July

Indodakazi kaJefitha yadela ukutshada lokuba labantwana yaqakathekisa ukuzinikela kuJehova. Pho thina singayilingisela njani? Khathesi kulamaKhristu amanengi asakhulayo akhetha ukungatshadi kumbe ukungabi labantwana ukuze azinikele ngokugcweleyo emsebenzini kaJehova. Kanti njalo bakhona lasebekhulile abadela ukutshona labantwababo kanye labazukulu ukuze bancedise ukwakhiwa kwezakhiwo zenhlanganiso kumbe ukuthi bangene iSikolo Sabavangeli BoMbuso kanye lokuyakhonza lapho okulabamemezeli abalutshwana khona. Abanye njalo bahlela kuhle izimo zabo ukuze benelise ukwengezelela inkonzo yabo. Konke lokhu okwenziwa ngabazalwane kuyamthokozisa uJehova njalo kasoze awukhohlwe umsebenzi abawenzayo lothando abamtshengisa lona. (Heb. 6:10-12) Kukhona yini lawe ongakwenza ukuze wenze okunengi enkonzweni kaJehova? w16.04 1:16, 17

UJesu wathi yena ufanana lomalusi, waphinda wafanisa abalandeli bakhe lomhlambi wezimvu. Kodwa ake sithi izimvu ezimbili ziphezu koqaqa, ezinye njalo ezimbili ziseduzane lomfula, ikanti eyodwa isemadlelweni khatshana le. Kambe besingathi izimvu lezi ezinhlanu zingumhlambi yini? Okujayelekileyo yikuthi umhlambi wezimvu uhlala undawonye futhi useduzane lomalusi owukhangelayo. Lathi kasingeke sithi silandela umalusi wethu nxa siphila angathi singumhlambi kazelusile. Ngakho kumele sihlangane lamanye amaKhristu ukuze sibe ‘ngumhlambi owodwa’ okhokhelwa ‘ngumalusi oyedwa.’ Ukuba khona emihlanganweni kwenza siqinise ukumanyana kwethu. (Hubo. 133:1) Abanye esikhonza labo bakhalalwa ngabazali babo kanye labafowabo. Lanxa kunjalo uJesu wachaza ukuthi bazathola imuli ebandleni ezabathanda futhi ibanakekele. (Mak. 10:29, 30) Nxa ungalovi emihlanganweni kuzakuba lula ukuthi ube ngubaba, umama, ubhudi, kumbe usisi kulaba bazalwane abalahlwe yizihlobo zabo ngenxa yokukhonza uJehova. Ukucabanga ngalokhu kakukufuqi yini ukuthi uzimisele ukuyingena yonke imihlangano? w16.04 3:9, 10

Lanxa umuntu engabe ekhuthele ekutshumayeleni, ethandaza kuNkulunkulu, engena imihlangano njalo esenza leminye imisebenzi ephathelane lokukhonza, kuyabe kufanana lokuthi kenzi lutho nxa esehluleka ukuhlalisana kuhle labanye. Kasingeke sibe ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu nxa singafuni ukuthethelela abanye. (Luk. 11:4; Efe. 4:32) UJehova ufuna sonke sibe ngabantu abathethelelayo futhi abalobudlelwano obuhle labanye. Wena uyabathethelela yini abanye? Uyakuthanda yini ukuba labo? UJehova ukhangelele ukuthi izinceku zakhe zibathethelele abanye. Nxa umzwangedwa wakho ukutshela ukuthi kukhona lapho okumele ulungise khona endabeni le, thandaza kuJehova ucele ukuthi akusize wenze untshintsho. UBaba wethu osezulwini uzayizwa imithandazo enjalo futhi ayiphendule.​—1 Joh. 5:14, 15. w16.05 1:6, 7

Kuzatshunyayelwa kuze kube nini? UJesu wathi umsebenzi wokutshumayela emhlabeni wonke wawuzaqhubeka usenziwa kuze ‘kufike ukucina.’ Yiphi enye inkolo elabantu abalokhu betshumayela izindaba ezinhle kulezizinsuku zokucina ezinzima? Abanye esibatshumayezayo bangasitshela ukuthi kasilawo umoya ongcwele. Kodwa ukuqinisela kwethu emsebenzini wokutshumayela kutshengisa ukuthi silawo umoya kaNkulunkulu. (ImiSeb. 1:8; 1 Phet. 4:14) Abanye bayake babonakale bezama ukutshumayela njengaboFakazi bakaJehova kodwa kanengi lokhu kuphelela emoyeni. Abanye bayakwenza okwesikhatshana kodwa besebebuyela kulokho abajayele ukukwenza emasontweni abo. Lanxa abanye bengazama ukutshumayela endlini ngendlu, bayabe bebatshelani abantu? Impendulo yombuzo lo iyakucacisa ukuthi abawenzi umsebenzi wokutshumayela owaqaliswa nguKhristu. w16.05 2:13, 16

