ukuba khona zikhathi zonke emihlanganweni ukuze siqondiswe ngumoya ongcwele. Emihlanganweni yethu eminengi sijayele ukuxoxa ngokugcwaliseka kweziphrofetho zeBhayibhili. Lokhu kwenza singathandabuzi ukuthi konke uJehova athembisa ukusenzela khona ngesikhathi esizayo kuzagcwaliseka loba sekutheni. Okunye njalo okusikhuthazayo zinkulumo ezenziwayo lezimpendulo zabafowethu kanye lokuhlabela kwabo ngamaphimbo amnandi. (1 Khor. 14:26) Kanti njalo ukuxoxa labafowethu labodadewethu imihlangano ingakaqalisi lalapho isiphelile kwenza sikhululeke njalo sithokoze kakhulu.​—1 Khor. 16:17, 18. w16.04 3:6, 7

UJesu wathi umsebenzi wokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle uzakwenziwa “kuwo wonke umhlaba.” (Mat. 24:14) Abafundi kufanele benziwe “ezizweni zonke.” Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi izindaba ezinhle kumele zitshunyayelwe kuyo yonke indawo. OFakazi bakaJehova bebelokhu besebenza gadalala ukuze batshumayele izindaba ezinhle emhlabeni wonke njengoba uJesu watsho. Ake sibone ukuthi kungani sisitsho njalo. E-United States kulabafundisi bamasonto atshiyeneyo abangaba yi-600 000. Kodwa elizweni lelo kulaboFakazi bakaJehova abangaba yi-1.2 miliyoni. Emhlabeni wonke kulabaphristi beRoma abedlula 400 000. OFakazi abatshumayela ngoMbuso bona bangaki? KulaboFakazi abedlula 8 miliyoni emhlabeni jikelele njalo batshumayeza abantu emazweni angu-240 kungela mbadalo. Umsebenzi lo muhle kakhulu futhi wenza ukuthi uJehova adunyiswe.​—Hubo. 34:1; 51:15. w16.05 2:13, 14

Umhlaba lo ugcwele abantu abangokhanda limtshela okwakhe, bayazikhukhumeza, bazifunela okwabo njalo bayancintisana. Loba ngubani ongathatheka aqalise ukwenza loba yini ayifunayo engelandaba lokuthi akwenzayo kubaphatha njani abanye uyabe eselandela lokho okwatshiwo nguSathane. (Gen. 3:1-5) Lokhu yikho okubangela ukungezwani. Kodwa uJesu wafundisa abantu ukuthi bazame ukulungisa izingxabano lanxa kungaba kunzima ukwenza njalo. Entshumayelweni yakhe yaseNtabeni wanika abantu isixwayiso esihle esingabasiza nxa sebethe baxabana. Ngokwesibonelo, wakhuthaza abalandeli bakhe ukuthi bathobeke, bathande ukuthula, baxekelane lolaka, balungisise izindaba masinyane njalo bathande izitha zabo.​—Mat. 5:5, 9, 22, 25, 44. w16.05 1:4, 5

Abanengi bethu santshintsha indlela esasiphila ngayo kudala singakabhabhathizwa ukuze ihambelane lalokho okutshiwo liBhayibhili. Kodwa lakhathesi singabe sikunanzelela ukuthi kumele siqhubeke sizama ukutshiya okuyimikhutshana okungalunganga ukuze senelise ukulingisela uNkulunkulu loKhristu. (Efe. 5:1, 2; 1 Phet. 2:21) Ngokwesibonelo singabe sinanzelela ukuthi sithanda ukuhlala sisola abanye, ukunyeya leminye nje imikhutshana emibi kumbe ukwesaba abantu. Kungenzakala ukuthi sesileminyaka sizama ukuntshintsha kodwa kusehlula. Akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi silokhu silesono. (Kol. 3:9, 10) Ngakho akufanelanga sizitshele ukuthi ngeke sisawenza amaphutha njengoba sesabhabhathizwa kumbe sesileminyaka eminengi sikhonza uJehova. Iqiniso elikhona yikuthi loba nini singafikelwa yizifiso lemicabango emibi loba sibuyele ebuntwini bethu obudala esasilabo. Phela kungathatha iminyaka ukuthi eminye imikhutshana iphele.​—Jak. 3:2. w16.05 4:3-5

