August

Yayibambile impi! Amabutho ako-Israyeli esilwa lamaMidiyani lezinye izizwe ezazimanyene lawo. Umahluleli uGidiyoni lebutho lakhe basebedinwe bengasazazi ngoba babexotshanise izitha lezi ubusuku bonke okwamakhilomitha angaba ngu-32. Abako-Israyeli bakubona ukuthi lesi kwakungayisiso sikhathi sokubeka izikhali phansi. Yikho baqhubeka ‘bexotshana lawo’ amabutho amaMidiyani baze bawabhuqa. (Abahlu. 7:22; 8:4, 10, 28, The Holy Bible in Ndebele.) Lathi lamuhla siphakathi kwempi enzima esiyilwa nsuku zonke. Izitha esilwa lazo nguSathane, abantu bomhlaba lo kanye lemizimba yethu elesono. Abanye bethu sesileminyaka eminengi sitshudulana lezitha lezi, kodwa besilokhu sinqoba ngenxa yamandla esiwanikwa nguJehova. Kodwa kwezinye izikhathi kungasidinisa ukulwa lezitha lezi kanye lokulindela ukuphela komhlaba lo. Eqinisweni ngeke sithi sesinqobile. UJesu wasixwayisa ukuthi ezinsukwini zokucina sizahlangana lobunzima lokuhlukuluzwa kodwa waphinda wathi kumele sibekezele ukuze sinqobe.​—Luk. 21:19. w16.04 2:1, 2

Nxa sisemihlanganweni uJehova uyasifundisa esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe iBhayibhili. (Isaya. 30:20, 21) Imfundo esiyithola emihlanganweni yethu yenza abasivakatshelayo baphethe ngokuthi: “UNkulunkulu impela uphakathi kwenu.” (1 Khor. 14:23-25) UJehova uyayibusisa imihlangano yethu ngomoya wakhe ongcwele futhi nguye oqondisa yonke imfundo esiyiphiwayo. Ngakho nxa sisemihlanganweni siyabe silalele uJehova ekhuluma lathi futhi sibona lendlela asinakekela ngayo. Lokhu kwenza sisondele kuye. UJesu wathi: “Lapho okuhlangana khona ababili loba abathathu ngebizo lami, ngizabe ngikhona labo lami.” (Mat. 18:20) IBhayibhili liveza lokuthi uKhristu umkhokheli webandla ‘uhamba phakathi’ kwamabandla abantu bakaNkulunkulu. (Isam. 1:20–2:1) Kuyakhanya ukuthi kunengi okwenziwa nguJehova loJesu ukuze basiqinise emihlanganweni yethu. Ucabanga ukuthi uJehova uzwa njani nxa ebona ukuthi siyafuna sibili ukusondela kuye laseNdodaneni yakhe? w16.04 3:13, 14

Omunye udadewethu wabingelela abazalwane ababili. Kodwa omunye wabo kayizange imphathe kuhle indlela ababingelela ngayo. Sebebodwa abazalwane laba, owayecaphukile waqalisa ukuchothoza lowodade ngalokho ayekukhulumile. Kodwa omunye wakhe wamkhumbuza ukuthi udade lo wayeseleminyaka engu-40 ekhonza uJehova ngokuthembeka. Ngakho wayeqiniseka ukuthi wayengahlosanga ukubazwisa ubuhlungu. Umfowethu wacabangisisa ngalokho okwakutshiwo ngomunye wakhe, wasephendula wathi, “Uqinisile sibili.” Yahle yaphela indaba. Indaba le itshengisani? Itshengisa ukuthi indlela owenza ngayo nxa kube lendaba engakuphathanga kuhle yiyo ezakutsho ukuthi izaphetha ngani. Phela umuntu olothando uyazisibekela iziphambeko ezincane, kafaki ubunyonyo esikalini. (Zaga. 10:12; 1 Phet. 4:8) UJehova uyathokoza nxa ebona ‘singakunaki ukuqalwa.’ (Zaga. 19:11) Ngakho into yokuqala okufanele uzibuze yona nxa omunye angakuphambanisa yikuthi: ‘Ngingayekela yini kudlule? Kulesidingo yini sokwenza kube yindaba enkulu?’ w16.05 1:8, 9

Ngobani sibili abatshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso lamuhla? Singatsho siphinde ukuthi ngoFakazi bakaJehova. Kungani siqiniseka ngalokhu? Ngenxa yokuthi sitshela abantu umlayezo oyiwo, izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Siyabalanda abantu, okutshengisa ukuthi sisebenzisa indlela yokutshumayela eyiyo. Umsebenzi wethu wokutshumayela asiwenzeli ukuthola imali kodwa siwenza ngenxa yothando. Kanti njalo sitshumayela emhlabeni wonke, ebantwini bezizwe zonke njalo abakhuluma izindimi ezitshiyeneyo. Sizaqhubeka sitshumayela kumnyama kubomvu ukuphela kuze kufike. Umsebenzi omkhulu owenziwa ngabantu bakaNkulunkulu kulezizinsuku zokucina usitshiya sibambe owangaphansi. Kuyini okusinceda ukuthi siwenze umsebenzi lo? Impendulo siyithola emazwini omphostoli uPhawuli asembhalweni walamuhla. Sengathi uBaba wethu olothando angaqhubeka esipha amandla ukuze senze konke esingakwenza ukuthi sifeze inkonzo yethu.​—2 Tim. 4:5. w16.05 2:17, 18

