September

IBhayibhili lithi ukubekezela kakutsho ukubhensela izilingo kuphela kodwa kutsho lendlela esenza ngayo nxa sihlangana lazo. Umuntu obekezelayo ukhanya ngokuba lesibindi, isineke kanye lokuzimisela. Elinye ibhuku lithi ukubekezela kusisiza ukuthi sibe lethemba eliqinileyo njalo singathwali imikhono ekhanda nxa sesisebunzimeni. Kusenza sime siqine lanxa sesiphakathi kwezinhlupho ezinzima kakhulu. Kanti njalo kusinceda lokuthi singagajelwa lusizi esiphakathi kwalo kodwa sikhangele umvuzo ophambili. Kufanele sibe lothando ukuze sibekezele. (1 Khor. 13:4, 7) Ukuthanda uNkulunkulu kuyasifuqa ukuthi senze intando yakhe. (Luk. 22:41, 42) Ukuthanda abafowethu kwenza sibabekezelele nxa bephambanisa ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi balesono. (1 Phet. 4:8) Ukuthanda omkethu kusenza sibekezelele “izinhlupho” ezibakhona lasemulini ethokozayo njalo siqinise umtshado wethu.​—1 Khor. 7:28. w16.04 2:3, 4

Ibala lesiGrikhi elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “bakhuthalela” litsho ukubekezela loba ukubambelela kulokho okwenzayo ngokuzimisela okukhulu. Kwakunzima ukuthi lawomaKhristu akuqala angene imihlangano ngalesosikhathi ngoba ayebuswa ngamaRoma njalo ephikiswa ngabakhokheli benkolo yesiJuda. Loba kunjalo kawazange akhalale. Lamuhla izinceku zikaJehova ezinengi ziyakuqakathekisa ukungena imihlangano. UGeorge Gangas owayelilunga leQula Elibusayo okweminyaka engu-22 wathi: “Ngiyakukholisa kakhulu ukuhlangana labazalwane futhi kuyangikhuthaza.” Waqhubeka wathi: “Kimi into eyisiqokoqela engifisa ukuhlala ngiyenza yikungena imihlangano.” Wena uyakuqakathekisa yini ukungena imihlangano ukuze ukhonze uJehova? Nxa kunjalo zimisele ukuqhubeka usenza okusemandleni akho ukuze ungene imihlangano. Ungenza njalo uzabe uvumelana leNkosi uDavida eyathi: “Ngiyayithanda indlu ohlala kuyo, O Jehova.”​—Hubo. 26:8. w16.04 3:16-18

Ake sithi uzwe ukuthi okukhulumileyo kumbe okwenzileyo kakumphathanga kuhle omunye umzalwane. Kumele wenzeni? Hamba uyekhuluma lomfowenu. Inhloso yakho ibe yikuyaxolisa ukuze kube lokuthula phakathi kwenu hatshi ukuyamtshela ukuthi laye uphambanisile. Kuqakathekile ukuhlalisana ngokuthula labafowethu. Khumbula lokho okwenzakala ku-Abhrahama loLothi. Izifuyo zamadoda la zazidlana uboya futhi lokhu kwabangela ukuthi abelusi bawo baxabane belwela amadlelo. U-Abhrahama kazange avumele ukuthi indaba le ibenze bakhangelelane emanzini, ngakho wazimisela ukuthi ayilungisise. Wavumela ukuthi uLothi aqale ukukhetha indawo ayefuna ukuhlala kuyo. (Gen. 13:1, 2, 5-9) U-Abhrahama waba yisibonelo esihle sibili! Kazange alandele okwakufiswa yinhliziyo yakhe. Ayekufuna yikuthi yena loLothi bahlalisane ngokuthula. Walahlekelwa yini u-Abhrahama ngokwenza lokhu? Ngitsho lakancane. Ngemva nje kokulungisa indaba le, uJehova wamthembisa izibusiso ezinengi. (Gen. 13:14-17) Lokhu kuveza ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyababusisa abantu bakhe nxa bezimisela ukusebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibhili ukuze balungise izingxabano ngothando. w16.05 1:11, 12

UJehova usinika imithetho eminengi ecacileyo etholakala eLizwini lakhe. Ngokwesibonelo usitshela ukuthi uyakwenyanya ukuziphatha okubi, ukukhonza izithombe, ukuntshontsha kanye lokudakwa. (1 Khor. 6:9, 10) LoJesu Khristu iNdodana yakhe wanika abalandeli bakhe umlayo lo othi: ‘Hambani lenze abafundi ezizweni zonke, libabhaphathize ebizweni likaBaba, leleNdodana lelomoya ongcwele, njalo libafundise ukulalela konke engililaye ngakho. Ngempela ngilani kokuphela, kuze kube sekucineni kwesikhathi.’ (Mat. 28:19, 20) Imithetho kanye lemilayo eseBhayibhilini iyasivikela sibili. Ukuyilalela kwenza siziphathe kuhle, sibe lempilakahle njalo sibe lezimuli ezithokozayo. Okuqakathekileyo kakhulu yikuthi uJehova uyathokoza njalo asibusise nxa silandela imithetho yakhe zikhathi zonke, okugoqela lomlayo wokutshumayela. w16.05 3:1