Mhlawumbe sewake wezwa omunye umuntu esithi, ‘Ngesikhathi abazali bami bengikhuza ngisakhula ngangingelandaba lalokho ababengitshela khona, ngaze ngakubona sengilabami abantwana ukuthi ababekutsho kwakuqakathekile.’ Nxa siqhubeka sikhula sicina sesikuzwisisa ukuthi nxa umuntu enikwa iseluleko kayisikho ukuthi uyabe ezondwa kodwa kutshengisa ukuthi uyathandwa. (Heb. 12:5, 11) Yikho uJehova eqhubeka esibumba ngoba uyasithanda. Akufunayo yikuthi sihlakaniphe, sihlale sithokoza njalo simthande. (Zaga. 23:15) Kajabuli nxa esibona sihlupheka njalo kafuni sife ‘siyizinto zolaka,’ ilifa esalitshiyelwa ngukhokho wethu u-Adamu. (Efe. 2:2, 3) Kungenzakala ukuthi singakalazi iqiniso “sasiyizinto zolaka,” silobuntu obungamthokozisiyo uJehova. Kodwa siyambonga uJehova ngoba wasibumba santshintsha ubuntu bethu saba njengezimvu.​—Isaya. 11:6-8; Kol. 3:9, 10. w16.06 1:7, 8

Abantwana abanengi bathobekile njalo balesifiso sokufunda. (Mat. 18:1-3) Ngakho abazali abahlakaniphileyo bayazama ukwenza ukuthi abantwababo balithande iqiniso lokuthi lijule ezingqondweni lasezinhliziyweni zabo. (2 Tim. 3:14, 15) Kodwa ukuze baphumelele ukwenza lokhu kumele bona ngokwabo bagxilise iqiniso ezinhliziyweni zabo futhi balisebenzise ekuphileni kwabo. Nxa abazali besenza lokhu abantwababo bazalamukela iqiniso futhi balithande. Kanti njalo bazabona lokuthi iseluleko abasithola ebazalini babo sitshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyabathanda. Nxa singazithoba kuJehova kukho konke esikwenzayo empilweni, uzasiqakathekisa njengalokho akwenza kuDanyeli. (Dan. 10:11, 19) Okuhle yikuthi uJehova uzaqhubeka esibumba esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe, umoya wakhe ongcwele lenhlanganiso yakhe. w16.06 2:14, 17

UJehova wayemthanda uDavida, iBhayibhili lize lithi ‘wayemthanda ngenhliziyo yakhe’ yonke. (1 Sam. 13:13, 14) Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uDavida wafeba loBhathisheba futhi umama lo wathatha isisu. Lokhu kwenzakala ngesikhathi u-Uriya umkaBhathisheba esempini. Ngakho uDavida wenza iqhinga lokuthi u-Uriya abuye ekhaya esenzela ukumhuga ukuthi alale lomkakhe ukuze kukhanye angathi isisu ngesika-Uriya. Kodwa u-Uriya kazange akuvume lokho ayekucetshiswa yinkosi ngakho uDavida wenza icebo lokuthi abulawe empini. Icala lakhe leli labangela ukuthi yena lendlu yakhe behlelwe yincithakalo. (2 Sam. 12:9-12) Lanxa kunjalo uNkulunkulu wamtshengisa umusa ngoba waqhubeka ehamba “ngobuqotho benhliziyo” okwempilo yakhe yonke. (1 AmaKho. 9:4) Wawuzakwenzani aluba wawukhona ngesikhathi sikaDavida? Wawungavumela ukuthi isono sikaDavida sikuwise yini? w16.06 4:7

Siyasilalela isixwayiso sikaJesu ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi sesifike emaphethelweni ‘esikhathi sokucina’ lokuthi sekuseduze ukuthi ‘ukuhlupheka okukhulu’ kufike. (Dan. 12:4; Mat. 24:21) Emhlabeni kugcwele izimpi, ukungaziphathi, ukungabi lamthetho, inkohliso emasontweni, ukuswelakala kokudla, imikhuhlane kanye lokuzamazama komhlaba ezindaweni ngezindawo. Kanti njalo abantu bakaJehova benza umsebenzi omkhulu wokutshumayela ngoMbuso emhlabeni jikelele. (Mat. 24:7, 11, 12, 14; Luk. 21:11) Sikulindele ukubona ukuthi ukufika kweNdodana yomuntu kuzasenzelani lokuthi kuzayigcwalisa njani injongo kaNkulunkulu. (Mak. 13:26, 27) Kodwa ngeke sitsho ukuthi ukuhlupheka okukhulu kuzabuya ngawuphi umnyaka, mhlaka bani kumbe sikhathi bani. w16.07 2:2-4