Singakhetha ukusebenza gadalala ukuze senze intando kaNkulunkulu siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyamthanda lokuthi sizimisele ukumthokozisa. Kanti njalo siyabe sitshengisa lokuthi siyabusekela ubukhosi bakhe. USathane wasola indlela uJehova abusa ngayo, ngakho nxa silalela uNkulunkulu siyabe sisenza kucace ukuthi sifuna abe ngumbusi wethu. UBaba wethu osezulwini uyajabula nxa sisenza njalo. (Jobe. 2:3-5; Zaga. 27:11) Siyabona-ke ukuthi aluba uJehova ubengakhupha izinto ezenza kube nzima ukuthi simthokozise bekungeke kukhanye ukuthi siqotho kuye lokuthi sizimisele kangakanani ukusekela ubukhosi bakhe. UJehova usikhuthaza ukuthi ‘senze imizamo yonke’ ukuze sibe lobuntu obuhle. (2 Phet. 1:5-7; Kol. 3:12) Ukhangelele ukuthi silwise ngamandla ukuze silungisise imicabango kanye lemizwa yethu. (Rom. 8:5) Yikho ukuqhubeka sisebenza nzima size sinqobe imikhutshana engalunganga esingabe silayo kuzasenza sithokoze. w16.05 4:12, 13

Njengombumbi olobuciko, uJehova uyakwazi ukuthi ngamunye wethu ‘ulubumba’ olunjani njalo usibumba ngendlela efaneleyo. (Hubo. 103:10-14) Uyananzelela ukuthi kulalapho esehluleka khona lokuthi siqine okungakanani ekukhonzeni. Ukuthi uJehova ubaphatha njani abantu abalesono kukhanya endleleni iNdodana yakhe eyayisenza ngayo. Yayibaphatha njani abaphostoli bayo? Kulezikhathi lapho ababephambanisa khona. Babejayele ukuphikisana ngokuthi ngubani phakathi kwabo owayemkhulu kulabanye. Aluba wawubezwa abafundi laba bephikisana, wawuzakuthi balubumba olunjani? UJesu wababona belubumba olubumbekayo. Wayekwazi ukuthi babengabumbeka nxa wayengaba lesineke kubo futhi abalaye ngomusa njalo abe yisibonelo esihle endabeni yokuthobeka. (Mak. 9:33-37; 10:37, 41-45; Luk. 22:24-27) UJesu wabanceda ngoba ngemva kokugcotshwa kwabo ngomoya ongcwele, babengasazikhathazi ngezikhundla loba ukuthola udumo kodwa basebephatheke ngomsebenzi ababewuphiwe.​—ImiSeb. 5:42. w16.06 1:10

UJehova nguye yedwa uNkulunkulu weqiniso futhi akula omunye unkulunkulu onjengaye. (2 Sam. 7:22) UMosi wakhumbuza ama-Israyeli ukuthi akhonze uJehova kuphela. Kwakungamelanga alandele izizwe ezaziseduze kwawo ezazikhonza onkulunkulu labonkulunkulukazi abatshiyeneyo. Abanye onkulunkulu labo kwakukholwa ukuthi balamandla okulawula ezinye izinto ezidaliweyo. Ngokwesibonelo abaseGibhithe babekhonza unkulunkulu welanga uRa, unkulunkulukazi wesibhakabhaka uNut, unkulunkulu womhlaba uGeb, unkulunkulu womfula uNayili okuthiwa nguHapi lezinye izinyamazana ezinengi okwakuthiwa zingcwele. Kodwa lapho uJehova esehlisela abaseGibhithe Inhlupho Ezilitshumi kwakhanya ukuthi onkulunkulu labo babeyiziphamaso nje. AbaseKhenani bona babekhonza uBhali njalo babekholwa ukuthi nguye obanika inzalo. Babekholwa lokuthi ungunkulunkulu wesibhakabhaka, obanika izulu futhi owenza kube lesiphepho. Lakwezinye izindawo abantu babekholwa lokuthi uBhali nguye obancedayo. (Nani. 25:3) Ngakho abako-Israyeli kwakumele bakhumbule ukuthi uJehova nguye yedwa uNkulunkulu weqiniso.​—Dute. 4:35, 39. w16.06 3:4, 5