Kufanele senze konke okusemandleni ukuze ‘silungisiswe’ sibe ngabantu abalobuntu obutsha. Umphostoli uPhawuli watshela amaKhristu wathi: “Mayelana lendlela yenu yakuqala yokuphila, lafundiswa ukuba lilahle uqobo lwenu oludala, olonakaliswa yizinkanuko zalo zenkohliso; lenziwe libe batsha esimeni sezingqondo zenu; lifake ubumina obutsha, obadalelwa ukuba njengoNkulunkulu ekulungeni okuqotho lobungcwele.” (Efe. 4:22-24) Umutsho othi “lenziwe libe batsha” utshengisa ukuthi ukuba lobuntu obutsha kakwenzakali ngelanga elilodwa kodwa yinto eqhubekayo njalo esetshenzelwayo. Lokhu kuveza ukuthi singenelisa ukuqhubeka sizama ukuba lobuntu obuhle futhi sibe ngamaKhristu angcono kungelani lokuthi sileminyaka emingaki sikhonza uJehova. IBhayibhili lingasinceda ukuthi siguqule ukuphila kwethu. w16.05 4:8, 9

Asingeke sizibale siziqede izinto ezinhle esizikholisayo enhlanganisweni kaJehova. (Isaya. 64:8) Umumo lo wenza kube lula ukuthi uJehova asibumbe njalo wenza sizwe sivikelekile lanxa siphila emhlabeni lo ogcwele ububi. Sesimazi uJehova njalo sesikuzwisisa ukuthi unguBaba olothando. (Jak. 4:8) Kunengi esizakufunda ngoJehova emhlabeni omutsha futhi sizakholisa kakhulu ukuphila sesibuswa nguMbuso wakhe. Ngalesosikhathi uJehova uzaqhubeka esibumba njalo esifundisa okunengi kakhulu. (Isaya. 11:9) Kanti njalo uzasusa isono kancane kancane ezingqondweni lasezinhliziyweni zethu size sibe ngabantu abapheleleyo. Lokhu kuzasisiza ukuthi senelise ukukuzwisisa konke ayabe esifundisa khona njalo senze intando yakhe ngokugcweleyo. Ngakho kasiqhubekeni simvumela ukuthi asibumbe njalo sitshengise lokuthi siyakuqakathekisa ukuthi uyasithanda. w16.06 1:8, 9

Ivesi le ilamanye amazwi okucina akhulunywa nguMosi ngesikhathi esesehlukana lesizwe sako-Israyeli esasibuthene emagcekeni akoMowabi ngomnyaka ka-1473 B.C.E. Abako-Israyeli basebezachapha umfula uJodani ukuze bayethatha iLizwe Lesithembiso. (Dute. 6:1) UMosi wayesekhokhele abantu laba okweminyaka engu-40 njalo wayefuna babelesibindi ukuze benelise ukumelana lobunzima ababezahlangana labo phambili. Kwakumele bamthembe uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo futhi babelokholo kuye. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi amazwi kaMosi abaqinisa. Ngemva kokubatshela Imilayo Elitshumi leminye imithetho uJehova ayefuna bayinikwe, uMosi watsho amazwi alamandla akuDutheronomi 6:4, 5. Kambe abantu bako-Israyeli ababebuthene phambi kukaMosi babengakwazi yini ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu wabo “nguJehova munye”? Lokho babekwazi mhlophe. Phela babekhonza uNkulunkulu oyedwa, uNkulunkulu ka-Abhrahama, u-Isaka loJakhobe. w16.06 3:2, 3

UJesu watsho amazwi la ngesikhathi elapha emhlabeni. Kodwa uNkulunkulu sewanika uKhristu amandla okuzokwahlulela umhlaba lo obuswa nguSathane. (Isam. 19:11-16) Ngakho kulengqondo ukuthi sithi uJesu usekwazi ukuthi i-Amagedoni izafika nini. Kuqakathekile ukuthi sihlale silindile ngoba kasikwazi ukuthi ukuhlupheka okukhulu kuzafika nini. Kodwa uJehova ubevele elwazi lolosuku ngoba walumisa kudala. Sikhuluma nje usebala insuku futhi ukuqala kwalolusuku ‘kakuyikuphuza.’ (Hab. 2:1-3) Manje kuyini okungasenza sibe leqiniso lokuthi luzafika? Zonke iziphrofetho zikaJehova bezigcwaliseka ngaso kanye isikhathi ayabe esimisile. Lalamuhla uJehova uthembise ukubakhulula abantu bakhe ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu. Ngakho kasithandabuzi ukuthi isithembiso lesi sizagcwaliseka loba sekutheni. Kodwa kumele sihlale silindile nxa sifuna ukusinda. w16.07 2:4-6