UJehova usinike isibusiso sokusondela esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi ngomthandazo ngenxa yomusa wakhe omkhulu. Usivumele ukuthi sithandaze kuye sisebenzisa ibizo leNdodana yakhe ngoba ngayo ‘singasondela kuNkulunkulu ngokukhululeka langesibindi.’ (Efe. 3:12) Khona nje ukuthi silenkululeko yokukhuluma loJehova kutshengisa ukuthi ulomusa omkhulu kakhulu kithi. UPhawuli wasikhuthaza ukuthi sikhululeke ukuthandaza kuJehova “ukuze samukele isihawu njalo sithole umusa wokusisiza ezikhathini zokuswela kwethu.” (Heb. 4:16b) Loba nini esehlelwa khona yizilingo kumbe izinhlupho ezingasidlisa luklubhu singakhuleka kuJehova simcele ukuthi asisize. UJehova uyasiphendula lanxa umusa onjalo ungasifanelanga njalo izikhathi ezinengi usebenzisa esikhonza labo. Lokhu kwenza senelise ‘ukutsho ngethemba sithi, “INkosi ingumsizi wami; kangiyikwesaba. Umuntu angenzani kimi na?”’​—Heb. 13:6. w16.07 3:12, 13

UNowa lamadodana akhe abazange bathathe isithembu. Kodwa ngemva kukaZamcolo abantu baqalisa ukuthatha abafazi abanengi. Ezindaweni ezinengi ukuziphatha kubi emacansini kwasekwandile njalo abantu basebekwenza kube yingxenye yemikhuba yabo yokukhonza. UNkulunkulu watshela u-Abhrahama loSara ukuthi basuke elizweni lakibo baye eKhenani. Elizweni ababesiya kulo kwakugcwele abantu ababeziphatha kubi futhi bengawuhloniphi umtshado. Yikho uJehova wabhubhisa iSodoma leGomora ngoba abantu ababehlala kulawomadolobho babeyizifebe futhi besenza imikhuba eyenyanyekayo yokuziphatha kubi. U-Abhrahama wayikhokhela kuhle imuli yakhe lanxa wayehlala phakathi kwezigilamkhuba lezi. Lomkakhe uSara waba yisibonelo esihle ngoba wayezithoba kumyeni wakhe. (1 Phet. 3:3-5) U-Abhrahama waba leqiniso lokuthi udingela u-Isaka intombi ebantwini abakhonza uJehova. Kanti njalo u-Isaka laye wenza okufananayo kuJakhobe. w16.08 1:10

Isiphrofetho lesi siyagcwaliseka kulezi zinsuku zokucina esikuzo. Ngomnyaka wenkonzo ka-2015, abamemezeli boMbuso abangu-8 220 105 basebenza gadalala emsebenzini wokutshumayela owenziwa emhlabeni wonke. Ekucineni kwesiphrofetho lesi uBaba wethu osezulwini uthi: “Mina nginguJehova; ngesikhathi esifaneleyo lokhu ngizakwenza ngokuphangisa.” Asikuthandabuzi ukuthi amazwi la aliqiniso ngoba siyabona ukuthi umsebenzi wokutshumayela usuhamba ngesiqubu esikhulu. Wena uyasekela yini emsebenzini lo? Usebenza gadalala yini emsebenzini wokutshumayela ngoMbuso? Abafowethu labodadewethu abanengi balokhu besiba ngamaphayona esikhathi sonke loba asizayo. Kanti njalo kuyasithokozisa ukubona abanengi besuka kibo besiyatshumayela kwezinye izindawo kumbe besiyancedisa emisebenzini etshiyeneyo eqhutshwa yinhlanganiso yethu. Okuqakathekileyo yikuthi sonke ‘sizinikele kokuphela emsebenzini weNkosi’ kungelani lokuthi singabazalwane kumbe odade.​—1 Khor. 15:58. w16.08 3:1, 2

Kwathi abako-Israyeli besanda kuphuma eGibhithe bahlaselwa ngama-Amaleki. UMosi wathuma uJoshuwa ukuthi aqoqe amabutho ayeqondana laso isitha. UMosi yena wathatha u-Aroni loHuri bakhwela phezu koqaqa olwalubucwadlana lalapho okwakutshisa khona impi. UMosi wabumba icebo elithile futhi yilo elabenza banqoba empini le. Waphakamisa izandla zakhe ethwele intonga kaNkulunkulu weqiniso. Kwakusithi nxa izandla zikaMosi ziphezulu, uJehova wayeqinisa abako-Israyeli futhi babewathaphuza ama-Amaleki. Kodwa kwakusithi nxa izandla zakhe zingadinwa zibe buthakathaka, ama-Amaleki ayebakhulela. Kwathi u-Aroni loHuri bekubona lokhu, “bathatha ilitshe balifaka ngaphansi kwakhe wasehlala phezu kwalo. U-Aroni loHuri baphakamisa izandla zakhe​—omunye ekuleli icele omunye kwelinye​—ukuze izandla zakhe zale ziphakeme lize litshone ilanga.” Abako-Israyeli banqoba empini le ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu wabasekela ngesandla sakhe esilamandla.​—Eks. 17:8-13. w16.09 1:5-7