Isibonelo sikaJesu sisifundisa ukuthi sibe qotho kuJehova lasebantwini bakhe. Kuliqiniso ukuthi uJehova wenza okunengi esebenzisa izinceku zakhe kulezizinsuku zokucina. Kabakho abanye abantu abafundisa iqiniso emhlabeni wonke ngaphandle kwenhlanganiso yakhe. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi nguye oyiqondisayo. U-Isaya 65:14 uchaza isimo esitholakala ebantwini bakaNkulunkulu lamuhla, uthi: “Izinceku zami zizahlabela ngentokozo yezinhliziyo zazo.” Izinceku zikaJehova ziyathokoza nxa zibona izinto ezinhle ezenelisa ukuzenza ngenxa yokuqondiswa nguJehova. Kodwa-ke abantu abaqondiswa nguSathane bona bathwele imikhono ekhanda, kabakwazi lokuthi babambe ngaphi njengoba umumo womhlaba lo ulokhu usiba mubi. Kumele sihlale siqotho kuJehova futhi silandele iziqondiso zakhe. w16.06 4:10-12

Okwakusenzakala endulo kungasisiza sibone ukuthi ukulinda kuqakathekile. Ngalesosikhathi amadolobho amakhulu ayegonjolozelwa ngemiduli emide kakhulu. Imiduli le yayisenza kube nzima ukuthi izitha zingene njalo labalindi babesima phezu kwayo ukuze babone kuhle indawo ebagombolozeleyo. Ebusuku lemini kwakuhlala kulabalindi phezu kwemiduli lasemasangweni. Kwakumele balimukise izakhamuzi nxa bebona ingozi isiza. (Isaya. 62:6) Abalindi laba babethwele izimpilo zabantu yikho kwakumele bahlale bephapheme futhi bethiye indlebe. (Hez. 33:6) Umlobi wezembali uJosephus ulandisa ukuthi ngo-70 C.E., ibutho lamaRoma langena laze layafika eNqabeni yase-Antoniya eyayibambene lomduli weJerusalema ngenxa yokuthi abalindi ababesemasangweni basebezihoqela nje. Esuka lapho amabutho la ahlasela ithempeli alithungela ngomlilo. Lokhu kwahle kwaba yikutshabalala kwayo iJerusalema futhi labatshonela emini abantu. w16.07 2:2, 7, 8

Umusa omkhulu esiwutshengiswe nguJehova wenza sithole izibusiso ezinengi. Kodwa lokhu akumelanga kusenze sicabange ukuthi sesingenza izono ngabomo. Babekhona abanye kumaKhristu akuqala “abaguqulela umusa kaNkulunkulu ukuthi ubeyimvumo yokuganga.” (Jud. 4) AmaKhristu la ayengathembekanga ayecabanga ukuthi angona nje ngabomo abesecela ukuthi uJehova awathethelele. Okudanisayo yikuthi ayesezama lokuhuga abanye abazalwane ukuthi benze njengawo. Loba ngubani okwenzayo lokhu lamuhla uyabe ‘ehlambaza umoya womusa.’ (Heb. 10:29) Lamuhla uSathane uhuga amaKhristu amanengi ukuba acabange ukuthi angona nje ngabomo ethembe ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzawathethelela. Kuliqiniso sibili ukuthi uJehova uyabathethelela abantu abaphendukayo. Kodwa ukhangelele ukuthi sizame ngamandla wonke ukulwisana lemikhuba emibi engasiwisela esonweni. w16.07 3:16, 17

Umuntu ochitha umtshado ngaphandle kokuba omunye wakhe efebile kakhululeki ukutshada lomunye umuntu. Omunye angakhetha ukumxolela umkakhe ofebileyo nxa ebona ukuthi uyazisola ngalokho akwenzileyo. Lokhu yikho kanye okwenziwa nguHoseya, wamxolela umkakhe uGomeri owayeyisifebe. UJehova laye waba lesihawu wabaxolela abako-Israyeli ngesikhathi bephenduka ebufebeni babo bokukhonza abanye onkulunkulu. (Hos. 3:1-5) Kodwa nanku okunye esingakutsho endabeni le, nxa umuntu ekwazi ukuthi umngane wakhe ufebile kodwa abeseqhubeka elala laye, iMibhalo ayisamvumeli ukuthi ehlukane laye ngoba isenzo lesi sitshengisa ukuthi usemxolele. Ngemva kokutsho amazwi asembhalweni walamuhla, uJesu wakubeka kwacaca ukuthi umKhristu angehlukana lomkakhe kuphela nxa efebile. Ngemva kwalokho wakhuluma ngalabo abakhetha ukuhlala bengatshadanga. Wathi: “Lowo ongakwamukela lokhu kakwemukele.” (Mat. 19:10-12) Banengi abazalwane labodade abakhethe ukuhlala bengatshadanga ukuze bakhonze uJehova kungelazinto ezibaphambanisayo. Siyababonga ngalokho abakwenzayo. w16.08 1:15, 16

Abasakhulayo balamandla okwenza okunengi enkonzweni. (Zaga. 20:29) Abanye abasakhulayo abaseBhetheli basebenza emitshineni edinda amaBhayibhili lamanye amabhuku akhutshwa yinhlanganiso yethu. Ikanti abanye baphathisa emsebenzini wokwakha lowokulungisa amaWolu oMbuso. Abanye njalo bayahamba bayencedisa nxa kungaba lezingozi zemvelo. Abanye abasakhulayo abangamaphayona bafundela ezinye izindimi njalo abanye batshumayela izindaba ezinhle kwezinye izindawo. Umhubi wathi: “Labo abamfunayo uJehova kabasweli lutho oluhle.” (Hubo. 34:10) Lakanye uJehova kabadanisi abantu abazimisele ukumkhonza. Ukwenza okunengi emsebenzini kaJehova kwenze lathi ‘sanambitha’ futhi ‘sabona ukuthi ulungile.’ Kanti njalo ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo yonke kwenza sithole intokozo engeke ichazwe ngamazwi. w16.08 3:5, 8

