December

Umphostoli uPhetro wabhala amazwi asembhalweni walamuhla ukuze akhuthaze amaKhristu ukuthi abekezelele bonke ubunzima obuvela kuSathane. Izibonelo ‘zalabo ababekezelayo’ zisifundisa ukuthi sime siqine futhi zenza sibe lethemba lokuthi sizanqoba. Zisikhumbuza lokuthi nxa singahlala sithembekile sizawuthola umvuzo. (Jak. 5:11) Kungenzeka uthwele qatha ngenxa yokuphikiswa kumbe ukuhlukuluzwa ngabantu abangayithandiyo inkolo yeqiniso. Mhlawumbe ungumdala webandla loba umbonisi wesiqinti, kodwa usubona angathi imisebenzi oyiphiwayo iyakusinda. Nxa kunjalo cabangisisa ngesibonelo sikaPhawuli. Wahlukuluzwa kabuhlungu njalo wayehlala ekhathazekile ngabazalwane emabandleni. (2 Khor. 11:23-29) Lanxa kunjalo, kazange akhalale futhi akwenzayo kwabakhuthaza abanye. (2 Khor. 1:6) Khumbula ukuthi ukubekezela kwakho ubunzima kungabakhuthaza abanye ukuthi labo babekezele. w16.04 2:11, 14

Abanye abantu bayazilalela izindaba ezinhle esizitshumayelayo ikanti abanye kabafuni lakuzizwa. Lanxa kunjalo, bonke bayakuvuma ukuthi oFakazi bakaJehova baziwa ngomsebenzi wokutshumayela abawenzayo. Labanye njalo abangabe bengavumelani lalokho esikufundisayo bayasihlonipha ngenxa yomsebenzi wokutshumayela. UJesu wathi izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso zizatshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke. (Mat. 24:14) Abantu abanengi emasontweni bathi bayalitshumayela ivangeli. Kodwa abajayele ukukwenza nje yikutshumayela emasontweni abo, kuma-TV, laku-Inthanethi kanye lokulandiselana okwenzakala ezimpilweni zabo. Abanye njalo bathi batshumayela ngokusiza abadubekayo langokuthuthukisa ezokwelapha kanye lezemfundo. Kodwa lokhu abakutshoyo kuyahambelana yini lomlayo uJesu awunika abafundi bakhe? w16.05 2:1, 2

Kusukela ngo-1914 ohulumede bebephikisana loMbuso kaNkulunkulu, kodwa sekuseduze ukuthi uMbuso lo utshabalalise yonke imibuso yabantu iphele nya! (Hubo. 2:2, 7-9) UNkulunkulu ubavumele ohulumende ukuthi babekhona ngoba benza ukuthi kube lokuthula lokuhleleka futhi lokhu kuyasinceda ukuthi senelise ukutshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. (Rom. 13:3, 4) Usitshela lokuthi sibakhulekele ababusi laba ukuze sikhonze sikhululekile. (1 Tim. 2:1, 2) Lathi nxa sesiphathwa kubi siyahamba siyebika kuziphathimandla zikahulumende ukuze sithole usizo. UPhawuli laye wakwenza lokhu. Lanxa iBhayibhili lisithi uSathane ulamandla phezu kwezombusazwe ezikhona lamuhla, kalikutsho ukuthi uqondisa umkhokheli ngamunye. (Luk. 4:5, 6) Ngakho akumelanga sitsho loba yini ezatshiya umuntu esikhuluma laye ecabanga ukuthi umbusi othile uqondiswa nguSathane. IBhayibhili lisikhuthaza ukuthi singakhulumi kubi ‘ngababusi labaphathi.’​—Tit. 3:1, 2. w16.04 4:5, 6

Singakwazi njani okufunwa nguJehova nxa iLizwi lakhe lingelamthetho ositshelayo ukuthi kumele senzeni endabeni ethile? Okuqakathekileyo yikwazi ukuthi uJehova uthini. Kumele sithandaze njalo sivume ukuqondiswa ngumoya wakhe. UJesu wayeqedisisa ukuthi uYise wayefuna enzeni. IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi uJesu waqala wakhuleka wasenika ixuku labantu ukudla ngendlela eyisimangaliso futhi lokhu wakwenza kabili. (Mat. 14:17-20; 15:34-37) Kodwa ngesikhathi elingwa nguSathane enkangala wala ukuntshintsha amatshe abe yisinkwa lanxa wayefile ngendlala. (Mat. 4:2-4) Wayeyizwisisa indlela uYise ayecabanga ngayo yikho wayekwazi ukuthi kwakungamelanga antshintshe amatshe abe yisinkwa. Wakunanzelela ukuthi kwakungasintando kaNkulunkulu ukuba asebenzise amandla ayewaphiwe ukuze enze okwakufunwa nguye. Lokhu kwatshengisa ukuthi wayelethemba lokuthi uJehova uzamqondisa njalo amsekele. w16.05 3:7, 8