UPhawuli wayekwazi mhlophe ukuthi nxa angathembela kuJehova njalo abe lokholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu wenhlawulo wayezanqoba empini ayephakathi kwayo. Thina ke? Singenzani ukuze sinqobe imikhuba emibi esingabe silayo? Okungasinceda yikwenza njengoPhawuli, sithembele kuJehova hatshi emandleni ethu njalo sibe lokholo emhlatshelweni wenhlawulo. Ukuthi simethemba kangakanani uJehova kwandise ukukhanya ikakhulu nxa sesiphakathi kobunzima obukhulu. Ngokwesibonelo nxa singahlaselwa ngumkhuhlane onzima, sigulelwe ngothile emulini loba sehlelwe ngobunye nje ubunzima, sizakwenzani? Okumele sikwenze yikuthembela kuJehova ngokuthandaza kokuphela sicele ukuthi asiphe amandla okuqhubeka silokholo oluqinileyo, sihlale sithokoza njalo singayekethisi ekukhonzeni. (Flp. 4:13) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu abanengi sebakubona ukuthi umthandazo uyamvuselela umuntu, umnike amandla okubekezela. w16.09 2:14, 15

Ngesikhathi sabaphostoli kwaba lendaba ethile engabe yenza abanye bacabanga ukuthi bayabandlululwa. AmaJuda ayekhuluma isiGrikhi ayekhonona esithi abafelokazi bawo babengasananzwa. Ukuze indaba le ilungiswe, abaphostoli bakhetha amadoda ayisikhombisa ukuthi abe leqiniso lokuthi wonke umuntu uphathwa kuhle. Wonke amadoda la ayelamabizo esiGrikhi. Kungenzakala ukuthi abaphostoli benza lokhu ukuze abafelokazi labo babone ukuthi kababandlululwa ebandleni. (ImiSeb. 6:2-6) Amasiko ethu ayayintshintsha indlela esiphatha ngayo abanye kungelani lokuthi siyakunanzelela lokhu loba hatshi. (Rom. 12:2) Kungenzakala ukuthi siyake sizwe omakhelwana bethu, abantu esisebenza labo kumbe esifunda labo beseyisa abantu abavela kwezinye indawo, abomunye umhlobo loba abalombala othile. Lokhu kwenza sintshintshe yini indlela esiphatha ngayo abanye? Sandise ukwenzani nxa othile ekhuluma kubi ngelizwe lakithi loba eseyisa okuthile esikwenzayo esikweni lethu? w16.10 1:7, 8

‘Ukuzwisisa’ kutsho ukubona ubufakazi obungale kwalokho okukhanya kusegcekeni. (Heb. 11:3) Yikho abantu abazwisisayo kabapheleli ekuboneni lasekuzweni kodwa bayayihlolisisa indaba ukuze bathole iqiniso. Inhlanganiso kaJehova isinike okunengi kakhulu okungasiphathisa endabeni le. Izinto lezi zimumethe ulwazi olusinceda ukuthi singathandabuzi ukuthi uMdali wethu ukhona sibili lanxa singamboni ngamehlo. (Heb. 11:27) Zigoqela ividiyo ethi The Wonders of Creation Reveal God’s Glory, ibhukwana elithi Ingabe Izinto Eziphilayo Zadalwa? lelithi The Origin of Life​—Five Questions Worth Asking, kanye lebhuku elithi Is There a Creator Who Cares About You? I-Vukani! yandise ukuba lezingxoxo eziyabe zenziwe labezesayensi kanye labanye abantu abayabe bechaza ukuthi kungani sebekholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona. Kanti njalo esihlokweni esithi “Kwazenzakalela Yini?” kujayele ukuba lezibonelo ezitshengisa ubuciko obukhona ezintweni ezidaliweyo. Abezesayensi labo bayazama ukulingisela indlela lezozinto ezidalwe ngayo nxa besenza izinto ezithile. w16.09 4:4, 5