UJehova uzimisele ukusinika umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze asiqinise. (1 ImiLan. 29:12) Kuqakathekile ukuthi siwucele ukuze usiphathise senelise ukulwisana laloba yiluphi uhlupho uSathane angasiphosela lona. (Hubo. 18:39; 1 Khor. 10:13) Kanti njalo uNkulunkulu usinike iLizwi lakhe eliphefumulelweyo kanye lenhlanganiso yakhe esifundisayo nyanga zonke. Amazwi akuZekhariya 8:9, 13 akhulunywa ngesikhathi kusakhiwa kutsha ithempeli eJerusalema futhi ayasikhuthaza lathi. Okunye okusiqinisayo yimfundo esiyithola emihlanganweni yebandla, emihlanganweni yeziqinti leyezabelo. Enye njalo imfundo itholakala ezikolo ezitshiyeneyo eziqhutshwa yinhlanganiso yethu. Imfundo le iyasinceda ukuthi singapheli amandla, sihlele esifuna ukukwenza enkonzweni njalo siphumelele ukwenza yonke imisebenzi esiyiphiwayo. (Hubo. 119:32) Nxa ungakusebenzisa konke lokhu esikuphiwa nguJehova uzahlala uqinile ekukhonzeni. w16.09 1:10, 11

UMthetho uNkulunkulu awunika ama-Israyeli wawutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyakuzonda ukuthi umuntu agqoke ngendlela ezakwenza kungakhanyi ukuthi ungowesifazana kumbe ungowesilisa. (Dute. 22:5) Wawukubeka kucace ukuthi uNkulunkulu kafuni ukuthi amadoda agqoke njengabafazi kumbe ukuthi abafazi bagqoke njengamadoda loba ukugqoka ngendlela ephicayo kungasabonakali kuhle ukuthi uyindoda loba ungumfazi. ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lilezimiso ezisinceda ukuthi sonke sigqoke ngendlela ehloniphekayo kungelani lokuthi sihlala ngaphi, silamasiko bani loba ukuthi umumo womkhathi unjani. Kasidingi kubhalelwa phansi ukuthi kuyini okumele sikugqoke lokungamelanga sikugqoke. Kodwa siqondiswa yizimiso eziseMbhalweni futhi ziyasivumela ukuthi sizikhethele esikufunayo. w16.09 3:3, 4

Akucabange ngokuthembeka kanye lesibindi esatshengiswa ngabalobi beBhayibhili. Abalobi basendulo abanengi babekhukhumeza ababusi babo futhi beyikhulumela kuhle imibuso yakubo. Kodwa abaphrofethi bakaJehova babebhala iqiniso njengoba linjalo, babengaqali ukusenga lezimithiyo. Ngokwesibonelo abazange bagudle iguma, bawabhala amaphutha ayesenziwa ngabantu bakubo kanye lamakhosi abo. (2 ImiLan. 16:9, 10; 24:18-22) Baveza ngitsho lawabo amaphutha ababewenza layesenziwa ngezinye izinceku zikaNkulunkulu. (2 Sam. 12:1-14) Abanengi bayakuvuma ukuthi iBhayibhili laphefumulelwa nguNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuthi lilezimiso ezilusizo kakhulu empilweni. (Hubo. 19:7-11) Izimiso eziseBhayibhilini ziyasivikela ukuthi singaphongulandela ukukhonza kwamanga kanye lamasalamusi akholwa ngabantu abanengi. (Hubo. 115:3-8) Izinto lezi abazikholwayo zenza badumise izinto ezidaliweyo kulokuthi badumise uJehova onguye owenza zonke izinto. Kanti njalo zibangela lokuthi abantu bazenzele umathanda besithi ikusasa labo lisezandleni zabo. Kodwa iqiniso elikhona yikuthi ithemba elihle ngekusasa kabalalo.​—Hubo. 146:3, 4. w16.09 4:10, 11

UBhowazi wayekhathazekile ngoRuthe futhi ezwisisa lobunzima ayephakathi kwabo njengoba wayengowezizweni. Wamtshela ukuthi ahlale lamantombazana ayeyizisebenzi zakhe ukuze angahlutshwa ngamadoda ayesebenza ensimini. Kanti njalo waba leqiniso lokuthi uRuthe uyathola ukudla okweneleyo kanye lamanzi okunatha njengazo zonke izisebenzi. UBhowazi kazange amkhangelele phansi owesifazana lo owayezidubekela kodwa wakhuluma laye ngomusa emtshela amazwi aduduzayo. (Ruthe. 2:8-10, 13, 14) UBhowazi wayithanda indlela uRuthe aphatha ngayo uninazala wakhe uNawomi kodwa okwamthokozisa kakhulu yikuthi uRuthe wayeseyisikhonzi sikaJehova. Umusa kaBhowazi watshengisa indlela uJehova ayemthanda ngayo owesifazana lo owayeze ‘ukuzophephela ngaphansi kwamaphiko’ kaNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. (Ruthe. 2:12, 20; Zaga. 19:17) Lalamuhla ukuba lomusa kungasiza “abantu bonke” ukuba bafunde iqiniso futhi bakubone lokuthi uJehova uyabathanda kakhulu.​—1 Tim. 2:3, 4. w16.10 1:10-12

