August

Kuqakathekile ukuthi ube ngumfundi okhutheleyo ukuze wenelise ukufundisa abanye. (1 Tim. 4:15, 16) Ngakho nxa uphiwe umsebenzi wokulaya abanye kumele uqhubeke uzithoba futhi ulandela iziqondiso ezivela kuJehova. Nxa ungenza njalo abanye bazakuhlonipha futhi kuzakuba lula ukuthi bamukele amacebo loba iseluleko obanika sona. Lokhu yikho kanye okwenziwa nguJesu. UJesu wamlalela uYise kukho konke lanxa kwezinye izikhathi kwakunzima ukwenza njalo. Kazange azitshaye isifuba ngolwazi kanye lokuhlakanipha ayelakho kodwa wayenika uJehova lonke udumo. (Joh. 5:19, 30) Ukulalela lokuzithoba kwakhe kwenza abantu bamthanda futhi kwenza wafundisa ngomusa langesihawu. (Luk. 4:22) Amazwi akhe alomusa abaqinisa abantu ababefanana lomhlanga ofecekileyo loba intambo yesibani esicima. (Mat. 12:20) Waqhubeka elomusa langesikhathi ephakathi kwesimo esasingabangela ukuthi aphelelwe luthando. Ngelinye ilanga abaphostoli bakhe babephikisana ngendaba yesikhundla kodwa uJesu wabasiza ngomusa langothando kazange abatshingele.​—Mak. 9:33-37; Luk. 22:24-27. w18.03 26 ¶15-16

UPhetro wayekhuluma ngokwakhiwa komkhumbi okwenziwa nguNowa. Umkhumbi lo waba yibufakazi obabutshengisa ukuthi uzinikele ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. UNowa wawenza ngenhliziyo yonke umsebenzi ayewuphiwe nguJehova. Lokhu kwatshengisa ukuthi ulokholo futhi kwenza uJehova wamsindisa yena kanye lemuli yakhe. Ukwakha umkhumbi kwaba yibufakazi obabutshengisa ukuthi uNowa ulokholo kuNkulunkulu. Kunjalo lokubhabhathizwa, nxa ubhabhathizwa uyabe utshengisa ukuthi usuzinikele kuJehova lokuthi uyakholwa kuJesu. Nxa usuzinikele njalo wabhabhathizwa, lingisela uNowa ngokulalela uNkulunkulu lokwenza umsebenzi akunike wona. Ungenza njalo, uJehova uzakusindisa ngesikhathi umhlaba lo ubhujiswa. (Mak. 13:10; Isam. 7:9, 10) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi ukuzinikela lokubhabhathizwa kuqakatheke kakhulu. Umuntu ohlala ebala amabala engwe kulokuthi abhabhathizwe uzifaka engozini yokuthi angakutholi ukuphila okuphakade. w18.03 4 ¶3-4

Abanye abazali bazitshela ukuthi nxa umntwana engabhabhathizwanga kasoze asuswe ebandleni kodwa lokhu yikudlala ngomlilo. (Jak. 1:22) Umntwana akumelanga abhabhathizwe engakazwisisi ukuthi kutshoni ukuzinikela kuJehova. Lanxa kunjalo abazali akumelanga bacabange ukuthi uJehova kasoze amjezise nxa engabhabhathizwanga. Bonke abantu bazalandisa kuJehova. Lokhu akuyi ngokuthi umuntu ubhabhathiziwe yini loba hatshi kodwa kuya ngokuthi uyakwazi yini lokho uJehova akufunayo langakufuniyo. (Jak. 4:17) Ngakho abazali abahlakaniphileyo abamvimbeli umntwana ukuthi abhabhathizwe kodwa bayazimisela ukumfundisa kusukela eseselusane ukuthi athande uJehova njalo alalele imithetho yakhe njengabo. (Luk. 6:40) Bayakwazi ukuthi lokhu kuzamsiza ukuthi azonde okubi futhi enze izinto ezithokozisa uJehova.—Isaya. 35:8. w18.03 11 ¶12-13