Ezinye izingxenye eziseBhayibhilini zazilotshelwe umuntu oyedwa kumbe iqembu elithile. Yikho kungaba kuhle ukuthi singakabali iBhayibhili siqale sicele kuJehova ukuthi asisize sithole izifundo eziqakathekileyo njalo asinike ukuhlakanipha okuzasinceda ukuthi sizizwisise lezozifundo. (Ezra. 7:10; Jak. 1:5) Nxa ubala iBhayibhili mana kancane uzibuze imibuzo enjengale: ‘Lokhu kungifundisani ngoJehova? Ngingakusebenzisa njani empilweni yami? Ngingakusebenzisa njani ukuze ngisize abanye?’ Nxa singazibuza imibuzo enjengale ekubaleni kwethu iBhayibhili sizathola izifundo eziqakathekileyo. Ngokwesibonelo ake sithi ubala ngoMbhalo okhuluma ngalokho okukhangelelwe kulabo abafuna ukuba ngabadala bebandla. (1 Tim. 3:2-7) Njengoba abanengi bethu bengayisibo badala singahle sizitshele ukuthi umbhalo lo kawusebenzi kithi. Kodwa okutshiwo ngamavesi la kuyasisiza sonke ngezindlela ezinengi. w16.05 5:7, 8

Lapho amaJuda ayethunjiwe efika eBhabhiloni athola kugcwele izithombe kanye labantu ababekhonza amadimoni. Lanxa kunjalo uDanyeli labangane bakhe lamanye amaJuda ayethembekile kabazange bavume ukubunjwa bafanane labantu baseBhabhiloni. (Dan. 1:6, 8, 12; 3:16-18) UDanyeli labangane bakhe babezimisele ukukhonza uJehova kuphela njalo bavuma ukuthi ababumbe. Lanxa uDanyeli wahlala labantu ababi eBhabhiloni phose okwempilo yakhe yonke, ingilosi yaveza ukuthi uNkulunkulu ‘wayemqakathekisa kakhulu.’ (Dan. 10:11, 19) Endulo umbumbi wayengafaka ibumba phezu kwento ethile abeseqala ukubumba ngezandla zakhe ukuze kuphume lokho akufunayo. Lamuhla izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ziyakunanzelela ukuthi uJehova unguMbusi wendawo yonke njalo nguye olelungelo lokubumba abantu lezizwe. (Jer. 18:6) Kanti njalo uNkulunkulu ulelungelo lokubumba ngamunye wethu. Loba kunjalo uyananzelela ukuthi silenkululeko yokuzikhethela ngakho kasibambi ngamandla kodwa ufuna sizikhethele. w16.06 2:1, 2

USathane usebenzisa izinto ezithengiswayo ezikhutshwa ukusa kwamalanga ukuze asikhohlise. Akufunayo yikuthi sicine sikholwa ukuthi ukuba lezinto ezinengi yikho okungasenza sithokoze empilweni. Usebenzisa izindlela ezicatshileyo ukuze asibambe esebenzisa “ukulangazela kwamehlo.” (1 Joh. 2:15-17; Gen. 3:6; Zaga. 27:20) Emhlabeni lo kulezinto ezinengi ezihuga abantu. Sewake waqabuka usuthenge into ethile yini ngenxa yokuthi uyibone ikhangiswa kumbe ibukiswa esitolo esithile? Mhlawumbe wakunanzelela ngemva kwesikhathi ukuthi ubungaphila ungelayo. Izinto ezinjalo ezingaqakathekanga zingasithwalisa nzima empilweni futhi zisincitshe ubuthongo. Zingasiphambanisa lasekukhonzeni sicine sisehluleka ukubala iBhayibhili, ukulungiselela imihlangano, ukuyingena kanye lokuya ekutshumayeleni. Khumbula ukuthi umphostoli uJohane waxwayisa wathi: “Umhlaba lezinkanuko zawo kuyadlula.” w16.07 1:3, 4

Ibandla lakuqala lalibunjwa ngabantu abangamaJuda, amaGrikhi, amaRoma labanye abantu ababevela kwamanye amazwe. Babekhuliswe ngezindlela ezitshiyeneyo, belamasiko angafananiyo njalo bethanda izinto ezehlukeneyo. Lokhu kwakusenza kube nzima kwabanye ukwamukela indlela entsha yokukhonza kumbe ukuthi bayitshiye ngokupheleleyo imikhuba yabo emidala. Ngakho umphostoli uPhawuli wakubona kufanele ukuthi abakhumbuze ukuthi amaKhristu aloNkulunkulu oyedwa uJehova. Ebandleni lobuKhristu lamuhla khona kunjani? U-Isaya waphrofetha ukuthi “ngezinsuku zokucina” abantu bezizwe zonke bazakhwela entabeni kaJehova. Bazakuthi: “[UJehova] uzasifundisa izindlela zakhe ukuze sihambe ezindleleni zakhe.” (Isaya. 2:2, 3) Kuyajabulisa ukubona isiphrofetho lesi sigcwaliseka lamuhla. Ngenxa yalokhu amabandla amanengi alabazalwane abavela ezindaweni ezitshiyeneyo, abalamasiko atshiyeneyo futhi abakhuluma izindimi ezehlukeneyo. Kodwa bamanyene ekukhonzeni uJehova. w16.06 3:15, 16