Sikhululekile ukutshela uJehova konke okusikhathazayo ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi uzasizwa njalo asiqinise ukuze senelise ukubekezelela ubunzima. Nxa sibona imithandazo yethu iphendulwa ukholo lwethu luyaqina ngamandla. (1 Joh. 5:14, 15) Ukholo yisithelo somoya ongcwele, ngakho kumele siqhubeke sithandaza kuNkulunkulu ‘sicela’ ukuthi asiphe umoya wakhe. (Luk. 11:9, 13) Akumelanga sithandazele esikudingayo kuphela. Kodwa kumele simbonge uJehova njalo simdumise nsuku zonke ngoba wadala izinto ezimangalisayo futhi ezinengi okwamagama. (Hubo. 40:5) Imithandazo yethu kumele itshengise lokuthi ‘siyabakhumbula abasentolongweni ngokungathi [lathi] siyizibotshwa kanye labo.’ Kanti njalo kufanele sithandazele labazalwane bethu abasemhlabeni wonke, ikakhulu labo ‘abakhokhelayo.’ Siyathokoza nxa sibona uJehova eyiphendula imithandazo yabantu bakhe.​—Heb. 13:3, 7. w16.10 3:8, 9

Abantu bakaJehova bebelokhu betshengisa ukuthi balokholo eMbusweni wakhe futhi bayawusekela. Bayathandana okwamagama ngoba bavumela ukuthi uNkulunkulu abaqondise ngomoya wakhe ongcwele. (Gal. 5:22, 23) Lokhu kube lempumela emihle. Sikhuluma nje emhlabeni wonke sekulabazalwane abedlula 8 miliyoni abamanyeneyo futhi abalokuthula. Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi ukuba lokholo lothando kuqakathekile. UNkulunkulu wethu nguye owenze kwaba lokuzwanana lokumanyana ebantwini bakhe. Ngenxa yalokhu kumele “adunyiswe, kube yisibonakaliso esingapheliyo, esingayikudilizwa.” (Isaya. 55:13) UJehova uzaqhubeka encedisa abantu abanengi ukuthi babe lokholo kuye. Ekucineni umhlaba wonke uzagcwala abantu abangelasono, abalungileyo njalo abathokozayo abazamdumisa kuze kube nini lanini. Ngakho kasizimiseleni ukuqhubeka siqinisa ukholo lwethu kulokhu uJehova asithembisa khona. w16.10 4:18, 19

Kuqakathekile ukuthi silalele iseluleko esivela eBhayibhilini esisiphiwa ngabadala. Ngokwesibonelo uPhawuli wabhala mayelana labanye ababesenza izinto ezingafanelanga. ‘Babengamavila’ njalo ‘bengenela izindaba zabanye.’ Abadala bazama ukubeluleka abazalwane laba kodwa bona bephulela izigodo endlebeni. Pho kwakumele ibandla limphathe njani umuntu onjalo? UPhawuli wathi: “Mnanzeleleni. Lingajwayelani laye.” Kodwa waphetha ngokubatshela ukuthi kwakungafanelanga bamphathe njengesitha. (2 Thes. 3:11-15) Lamuhla abadala bangenza inkulumo besixwayisa ngomunye ebandleni oqhubeka esenza okuthile okulihlazo, mhlawumbe ngokuthandana lomuntu ongasiFakazi kaJehova. (1 Khor. 7:39) Wena uzakwenzani nxa kungenziwa inkulumo enjalo? Nxa ubuyazi leyondaba uzaqhubeka udlelana lalowomuntu yini ngemva kwaleyonkulumo? Ukulalela kwakho abadala kanye lokuba qotho kuJehova kungamnceda lowomuntu ukuthi atshiye umkhuba wakhe omubi. w16.11 2:13

NgePhentekhosti ka-33 C.E., izinkulungwane zamaJuda labanye abantu abasebephendukele enkolweni yeqiniso bagcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele. AmaKhristu la amatsha aba ngabantu “abakhethiweyo, ubuphristi bobukhosi, isizwe esingcwele, abantu abangaba-kaNkulunkulu.” (1 Phet. 2:9, 10) Ngesikhathi abaphostoli besaphila babewakhokhela kuhle amabandla. Kodwa kwathi sebefile, kwavela amadoda ebandleni futhi ‘alihlanekela iqiniso’ ukuze ahuge abafundi ukuthi bawalandele. (2 Thes. 2:6-8) Inengi lawo kwakungamadoda ayekhokhela ebandleni futhi engababonisi. Kodwa ngokuya kwesikhathi acina esezibeka ukuba ngabafundisi lanxa uJesu wayetshilo ukuthi kungabi labafundisi ebandleni. (Mat. 23:8) Amadoda la ayesethathekile ngezimfundiso zamanga zika-Aristotle loPlato njalo azingenisa kancane kancane ebandleni zaqhubeka zimemetheka zaze zaligqibela iqiniso eliseLizwini likaNkulunkulu. w16.11 4:8