Ngemva kukaZamcolo uNowa waphila iminyaka engu-350 njalo waqhubeka ebambelele kuNkulunkulu. (Gen. 9:28) Siyabona ukuthi indoda le yayilalela futhi ilokholo oluqinileyo. Singamlingisela uNowa ngokulalela imithetho kaNkulunkulu lokuqhubeka sifaka kuqala uMbuso kanye lokungangeni ezindabeni zomhlaba lo. (Mat. 6:33; Joh. 15:19) Ukuzimisela kwethu ukuphila ngalindlela kungabangela ukuthi sizondwe ngabantu emhlabeni lo. Lokhu kuliqiniso sibili ngoba kwezinye izindawo abazalwane bethu bayachothozwa ngenxa yokulandela imithetho kaNkulunkulu ephathelane lomtshado kanye lezemacansini. (Mal. 3:17, 18) Loba kunjalo kasibesabi abantu kodwa siyaqhubeka silalela uJehova ngoba nguye kuphela ozasinika ukuphila okuphakade. (Luk. 12:4, 5) Wena-ke? Uzaqhubeka uhamba loNkulunkulu yini lanxa ezomnotho sezinzima loba nxa uchothozwa? UJehova uzakunakekela ngakho konke okudingayo nxa ungamthemba njalo uhlale umlalela njengoNowa.​—Flp. 4:6, 7. w18.02 4-5 ¶4, 8-10

Umoya womhlaba ubangela ukuthi abantu baqakathekise izifiso zabo zenyama ezingalunganga. UPhawuli wawuchaza ngokuthi ‘ngumoya osebenzayo lakhathesi kulabo abangalaleliyo.’ (Efe. 2:2) Umoya lo wenza abantu abanengi baphonguthatheka nje balandele lokho abakubona kusenziwa ngabanye. Abanengi phakathi kwabo abalandaba lemithetho kaNkulunkulu kodwa bazenzela abakufunayo. Baqakathekisa kakhulu imali, izikhundla abalazo kanye lamalungelo abo ngoba izingqondo zabo zigxile ezintweni lezi. Abantu abangelandaba loNkulunkulu bakhanya langokulandela “izenzo zemvelo yesono.” (Gal. 5:19-21) Ngokwesibonelo babangela ukwahlukana, ukuxabana, bakhuthaza ukuhlamuka, bayamangalelana emithethwandaba, abahloniphi abakhokhelayo njalo bathanda ukuzitika ngokudla lokunatha. Nxa umuntu onjalo ehugwa yisono uyathatheka awele kuso kalula nje.​—Zaga. 7:21, 22. w18.02 19 ¶3-5

Akukubi ukuthi sithole isikhathi sokwenza izinto ezingasenza sijabule. UJehova laye uyafisa ukuthi sijabule empilweni ngokwenza izinto ezisithokozisayo. IBhayibhili lithi: “Hamba nje uyezidlela ukudla kwakho uchelesile, unathe iwayini lakho ngenhliziyo emhlophe.” (UmTshu. 9:7) Ku-2 Thimothi 3:4 umphostoli uPhawuli wakhuluma ngabantu abathanda injabulo kulokuthanda uNkulunkulu. Nanzelela ukuthi uPhawuli kazange athi bathanda injabulo ukwedlula uNkulunkulu kodwa wathi bathanda injabulo ‘kulokuthanda uNkulunkulu.’ Esinye isikhwicamfundo sithi: “[Ivesi] le kayitsho ukuthi abantu laba bathanda injabulo ukwedlula uNkulunkulu kodwa iveza ukuthi kabalandaba laye.” Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi ukuphilela injabulo kuyingozi kakhulu. Umutsho othi ‘abathanda injabulo’ utshengisa ukuthi labobantu baphilela ‘ukukholisa’ futhi yikho okuqakatheke kakhulu ezimpilweni zabo.​—Luk. 8:14. w18.01 25 ¶14-15