Kunzima kakhulu ukuzichasisa ngokugcweleyo izinto ezimangalisayo uJehova azigcinele abagcotshiweyo abazazithola lapho sebesezihlalweni zobukhosi kanye loKhristu ezulwini. (Luk. 22:28-30; Flp. 3:20, 21; 1 Joh. 3:2) Bazabumba “iJerusalema elitsha,” umlobokazi kaKhristu. (Isam. 3:12; 17:14; 21:2, 9, 10) Bazahlanganyela loJesu emsebenzini ‘wokwelapha izizwe,’ bencedisa ukukhipha bonke ubuhlungu obubangelwa yisono lokufa ebantwini lokubasiza ukuthi babe ngabapheleleyo. (Isam. 22:1, 2, 17) Enye indlela emangalisayo uJehova azatshengisa ngayo umusa wakhe omkhulu emhlabeni yikuvusa abantu ‘abasemathuneni.’ (Jobe. 14:13-15; Joh. 5:28, 29) Abantu abathembekileyo abafa uKhristu engakabuyi emhlabeni kanye ‘labezinye izimvu’ abafa bethembekile kulezizinsuku zokucina bazavuswa baqhubeke bekhonza uJehova.​—Joh. 10:16. w16.07 4:13-15

Ukuba lesifiso esikhulu sokwenza okuhle kayisikho kodwa okungasinceda ukuthi ‘sihlale silindile.’ Khumbula ukuthi kusasele insukwana ukuthi uJesu abulawe watshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi bathandaze kokuphela kuJehova. (Luk. 21:36) Ngakho ukuthandaza kokuphela kungasisiza ukuthi sihlale siphapheme. (1 Phet. 4:7) Lesi kayisiso sikhathi sokuwozela ekukhonzeni loba esokuthatheka ngezinto ezizaphelela emoyeni ezigcwele emhlabeni lo, ngoba uJesu wathi ukuphela kuzafika ‘ngesikhathi esizabe singasikhumbuleli.’ (Mat. 24:44) ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lisitshela ngezibusiso ezinhle esizazithola emhlabeni omutsha kanye lokuthi singenzani ukuze sihlale silindile. Kumele sihlale sikhuthele ekukhonzeni, siqinise ubuhlobo bethu loJehova njalo sifake uMbuso kuqala ekuphileni kwethu. Kufanele sinanzelele isikhathi esikuso kanye lezinto ezenzakalayo ukuze singalalisi inkophe. (Isam. 22:20) Lokhu kuzasinceda ukuthi sisinde ngoba kukhulu okuzayo! w16.07 2:15-17

Awukho umuzi ongathunqi ntuthu, yikho ukuze umtshado uphumelele kumele indoda lomkayo bazimisele ukuthethelelana. Kumele baqhubeke ‘bebekezelelana njalo bethethelelana loba kuyinsolo bani omunye angaba layo ngomunye.’ Kanti njalo ukungazwanani okungaba khona kungabanika ithuba lokuthi bafunde emaphutheni abo, bafunde ukuthethelelana njalo bavumele ukuthi uthando lubuse emtshadweni wabo. Phela iBhayibhili lithi uthando ‘lubophela ndawonye kube yikumanyana okupheleleyo.’ (Kol. 3:14) Liphinde lithi ‘uthando luyabekezela, lulomusa, kalubambeli izikhwili.’ (1 Khor. 13:4, 5) Nxa kungaba lokungazwanani abatshadileyo kumele bakulungisise masinyane. Kungaba kuhle ukuthi bakwenze lokhu ilanga lingakatshoni. (Efe. 4:26, 27) Kudinga isibindi lokuthobeka ukuthi uxolise komunye wakho nxa umzwise ubuhlungu. Ukwenza njalo kuyanceda futhi kwenza ube seduze lomngane wakho. w16.08 2:6

UJesu wayekuqakathekisa ukutshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Lanxa kunjalo wayezinika isikhathi sokuqeqetsha abanye ukuthi babe ngabelusi futhi benelise ukufundisa. (Mat. 10:5-7) UFiliphu laye wayengumvangeli owayekhuthele enkonzweni, loba kunjalo wasiza amadodakazi akhe amane ukuthi enelise ukufundisa abanye iqiniso eliseMibhalweni. (ImiSeb. 21:8, 9) Kuqakathekile yini ukuthi lathi siqeqetshe abanye lamuhla? Ye kuqakathekile ngoba inani labantu abemukela izindaba ezinhle liqhubeka lisanda nsuku zonke. Ikanti lalabo abangakabhabhathizwa kumele bafundiswe ngokuqakatheka kokubala iBhayibhili bebodwa. Kumele bafundiswe lokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle kanye lokufundisa abanye iqiniso. Kanti njalo emabandleni ethu abazalwane kumele bakhuthazwe ukuthi basebenze nzima ukuze babe zinceku ezikhonzayo loba abadala. Yikho bonke abasebandleni kumele babasize abantu abanjalo ukuba bathuthuke ekukhonzeni. w16.08 4:1, 2