Singakabi ngoFakazi sasiwona kanenginengi futhi singananzeleli ukuthi esasikwenza kwakukubi kangakanani kuNkulunkulu. Singathi ‘sasiyizigqili zamanyala lokuxhwala’ okutsho ukuthi ‘sasiyizigqili zesono.’ (Rom. 6:19, 20) Kodwa sathi sesifunde iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini saqalisa ukuntshintsha indlela esasiphila ngayo. Ngemva kwalokho sazinikela kuNkulunkulu sasesibhabhathizwa. ‘Sakhululwa esonweni saba yizigqili zokulunga.’ (Rom. 6:17, 18) Nxa singaphongudonswa yizifiso zemizimba yethu elesono ukuthi senze loba yini, siyabe ‘sesivumela isono sisibuse.’ Kodwa njengoba silenkululeko yokuzikhethela ukuthi sifuna ukubuswa yisono yini loba hatshi, ngamunye wethu kumele ahlole ukuthi inhliziyo yakhe ilengela kuliphi icele. Yikho zibuze imibuzo le: ‘Ngiyake ngivumele umzimba wami olesono loba ingqondo yami ingifuqe ukuba ngenze okubi? Sengazitshiya yini izenzo zemvelo yesono?’ Ukuzihlola ngalindlela kuzatshengisa ukuthi siyawuqakathekisa umusa omkhulu uNkulunkulu asitshengise wona ngokusithethelela. w16.12 1:11, 12

Okunye okungasenza sibe lokuhlaliseka ezingqondweni yikuzama ngamandla wonke ukuhlalisana kuhle labemuli yethu kanye lalabo esikhonza labo. Kwezinye izikhathi siyaphambanisana labafowethu labodadewethu ngenxa yokuthi singabantu abalesono. Nxa kungenzakala lokhu silandela iseluleko esasiphiwa nguJesu esithi: “Qala uyexolisana laye umfowenu.” (Mat. 5:24) Kuba lula ukuthi sixolisane nxa singakhumbula ukuthi sonke sikhonza “uNkulunkulu wokuthula.” (Rom. 15:33; 16:20) Nxa ‘singagxilisa ingqondo ezintweni zomoya’ sizakuba lokuthula loNkulunkulu. Lesi yisibusiso esingeke sisithole loba ngaphi. Umphrofethi u-Isaya wabhala wathi: “Uyamnika ukuthula okupheleleyo lowo olengqondo ebambelele kuwe, ngoba ethembe kuwe.”​—Isaya. 26:3, The Holy Bible in Ndebele; Rom. 5:1. w16.12 2:5, 18, 19

UJehova ulokhu ebabusisa abantu bakhe lanxa bephila emhlabeni lo obuswa nguSathane. Uba leqiniso lokuthi bathola konke abakudingayo ukuze bahlale belokholo oluqinileyo njalo bethokoza. (Isaya. 54:13) Njengoba uJesu watsho, uJehova uyasibusisa khathesi ngokusivumela ukuthi sibe phakathi kwenhlanganiso yakhe esemhlabeni wonke elabantu abalothando. (Mak. 10:29, 30) Enye indlela uNkulunkulu abusisa ngayo abantu abamdinga ngobuqotho yikubanika ukuthula okubenza bahlaliseke, basuthiseke njalo bathokoze. (Flp. 4:4-7) Woba leqiniso lokuthi ‘lapho usuyenzile intando kaNkulunkulu uzakwamukela lokho akuthembisayo.’ (Heb. 10:35, 36) Ngakho sonke kasizimiseleni ukuqhubeka siluqinisa ukholo lwethu njalo simsebenzela ngenhliziyo yonke uJehova. Kasikwenzeni lokhu sisazi ukuthi uJehova uzasinika umvuzo.​—Kol. 3:23, 24. w16.12 4:17, 20