UJehova nguNkulunkulu ophanayo ngoba konke esilakho kuvela kuye. Nguye umnikazi wegolide, isiliva kanye lazo zonke izinto eziligugu ezisemhlabeni futhi uyazisebenzisa ukuze asincede ekuphileni. (Hubo. 104:13-15; Hag. 2:8) Wanika abako-Israyeli imana lamanzi ngesikhathi besenkangala okweminyaka engu-40. (Eks. 16:35; Neh. 9:20, 21) UJehova waphinda wenza isimangaliso sokwengeza amafutha omfelokazi othile esebenzisa umphrofethi wakhe u-Elisha. Umfelokazi lo wawathengisa amafutha lawo wasebhadala izikwelede ayelazo futhi wasala lemali eyayisenela ukuthi yena lamadodana akhe baqhubeke bephila. (2 AmaKho. 4:1-7) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJehova waphinda wanika uJesu amandla okwenza isimangaliso sokunika ixuku labantu ukudla njalo wasiza abanye ngemali ngesikhathi idingakala. (Mat. 15:35-38; 17:27) UJehova angasebenzisa loba yini ukuze ancede abantu bakhe. Lanxa kunjalo uyasicela ukuthi sisebenzise impahla yethu ukuze sisekele umsebenzi owenziwa enhlanganisweni yakhe.​—Eks. 36:3-7. w18.01 17 ¶1-3

IBhayibhili litshengisa ukuthi abanye abantu ababekhonza uNkulunkulu endulo babephela amandla kwezinye izikhathi. (Jobe. 7:7) Loba kunjalo kabazange bakhalale ngoba babekholwa ukuthi uJehova uzabanika amandla. Lakanye wayekwenza lokhu ngoba iBhayibhili lithi “abakhatheleyo uyabanika amandla.” (Isaya. 40:29) Kodwa okudanisayo yikuthi abanye abantu bakaNkulunkulu lamuhla bayatshiya ukukhonza uJehova nxa sebephakathi kwenhlupho. Bacabanga ukuthi ukukhonza kubabuyisela emuva. Ngakho bayayekela ukubala iLizwi likaNkulunkulu, ukungena imihlangano lokutshumayela. Bayabe sebesenza khona kanye okufunwa nguSathane. USathane kafuni sihlale siqinile ekukhonzeni njalo uyakwazi ukuthi ukwenza imisebenzi ephathelane lokukhonza yikho okusiqinisayo. Ngakho nxa ungezwa angani usuphela amandla, ungamtshiyi uJehova. Sondela kuye ukuze akwenze ‘ube lamandla, uqine.’​—1 Phet. 5:10; Jak. 4:8. w18.01 7-8 ¶2-3

Isimangaliso sesibili sokuvuswa komuntu ofileyo esifunda ngaso eMibhalweni senziwa ngumphrofethi u-Elisha. Ngesikhathi umphrofethi lo eseShunemi wamukelwa kuhle ngowesifazane othile owayenothile. Owesifazane lo wayengelabantwana kodwa ngokuya kwesikhathi uJehova wambusisa yena lomkakhe owayesekhulile ngokubanika indodana. Ngemva kweminyaka ethile indodana le yafa. Lokhu kwamzwisa ubuhlungu owesifazane lo futhi wazimisela ukuhamba amakhilomitha angaba ngu-30 esiyadinga umphrofethi u-Elisha waze wamthola eNtabeni iKhameli. U-Elisha wathumela inceku yakhe uGehazi ukuthi igijime phambi kwabo iyemvusa umfana. UGehazi wehluleka ukumvusa kwaze kwafika unina lo-Elisha. (2 AmaKho. 4:8-31) U-Elisha wathi efika waya lapho okulesidumbu somfana wathandaza kuJehova. Lakanye senzakala isimangaliso, umfana wavuka futhi unina wathaba okumangalisayo. (2 AmaKho. 4:32-37) Isimangaliso esenziwa ngu-Elisha eShunemi sitshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulamandla okuvusa abafileyo. w17.12 4 ¶7-8