Abantu ababethembekile okukhulunywa ngabo kuHebheru isahluko 11, bafa ‘inzalo’ enguJesu Khristu ingakavuli indlela yokuthola ithuba lokuyaphila ezulwini. (Gal. 3:16) Loba kunjalo, bazavuswa baphile phakade emhlabeni olipharadayisi. (Hubo. 37:11; Isaya. 26:19; Hos. 13:14) UHebheru 11:13 uthi: “Abantu bonke laba bafa belokhu bephila ngokukholwa. Kabazamukelanga izinto ezathenjiswayo; bazibona nje kuphela bazithakazelela kude.” Omunye wabo kwakungu-Abhrahama. Wahlala elikhumbula yini ithemba elimangalisayo lokuphila phakade emhlabeni sekubusa ‘inzalo’ eyayithenjisiwe? Impendulo yombuzo lo siyithola kulokho okwatshiwo nguJesu kulabo ababemphikisa. Wathi kubo: “Uyihlo u-Abhrahama wathakazelela umnakano wokulubona usuku lwami; walubona wathokoza.” (Joh. 8:56) USara, u-Isaka, uJakhobe kanye labanye labo bahlala belilindele idolobho elilezisekelo, “elimcandi walo lomakhi walo nguNkulunkulu.”​—Heb 11:8-11. w16.10 3:4, 5

Siyambonga kakhulu uJehova ngokuthi wasikhanyisela iqiniso esebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele futhi wasenza saba lokholo ezindabeni ezinhle. (Luk. 10:21) Kanti njalo kumele simbonge nsuku zonke ngenxa yokuthi wasisondeza kuye esebenzisa iNdodana yakhe, ‘enguMqalisi loMphelelisi wokukholwa kwethu.’ (Heb. 12:2) Ukuze sitshengise ukuthi siyambonga ngomusa wakhe omkhulu kangaka, kumele siqhubeke siqinisa ukholo lwethu ngokuthandaza langokubala iLizwi lakhe. (1 Phet. 2:2) Kufanele siqhubeke sitshengisa ukuthi siyazikholwa izithembiso zikaJehova. Singakwenza lokhu ngezindlela ezikhanyayo kwabanye. Ngokwesibonelo singakwenza ngokukhuthala emsebenzini wokutshumayela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu lokwenza abafundi. Singakwenza langokuhlala ‘sisenza okulungileyo ebantwini bonke, ikakhulu kulabo abangabemuli yabakholwayo.’ (Gal. 6:10) Kanti njalo singakwenza langokuzama ngamandla wonke ‘ukuhlubula uqobo lwethu oludala lezenzo zalo.’​—Kol. 3:5, 8-10. w16.10 4:11, 12

Indlela uNkulunkulu ahlele ngayo amaplanethi, imithala, ilanga, izinkanyezi lokunye okunengi yenza singathandabuzi ukuthi ufuna lezinceku zakhe zihleleke. Ngakho wasilungisela iLizwi lakhe iBhayibhili ukuze asiqondise. Ukungalandeli izimiso zikaNkulunkulu leziqondiso esiziphiwa yinhlanganiso yakhe kungabangela ukuthi sihlupheke njalo singathokozi. Abako-Israyeli babelandela uMthetho ababewuphiwe nguNkulunkulu njalo babehlelwe kuhle. Ngokwesibonelo ‘kwakulabesifazana ababesebenza esangweni lethente lokuhlangana’ futhi babehlelwe baba ngamaqembu atshiyeneyo. (Eks. 38:8) Ngokuya kwesikhathi iNkosi uDavida layo yahlela abaLevi labaphristi baba ngamaqembu amanengi ukuze benze imisebenzi etshiyeneyo ethempelini. (1 ImiLan. 23:1-6; 24:1-3) Amabandla akuqala lawo ayehlelekile njalo ayelandela iziqondiso ayeziphiwa liqula elibusayo elaqala libunjwa ngabaphostoli. (ImiSeb. 6:1-6) UJehova waphefumulela amadoda ehlukeneyo ukuthi abhale izincwadi ezazileziqondiso lezeluleko ezazisiya emabandleni.​—1 Tim. 3:1-13; Tit. 1:5-9. w16.11 2:3, 6, 8, 9

Ngomnyaka ka-607 B.C.E., ibutho elikhulu laseBhabhiloni elalikhokhelwa yiNkosi uNebhukadinezari II latheleka eJerusalema lafika layisusela amanqe. IBhayibhili liyasibikela ngenkemenkeme eyabakhona edolobheni lelo, lithi: “Inkosi yaseBhabhiloni, yabulala amajaha akibo ngenkemba endlini engcwele, njalo akusindanga jaha loba ntombi, indoda endala loba oseluphele. . . . Bathungela ngomlilo ithempeli likaNkulunkulu njalo badiliza umduli weJerusalema; batshisa zonke izigodlo batshabalalisa lakho konke okwakuligugu khonapho.” (2 ImiLan. 36:17, 19) Ukuchithwa kweJerusalema akuzange kubamangalise abantu ababehlala khona. Phela kwasekudlule iminyaka eminengi abaphrofethi bakaNkulunkulu bebaxwayisa ukuthi nxa bangaqhubeka beqinisa amakhanda bengalaleli uMthetho wakhe babezanikelwa ezandleni zabaseBhabhiloni. AmaJuda amanengi ayezakufa ngenkemba kuthi loba ngubani owayezaphunyuka wayezathunjwa asiwe eBhabhiloni ahlale khona phose okwempilo yakhe yonke. w16.11 4:1, 2