Nxa singabamba ziqine, silifunde iBhayibhili, sicabangisise ngalokho esikufundayo futhi sikhuleke sicela umoya ongcwele sizazwisisa ukuthi kuyini okujabulisa uJehova njalo sizafunda lokumlingisela kukho konke esikwenzayo. (Luk. 11:13; Gal. 5:22, 23) Kodwa-ke kuzamele singalalisi inkophe funa imikhuba emibi esiyabe sesiyitshiyile iphinde iphenduke futhi. (Zaga. 4:23) Kungathatha isikhathi ukufunda ukulingisela ubuntu bukaJehova. Yikho kwezinye izikhathi singabona angathi kasenzi lutho. Kodwa kumele sibekezele njalo siqhubeke sivumela iBhayibhili lisintshintshe. Ekuqaliseni kungadingakala ukuthi sizame ngamandla wonke ukwenza lokho okutshiwo yiMibhalo. Nxa singaqhubeka sisenza izinto ezithokozisa uJehova kuzakuba lula ukuthi sicabange njengaye njalo senze okuhle.​—Hubo. 37:31; Zaga. 23:12; Gal. 5:16, 17. w16.05 4:14, 16

UJehova ubumba izinceku zakhe lamuhla esebenzisa ikakhulu iLizwi lakhe, umoya wakhe ongcwele kanye lebandla lobuKhristu. ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lingasibumba njani? Kumele silibale, sinakane ngalo besesicela uJehova ukuthi asisize sikusebenzise empilweni yethu lokho esikubalayo. UDavida wabhala wathi: “Ngisembhedeni wami ngiyakhumbula; ngiyakukhumbula lanxa ngisemlindweni wasebusuku.” (Hubo. 63:6) Waphinda wathi: “Ngizamdumisa uJehova, onguye ongelulekayo; lasebusuku inhliziyo yami iyangiqondisa.” (Hubo. 16:7) UDavida wavumela ukuthi iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu singene sijule kuye lokuthi sibumbe imicabango kanye lemizwa yakhe. Wayekwenza lokhu lanxa wayephiwa iseluleko esiqatha. (2 Sam. 12:1-13) UDavida uyisibonelo esihle kakhulu kithi endabeni yokuthobeka lokuzehlisa. Ngakho ungazibuza ukuthi: ‘Nxa ngibala iLizwi likaNkulunkulu, ngiyacabangisisa ngalo yini? Ngiyakuvumela yini engikubalayo ukuthi kungene kujule enhliziyweni yami? Ngingayithuthukisa yini indlela engifunda ngayo?’​—Hubo. 1:3. w16.06 1:11

Kumele ukhumbule ukuthi sonke siyawenza amaphutha. Ngakho akuqondanga ukuthi sikhangelele okunengi kwesikholwa labo kumbe sivumele amaphutha abo asenze singasakukholisi ukuba phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu. Okubi kakhulu okungamelanga sikwenze loba nini yikuvumela amaphutha abanye ukuthi asiwise besesitshiya inhlanganiso kaJehova. Nxa singakuvumela lokhu singalahlekelwa yisibusiso sokuba lobuhlobo obuhle loNkulunkulu njalo ngeke siwubone umhlaba omutsha. Nxa sifuna ukuhlala sithokoza futhi silethemba eliqinileyo, kumele singakhohlwa isithembiso sikaJehova esithi: “Khangelani, ngizadala izulu elitsha lomhlaba omutsha. Izinto zakuqala aziyikukhunjulwa, kumbe zifike engqondweni.” (Isaya. 65:17; 2 Phet. 3:13) Ngakho ungavumeli amaphutha abanye akwenze ungazitholi izibusiso lezi. w16.06 4:13, 14

Umutsho othi ‘uJehova munye’ utsho ukuthi uthembekile kulokho akwenzayo lakulokho akuhlosileyo. UJehova uNkulunkulu kantshintshantshintshi. Uthembekile zikhathi zonke, kaguquki, uqotho njalo uleqiniso. Ngokwesibonelo wathembisa u-Abhrahama ukuthi izizukulwane zakhe zazizathatha iLizwe Lesithembiso njalo wenza izimangaliso ezesabekayo ukuze agcwalise lesosithembiso. Lanxa kwedlula iminyaka engu-430 kungakenzakali lokhu uJehova kaguqukanga, wakugcwalisa ayekuthembisile. (Gen. 12:1, 2, 7; Eks. 12:40, 41) Ngemva kweminyaka eminengi uJehova wabiza abako-Israyeli ngokuthi ngofakazi bakhe, wasebatshela wathi: “Mina nginguye. Ngaphambi kwami kakho uNkulunkulu owake waba khona njalo kakho ozakuba khona emva kwami.” UJehova waphinda watshengisa lokuthi injongo yakhe kayintshintshi lapho esithi: “Kusukela ezinsukwini zasendulo nginguye.” (Isaya. 43:10, 13; 44:6; 48:12) Kwakuyisibusiso kuma-Israyeli ukuba yizinceku zikaJehova uNkulunkulu ongaguqukiyo futhi othembekileyo kukho konke akwenzayo. Lathi silesibusiso esifananayo lamuhla.​—Mal. 3:6; Jak. 1:17. w16.06 3:6, 7