Ukukhonza ndawonye labafowethu labodadewethu kwenza simanyane. Kwenza lokuthi sibe ngabangane futhi kuyaluqinisa ukholo lwethu ezithembisweni zikaNkulunkulu. Nxa siqinisa izandla zabanye, siyabe sibanceda ukuthi bame baqine nxa besebunzimeni lokuthi bahlale belethemba. (Isaya. 35:4) Kanti njalo ukuqinisa abanye kwenza lathi singaphumi endleleni eyiyo futhi sigcine amehlo ethu ethe nhlo kulokho uNkulunkulu asithembisa khona. Kwenza lezethu izandla zihlale ziqinile. Kunengi esikufundayo eBhayibhilini mayelana lendlela uJehova ayesekela ngayo abantu bakhe futhi ebavikela. Ukufunda ngezibonelo lezi kuyaluqinisa ukholo lwethu njalo kwenza simethembe uNkulunkulu. Yikho nxa ungaba phakathi kohlupho, “ungavumeli ukuba izandla zakho zibe buthakathaka”! (Zef. 3:16) Kodwa khuleka kuJehova futhi umvumele ukuthi akuqinise njalo akukhokhele uze uyengena emhlabeni omutsha.​—Hubo. 73:23, 24. w16.09 1:16-18

Nxa izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zikhetha impahla zokugqoka, ziyawakhumbula amazwi asembhalweni walamuhla. Ukutshiyana komumo womkhathi lokuntshintsha kwezigaba zomnyaka kwenza indlela esigqoka ngayo intshintshantshintshe. Kanti njalo izimo zabantu lazo ziyatshiyana ngoba iminwe kayilingani. Kodwa izimiso zikaJehova kazintshintshi. (Mal. 3:6) Ezindaweni ezitshisayo kungaba nzima ukugqoka ngendlela elesithunzi, engasoze ikhube abanye futhi etshengisa ukuthi sikhetha kuhle. Kodwa abafowethu labodadewethu bayajabula kakhulu nxa sizama ukungagqoki izigqoko ezibambayo kumbe ezitshiya umzimba uphandle. (Jobe. 31:1) Kanti njalo nxa siziphumulela olwandle loba sisezindaweni zokubhukutsha, kuhle ukuthi sigqoke impahla ezilesithunzi. (Zaga. 11:2, 20) Lanxa abantu abanengi begqoka impahla zokubhukutsha ezitshiya umuntu eze, thina kumele sigqoke ngendlela edumisa uNkulunkulu wethu ongcwele esimthandayo. w16.09 3:11, 12

UJesu wayengesabi ukubuza abalandeli bakhe ukuthi kuyini abakukholwayo. Yikho lingisela isibonelo sakhe nxa ufundisa abantwabakho. Kuhle ukuthi ubacele batsho indlela abayabe besizwa ngayo. Nxa kuyikuthi umntanakho kazwisisi okuthile okufundiswa liBhayibhili, ungamcaphukeli kumbe umbambe ngamandla ukuthi akwamukele lokho okutshoyo. Kodwa woba lesineke umncedise ukuthi acabangisise ngalolodaba. Kuhle ukubona abantwana bebuza imibuzo ngoba kutshengisa ukuthi bayafuna ukuzwisisa. Khumbula ukuthi loJesu wabuza imibuzo elengqondo ngesikhathi eleminyaka engu-12. (Luk. 2:46) Zama ukubazi kuhle abantwabakho, ukuthi bacabangani ngeBhayibhili kanye lemibuzo abalayo ngoJehova. Ungacabangi ukuthi bazakuba lokholo oluqinileyo ngenxa yokuthi bayangena imihlangano futhi bayahamba ekutshumayeleni. Ezintweni elizenza nsuku zonke, ngenisa lezingxoxo ezizaqinisa ukholo lwabo. Khuleka labo njalo ubaqambe emithandazweni yakho. Zama ukudinga ukuthi yibuphi ubunzima abahlangana labo ubusubancedisa ukuthi benelise ukubunqoba. w16.09 5:3-5