IBhayibhili lithi isono lokufa kwangena “emhlabeni ngomuntu oyedwa” u-Adamu. Ngakho “ngesiphambeko salowomuntu oyedwa, ukufa kwabusa.” UPhawuli waphinda wathi “umusa omnengi kaNkulunkulu” wabakhona ‘ngomuntu oyedwa uJesu Khristu.’ (Rom. 5:12, 15, 17) Umusa lo omkhulu usuncede bonke abantu ukuthi benelise ukuthola izibusiso ezinengi kakhulu. Ngokwesibonelo iBhayibhili lithi: ‘Ngokulalela kwalowomuntu oyedwa [uJesu] abanengi bazakwenziwa abalungileyo.’ Kanti njalo umusa kaNkulunkulu omkhulu uzakwenza baphinde bathole “ukuphila okungapheliyo ngoJesu Khristu.” (Rom. 5:19, 21) UJehova kazange abanjwe ngamandla ukuthi athume iNdodana yakhe ukuthi izohlawulela abantu. Kanti njalo abantu abalesono babengakufanelanga ukuthola leyonhlawulo eyabavulela ithuba lokuthethelelwa izono. Yikho-ke ukuthethelelwa izono lokunikwa ithemba lokuphila phakade ngumusa omkhulu esiwutshengiswe nguNkulunkulu. Kumele siwuqakathekise umusa lo njalo sizimisele ukuphila ngendlela ethokozisa uNkulunkulu nsuku zonke. w16.12 1:1, 6, 7

Ukuzihlola kuqakathekile. Ngenxa yani? Ngenxa yokuthi “ukugxilisa ingqondo ezintweni zemvelo yesono kutsho ukufa.” (Rom. 8:6, NW) Le akusiyo ndaba yokudlala ngayo ngoba nxa singagxilisa izingqondo zethu ezintweni ezinjalo singawa ekukhonzeni futhi sibhujiswe esikhathini esizayo. Kodwa uPhawuli wayengatsho ukuthi nxa umuntu angaqalisa ukwenza lokhu kasenelisi ukuntshintsha. Khumbula indoda eyacina isuswa ebandleni leKhorinte ngenxa yokulandela izinkanuko ‘zemvelo yesono.’ Indoda le yantshintsha yatshiya isenzo sayo esibi yabuyela endleleni eyiyo. (2 Khor. 2:6-8) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi loba nguphi umKhristu lamuhla angenelisa ukuntshintsha ikakhulu nxa engenzanga isono esikhulu njengaleso esenziwa yindoda eyayisebandleni leKhorinte. Ngakho ukukhumbula impumela ebakhona nxa singalandela izinkanuko zemvelo yesono kumele kusifuqe ukuthi sintshintshe nxa kudingakala. w16.12 2:5, 12, 13

Kuyasiduduza ‘ukwethula iziswelo zethu kuJehova’ ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi ‘uzasisekela.’ Sileqiniso lokuthi uNkulunkulu ‘angenza okukhulu kakhulu kulalokho esikucelayo kumbe esikucabangayo.’ (Efe. 3:20) Uyananzelela yini ukuthi uNkulunkulu kasoze asenzele okukhulu nje kuphela, kodwa “okukhulu kakhulu.” Ukuze siwuthole umvuzo esiwuthenjiswe nguJehova kumele sibe lokholo oluqinileyo kuye njalo silalele konke asitshela khona. UMosi watshela abako-Israyeli wathi: “Elizweni lelo uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu alinika lona ukuze libe yilifa lenu, uzalibusisa kakhulu, nxa lizalalela iNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu linanzelele njalo ukuthi liyayilandela yonke imilayo yakhe engilethulela yona lamuhla. Kungenxa yalokhu uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu azalibusisa njengokulithembisa kwakhe.” (Dute. 15:4-6) Wena uleqiniso yini lokuthi uJehova uzakubusisa nxa ungaqhubeka umkhonza ngokuthembeka? Zinengi izizatho ezingenza ukuthi ungathandabuzi ukuthi uzakubusisa. w16.12 4:8, 9