Ukuhlakanipha yikho okutshengisa ukuthi umntwana usekhulile. Akuyi ngokuthi uleminyaka emingaki kodwa kukhanya ngendlela amesaba ngayo uJehova lalalela ngayo imithetho yakhe. (Hubo. 111:10) Abantwana abalokholo oluqinileyo kabaphongulandela izinkanuko zabo loba ukuyengwa ngontanga yabo. (Efe. 4:14) Kodwa bayazama ngamandla wonke ukusebenzisa izingqondo zabo ukuze ‘behlukanise okuhle kokubi.’ (Heb. 5:14) Kanti njalo batshengisa ukuthi bahlakaniphile ngokukhetha ukwenza okuhle. Ukuhlakanipha okunjalo yikho okudingakalayo ukuze umntwana asindiswe. (Zaga. 24:14) Abantwana bangasizwa yindlela wena mzali ophila ngayo. Ngakho izinto ozenzayo lozikhulumayo kumele zitshengise ukuthi uzimisele ukulandela izimiso lemithetho kaNkulunkulu etholakala eLizwini lakhe iBhayibhili.​—Rom. 2:21-23. w17.12 20-21 ¶12-13

Umcabango wokuthi abantu bayenelisa ukuqeda inhlupho ukhanya ulengqondo kwabanengi. Kodwa-ke nxa lokhu kuliqiniso kutsho ukuthi siyabe singasamdingi uNkulunkulu njalo sesikhululekile ukuzenzela esikufunayo. Abanye njalo basekela umcabango lo ngoba bathatheka ngalokho okutshiwo zingcitshi ezithile. Ingcitshi lezo zibika ukuthi izimpi, ubugebenga, imikhuhlane kanye lobuyanga sekwehlile emhlabeni jikelele. Abanye bathi izinto sezintshintsha ngoba abantu sebezimisele ukwenza umhlaba ube yindawo engcono. Nxa ungafikelwa ngumcabango othile ongaxegisa ukholo lwakho, zama ukuchwayisisa ukuthi iLizwi likaNkulunkulu lithini ngaleyondaba. Loba uxoxe lomKhristu oqinileyo ekukhonzeni ukuze akuncede. Zama ukubona ukuthi kungani abantu bewuthanda umcabango onjalo lokuthi kungani ungaqondanga kanye lokuthi ungawubalekela njani. Sonke singenelisa ukubalekela imicabango yabantu bomhlaba lo nxa singazimisela ukulandela iseluleko sikaPhawuli esisembhalweni walamuhla. w17.11 24 ¶14, 17

Kuyini okwakusenza abaFarisi babe lukhuni kangaka? IBhayibhili lithi ‘babeseyisa abanye.’ (Luk. 18:9-14) Lingisela uJehova, ungenzi njengabaFarisi. (Kol. 3:13) Zimisele ukuthethelela abanye njalo wenze kube lula ukuthi bazoxolisa nxa bekuphambanisile. (Luk. 17:3, 4) Zibuze imibuzo elandelayo: ‘Ngiyabathethelela yini abanye lanxa bengonele kanengi? Ngizimisele yini ukuyaxoxa lomuntu ongiphambanisileyo ukuze ngilondoloze ukuthula?’ Kumele sibe ngabantu abathobekileyo ukuze senelise ukuthethelela abanye. AbaFarisi babesehluleka ukuthethelela abanye ngoba babebakhangelela phansi. Ngakho kumele sibone abanye ‘njengabangcono kulathi’ ukuze kube lula ukuthi sibathethelele. (Flp. 2:3) Uzamlingisela yini uJehova ube ngumuntu othobekileyo? Nxa uthobekile abanye ngeke bathikaze ukuzoxolisa nxa bekuphambanisile futhi kuzakuba lula ukuthi ubathethelele. Woba ngumuntu ophangisayo ukutshengisa isihawu futhi ophuzayo ukuthukuthela.​—UmTshu. 7:8, 9. w17.11 14-15 ¶6-8