Lamuhla kulezinkulungwane zabantu bakaJehova abazinikela ukuncedisa ekugcwaliseni isiphrofetho esiphathelane lokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle ‘ezizweni zonke, lasezizwaneni, lasezindimini kanye lasebantwini.’ (Isam. 14:6) Abanye babo ngabanali, abanye bancedisa kwamanye amazwe alesidingo, ikanti abanye bangena lamabandla akhuluma olunye ulimi elizweni lakibo. Mhlawumbe lawe ungomunye walabo abafunda olunye ulimi. Sonke esiyizikhonzi zikaJehova kumele sibe leqiniso lokuthi siqinile ekukhonzeni futhi sincedise lezimuli zethu ukuthi zibe lokholo oluqinileyo. Kodwa kwezinye izikhathi kungabanzima ukuthi sigebhe sijule eLizwini likaNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuthi siyabe silokunengi esikwenzayo. Loba kunjalo abantu abancedisa kwezinye izindawo bona bahlangana lobunye ubunzima. Lanxa kumele abantu laba bafunde ulimi olutsha kufanele bazame lokuhlala beqinisa ukholo lwabo ngokufunda izinto ezizikileyo eziseLizwini likaNkulunkulu.​—1 Khor. 2:10. w16.10 2:1-3

Lanxa oFakazi bakaJehova behlukuluzwa okungapheliyo bahlala bethokoza ngenxa yethemba abalalo. Ngokwesibonelo abafowethu labodadewethu abanengi babotshiwe e-Eritrea, eSingapore laseSouth Korea ikakhulu ngenxa yokungangeneli kwabo kwezombangazwe. Abantu bakaJehova abanengi kabakaze bavalelwe emajele loba bahlukuluzwe kabuhlungu njengabazalwane esikhulume ngabo phezulu. Kodwa bukhona ubunzima obutshiyeneyo abahlangana labo. Ngokwesibonelo babekezelela ubuyanga, izimpi loba izingozi zemvelo. Ikanti abanye balingisela uMosi, u-Abhrahama, u-Isaka loJakhobe ngokudela impilo entofontofo kanye lodumo ukuze bakhonze uJehova. Kuyini okubancedileyo ukuthi benelise ukukwenza lokhu? Yikuthi bayamthanda uJehova njalo bayakukholwa ukuthi uzaqeda bonke ububi obukhona futhi anike zonke izinceku zakhe umvuzo wokuphila phakade emhlabeni omutsha, ikhaya lokulunga.​—Hubo. 37:5, 7, 9, 29. w16.10 3:15, 16

Ngesikhathi umphrofethi uJeremiya edanile futhi esesaba, uJehova wamqinisa waphinda wamnika isibindi. (Jer. 1:6-10) Wakhuthaza lomphrofethi wakhe owayesekhulile uDanyeli ngokuthumela ingilosi ukuthi iyemqinisa. Ingilosi le yamtshela lokuthi uNkulunkulu ‘uyamqakathekisa kakhulu.’ (Dan. 10:8, 11, 18, 19) Lawe lingisela uJehova ukhuthaze abamemezeli, amaphayona kanye labafowethu labodadewethu asebekhulile. UNkulunkulu kazange acabange ukuthi sasingekho isidingo sokukhuthaza uJesu ngesikhathi esemhlabeni ngoba wayelaye ezulwini okweminyaka eminengi. Kodwa kabili konke uJesu wezwa uYise ekhuluma esezulwini esithi: “Lo yiNdodana yami engiyithandayo; ngiyathokoza kakhulu ngayo.” (Mat. 3:17; 17:5) Siyabona-ke ukuthi uNkulunkulu wamncoma uJesu futhi wamtshela lokuthi akwenzayo kuhle kakhulu. Langesikhathi esezabulawa uJehova waphinda wathumela ingilosi yakhe ukuthi imqinise ngoba wayesosizini olukhulu.​—Luk. 22:43. w16.11 1:7, 8

Akulula ukuzibamba nxa othile angakutshela amazwi ahlabayo loba enze okuthile okukuphatha kubi. Kubuhlungu ukukhangelelwa phansi ngenxa yokuthi uvela endaweni ethile, ulombala otshiyene lowabanye loba ukuthi uyisimo bani. Kuba buhlungu lokhu ikakhulu nxa kusenziwa ngomunye umKhristu okhonza laye. ILizwi likaNkulunkulu liyasixwayisa ukuthi sinqande ulaka lwethu lokuthi singaphangisi ukufuthelana. (Zaga. 16:32) Kungaba kuhle ukuthi sonke sisilalele iseluleko lesi, sifunde ukungabi lenhliziyo encane njalo sithethelele abanye. UJesu wathi nxa sisehluleka ukubathethelela abanye, loJehova ngeke asithethelele. (Mat. 6:14, 15) Wena uyenelisa yini ukuthethelela abanye kumbe ukuzibamba nxa ucaphukile? Umuntu olenhliziyo encane wandise ukuhlala ezondile. Lokhu kubangela ukuthi abanye bangaze bafuna ukudlelana laye. Umuntu onjalo uyingozi ebandleni ngoba angadonsa labanye ukuthi babe lemicabango enjengeyakhe.​—Levi. 19:17, 18. w16.11 3:4-6