Ohulumende abanengi lamuhla bafaka amasotsha emingceleni yamazwe kanye lemitshina yakulezinsuku ukuze bavikele amazwe abo. Lokhu kubanceda ukuthi babone labo abangena elizweni ngokungekho emthethweni kanye lezitha ezingabe zifuna ukuhlasela ilizwe labo. Lanxa bevale bavitsha benelisa ukubona izingozi ezingavela ebantwini kuphela. Abakunanzeleli ukuthi sekubekwe uMbuso olamandla amakhulu ezulwini lokuthi wenzani khathesi. Kanti njalo kabakwazi lokuthi sekuseduze ukuthi uJesu Khristu oyiNkosi yoMbuso lo azokulwa impi labohulumende bomhlaba. (Isaya. 9:6, 7; 56:10; Dan. 2:44) Kodwa thina kasifanani labo, siyakwazi ukuthi nxa singahlala siphapheme njalo sikhuthele ekukhonzeni sizasinda nxa isehlakalo leso sifika. (Hubo. 130:6) Kungaba nzima ukuthi sihlale silindile ikakhulu njengoba sekuseduze kangaka ukuthi umumo lo uphele. Kungadanisa sibili nxa singehluleka ukuhlala silindile. w16.07 2:2, 9, 10

UPhawuli wayekwazi ukuthi isihawu ayesitshengiswe nguNkulunkulu wayengazange asisebenzele futhi sasingamfanelanga ngenxa yokuthi wayeke wahlukuluza amaKhristu. Esezakufa wabhalela uThimothi ayesebenza laye wathi: “Ngiyambonga uKhristu uJesu iNkosi yethu, onginike amandla, wangibona ngithembekile, wangibeka emsebenzini wakhe.” (1 Tim. 1:12-14) Wawungumsebenzi bani? UPhawuli watshela abadala bebandla le-Efesu ukuthi umsebenzi lo wawugoqelani, wathi: “Kungenani, eyami impilo ngiyibona ingasulutho kimi, uba kodwa lokhu ngingaliqeda ibanga ngiwufeze lomsebenzi iNkosi uJesu engiphe wona—umsebenzi wokufakaza ivangeli lomusa kaNkulunkulu.” (ImiSeb. 20:24) Indlela ayekhuthele ngayo enkonzweni iyisibonelo esihle kithi. Wakutshengisa sibili ukuthi umusa kaNkulunkulu omkhulu ‘awubanga yize kuye.’ w16.07 4:1-3

UJehova uhlala ezisekela izinceku zakhe ezithembekileyo lanxa kungathatha isikhathi ukuthi zithole imisebenzi ezifisa ukuyenza enkonzweni yakhe. Khumbula ukuthi uJehova wathembisa u-Abhrahama ukuthi uzakuba lomntwana kodwa indoda le kwakumele ibekezele njalo ibe lokholo. (Heb. 6:12-15) Lanxa kwadlula iminyaka eminengi u-Isaka engakazalwa, u-Abhrahama kazange alahle ithemba futhi uJehova kazange ambambise ilitshe. (Gen. 15:3, 4; 21:5) Kodwa akulula ukulinda. (Zaga. 13:12) Lanxa kunjalo akumelanga sibone angathi uJehova uyaphuza ukusiphendula ngoba ukwenza njalo kungasiqeda amandla. Okumele sikwenze yikusebenzisa lesosikhathi ukuba sihlole ukuthi singabantu abangafanela ukuphathiswa imisebenzi yebandla. Ukubala iBhayibhili lokucabangisisa ngalokho okubalayo kungenza umKhristu abe lokuhlakanipha, ukuqedisisa, enelise ukukhetha kuhle, abe lolwazi njalo enelise ukwahlulela kuhle. Nsuku zonke kuyadingakala ukuthi sikhethe kuhle endabeni yokuzilibazisa, eyokugqoka lokuzilungisa, eyokusebenzisa kuhle imali lasendabeni yokuhlalisana kuhle labanye. Nxa singakusebenzisa konke esikufunda eBhayibhilini sizakwenelisa ukuthokozisa uJehova kukho konke esikwenzayo. w16.08 3:9-11