UJehova wayelesizatho esihle sokukhetha isizwe lesi ngoba wayegcwalisa isithembiso ayesenze kumngane wakhe u-Abhrahama eminyakeni eminengi eyayidlulile. (Gen. 22:15-18) Kanti njalo uJehova uhlala esebenzisa inkululeko yakhe ngendlela ehambelana lezimpawu zakhe ezinhle, uthando kanye lokulunga. Lokhu sikubona endleleni ajezisa ngayo abako-Israyeli ababephambuka kanenginengi ekukhonzeni kweqiniso. Babesithi bangaphenduka ngeqiniso uJehova abe lesihawu kubo njalo abatshengise uthando lwakhe. Wathi: “Ngizakwelapha ubuphakaphaka babo ngibathande ngokukhululeka.” (Hos. 14:4) Siyabona ukuthi uJehova usebenzisa inkululeko yakhe yokuzikhethela ngendlela enhle ukuze ancede abanye! UJehova wathi edala izingilosi wazinika inkululeko yokuzikhethela. Owokuqala ukuphiwa isipho lesi nguJesu iNdodana yakhe elizibulo. (Kol. 1:15) Ngesikhathi engakabuyi emhlabeni, uJesu wakhetha ukuqhubeka emlalela uYise njalo kazange alandele ukuhlamuka kukaSathane. w17.01 2:3, 4

Ukuntshintsha kwezimo zethu kungasivulela ithuba lokwenza okunengi emsebenzini kaJehova kumbe kwenze sehluleke ukwenza okunengi. Usesemutsha yini kumbe usukhulile? Usaqinile yini emzimbeni kumbe awuphilanga? UJehova uyakhangela ukuthi kungaphi lapho angasisebenzisa khona. Kalindelanga okungaphezu kwamandla ethu njalo uyakuqakathekisa konke esikwenzayo. UJesu wayethokoza ngayo yonke imisebenzi ayeyiphiwa nguYise njalo lathi kumele sithokoze nxa sisenza imisebenzi esiyiphathiswe nguJehova. (Zaga. 8:30, 31) Umuntu ozithobayo kaboni angathi umsebenzi awenzayo khathesi uyambambelela kodwa uyazinikela kuwo awenze ngenhliziyo yonke. Kazihluphi kakhulu ngemisebenzi angakayiphiwa kumbe leyo eyenziwa ngabanye. Kodwa usebenza gadalala emsebenzini awuphathisiweyo njalo uyathokoza ngawo ngoba uyabona ukuthi yikho lapho uJehova akhethe ukumfaka khona. Kangeneli emsebenzini yabanye kodwa uyabahlonipha futhi abancedise ngoba uyananzelela ukuthi uJehova nguye obanike leyomisebenzi.​—Rom. 12:10. w17.01 3:13, 14

Abanye abazalwane abasesebatsha yibo abakhokhelayo emsebenzini ethile njalo kulabazalwane abakhulileyo abangaphansi kwabo. Kuhle ukuthi abazalwane laba bafunde kulabo asebekhulile abasebenza labo njalo bacele ukuthi babacebise bengakenzi izinqumo. Lanxa uThimothi wayengosakhulayo wasebenza lomphostoli uPhawuli okweminyaka eminengi. UPhawuli wayeke wabhalela abaseKhorinte wathi: “Ngilithumela uThimothi, indodana yami engiyithandayo, ethembekileyo eNkosini. Uzalikhumbuza indlela yokuphila kwami kuKhristu uJesu.” (1 Khor. 4:17) Amazwi la atshengisa ukuthi uPhawuli loThimothi babebambisana sibili. UPhawuli wayemfundisile uThimothi ‘indlela yokuphila kwakhe.’ Lakanye uThimothi wakubambisisa ayekufundiswa. Lokhu kwenza uPhawuli wamthanda waze wamthuma ukuthi ayenceda abazalwane baseKhorinte. Lesi yisibonelo esihle abadala okumele basilandele. Kumele babaqeqetshe abazalwane abasesebatsha ukuze benelise ukukhokhela ebandleni. w17.01 5:13, 14

UJehova kafuni ukuthi abantu bafe. Njengoba kunguye onika abantu ukuphila, uzakuba nguYise wabo bonke abazavuswa. (Hubo. 36:9) Lokhu kwenza sibone ukuthi kungani uJesu wasifundisa ukuthi sithandaze sithi: “Baba wethu osezulwini.” (Mat. 6:9) UJehova uphathise uJesu umsebenzi wokuvusa abantu abafileyo. (Joh. 6:40, 44) Emhlabeni omutsha uJesu uzagcwalisa amazwi la athi: “Mina ngiyikuvuka kwabafileyo lokuphila.” (Joh. 11:25) Isipho senhlawulo esivela kuJehova kasenzelwanga abantu abalutshwana kuphela. UJesu wathi: “Loba ngubani owenza intando kaNkulunkulu ngumfowethu, ngudadewethu njalo ngumama.” (Mak. 3:35) UNkulunkulu ufisa ukuthi abantu abavela ezizweni zonke lakuzo zonke izindimi bamkhonze. Abantu laba yibo abazabumba ‘ixuku elikhulukazi okungelamuntu ongalibala.’ Nxa bangaqhubeka belokholo enhlawulweni kaKhristu futhi besenza intando kaNkulunkulu bazathola isibusiso sokutsho amazwi la athi: “Ukusindisa ngokukaNkulunkulu wethu, ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi, kanye lokweWundlu.”​—Isam. 7:9, 10. w17.02 2:10, 11