UCharles Taze Russell wayezimisele ukulazi iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini, yikho ekupheleni kwabo-1800 yena labangane bakhe baqalisa ukuhlangana ndawonye ukuze bahlolisise iBhayibhili. Inhloso kamfowethu uRussell yayingeyokubona ukuthi ezinkolweni ezazikhona ngalesosikhathi yiphi eyayifundisa iqiniso. Waqathanisa izimfundiso zezinkolo zonke ezazikhona ngalesosikhathi ukuze abone ukuthi zazihambelana yini lokutshiwo liBhayibhili. Ekucineni wabona ukuthi akula ngitsho leyodwa eyayilandela okutshiwo liLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Ngelinye ilanga umfowethu uRussell wahlangana labakhokheli bamasonto atshiyeneyo ukuze axoxe labo ngeqiniso yena labangane bakhe abasebelitholile eBhayibhilini. Wayelethemba lokuthi bazalamukela iqiniso leli futhi balifundise abantu ababesemasontweni abo. Kodwa-ke abakhokheli laba kabazange bavumelane laye. Kwahle kwathi dlwe kuBafundi beBhayibhili babona ukuthi izinkolo lezi ngezamanga futhi babengeke bahlanganyele lazo ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu. w16.11 4:14

Siyakwenyanya sibili ukudakwa, ubufebe kanye lezinye izono ezinkulu ezazisenziwa ngabanye ebandleni laseKhorinte. (1 Khor. 6:9-11) Kodwa ukuqakathekisa kwethu umusa omkhulu kaNkulunkulu kumele kusifuqe lokuthi sibalekele loba yikuphi ukuzilibazisa okungcolileyo. Ukuzimisela kwethu ukuba yizigqili zokulunga kumele kusenze singazondi ukudakwa kuphela kodwa sibalekele lokunatha size siphose sidakwe. Lanxa ukulahla imikhuba le kudinga ukuthi sisebenze gadalala, iqiniso yikuthi singanqoba empini le. Kufanele sizimisele ukubalekela zonke izono kungaba ngezinkulu loba ezinye nje ezingakhanya zizincane. Kodwa iqiniso elikhona yikuthi kasingeke senelise ukukubalekela ngokupheleleyo lokhu ngoba silokhu silesono. Lanxa kunjalo kumele sibambe ziqine, silingisele uPhawuli owabhalela amanye amaKhristu wathi: “Lingavumeli isono ukuba sibuse imizimba yenu efayo ukuba livumele izinkanuko zaso ezimbi.”​—Rom. 6:12; 7:18-20. w16.12 1:16, 19-21

UJesu wathi uYise osezulwini uyabanika umoya ongcwele labo abawucelayo. (Luk. 11:10-13) Amandla kaNkulunkulu amakhulukazi azakunceda ukuthi ube lezithelo zomoya ezizakwenza ube lobuntu obuhle. (Kol. 3:10) Nxa ungaqhubeka ulwela ukuba lezithelo zomoya uzakuba lobudlelwano obuhle labanye. Kuzakusiza lokuthi ubalekele izimo ezingabangela ukuthi ukhathazeke. Yikho kumele sizehlise ukuze senelise ukuzithoba “ngaphansi kwesandla sikaNkulunkulu esilamandla” njalo ‘sethule kuye konke ukukhathazeka kwethu.’ (1 Phet. 5:6, 7) Nxa singazehlisa sivume ukuhamba ngokuzithoba loNkulunkulu, uzasondela kithi njalo asisekele. (Mik. 6:8) Ukwazi ukuthi zikhona izinto eziphezu kwamandla ethu kuzasinceda ukuthi singakhulelwa yikukhathazeka ngoba siyabe sithembele kuNkulunkulu. w16.12 3:7, 12

UNowa waqina ngokuba ‘ngumtshumayeli wokulunga,’ ememezela umlayezo ayewuphiwe nguNkulunkulu. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi lokhu kwaluqinisa kakhulu ukholo lwakhe. Waphinda wasebenza gadalala esenza umsebenzi ayewunikwe nguNkulunkulu wokwakha umkhumbi. (Heb. 11:7) Lathi njengoNowa kumele ‘sizinikele ngokupheleleyo emsebenzini weNkosi.’ (1 Khor. 15:58) Umsebenzi lo ugoqela ukwakha lokulungisa izakhiwo zethu zokukhonzela, ukuncedisa emihlanganweni emincane lemikhulu kumbe ukuyaphathisa ewofisini yegatsha loba eyokuhumutsha. Kanti njalo ukukhuthala emsebenzini wokutshumayela kuyasisiza ukuthi sihlale silethemba eliqinileyo. Kuyakhanya ukuthi umsebenzi wokutshumayela uyasinceda sihlale sizimisele ukuqhubeka sisemncintiswaneni wokuphila.​—1 Khor. 9:24. w17.01 1:8, 9