UPhetro wayethembise ukuthi lanxa abanye babengamtshiya uJesu, yena wayengeke amtshiye loba sekutheni. (Mak. 14:27-31, 50) Kodwa kwathi lapho uJesu ebotshwa, bonke abaphostoli bamtshiya, ngitsho laye uPhetro ngokwakhe. Wala wemba phansi lokuthi uyamazi uJesu. (Mak. 14:53, 54, 66-72) Loba kunjalo uPhetro wazisola njalo uJehova waqhubeka emsebenzisa. Aluba wawungomunye wabafundi bakaJesu, wawuzayekela yini ukuba qotho kuJehova ngenxa yalokho okwakusenziwa nguPhetro? Wena kufanele ubekezele ukhumbula ukuthi uJehova uyabanika isikhathi sokuphenduka labo abenza okubi. Ungakhohlwa lokuthi konke okwenzakalayo uzakulungisa ngendlela eqondileyo langesikhathi sakhe esifaneleyo. Kodwa-ke abanye abenza izono ezinkulu kabafuni ukuphenduka. Nxa bengabakhona abanjalo, uzamethemba yini uJehova ukuthi uzabahlulela ngesikhathi esifaneleyo mhlawumbe ngokubasusa ebandleni? w16.06 4:8, 9

Umusa omkhulu kaJehova uyasinceda ukuthi sithole induduzo nxa sikhathazekile. (Hubo. 51:17) Amazwi asembhalweni walamuhla abhalwa nguPhawuli ewabhalela amaKhristu aseThesalonika ayephakathi kokuhlukuluzwa. Kuyasiduduza ukwazi ukuthi uJehova uyasinakekela ngaso sonke isikhathi ngenxa yomusa wakhe. Akulalutho esasingalwenza ukuze sithole ukuphila okuphakade. (Hubo. 49:7, 8) Kodwa uJehova wangenela wasinika ithemba elihle kakhulu. UJesu wathembisa abalandeli bakhe wathi: “Intando kaBaba iyikuthi bonke abakhangela eNdodaneni bakholwe kuyo bazakuba lokuphila okungapheliyo.” (Joh. 6:40) Ithemba lokuphila phakade liyisipho esivela kuNkulunkulu njalo litshengisa umusa wakhe omkhulu. UPhawuli wathi: “Umusa kaNkulunkulu oletha insindiso usubonakele ebantwini bonke.”​—Tit. 2:11. w16.07 3:14, 15

Lamuhla kasilindelanga ukuthi umuntu okhonza uJehova akhohlise umkakhe. Kodwa ake sithi umzalwane loba udade otshadileyo usekhohlise umkakhe ngokufeba lomunye umuntu eceleni abesechitha umtshado wakhe atshade lalowomuntu. Nxa okwenzileyo lokhu engaphenduki uyasuswa ebandleni ukuze ibandla lihlale lihlanzekile futhi limsulwa. (1 Khor. 5:11-13) Kanti njalo kuzamele atshengise “izithelo ezihambelana lokuphenduka” ukuze abuyiselwe ebandleni. (Luk. 3:8; 2 Khor. 2:5-10) Lanxa kungelasikhathi esibekiweyo sokuthi umuntu owenze ihlazo leli angabuyiselwa nini ebandleni, indaba le ngeke iphonguthathwa lula nje. Kungathatha umnyaka kumbe iminyaka ethile ukuthi atshengise ubufakazi bokuthi usephendukile loba hatshi. Lanxa engabuyiselwa ebandleni kuzamele ‘ame phambi kwesihlalo sikaNkulunkulu sokwahlulela.’​—Rom. 14:10-12. w16.08 1:12, 13

Umphostoli uPhawuli wakhuthaza amadoda ukuthi ‘abeke izinhliziyo zawo’ loba alwele ukuba ngababonisi. Ibala lesiGrikhi eliyisenzo elihunyutshwe ngokuthi ‘ukubeka inhliziyo’ lilomqondo wokulalamela loba ukuqoqomela ukuze ufikele into ethile ekhatshana. UPhawuli wasebenzisa ibala leli ukuze atshengise ukuthi ukuba ngumbonisi kuyasetshenzelwa. Ake sithi umzalwane othile ufisa ukuba yinceku ekhonzayo. Uyakunanzelela ukuthi ukuze athole lesosibusiso kumele alwele ukulandela lokho iMibhalo ekutshoyo ngalabo abafuna ukuba ngababonisi. Okwakuqala uzama ukufinyelela ukuba yinceku ekhonzayo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi abeselalamela ukuba ngumdala webandla. Esikunanzelelayo lapha yikuthi umzalwane lo kufanele asebenze nzima nxa efuna ukuba yinceku ekhonzayo loba ukuba ngumdala. Kunjalo langabafowethu labodadewethu abafisa ukuba ngamaphayona, ukuyasebenza eBhetheli loba ukuyaphathisa emsebenzini wokwakha amaWolu oMbuso. Kumele basebenze gadalala ukuze bayilalamele imisebenzi le. w16.08 3:3, 4