Abafowethu babefuna ukusiza abantu abanengi ukuthi bafunde iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini ngezindimi zabo. Yikho ngo-1884 babumba i-Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society njalo bayibhalisa emthethweni futhi uCharles Taze Russell waba ngumongameli wenhlanganiso le. URussell wayekuthanda kakhulu ukubala iBhayibhili njalo wachaya egcekeni izimfundiso zamanga ezigoqela uButhathu bukaNkulunkulu kanye lemfundiso yokuthi umphefumulo womuntu kawufi. Wakuzwisisa lokuthi ukubuya kukaKhristu kutshoni kanye lokuthi “izikhathi zabezizwe” zizaphela ngo-1914. (Luk. 21:24) Wasebenza gadalala njalo wasebenzisa imali yakhe ukuze ancedise abanye ukuthi labo bafunde iqiniso. Kuyacaca ukuthi ngalesosikhathi uJehova loJesu basebenzisa umfowethu uRussell ukuthi akhokhele. Umfowethu uRussell kazange enze lokhu ehlose ukuthola udumo. Ngo-1896 wabhala wathi: “Kasifuni ukuthi abantu basiphakamise loba basinike udumo ngalokho esikwenzayo kumbe esikubhalayo njalo kasifisi ukubizwa ngokuthi Mfundisi.” Wayengafisi lokuthi inhlanganiso ibizwe ngebizo laloba ngubani okhokhelayo. Waphinda wathi: “Lo akusimsebenzi womuntu.” w17.02 4:8, 9

Sonke kumele senze izinqumo kungaba ngezincane loba ezinkulu. Lanxa kunjalo izinqumo esizenzayo zingasinceda loba zisilimaze. Ukwenza izinqumo ezinhle kungasenza sihlale sithokoza empilweni kodwa ukukhetha kubi kungenza sihlale sizisola, sidanile njalo sikhathazekile. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi senze izinqumo ezinhle? Kumele sibe lokholo kuNkulunkulu njalo singathandabuzi ukuthi uzimisele ukusincedisa ukuze senelise ukwenza izinqumo ezinhle. Kanti njalo kumele sithembe iLizwi likaNkulunkulu kanye lendlela enza ngayo izinto. (Jak. 1:5-8) Lokhu kuzakwenza sisondele kuye futhi simthembe kukho konke esikwenzayo. Kuzakuba lula lokuthi siqale sihlole iLizwi lakhe singakenzi izinqumo. w17.03 2:2, 3

UJehoshafathi wenza njengoyise u-Asa, waqhubeka ethembele kuNkulunkulu langesikhathi ekhangelane lebutho elalilamandla. (2 ImiLan. 20:2-4) Lanxa lwalumtshaya uvalo “wazimisela ukumdinga uJehova.” Wathandaza kuye futhi emthandazweni lo wavuma ukuthi yena labantu bakhe ‘babengelamandla okumelana lebutho elikhulu elalizobahlasela’ njalo babengazi lokuthi benzeni. Waphinda watsho amazwi asembhalweni walamuhla. Kwezinye izikhathi nxa singaba phakathi kohlupho oluthile singaswela ukuthi sibambe ngaphi futhi sifikelwe yikwesaba. (2 Khor. 4:8, 9) Khumbula ukuthi uJehoshafathi ephakathi kwesimo esinjalo wema phambi kwabantu bakoJuda, wakhuleka kuNkulunkulu evuma ukuthi yena labantu bakhe babengelamandla okumelana lalobobunzima. (2 ImiLan. 20:5) Ngakho nxa uyinhloko yemuli, lingisela uJehoshafathi ngokukhuleka kuJehova ukuze akuqondise futhi akunike amandla okulwisana laloba yiluphi uhlupho ongabe uphakathi kwalo. Thandaza ukanye lemuli yakho futhi lokhu kuzakwenza ibone ukuthi uthembele kuye. Ungenza njalo uNkulunkulu uzakuphathisa njengoba nje wasiza uJehoshafathi. w17.03 3:12, 13