Kambe singathi silenkululeko yokuzikhethela khona kulezinto ezithile uNkulunkulu asitshela ukuthi singazenzi? Ye silayo sibili. Khumbula ukuthi eminye imithetho efakwayo yenzelwe ukuvikela abantu. Ngokwesibonelo ake sithi ufuna ukuthatha uhambo olude ngemota ubusunanzelela ukuthi umgwaqo ohamba ngawo awulamithetho eqondisa abatshayeli. Wonke umuntu ohamba emgwaqweni lo uzenzela akufunayo, abanye bayagijima kakhulu ikanti abanye bayazikhethela lapho abafuna ukuhamba khona. Ubungakhululeka yini ukutshayela emgwaqweni onjalo? Ngitsho lakancane. Siyabona-ke ukuthi nxa uJehova esitshela izinto okumele sizenze lokungamelanga sizenze uyabe esinceda ukuthi sisebenzise kuhle inkululeko yokuzikhethela esilayo. Isibonelo sika-Adamu sitshengisa ukuqakatheka kokusebenzisa inkululeko yethu silandela lokho uJehova akufunayo. U-Adamu weqa umngcele ayewufakelwe nguNkulunkulu wadla isihlahla ayetshelwe ukuthi angasidli. Ukusebenzisa kubi inkululeko yakhe yokuzikhethela kwabangela ukuthi izizukulwane zakhe zibe phakathi kwelitshe lembokodo okweminyaka eminengi. (Rom. 5:12) Ukwazi impumela ebuhlungu eyalethwa yikungalaleli kuka-Adamu kumele kusifuqe ukuthi siyisebenzise kuhle inkululeko yokuzikhethela esiyiphiwe nguJehova. w17.01 2:6, 8

Nxa singacelwa ukuthi senze umsebenzi othile, ukuthandaza lokuhlolisisa izimo zethu ngonanzelelo kuzasisiza ukuthi singacini sithwala nzima ngokwenza izinto eziphezu kwamandla ethu. Ukuzithoba kuzasinceda ukuthi sale nxa sibona ukuthi asenelisi ukwenza umsebenzi othile. Nxa singamukela umsebenzi omutsha, isibonelo sikaGidiyoni sisikhumbuza ukuthi kumele sicele uJehova asinike amandla njalo asiqondise. IBhayibhili lisikhuthaza ukuthi ‘sihambe ngokuzithoba loNkulunkulu wethu.’ (Mik. 6:8) Yikho loba nini lapho siphiwa umsebenzi omutsha kumele sicabangisise ngalokho uJehova asitshela khona eLizwini lakhe langeziqondiso ezivela enhlanganisweni yakhe. Kumele sikhumbule ukuthi imisebenzi esiyenzayo kayiphumeleli ngenxa yamandla ethu. UJehova nguye owenza siphumelele ngoba uyazithoba futhi uzimisele ukusisiza. (Hubo. 18:35) Ukuhamba ngokuzithoba loNkulunkulu kuzasinceda ukuthi singazikhangeleli phansi kumbe sibone angathi singcono kakhulu. w17.01 3:17, 18

UJesu wayekwazi ukuthi sasizafika isikhathi lapho ayezaqeda khona inkonzo yakhe lapha emhlabeni besekudingakala ukuthi abanye basale beqhubekela phambili ngomsebenzi. Wayengathandabuzi ukuthi abafundi bakhe babezawenza kuhle lowomsebenzi lanxa babengabantu abalesono. Wabatshela ukuthi babezakwenza izinto ezinkulu kulalezo ayezenzile. (Joh. 14:12) Yikho wabaqeqetsha okuzwayo futhi benelisa ukutshumayela izindaba ezinhle kuzo zonke izindawo ezazikhona ngalesosikhathi. (Kol. 1:23) UJesu esevusiwe waya ezulwini njalo wafika wanikwa omunye umsebenzi kanye lamandla ‘aphezu kokubusa konke lobukhosi lamandla kanye lombuso.’ (Efe. 1:19-21) Lanxa lathi singafa khathesi i-Amagedoni ingakafiki, silethemba lokuthi uJehova uzasivusa emhlabeni omutsha njalo asinike omunye umsebenzi omnengi. Kodwa okwakhathesi kasikhuthaleni emsebenzini wokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle lowokwenza abafundi. Kasizimiseleni ukuqhubeka ‘sizinikela ngokupheleleyo emsebenzini weNkosi.’ w17.01 5:17, 18

Ukufa kukaJesu kwabhadala inhlawulo eyayifuneka ukuze abantu bakhululwe. (Heb. 9:24-26) Inhlawulo le iyasesula ngokupheleleyo isigwebo sokufa esasithola ku-Adamu. Siyayibonga ngoba isenze sakhululeka ekubeni yizigqili zikaSathane futhi kasisakwesabi ukufa. (Heb. 2:14, 15) UJehova uNkulunkulu kasoze ehluleke ukugcwalisa izithembiso zakhe futhi ngeke ababambise ilitshe abantu abamthandayo. Njengoba nje imithetho yakhe eqondisa imvelo ingaguquki, sileqiniso lokuthi laye ngeke antshintshe. Kunengi uJehova asenzela khona, usinika impilo njalo uyasithanda kakhulu. IBhayibhili lithi: “Siyazi njalo sithembe uthando uNkulunkulu alalo kithi. UNkulunkulu uluthando.” (1 Joh. 4:16) UJehova uthembisa ukuthi umhlaba lo uzantshintshwa ube lipharadayisi njalo abantu bazabe sebethandana kakhulu belingisela uBaba wethu osezulwini. Ngalesosikhathi zonke izidalwa ezisezulwini lezisemhlabeni zizamemeza zisithi: “Udumo lobukhosi lokuhlakanipha lokubongwa lokuhlonitshwa lamandla kanye lokuqina kakube kuNkulunkulu wethu nini lanini. Ameni!”​—Isam. 7:12. w17.02 2:16, 17