UJehova wasiza ama-Israyeli ukuthi anqobe ama-Amaleki lamaKhushi njalo wanika uNehemiya labanye bakhe amandla ukuze benelise ukuwuqeda umsebenzi wokwakha kutsha imiduli yeJerusalema. Lathi uNkulunkulu uzasinika amandla okulwisana lokuhlukuluzwa, ukuzondwa kanye lokukhathazeka ukuze siqhubekele phambili ngomsebenzi wokutshumayela. (1 Phet. 5:10) Kodwa kasilindelanga ukuthi uJehova asenzele izimangaliso, kulokuthile okufanele sikwenze. Kumele sibale iLizwi lakhe nsuku zonke, silungiselele imihlangano njalo siyingene maviki wonke, sibe lesikhathi sokufunda sisodwa lesokukhonza kwemuli futhi sihlale sikhuleka. Akumelanga sivumele ukuthi ezinye izinto zisiphambanise ekwenzeni konke lokhu ngoba yikho uJehova akusebenzisayo ukuze asiqinise. Nxa kukhona ongasakwenzi kuhle ezintweni lezi, thandaza kuNkulunkulu ucele ukuthi akusize. Ungenza njalo uzabona ukuthi umoya wakhe ongcwele ‘uzasebenza phakathi kwakho’ ukwenze ‘ufune njalo wenze okumthokozisayo.’ w16.09 1:12

Umphostoli uPhawuli wabancoma abantu abangatshadanga. Lanxa kunjalo wabhala amazwi la asembhalweni walamuhla. Waseqhubeka wathi: “Kodwa uma bengeke bazithibe, kabende ngoba ukwenda kungcono kulokutshiseka ngokufisa.” Ukutshada kungasiza ukuthi umuntu angabi elokhu etshiswa yinkanuko okungabangela ukuthi acine etshaya ibhonyaponya loba afebe. Kanti njalo umuntu kumele azibuze ukuthi usekulungele yini ukutshada, ngoba uPhawuli wathi: “Uma umuntu ecabanga ukuthi uziphatha ngokungafanelanga ngenxa yokuhlala engatshadanga futhi esedlule isikhathi lapho inkanuko eziyabe zitshisa khona kakhulu njalo esizwa kusithi kathathe, kenze njengokuthanda kwakhe. Kenzi sono, katshade.” (1 Khor. 7:9, 36, NW; 1 Tim. 4:1-3) Kodwa umuntu akumelanga atshade ngenxa yokutshiswa yimizwa yokufuna ukuya emacansini ejayelekileyo nxa abafana lamankazana bekhula. Umuntu okulesisigaba angabe engakakulungeli ukuba ngumama loba ubaba womuzi. w16.08 1:17

Abantu abanengi bajayele ukusahlulela ngokukhangela indlela esibukeka ngayo. (1 Sam. 16:7) Ngakho-ke akumelanga siphongugqoka ulutho ngoba siluthanda kumbe silubona lufanele kithi. Kodwa kumele siqondiswe yizimiso eziseLizwini likaNkulunkulu, singagqoki izinto ezibambayo, ezikhanyiselayo loba ezivusa imizwa yabanye. Akumelanga sigqoke impahla ezitshiya izitho zensitha zisegcekeni kumbe ezikhanyisa ikakhulu ingxenye ethile yomzimba. Phela singagqoka ngaleyondlela sizakwenza abanye bayangeke njalo bathwale nzima ngoba kuyabe sokumele bahlale bekhangele eceleni. Nxa sibukeka, sihlanzekile futhi sigqoke ngendlela elesithunzi abantu bangasihlonipha futhi bangacina sebefuna ukuba yizikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu. Kanti njalo ukugqoka kuhle kwenza ukuthi abantu bayikhulumele kuhle inhlanganiso le esikuyo. Lanxa sesisekutshumayeleni bazalalela umlayezo onika ukuphila esiyabe sibatshela wona. w16.09 3:5, 6

Kuqakathekile ukuthi uzame ukuzwisisa lokho okukholwa ngabanye. Phela bakhona abanye abakholwa kuNkulunkulu lanxa besithi izinto zazenzakalela. Bacabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa ukuzenzakalela kwemvelo (evolution) ukuze adale izinto ezitshiyeneyo. Abanye bayayikholwa imfundiso yokuthi izinto zazenzakalela ngoba bathi ibingeke ifundiswe ezikolo aluba ibingamanga. Abanye njalo abasakholwa kuNkulunkulu ngenxa yobuzenzisi ababubona busenziwa emasontweni. Yikho kuqakathekile ukuthi nxa uxoxa lomuntu ngendaba yokuthi ukuphila kwaqalisa njani uqale ngokumbuza imibuzo. Ukwenza njalo kuzakunceda ubone ukuthi uvele ukholwani. Nxa ungabonisana laye futhi umlalele nxa ekhuluma kuzakuba lula ukuthi lawe akulalele. Ungamphendula njani umuntu othi yibuthutha ukukholwa ukuthi uMdali ukhona? Mcele ukuba akuchazele ukuthi yena ucabanga ukuthi ukuphila kwaqalisa njani. Ungamtshela lokuthi nxa kuyikuthi impilo yazivelela nje, leyonto ephilayo eyaqala ukubakhona kwakumele yenelise ukukhipha ezinye izinto eziphilayo ezifanana layo. Esinye isikhwicamfundo sezesayensi sathi: “Ngitsho lokuyizibungwana okuncane kakhulu esingakuboni ngamehlo kwenziwe ngendlela emangalisayo sibili.” w16.09 4:12, 13