Kumele ukuthi uNehemiya wezwa ubuhlungu lapho ethola abantu sebewutshiyile umsebenzi wokwakha imiduli yeJerusalema. Ukusongelwa yizitha kwasekwenze amaJuda aphela amandla. UNehemiya wakuvumela yini lokhu ukuthi kumenze abe buthakathaka ezandleni? Hatshi! Wabambelela kuJehova njengoMosi, u-Asa kanye labanye abantu ababethembekile. (Eks. 17:8-13; 2 ImiLan. 14:8-13) Ngakho langesikhathi ethola izinto zingasahambi kuhle eJerusalema wathandaza kuJehova. Lanxa amaJuda ayesecabanga ukuthi kwakungaselantuba yokuphuma kulolohlupho, uJehova wawuphendula umthandazo kaNehemiya. Wasebenzisa ‘amandla akhe amakhulu’ ‘lesandla sakhe esilamandla’ ukuze aqinise amaJuda. (Neh. 2:17-20; 6:9) Lalamuhla uJehova uyawasebenzisa ‘amandla akhe amakhulu’ ‘lesandla sakhe esilamandla’ ukuze aqinise izinceku zakhe. Wena uyakukholwa yini lokhu? w16.09 1:9

Elinye iphephandaba laseNetherlands lakhuluma ngendlela abakhokheli bamasonto ababegqoke ngayo komunye umbuthano wabo. Lathi: ‘Wawubona bezigqokele angathi bangekhaya kumbe bayavakatsha, khona kwakusithi kungatshisa wawubona okunye! Kodwa lokhu akwenzakali emihlanganweni yaboFakazi bakaJehova.’ Abantu abanengi bajayele ukubancoma oFakazi bakaJehova ngoba ‘bagqoka ngokuchumileyo, ngokuhle lokufaneleyo . . . okufanele [labo] abathi bayamkhonza uNkulunkulu.’ (1 Tim. 2:9, 10) Lanxa umphostoli uPhawuli wayekhuluma ngabesifazana, isimiso lesi siyasebenza lasemadodeni. Kuqakathekile ukuthi sigqoke kuhle ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu esimkhonzayo ulendaba lendlela esigqoka ngayo. (Gen. 3:21) Okutshiwo yiMibhalo ngendaba yokugqoka lokuzilungisa kuveza ukuthi uMbusi wendawo yonke ulezimiso zokugqoka okumele zilandelwe yizinceku zakhe. Yikho nxa sikhetha impahla zokugqoka kumbe indlela esizilungisa ngayo kufanele sikhethe okuthokozisa uJehova uMbusi wendawo yonke. w16.09 3:1, 2

Abanye bakhetha ukuhlola iziphrofetho zeBhayibhili loba ukuhlola izindaba eziseBhayibhilini beziqathanisa lalokho okukhutshwa ngabezembali labezesayensi kumbe lokho okukhutshwa ngabantu abavumbulula izinto zasendulo. Esinye isiphrofetho ongasihlola yileso esikuGenesisi 3:15. Ivesi le yethula indaba eyisiqokoqela eBhayibhilini. Indaba le iphathelane loMbuso ozangcwelisa ibizo likaNkulunkulu futhi utshengise ukuthi nguye kuphela olelungelo lokubusa. Ivesi le itshengisa lendlela uJehova azaqeda ngayo konke ukuhlupheka emhlabeni. Ungenzani ukuze usizwisise isiphrofetho lesi? Bhala phansi amavesi aveza ukuthi isiphrofetho lesi sizagcwaliseka njani. Okunye ongakwenza yikuhlola ukuthi amavesi lawo abhalwa nini, ubusuwafaka ngokulandelana kwawo. Ungenza njalo uzakubona ukuthi lanxa abalobi beBhayibhili baphila ngezikhathi ezitshiyeneyo, abakulobayo kwenza isiphrofetho lesi saqhubeka sicaca kancane kancane. Ukubona indlela amavesi eBhayibhili angenelana ngayo kuzakwenza ungakuthandabuzi ukuthi abalobi laba babeqondiswa ngumoya ongcwele. w16.09 4:8

Umphostoli uPhetro wake waba lohlupho lokubandlulula abantu ababengayisiwo maJuda. Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi wawuxexebula umkhuba lo enhliziyweni yakhe. (ImiSeb. 10:28, 34, 35; Gal. 2:11-14) Nxa lathi singananzelela ukuthi ezinhliziyweni zethu silohlupho lokubandlulula loba ukuzigqaja ngokuthi singumhlobo bani, kumele sizame ukuwusiphuna ngokuphangisa lowomkhuba. (1 Phet. 1:22) Okungasinceda yikuhlala sikhumbula ukuthi sonke singabantu abalesono futhi siyakudinga ukusindiswa kungelani lokuthi sivela kuliphi ilizwe. (Rom. 3:9, 10, 21-24) Yikho akumelanga sizibone singcono kulabanye. Kumele siphathe abanye njengomphostoli uPhawuli. Wakhumbuza amanye amaKhristu agcotshiweyo wathi: ‘Kaliseyibo bezizweni lezihambi, kodwa selingamalunga endlu kaNkulunkulu.’ (Efe. 2:19) Ukuzama ngamandla wonke ukunqoba umkhuba wokubandlulula abanye kuzasinceda ukuthi sibe lobuntu obutsha.​—Kol. 3:10, 11. w16.10 1:9