INqabayokulinda kaJune 1 1973 yayilombuzo othi: ‘Kulungile yini ukuthi umuntu ongakatshiyi ukubhema abhabhathizwe?’ Impendulo yathi: “IMibhalo itshengisa ukuthi akuqondanga ukuthi abhabhathizwe.” INqabayokulinda le yayilemibhalo eminengi eyayichaza indaba le futhi yaveza lokuthi nxa umuntu engafuni ukutshiya umkhuba lo kumele asuswe ebandleni. (1 Khor. 5:7) Kanti njalo yachaza ukuthi isimiso lesi asiveli emuntwini kodwa sivela “kuNkulunkulu ngoba ukhuluma lathi esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe.” Elinye ibhuku elikhuluma ngamasonto e-United States lithi: “Kukanengi abafundisi bamasonto bentshintsha izimfundiso zabo ukuze zihambelane lalokho okufunwa ngabantu abangena lawomasonto.” Kuyakhanya sibili ukuthi inhlanganiso kaJehova inamathela kulokho iBhayibhili elikutshoyo lanxa ukwenza njalo kungaba nzima kwamanye amalunga ayo. w17.02 4:15

Abadala abathobekileyo kabakufisi ukuphathwa njengabantu abadumileyo. Lokhu kwenza batshiyane kakhulu labafundisi abakhona lamuhla kanye lalabo ababephila ngesikhathi uJesu esemhlabeni. Wakhuluma ngabo wathi: “Bathanda izindawo eziphezulu emadilini lezihlalo eziqakathekileyo emasinagogeni, bathanda ukubingelelwa emisikeni.” (Mat. 23:6, 7) Abadala abathobekileyo bayawalalela amazwi kaJesu athi: “Kodwa lina malingabizwa kuthiwe ‘Rabi,’ ngokuba munye kuphela oyiNkosi yenu njalo lina lonke lingabafowenu. Futhi lingabizi muntu ngokuthi ‘baba,’ ngokuba liloYihlo oyedwa, yena osezulwini. Njalo lingabizwa lithiwe ‘mfundisi,’ ngokuba liloMfundisi oyedwa, uKhristu. Omkhulu kulani lonke phakathi kwenu uzakuba yinceku yenu.” (Mat. 23:8-11) Ngakho nxa bonke abadala abasemabandleni bezithoba futhi belalela amazwi kaJesu kuzakuba lula ukuthi abafowethu labodadewethu babathande njalo babahloniphe. w17.03 1:14, 15

Ngamunye wethu kumele azenzele izinqumo njalo nxa sifuna ukwenza izinqumo ezinhle kufanele silandele okutshiwo liBhayibhili. Yikho umuntu ngamunye kumele azenzele izinqumo, akufanelanga enzelwe ngomunye umuntu. Ukuze wenelise ukwenza izinqumo ezinhle, hlola ukuthi uNkulunkulu uthini ubusukhetha ukwenza khona. Nxa singaphongulandela esikutshelwa ngabanye abantu siyabe sesibavumela ukuthi basenzele izinqumo. (Zaga. 1:10, 15) Kwezinye izikhathi abanye bangasibamba ngamandla ukuthi senze abakufunayo kodwa thina kufanele silandele umzwangedwa wethu ofundiswe liBhayibhili. Nxa singavuma ukuthi abanye basenzele izinqumo siyabe sesilandela izindlela zabo futhi ukwenza njalo kungasiwisela engozini. Umphostoli uPhawuli waxwayisa abaseGalathiya ngengozi yokuvumela ukuthi abanye babenzele izinqumo. (Gal. 4:17) Abanye abazalwane ababesebandleni lelo babefuna ukwenzela abanye izinqumo behlose ukuthi kulandelwe bona hatshi abaphostoli. w17.03 2:8-10

UJosiya wayekukhuthalele ukwenza izinto ezithokozisa uNkulunkulu. Abasakhulayo bangafunda okunengi kuye. Kumele bazimisele ukukhonza uJehova besesebancane. Kungenzakala ukuthi uJosiya wafunda ngesihawu sikaNkulunkulu kukhulu wakhe uManase. Nxa ungosakhulayo zama ukuba lobungane lamaKhristu athembekileyo asekhulile emulini yangakini lasebandleni. Bazakuxoxela izinto ezinengi uJehova abenzele zona. Khumbula ukuthi ukubala iMibhalo kwamnceda uJosiya ukuthi enze okuhle phambi kukaJehova. Ngakho lawe zama ngamandla wonke ukubala iLizwi likaNkulunkulu ngoba kuzakufuqa ukuthi wenze okumthokozisayo. Nxa ungenza njalo uzathokoza empilweni, ubuhlobo bakho loNkulunkulu buzaqina njalo uzakukhuthalela ukutshela abanye ngaye. (2 ImiLan. 34:18, 19) Ukutaditsha iBhayibhili kuzakunceda lokuthi ubone lapho okumele uthuthukise khona ubusulungisisa. Ngakho mlingisele uJosiya. w17.03 3:18, 19