Lanxa singeke sitsho ukuthi ngobani sibili uPhawuli ayekhuluma ngabo, bakhona abanye ababulawayo ngenxa yokulalela uNkulunkulu lokwenza intando yakhe. Abanye babo nguNabothi loZekhariya. (1 AmaKho. 21:3, 15; 2 ImiLan. 24:20, 21) UDanyeli waphoselwa emgodini wezilwane njalo abangane bakhe baphoselwa esithandweni somlilo ohangulayo. Babhejela ukufa kulokuthi bakhonze onkulunkulu bamanga. Babengathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzabanika umoya wakhe ongcwele lokuthi uzabanceda ukuthi babekezelele ubunzima ababephakathi kwabo. (Heb. 11:33, 34; Dan. 3:16-18, 20, 28; 6:13, 16, 21-23) Ngenxa yokholo lwabo, abanye abaphrofethi abanjengoMikhaya loJeremiya ‘bahozwa futhi bafakwa entolongweni.’ Ikanti abanye njengo-Elija “bantula enkangala lasezintabeni lasezimbalwini kanye lasemilindini emhlabathini.” Bonke babekezela ngoba ‘babeleqiniso lalokho ababekulindele.’​—Heb. 11:1, 36-38; 1 AmaKho. 18:13; 22:24-27; Jer. 20:1, 2; 28:10, 11; 32:2. w16.10 3:10, 11

Indlela esingatshengisa ngayo umusa ebantwini esingabaziyo yikubabingelela nxa befika eWolu yoMbuso. Kujayelekile ukuthi umuntu nxa emutsha endaweni abe lenhloni futhi akhethe ukuhlala yedwa. Indlela akhuliswa ngayo kanye lalokho ayikho khona kungamenza azwe engasilutho nxa eziqathanisa labantu bomhlobo othile kumbe abavela elizweni elithile. Ngakho nxa singabona umuntu esingamaziyo ebandleni, kumele simamukele ngazo zombilli njalo sitshengise lokuthi silendaba laye. Okunye esingakwenza yikufunda ukuthi kubingelelwa njani ngolimi lomdabuko wakhe. Singakwenza lokhu ngokukhangela ku-JW Language app. (Flp. 2:4) Kuliqiniso sibili ukuthi ekuqaliseni kungaba nzima ukuthi umlande umuntu ongamaziyo uxoxe laye. Ongakwenza ukuze kube lula yikumtshela okuthile ngawe. Ungenza njalo uzananzelela ukuthi lanxa lilamasiko atshiyeneyo zikhona ezinye izinto elingabe lihambelana ngazo. w16.10 1:13, 14

Sonke ebandleni singenza ukuthi ibandla lihlale lihlanzekile ngokusebenzisa iziqondiso eziseLizwini likaNkulunkulu. Cabanga ngalokho okwake kwenzakala ebandleni laseKhorinte. UPhawuli wayesebenze gadalala etshumayela kulelodolobho njalo wayebathanda ‘abangcwele’ ababekulelobandla. (1 Khor. 1:1, 2) Kodwa kumele ukuthi wayesizwa ubuhlungu ngokuxhwala kobufebe okwasekusenziwa ngothile ebandleni kodwa abadala bengazihluphi ngakho. UPhawuli watshela abadala ukuthi bamnikele kuSathane lowomuntu, esitsho ukuthi bamsuse ebandleni. Kwakumele basuse “imvubelo” eyayingabangela ukuthi ibandla lingcole. (1 Khor. 5:5-7, 12) Nxa lathi singabambisana lesinqumo sabadala sokususa othile ongaphendukiyo emisebenzini yakhe emibi, sizakwenza ukuthi ibandla lihlale lihlanzekile njalo lokhu kungenza lowo owonileyo aphenduke, uJehova abesemthethelela. w16.11 2:14

Ukukhuthaza abanye kuyabavuselela sibili. URubén uthi: “Sengileminyaka eminengi ngilwisana lomcabango wokuthi kangisilutho. Ngelinye ilanga ngisekutshumayeleni lomunye umdala webandla, wananzelela ukuthi ngangidanile. Ngamxoxela okwakungikhathaza futhi walalelisisa. Wangitshela ukuthi kunengi okuhle engikwenzayo. Waphinda wangikhumbuza amazwi kaJesu atshengisa ukuthi ngamunye wethu uligugu ukwedlula izintaka ezinengi. Umbhalo lo ujayele ukufika engqondweni yami futhi ulokhu ungikhuthaza. Amazwi engawatshelwa ngumzalwane lo anginceda kakhulu.” (Mat. 10:31) IBhayibhili liyakugcizelela ukuthi kuqakathekile ukukhuthaza abanye zikhathi zonke. Umphostoli uPhawuli wabhalela amaKhristu angamaHebheru wathi: “Khuthazanani izinsuku zonke . . . ukuze angabikhona owenu oba lukhuni ngenxa yokukhohliswa yisono.” (Heb. 3:13) Kumele ukuthi lawe uyakuzwisisa ukuqakatheka kokukhuthaza abanye ikakhulu nxa wake watshelwa amazwi akhuthazayo ngesikhathi udanile. w16.11 1:2, 3