Kumele sikhumbule ukuthi ngamunye wethu ukhululekile ukukhetha akufunayo ngoba sonke silenkululeko yokuzikhethela. Yikho-ke kasingeke sikhangelele ukuthi amaKhristu ahlale esenza izinqumo ezifananayo kungaba sekukhonzeni loba kwezinye izinto. Ukukhumbula ukuthi omunye lomunye uzathwala “umthwalo wakhe” kuzasenza sihloniphe izinqumo ezenziwa ngabanye ngitsho lasezindabeni ezincane kakhulu. (1 Khor. 10:32, 33) UJehova usinike isipho esihle okwamagama esiletha inkululeko yeqiniso. (2 Khor. 3:17) Siyasiqakathekisa isipho lesi ngoba sisinika ithuba lokwenza izinqumo ezitshengisa ukuthi simthanda kangakanani uJehova. Ngakho kasiqhubekeni sisisebenzisa ngendlela ezakwenza ukuthi uNkulunkulu adunyiswe njalo sihloniphe indlela abanye abasisebenzisa ngayo isipho lesi. Singenza njalo siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyambonga uNkulunkulu ngokusinika isipho esiligugu kangaka. w17.01 2:15, 17, 18

‘Ukuba lomoya omnene lothuleyo’ yikho okungenza abantu basithande, hatshi ukuzikhukhumeza loba ukufuna ukubukwa. (1 Phet. 3:3, 4; Jer. 9:23, 24) Indlela esikhuluma ngayo lesenza ngayo iyatshengisa ukuthi sithobekile yini. Ngokwesibonelo singenza abantu babone angathi singcono kulabo ngokubatshela ngemisebenzi etshiyeneyo esiyenzayo enhlanganisweni kaJehova, ngemfihlo ethile esiyaziyo kumbe ukuthi sazana labazalwane abathile abakhokhelayo. Kwesinye isikhathi singabatshela ukuthi yithi esenze into ethile yaphumelela ukuze basincome. Kumele silingisele isibonelo sikaJesu endabeni le. Okunengi ayekukhuluma wayekuthatha eMibhalweni yesiHebheru. Wayekwazi ukuthi angenza njalo abantu ababemlalela babezakubona sibili ukuthi ayekutsho kwakuvela kuJehova, hatshi ekuhlakanipheni kwakhe. w17.01 4:12

Kwakulula ukuthi u-Adamu lo-Eva bawulalele umthetho lo ngoba kwakulokudla okunengi ababengazidlela khona esivandeni sase-Edeni. USathane wasebenzisa inyoka ukuze akhohlise u-Eva ukuthi angalaleli uJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe. (Gen. 3:1-5; Isam. 12:9) USathane wathi ku-Eva: “Kambe uNkulunkulu watsho ngeqiniso wathi, ‘Lingadli noma yisiphi isihlahla esivandeni?’” Ngesikhathi uSathane ekhuluma amazwi la wayefuna u-Adamu lo-Eva babone angathi uNkulunkulu uyabacindezela, kafuni ukuthi bazenzele abakufunayo. Esuka lapho wahutshuza amanga aluhlaza tshoko wathi: “Kalisoze life ngempela.” Waphinda wamqila u-Eva ngokumenza acabange ukuthi kamdingi uNkulunkulu, wathi: “UNkulunkulu uyazi ukuthi lingasidla amehlo enu azavuleka.” Ngamanye amazwi uSathane wayesithi uJehova kafuni badle lesosithelo ngoba uyakwazi ukuthi bangasidla bazahlakanipha. Kanti njalo wabathembisa amanga wathi: ‘Lizakuba njengoNkulunkulu lazi okuhle lokubi.’ w17.02 1:8, 9

U-Isaya waphrofetha ukuthi lowomuntu wayezakuba ‘ngumkhokheli lomlawuli wabantu.’ (Isaya. 55:4) UDanyeli laye waphefumulelwa ukuthi abhale ‘ngombusi oGcotshiweyo’ owayezakuba khona. (Dan. 9:25) Ekucineni uJesu Khristu waveza ukuthi nguye umbusi okwakuphrofethwe ukuthi uzakuba nguMkhokheli wabantu bakaNkulunkulu. (Mat. 23:10) Yikho abafundi bakhe babemlandela ngoba babevuma ukuthi nguye sibili okhethwe nguJehova. (Joh. 6:68, 69) Kuyini okwabenza baba leqiniso? Ngesikhathi ebhabhathizwa, uJohane wabona ‘izulu livuleka umoya usehlela phezu [kukaJesu] unjengejuba.’ (Mak. 1:10-12) Waphinda wamnika amandla okwenza izimangaliso njalo wamsiza lokuthi enelise ukutshumayela ngesibindi. (ImiSeb. 10:38) Kanti njalo umoya ongcwele wamnceda ukuthi abe lezimpawu ezinhle ezigoqela uthando, intokozo kanye lokholo oluqinileyo. (Joh. 15:9; Heb. 12:2) Kwakhanya ukuthi umoya ongcwele wawusebenza kuye lokuthi wayekhethwe nguJehova ukuthi akhokhele abantu bakhe. w17.02 3:15, 16