UJehova usinike iLizwi lakhe iBhayibhili ukuze asisize ukuthi sihlale silokholo oluqinileyo. Kufanele silibale nsuku zonke ukuze “siphumelele” njalo sithokoze empilweni. (Hubo. 1:1-3; ImiSeb. 17:11) Kumele silingisele izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zasendulo, sihlale sicabangisisa ngalokho uNkulunkulu asithembise khona njalo silalele imilayo yakhe. Kanti njalo uJehova usinika lokudla okunengi okuqinisa ukholo lwethu esebenzisa ‘inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo.’ (Mat. 24:45) Yikho nxa singaqakathekisa konke esikufundiswa nguJehova sizakuba njengabantu basendulo ‘ababeqiniseka’ ngethemba loMbuso ababelalo. (Heb. 11:1) Okunye okwanceda izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zasendulo ukuthi zihlale zilokholo oluqinileyo yikuthandaza. Ukholo lwazo lwaluqina kakhulu lapho uNkulunkulu ephendula imithandazo yazo.​—Neh. 1:4, 11; Hubo. 34:4, 15, 17; Dan. 9:19-21. w16.10 3:7, 8

UJesu wathi “umlayo omkhulu kulayo yonke eMthethweni” yikuthanda uNkulunkulu. (Mat. 22:35-40) Abalobi beBhayibhili batshengisa ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuba lothando kanye lokholo. Izikhathi ezinengi babeqamba izimpawu lezi emutshweni loba evesini efananayo. Ngokwesibonelo uPhawuli wakhuthaza abazalwane ukuthi ‘bembathe ukukholwa lothando njengesihlangu sesifuba.’ (1 Thes. 5:8) Kanti njalo uJohane wabhala wathi: “Nanku umlayo wakhe [uNkulunkulu]: ukukholwa ebizweni leNdodana yakhe, uJesu Khristu, lokuthandana njengokusilaya kwakhe.” (1 Joh. 3:23) Kodwa uPhawuli waphinda wathi: “Okuthathu lokhu kuma kunjalo: ukukholwa, ithemba lothando. Kodwa okukhulu kwalokhu luthando.” (1 Khor. 13:13) Ngesikhathi esizayo ngeke kusadingeka ukuthi sibe lokholo ezithembisweni zikaNkulunkulu ezimayelana lomhlaba omutsha ngoba ziyabe sezigcwalisekile. Siyabe sesiphila impilo enhle okwamagama. Kodwa uthando lona kalusoze luphele, kuzamele siqhubeke sithanda uNkulunkulu njalo sibathanda bonke abantu kuze kube phakade. w16.10 4:15-17

Ngesikhathi samaKhristu akuqala abanye abazalwane babehambela amabandla ‘besethula izinqumo ezazisenziwa ngabaphostoli labadala eJerusalema.’ (ImiSeb. 16:4) Ukulandela izinqumo lezi kwenza “amabandla aqiniswa ekukholweni abantu banda mihla yonke.” Kuyini okumele sikwenze nxa sisamukela iziqondiso ezivela enhlanganisweni kaNkulunkulu? ILizwi likaJehova lithi sonke kumele silalele abakhokhelayo njalo sizithobe kubo. (Dute. 30:16; Heb. 13:7, 17) Ukukhonona lokuhlamuka akufunakali enhlanganisweni kaNkulunkulu ngoba kungaphambanisa ukuthula, ukumanyana kanye lothando. Kakho umKhristu othembekileyo ongafuna ukwenza njengoDiyothrefe owayengahloniphi abazalwane ababekhokhela ngalesosikhathi. (3 Joh. 9, 10) Yikho-ke kungaba kuhle ukuthi sizibuze imibuzo le: ‘Ngiyabakhuthaza yini abafowethu labodadewethu ukuthi bahlale beqotho kuJehova? Ngiyaphangisa yini ukulalela iziqondiso esiziphiwa ngabazalwane abakhokhelayo?’ w16.11 2:10, 11

AbakoJuda abathunjwayo njalo abakwamukelayo lokho uJehova ayebatshele khona bafika baziphilela kuhle eBhabhiloni lanxa babethunjiwe. AbaseBhabhiloni babanika amalungelo athile ayebavumela ukuthi bazenzele ezinye izinto ezaziqondane labo. Babephiwe lenkululeko yokuvakatsha kuzo zonke izindawo kulelolizwe. Ngalesosikhathi iBhabhiloni yayiyisigodlo samabhizimusi njalo ezinye izingwalo zasendulo ziveza ukuthi amaJuda amanengi afunda ukuqhuba amabhizimusi okuthenga lokuthengisa futhi amanye ayesezingcitshi emisebenzini yokubaza lokubumba. Amanye akhona anotha aze akhithika imikhaba. Impilo ababeyiphila besekuthunjweni eBhabhiloni yayingafanani lempilo abake bayiphila kudala besebugqilini eGibhithe. (Eks. 2:23-25) Abako-Israyeli babezaphinda benelise yini ukukhonza uNkulunkulu bekhululekile? Ngalesosikhathi kwakungakhanya kungeke kwenzakala lokhu ngoba abaseBhabhiloni babengabakhululi abantu nxa bebathumbile. Kodwa uJehova wayethembise abantu bakhe ukuthi uzabakhulula futhi lakanye wakwenza lokhu. Phela iLizwi likaJehova aliweli phansi.​—Isaya. 55:11. w16.11 4:3, 5