Ngomnyaka ka-313 C.E., inkolo yobuKhristu eyayisungulwe ngabahlamuki yabhaliswa ngokusemthethweni nguMbusi weRoma owayengumhedeni uConstantine. UConstantine wenza umhlangano labafundisi bamasonto futhi umbuthano lo wacina ubizwa ngokuthi yi-Council of Nicaea. Ngemva komhlangano lo uConstantine waxotsha umphristi okuthiwa ngu-Arius elizweni ngenxa yokuthi wayengavumi ukuthi uJesu unguNkulunkulu. Kusukela ngo-379 kusiya ku-395 C.E., sekubusa uTheodosius I inkolo le eyayisixubene labahedeni yaqalisa ukubizwa ngokuthi yiSonto yamaKatolika futhi yaba yisonto ehlonitshwa kakhulu eMbusweni waseRoma. Abezembali babika ukuthi ngekhulu lesine umbuso lo owawungowabahedeni waqalisa ukukhanya angathi ngowesiKhristu. Kodwa iqiniso yikuthi amaKhristu ayesehlamukile ayesemanyene lezinkolo zabahedeni ezazigcwele eMbusweni weRoma lawo aba yingxenye yeBhabhiloni Enkulu. Loba kunjalo bakhona abagcotshiweyo ababelokhu bethembekile futhi ababefanana lengqoloyi eyatshiwo nguJesu. Babezimisele ukukhonza uNkulunkulu.​—Mat. 13:24, 25, 37-39. w16.11 4:8, 9

Impilo inzima! USathane uDeveli laye uthukuthele njalo ‘uyazulazula njengesilwane esibhongayo sidinga esingamudla.’ (1 Phet. 5:8; Isam. 12:17) Ngakho kasimangali nxa sibona izinceku zikaNkulunkulu lamuhla zihlaselwa yikukhathazeka. Lasendulo zazisiba lokukhathazeka kwezinye izikhathi. Ngokwesibonelo iBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi iNkosi uDavida layo yayike ikhathazeke kakhulu. (Hubo. 13:2) Kanti njalo umphostoli uPhawuli laye ‘wayekhathazeka ngamabandla wonke.’ (2 Khor. 11:28) Manje kumele senzeni nxa sesikhulelwa yikukhathazeka? UBaba wethu olothando kazange agoqe izandla nje ngesikhathi abantu bakhe endulo bethwele nzima ngenxa yokukhathazeka. Wabasiza njalo yikho afuna ukusenzela khona lamuhla nxa sihlutshwa yikukhathazeka. Nanku okufanele sikwenze: (1) Ukuthandaza kuJehova, (2) ukubala iLizwi lakhe lokucabangisisa ngalo, (3) ukucela ukuthi asinike umoya wakhe ongcwele, (4) ukuxoxela umuntu esimthembayo lokho okusikhathazayo. w16.12 3:1, 2

Abantu bakaNkulunkulu sebatshiya indlela ababephila ngayo bengakabi ngoFakazi. Izinto ababezenza kudala ‘sebeyangeka ngazo khathesi’ futhi sebananzelela ukuthi zazizakwenza ukuthi babhujiswe. (Rom. 6:21) Kodwa okuthokozisayo yikuthi bantshintsha ngemva kokufunda ngoNkulunkulu. Ayenjalo lamaKhristu amanengi ayesebandleni laseKhorinte. Amanye ayekhonza izithombe, eyizifebe, izitabane, amasela, izidakwa lokunye okunenginengi. Lanxa kunjalo ‘ageziswa angcweliswa.’ (1 Khor. 6:9-11) Kungenzakala ukuthi labanye ebandleni laseRoma babenjalo. UPhawuli waphefumulelwa ukuthi abalobele amazwi la: “Linganikeli izitho zemizimba yenu esonweni, njengezikhali zobubi, kodwa zinikeleni kuNkulunkulu, njengabavuswe kwabafileyo balethwa ekuphileni; linikele izitho zemizimba yenu kuye njengezikhali zokulunga.” (Rom. 6:13) UPhawuli wayeleqiniso lokuthi amaKhristu la ayezaqhubeka esenza okuhle njalo ethola izibusiso ngenxa yomusa omkhulu kaNkulunkulu. w16.12 1:13