NgePhentekhosti ka-33 C.E., abaphostoli baqala ukukhokhela ibandla lobuKhristu. Kulowombuthano ‘uPhetro wama labalitshumi lanye’ futhi watshumayela phambi kwexuku elikhulu lamaJuda kanye lalabo abasebephendukele enkolweni yeqiniso. (ImiSeb. 2:14, 15) Mhlalokho kwaphenduka abantu abanengi njalo baqhubeka ‘beyikhuthalela imfundiso yabaphostoli.’ (ImiSeb. 2:42) Abaphostoli yibo ababekhangela izimali zebandla. (ImiSeb. 4:34, 35) Kanti njalo yibo ababekhokhela ezintweni eziphathelane lokukhonza, yikho bathi: ‘Thina sizaqinisa ukukhuleka lokutshumayela ilizwi.’ (ImiSeb. 6:4) Babehlela lokuthi kuthunywe abazalwane bayencedisa kwezinye izindawo. (ImiSeb. 8:14, 15) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kwakhethwa abanye abadala abagcotshiweyo ukuthi basebenze ndawonye labaphostoli ukukhokhela amabandla. Yikho amabandla ayenikwa iziqondiso liqula elibusayo elalikhona ngalesosikhathi.​—ImiSeb. 15:2. w17.02 4:4

Abanengi emhlabeni lo sibabona behlonipha abanye kuze kube angathi sebebakhonza. Ngokwesibonelo baqakathekisa abafundisi bamasonto, ababusi, intshantshu zemidlalo, abahlabeleli, abalingiswa abathile labanye abantu abadumileyo baze babaphathe njengabonkulunkulu. Bacabanga ukuthi yibo abantu kuzwa futhi bacina belingisela indlela abenza ngayo, abagqoka ngayo labaziphatha ngayo. AmaKhristu eqiniso awakwenzi lokhu ngoba ayakwazi ukuthi akuqondanga. Ayakwazi ukuthi uKhristu nguye kuphela okumele alingiselwe. (1 Phet. 2:21) UNkulunkulu kasoze athokoze lakancane nxa singahlonipha abantu size sicine sesingani sesibakhonza. Kumele singawakhohlwa amazwi la athi: “Bonke bonile njalo bayasilela enkazimulweni kaNkulunkulu.” (Rom. 3:23) Siyabona-ke ukuthi kakho umuntu okumele akhonzwe. w17.03 1:6-8

Sonke kumele sizihlole ukuze sibone ukuthi simkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke yini uJehova. Kufanele sizibuze imibuzo le, ‘Ngizamlalela yini uJehova lanxa izimo zinzima? Ngizimisele yini ukugcina ibandla lihlanzekile?’ Ngokwesibonelo, kungenzakala ukuthi umuntu omthanda kakhulu asuswe ebandleni ngenxa yokungafuni ukutshiya ububi abenzayo. Uzazimisela yini ukungabi lobudlelwano laye? Lokhu uzakwenza ngenhliziyo yonke yini kumbe uzabe uvala abanye amehlo? Enye indlela ongamlingisela ngayo u-Asa yikuthembela kuNkulunkulu nxa uhlukuluzwa ngabantu. Ngokwesibonelo abanye esikolo bangakuthwalisa nzima ngenxa yokuthi unguFakazi kaJehova. Abanye osebenza labo bangakuchothoza ngenxa yokuthi uyake ucele amalanga athile ukuze uyengena imihlangano. Abanye bangakubona ubuthutha ngenxa yokuthi kawuvumi ukusebenza amahola amanengi (ama-overtime) ukuze uthole imali ethe xaxa. Ezimeni ezinjalo thandaza kuNkulunkulu njengo-Asa. (2 ImiLan. 14:11) Zimisele ukuhlala utshengisa ukuthi uthembele kuye lokuthi uzimisele ukwenza okuqondileyo. Ungenza njalo uNkulunkulu kasoze akutshiye futhi uzakunika amandla. w17.03 3:6-8

ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lisixwayisa ukuthi singabi lamawala nxa sisenza izinqumo eziqakathekileyo. Manje kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi siphumelele endabeni le? Yikuhlala phansi sihlolisise konke okuphathelane lesinqumo esingabe sifuna ukusenza. (1 Thes. 5:21) Inhloko yemuli kufanele ihlole iMibhalo kanye lamabhuku adindwa yinhlanganiso ingakenzi izinqumo njalo ixoxisane lamalunga emuli ukuze izwe imibono yawo. Khumbula ukuthi uJehova wake watshela u-Abhrahama ukuthi alalele umkakhe uSara. (Gen. 21:9-12) Abadala labo kumele bachwayisise nxa besenza izinqumo. Ukuzithoba lokuzwisisa kuzabanceda bangesabi ukuntshintsha isinqumo abasenzileyo nxa sebethole ulwazi olutsha futhi akumelanga babone angathi ukwenza njalo kuzabayangisa. Kumele bazimisele ukuntshintsha nxa kufanele futhi lathi kumele silingisele isibonelo sabo. Lokhu kuzakwenza kube lokuthula lokumanyana ebandleni.​—ImiSeb. 6:1-4. w17.03 2:16