AmaKhristu okukhulunywa ngawo evesini le ayelokhu esaphila emhlabeni njalo ekhonza uNkulunkulu. Pho amazwi asembhalweni walamuhla atshoni? UNkulunkulu wasebenzisa inhlawulo ukuze athethelele uPhawuli lamanye amaKhristu ayekhona ngalesosikhathi. Ngemva kwalokho wabagcoba ngomoya wakhe ongcwele ebanika ithemba lokuyaphila ezulwini wasebakhetha ukuthi babe ngamadodana akhe. Nxa babezathembeka baze bafe babezathola umvuzo wokuyabusa loKhristu ezulwini. Kungani uPhawuli wathi kubo ‘selafa ngenxa yesono’ bona babelokhu besaphila emhlabeni njalo bekhonza uNkulunkulu? Wasebenzisa isibonelo sikaJesu owafa elomzimba wenyama wasevuswa eselomzimba womoya ongafiyo. Ukufa kwakungaselamandla phezu kwakhe. Ngokufanayo amaKhristu agcotshiweyo kwakumele azibale ‘njengafileyo esonweni kodwa aphilayo kuNkulunkulu ngoKhristu uJesu.’ (Rom. 6:9, 11) AmaKhristu la ayesentshintshile ukuphila kwawo njalo ayengasalandeli izifiso zemizimba yawo elesono. Singathi ayesefile endleleni ayephila ngayo kudala. w16.12 1:9, 10

Amazwi la awatsho ukuthi umuntu sekumele ahlale ekhuluma loba ecabanga ngeBhayibhili, ngoNkulunkulu langethemba alalo. Ngokwesibonelo uPhawuli labanye abazalwane babeziphilela impilo yansuku zonke nje. Babezikholisela ukudla, okunathwayo, betshada, besondla abantwana njalo besebenza nzima emisebenzini yabo. (Mak. 6:3; 1 Thes. 2:9) Abazalwane labo kabazange baziqakathekise izinto lezo ukwedlula ukukhonza uJehova. IBhayibhili liveza ukuthi lanxa uPhawuli wayesenza amathente, ayekuqakathekisa empilweni yakhe yikutshumayela lokwenza abafundi. (ImiSeb. 18:2-4; 20:20, 21, 34, 35) Kanti njalo wakhuthaza abafowethu labodadewethu baseRoma ukuthi labo bamlingisele. Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi uPhawuli wayekhuthele emisebenzini ephathelane loMbuso futhi lathi kumele simlingisele.​—Rom. 15:15, 16. w16.12 2:5, 15, 16

Sileqiniso lokuthi uJehova uyakubona konke esikwenzayo ukuze siqhubeke simkhonza. Uyazwisisa nxa singabe singazithembi kumbe nxa silokuthandabuza okuthile. Uba lesihawu kithi nxa sikhathazekile ngenxa yokuswela imali kumbe sihlutshwa yikugula okwenza singenelisi ukwenza okunengi enkonzweni. Ngakho kasithandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uyayibona yonke imizamo esiyenzayo ukuze sihlale sithembekile kuye. (Heb. 6:10, 11) Khumbula futhi ukuthi sikhululekile ukukhuluma loNkulunkulu wethu “owuzwayo umthandazo” sisazi ukuthi uzakwenza okuthile ngezikhalazo zethu. (Hubo. 65:2) “UYise wesihawu loNkulunkulu wenduduzo yonke” kasoze ayekele ukusisekela lokusiqinisa nxa sidanile futhi kwezinye izikhathi angasebenzisa esikhonza labo ukuthi bakwenze lokhu. (2 Khor. 1:3) UJehova uyathokoza nxa esibona sisiba lesihawu kwabanye. (Mat. 6:3, 4) Uthembisa ukusinika umvuzo nxa singaba lomusa kwabanye. w16.12 4:13, 14

Ngesikhathi uJesu esemhlabeni wayisebenzisa kuhle inkululeko yakhe yokuzikhethela ngokwala ukulingwa yisitha sikaNkulunkulu esikhulu. (Mat. 4:10) Wathi esezabulawa watsho umthandazo owatshengisa ukuthi wayezimisele ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. Wathi: “Baba, uma uthanda susa inkomitshi le kimi; kodwa akungabi ngeyami intando, kodwa kwenziwe eyakho.” (Luk. 22:42) Lathi kasenzeni njengoJesu, sisebenzise inkululeko yethu ukudumisa uJehova njalo senze intando yakhe. Kodwa singenelisa yini ukukwenza lokhu? Ye singenelisa ukumlingisela uJesu ngoba lathi senziwe ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu njalo simfuzile. (Gen. 1:26) Lanxa kunjalo eyethu inkululeko ilemingcele, kayifanani lekaJehova. ILizwi lakhe lisitshela ukuthi kumele silandele imithetho lezimiso asinike zona. Ngokwesibonelo lithi abesifazana kumele bazehlise phansi kwabomkabo labantwana balalele abazali.​—Efe. 5:22; 6:1. w17.01 2:4, 5