UJehova wasidala ngendlela emangalisayo. Ngokwesibonelo wasinika ingqondo esinceda ukuthi sicabange ukuze senelise ukuphuma lamacebo angasisiza nxa siphakathi kwenhlupho njalo sihlele lalokho esifisa ukukwenza empilweni. (Zaga. 2:11) Wasinika lamandla ayiwo asinceda ukuthi siphumelele ukwenza loba yini esiyabe siyihlosile. (Flp. 2:13) UJehova waphinda wasinika lomzwangedwa osisiza senelise ukwehlukanisa okubi lokuhle lokuthi silungisise amaphutha ethu nxa siphambanisile. (Rom. 2:15) ILizwi lakhe lisikhuthaza kanengi ukuthi sizisebenzise kuhle izipho asinike zona. Ngokwesibonelo eMibhalweni yesiHebheru sithola amazwi la athi: “Amalungiselelo abakhutheleyo anika umvuzo” njalo “lokho isandla sakho esingakwenza kwenze ngamandla akho wonke.” (Zaga. 21:5; UmTshu. 9:10) EMibhalweni yamaKhristu yesiGrikhi sitshelwa ukuthi “njengokuba silethuba kasenzeni okulungileyo ebantwini bonke” lokuthi ‘lowo lalowo kumele asebenzise loba yisiphi isipho ekusizeni abanye.’ (Gal. 6:10; 1 Phet. 4:10) Kuyacaca ukuthi uJehova ufuna sisebenzise kuhle izipho asinike zona ukuze sincedakale njalo sincede labanye. w17.01 1:1, 2

Bonke abantu bathola isono lokufa ku-Adamu lo-Eva. Loba kunjalo baqhubeka belelungelo lokusebenzisa inkululeko yabo yokuzikhethela. Ngokwesibonelo khumbula indlela uNkulunkulu aphatha ngayo abako-Israyeli. Wathi uMosi abatshele ukuthi bazikhethele ukuthi bayafuna yini ukuba ngabantu bakhe abakhethiweyo loba hatshi. (Eks. 19:3-6) Bakhethani abako-Israyeli? Bakhetha ukulandela yonke imithetho kaNkulunkulu ukuze babe ngabantu ababizwa ngebizo lakhe futhi bavuma bathi: “Sizakwenza konke uJehova athe sikwenze.” (Eks. 19:8) Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi abako-Israyeli baqalisa ukuyisebenzisa kubi inkululeko yabo yokuzikhethela futhi basephula isithembiso ababesenzile. Okwenziwa ngama-Israyeli kuyisixwayiso kithi. Kumele sizimisele ukuyisebenzisa kuhle inkululeko yokuzikhethela esilayo ngokuhlala siseduze loJehova futhi silalela imithetho yakhe. w17.01 2:9

Ngesikhathi iNkosi uJerobhowami ibusa ko-Israyeli, uJehova wathuma umphrofethi othile owayevela koJuda ukuthi ayobikela inkosi le embi ngalokho okwakuzayehlela. Lakanye umphrofethi lo wawufikisa umlayezo kuJerobhowami futhi uJehova wamvikela lapho inkosi le embi isifuna ukumhlasela. (1 AmaKho. 13:1-10) UJehova wayetshele umphrofethi lo wathi: “Ungadli ukudla kwalapha [ko-Israyeli], unganathi lamanzi akhona njalo ungabobuyela ngendlela oze ngayo.” Kodwa wathi esebuyela kibo wadibana lexhegu elithile elalihlala eBhetheli. Ixhegu leli lamqila lathi lingumphrofethi kaJehova njalo wacina esehluleka ukulalela isiqondiso ayesiphiwe. Lokhu kwamzondisa uJehova futhi kwathi umphrofethi lo esebuyela kibo kwathutsha isilwane sambulala. (1 AmaKho. 13:11-24) Kungani umphrofethi lo owayezithoba wavuma ukuqilwa lixhegu leli? IBhayibhili kalisitsheli isizatho. Kodwa kungenzakala ukuthi umphrofethi lo wakhohlwa ukuthi kwakumele aqhubeke ‘ehamba ngokuzithoba loNkulunkulu.’ w17.01 4:1-3

UGenesisi 1:1 usitshela ukuthi “ekuqaleni uNkulunkulu wadala amazulu lomhlaba.” Amazwi la angakhanya elula kodwa amumethe okukhulu. UNkulunkulu wadala izinto ezinengi kodwa zilutshwana esiyake sizibone ngamehlo njalo luncane ulwazi esilalo ngezinye izinto ezigoqela amandla adonsela phansi lokukhanya kanye lobukhulu bomkhathi. (UmTshu. 3:11) Kodwa-ke okuhle yikuthi uJehova uyasitshela injongo yakhe ngomhlaba kanye labantu. Wadala abantu ngomfanekiso wakhe futhi wayefuna bahlale emhlabeni kuze kube nini lanini. (Gen. 1:26) Babezakuba ngabantwabakhe, yena abe nguYise. UGenesisi isahluko 3 uchaza ukuthi kulokuthile okwaphambanisa injongo kaJehova. (Gen. 3:1-7) Kodwa lokho okwenzakalayo akuzange kuyintshintshe injongo yakhe ngoba akulalutho olungamvimbela ukuthi enze loba yini ayihlosileyo. (Isaya. 46:10; 55:11) Ngakho asithandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzayigcwalisa injongo yakhe ngesikhathi esifaneleyo. w17.02 1:1, 2

Abako-Israyeli babezabona njani ukuthi umoya ongcwele uphezu kukaMosi? Umoya ongcwele wanika uMosi amandla okwenza izimangaliso kanye lesibindi sokumemezela ibizo likaJehova phambi kukaFaro. (Eks. 7:1-3) Wamnceda lokuthi abe lothando, azithobe njalo abekezele. Lokhu kwamenza waba ngumkhokheli omuhle. Kwabacacela abako-Israyeli ukuthi uJehova nguye owayekhethe uMosi ukuthi abakhokhele. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJehova wakhetha amanye amadoda ukuthi akhokhele abako-Israyeli njalo wawanika umoya wakhe ongcwele. Ngokwesibonelo iBhayibhili lithi: “UJoshuwa indodana kaNuni wayegcwele umoya wokuhlakanipha.” (Dute. 34:9) Lisitshela lokuthi “umoya kaJehova wafika kuGidiyoni.” (Abahlu. 6:34) Liphinda lithi “umoya kaJehova wafika kuDavida” wamnika amandla. (1 Sam. 16:13) Amadoda la enza imisebenzi emikhulu ngenxa yokuthi avuma ukuqondiswa ngumoya kaNkulunkulu.​—Josh. 11:16, 17; Abahlu. 7:7, 22; 1 Sam. 17:37, 50. w17.02 3:3-5

UPhawuli wasibekela isibonelo esihle endabeni le. Wayenanzelela ukuthi umuntu ngamunye ulelungelo lokuzikhethela. Lalamuhla abadala kumele benze okufananayo ikakhulu nxa bencedisa othile ngendaba edinga ukuthi azenzele isinqumo. Okumele bakwenze yikumtshengisa izimiso zeBhayibhili ezingamsiza ukuthi akhethe kuhle. Kabaqali ukwenzela abanye izinqumo ebandleni ngoba bayakwazi ukuthi umuntu ngamunye uzavuna lokho akuhlanyelayo. Lesi yisifundo esihle kithi sonke, akumelanga senzele abanye izinqumo kodwa kufanele sibancedise bazwisise izimiso eziseMibhalweni. Yikho kumele siwubalekele umkhuba wokutshela abafowethu labodadewethu okokwenza ngoba balelungelo lokuzenzela izinqumo. w17.03 2:11

Inceku ethembekileyo itshengisa ukuthi ilokholo ngokukhuthala emsebenzini wokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Nxa ungomunye wezinye izimvu, uzimisele yini ukusekela abagcotshiweyo emsebenzini lo oqakathekileyo? Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uzathokoza lapho uMkhokheli wethu uJesu esithi: “Loba yini elayenzela loba ngomncinyane kanganani walaba abazalwane bami, lakwenzela mina.” (Mat. 25:34-40) Ngesikhathi uJesu esemhlabeni wancedwa zingilosi lomoya ongcwele kanye leLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Yikho esebuyele ezulwini waba leqiniso lokuthi abalandeli bakhe bathola usizo olufananayo. (Mat. 28:20) Lalamuhla uyayisekela inceku ethembekileyo esebenzisa umoya ongcwele, izingilosi kanye leLizwi likaNkulunkulu. AmaKhristu agcotshiweyo abumba inceku ethembekileyo aqhubeka ‘elandela iWundlu loba kungaphi lapho eliya khona.’ (Isam. 14:4) Nxa silalela inceku ethembekileyo siyabe silandela uMkhokheli wethu uJesu futhi sekuseduze ukuthi asingenise epharadayisi. (Isam. 7:14-17) Kakho umkhokheli ongumuntu ongakwenza lokhu! w17.02 4:17-19

Kujayelekile ukuthi nxa singahlangana lohlupho oluphezu kwamandla ethu sithandaze kuJehova sicela ukuthi asisize. Kodwa siyathandaza yini nxa sisenza ezinye izinto ezingakhanya zizincane kumbe senza lokho esikucabangayo? Siyazinika yini isikhathi sokuhlola izimiso eziseBhayibhilini ukuze sibone ukuthi singazisebenzisa njani? Nxa singenza njalo siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyamthemba uJehova. Ngokwesibonelo abanye emulini yangakini bangakuhlupha ngenxa yokungena imihlangano yebandla loba emikhulu. Uzathandaza yini kuJehova ucela ukuthi akuncedise ukuze uphathe leyondaba ngendlela eyiyo? Mhlawumbe usuthole umsebenzi othile ngemva kokuhlala isikhathi ungasebenzi. Uzamtshela yini lowo ofuna ukukuqhatsha ukuthi unguFakazi lokuthi kulemihlangano okumele uyingene maviki wonke kumbe uzacabanga ukuthi nxa ungamtshela uzakuncitsha umsebenzi? Loba yiluphi uhlupho ongabe uphakathi kwalo khumbula amazwi omhubi asembhalweni walamuhla. w17.03 4:6