Kulezinsuku ingxenye yasemhlabeni yenhlanganiso kaJehova ikhula ngendlela emangalisayo futhi lokhu kuletha untshintsho olusithintayo kwezinye izikhathi. Kumele senzeni nxa sekunzima ukuthi samukele untshintsho oselukhona? Kufanele sikhumbule ukuthi untshintsho lwenzelwa ukuthi umsebenzi woMbuso uqhubekele phambili. Yikho kungaba kuhle ukuthi sizithobe, singanamatheli kulokho okufunwa yithi. UPhawuli wabhalela amaKhristu aseRoma wathi: “Njengalokhu omunye lomunye wethu elomzimba owodwa olezitho ezinengi, njalo izitho lezi zonke kazenzi msebenzi munye, ngokunjalo kuKhristu thina abanengi sibumba umzimba owodwa.” (Rom. 12:4, 5) Kungelani lokuthi izimo zethu zinjani, sonke kumele sizimisele ukusebenza gadalala ukuze sisekele umsebenzi woMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Lina asebekhulile zamani ukuqeqetsha abasesebatsha ukuthi bafanele ukuphatha imisebenzi eliyenzayo. Bazalwane abasesebatsha zithobeni nxa liphathiswa imisebenzi njalo liqhubeke libahlonipha asebekhulile. Lani bafazi lingiselani uPhrisila owasebenza ndawonye lomkakhe u-Akhwila njalo wamsekela lapho kusiba lontshintsho oluthile.​—ImiSeb. 18:2. w17.01 5:15, 16

UGidiyoni watshela ingilosi kaJehova wathi: “Usendo lwakithi kalulamandla koManase, njalo mina ngingomncinyane emulini yakwethu.” Ngesikhathi esevumile ukuyakwenza umsebenzi ayewuphiwe, uGidiyoni waba leqiniso lokuthi uyazwisisa ukuthi uJehova ufuna enzeni njalo wathandaza kuye ecela ukuthi amqondise. (Abahlu. 6:36-40) Wayeyindoda elesibindi sibili. Loba kunjalo wenza izinto ngokuhlakanipha langonanzelelo. (Abahlu. 6:11, 27) Umsebenzi lo wawungamenza abe ngumuntu odumileyo kodwa yena wazithoba. Yikho wathi eqeda ukwenza umsebenzi ayewuthunyiwe wabuyela emzini wakhe. (Abahlu. 8:22, 23, 29) Abanye abantu balesifiso esikhulu sokuphathisa emsebenzini etshiyeneyo eyenziwayo ebandleni ikanti abanye bayavuma nxa bephiwa eminye imisebenzi. Kambe sesingathi abantu laba kabalakho ukuzithoba yini? Ngitsho lakancane! Phela iMibhalo ikhuthaza ukuthi sonke sithuthuke. (1 Tim. 4:13-15) Kodwa sekumele umuntu antshintshe umsebenzi awenzayo yini ukuze kukhanye ukuthi uyathuthuka? Hatshi. UJehova angasisiza ukuthi sithuthuke kungelani lokuthi yiwuphi umsebenzi esiwenzayo. w17.01 3:15, 16

UJehova wavuma ukuthi iNdodana yakhe ibulawe kabuhlungu ukuze avule indlela yokukhulula abantu esonweni lekufeni. (1 Phet. 1:19) Indlela abathanda ngayo yiyo eyamfuqa ukuthi enze lokhu. Ngakho singathi uJesu wathatha indawo kababa wethu u-Adamu. (1 Khor. 15:45) Okunye njalo yikuthi ukufa kukaJesu kusinika ithuba lokubuyela kuNkulunkulu sibe ngamalunga emuli yakhe. Kuyasithokozisa ukwazi ukuthi ngesikhathi esizayo isono sizasuswa kubo bonke abantu abathembekileyo. Ngalesosikhathi kuyabe sekulokumanyana phakathi kwemuli kaNkulunkulu esemhlabeni lesezulwini njalo abantu abathembekileyo bazabe sebengabantwana bakaNkulunkulu. (Rom. 8:21) Kasizameni ngazo zonke izindlela ukunceda abantu babone ukuthi inhlawulo ingabasiza njani ukuthi bathole izibusiso ezinengi. Singenza njalo siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyambonga uJehova ngokuthumela indodana yakhe ukuthi izosifela. w17.02 1:17, 19

INqabayokulinda kaJuly 15, 2013 yachaza ukuthi ‘inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo’ liqembu elincane labafowethu abagcotshiweyo ababumba iQula Elibusayo. Abazalwane beQula Elibusayo bayahlangana maviki wonke ukuze benze izinqumo. Lokhu kubanceda ukuthi bamanyane lokuthi babone ukuthi zonke izinto zihamba kuhle. (Zaga. 20:18) Minyaka yonke kukhethwa umgcinisihlalo omutsha ukuze akhokhele kuleyomihlangano njalo kakho phakathi kwabo ozibona eqakathekile kulabanye. (1 Phet. 5:1) Kanti njalo maviki wonke ikhomithi ngayinye yeQula Elibusayo iba lomhlangano futhi umnyaka ngamunye iba lomgcinisihlalo omutsha olilunga leQula Elibusayo. Wonke amalunga eQula Elibusayo ayazithoba ngoba ayananzelela ukuthi lawo ‘ayizisebenzi zalapha ekhaya’ ezinakekelwa yinceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo. IQula Elibusayo libunjwa ngabantu abalesono njengathi njalo uNkulunkulu kakhulumi labo ngendlela eyisimangaliso. Yikho kwezinye izikhathi bangenza amaphutha nxa bechasisa iMibhalo loba besenza izinqumo ezithile. w17.02 4:10-12

Indlela eqakathekileyo esingatshengisa ngayo ukuthi siyayibonga inhlawulo yikuzinikela kuJehova kanye lokubhabhathizwa. Nxa sibhabhathizwa siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi sesingabakaJehova. (Rom. 14:8) Konke uJehova akwenzayo kuqondiswa luthando njalo ufisa ukuthi bonke abantu abamkhonzayo babe lothando njengaye. (1 Joh. 4:8-11) Nxa sibathanda omakhelwana bethu siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi sifuna ukuba ‘ngamadodana kaBaba wethu osezulwini.’ (Mat. 5:43-48) UJesu wathi umlayo wokuqala oqakathekileyo yikuthanda uJehova, owesibili yikuthanda umakhelwana. (Mat. 22:37-40) Singatshengisa ukuthi siyabathanda omakhelwana bethu ngokukhuthala emsebenzini wokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Nxa singenza njalo siyabe sidumisa uNkulunkulu wethu. Okuhle yikuthi singalalela umlayo kaJehova wokuthi sithande abanye ikakhulu esikhonza labo, uthando lwakhe luzapheleliswa kithi.​—1 Joh. 4:12, 20. w17.02 2:13, 14

Kwakungakhanya kulula ukwenza isinqumo lesi ngoba ukukhonza uJehova yikho vele okufaneleyo. Ngakho kwakungelangqondo ukuthi umuntu alingeke loba akhethe ukukhonza uBhali. Kodwa okudanisayo yikuthi abako-Israyeli ‘babeleminakano emibili.’ Lanxa kunjalo u-Elija wabakhuza wasebakhuthaza ukuthi bakhethe ukukhonza uJehova. Kuyini okwakungabe kusenza ukuthi abako-Israyeli behluleke ukukhetha kuhle? Okokuqala yikuthi babengaselakholo kuJehova njalo bengasamlaleli. Babengasamthembi futhi bengasaziniki isikhathi sokufunda ngaye langenhlakanipho yakhe. Aluba babemthemba futhi befunda ngaye babezakwenza izinqumo ezinhle. (Hubo. 25:12) Okwesibili yikuthi abako-Israyeli bacina sebelandela izenzo zabantu bezinye izizwe ababengamkhonzi uJehova kanye lemikhuba yabo yokukhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. UJehova wayevele ebaxwayisile ukuthi lokhu kwakungenzakala.​—Eks. 23:2. w17.03 2:6, 7

Isibonelo sikaHezekhiya sisifundisa ukuthi kumele silahle loba yini engaphambanisa ubuhlobo bethu loNkulunkulu kumbe engabangela ukuthi singamkhonzi ngenhliziyo yonke. Ngokwesibonelo abanengi lamuhla baqakathekisa abantu abadumileyo labanye abangabaziyo baze babakhonze. Baqeda isikhathi esinengi bebala ngabo njalo bebuka lemifanekiso yabo. Bajayele ukukwenza lokhu besebenzisa izindlela zokuxhumana ezitshiyeneyo. Akukubi ukuthi sisebenzise izindlela lezi ukuze sixoxe lezihlobo labangane. Kodwa kuyingozi ukuchitha isikhathi esinengi kuzo. Kwezinye izikhathi singacina sizigqaja kakhulu nxa abantu besitshela ukuthi bayayithanda imifanekiso esiyifakayo loba okuthile esikubhalayo. Ikanti omunye angazonda nxa abantu bengasatsho lutho ngalokho akufakayo. Yikho kumele sizibuze imibuzo le, ‘Bakhona yini abantu engibaqakathekisa kakhulu okokuthi sengize ngibakhonza? Ngiyazimisela yini ukungachithi isikhathi esinengi ngisenza izinto ezingaqakathekanga?’​—Efe. 5:15, 16. w17.03 3:14, 17