Ukuziqathanisa labanye kungenza ube lenhloni ngendlela ohlabela ngayo. Kodwa lokhu akumelanga kukuvimbele ukuthi udumise uJehova. Yikho nxa kuhlatshelwa ungakhothamisi ikhanda kodwa siphakamisele phezulu isihlabelelo njalo uhlabele ngedlabuzane. (Ezra. 3:11) Kwamanye amaWolu oMbuso kusetshenziswa ama-TV kumbe ama-projector, ngakho nxa kuhlatshelwa abafowethu labodadewethu kabasakhangeli ezihlabelelweni kodwa bakhangela emitshineni le ukuze benelise ukuhlabela ngokuzwakalayo. Okunye okuthokozisayo yikuthi abadala bebandla sebehlabela izingoma zoMbuso nxa beseSikolo Senkonzo SoMbuso. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi abadala kumele babe yisibonelo endabeni yokuhlabela. Abanye bayathikaza ukuhlabela ngelizwi eliphezulu ngoba besaba ukutshaya idiskoti. Kodwa khumbula ukuthi lasekukhulumeni nsuku zonke nje siyake siphambanise loba kunjalo kasiyekeli ukukhuluma. (Jak. 3:2) Ngakho akumelanga wesabe ukuhlabela ngenxa yokuthi ilizwi lakho kalimnandi. w17.11 4-5 ¶9-10

Ngemva kokubona umbono wesikhombisa umphrofethi uZekhariya wasala eselokunengi ayengacabanga ngakho. Kumele ukuthi kwamkhuthaza ukuzwa uJehova ethembisa ukuthi uzabajezisa bonke abantu ababesenza okubi. Lanxa kunjalo izinto zazilokhu zimi manzonzo eJerusalema ngoba abantu abanengi babelokhu besenza okubi futhi umsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli wawusumile. Kodwa kuyini okwasekubangele ukuthi amaJuda atshiye umsebenzi lo oqakathekileyo? Basebekukhohliwe yini ababekulandile eJerusalema? UJehova wenzani ukuze akhuthaze njalo aqinise abantu bakhe? Wanika umphrofethi uZekhariya umbono wokucina owawuzabanceda kakhulu abako-Israyeli. Wawuzabenza babone ukuthi uyabathanda lokuthi uyakuqakathekisa ababekwenzile kanye lokuthi uzabavikela ezitheni zabo. Ngakho wabatshela amazwi asembhalweni walamuhla. w17.10 26-27 ¶1, 5

Ukuba lesibindi kuyabanceda abazalwane ababhabhathiziweyo ukuthi basebenzele ukuba zinceku ezikhonzayo labadala ebandleni. (1 Tim. 3:1) Abanye bangabona angathi abafanelanga ukwenza imisebenzi le ebandleni ngenxa yamaphutha abawenza kudala. Abanye njalo bangabe becabanga ukuthi imisebenzi le kayibalingananga futhi kabangeke benelise ukuyenza. Nxa lawe ulomcabango onjalo thandaza kuJehova ukuze akuncedise ukuthi ube lesibindi. (Flp. 4:13) Khumbula ukuthi uMosi laye ngesinye isikhathi wake wazibona engafanelanga ukuthi enze umsebenzi uJehova ayefuna awenze. (Eks. 3:11) Ngokuya kwesikhathi uMosi wawenza umsebenzi lo ngoba uJehova wamnceda ukuthi abe lesibindi. Ngakho ukuthandaza kuJehova lokubala iLizwi lakhe nsuku zonke kungabasiza abazalwane ababhabhathiziweyo ukuthi babe lesibindi. Okunye okungabasiza yikucabangisisa ngezibonelo zabantu abatshengisa isibindi. Bangacela lokuthi abadala babaqeqetshe njalo bazimisele ukuphathisa emisebenzini etshiyeneyo eyenziwa ebandleni. w17.09 32 ¶19

IBhayibhili liphefumulelwe nguJehova uNkulunkulu kodwa lokhu akutsho ukuthi ukuhunyutshwa kwe-Septuagint, leBhayibhili elahunyutshwa nguWycliffe, le-King James Version lakho kwaphefumulelwa. Loba kunjalo nxa sikhangela umsebenzi owenziwa ngabahumutshi bamaBhayibhili la kanye lamanye akhona kusegcekeni ukuthi iLizwi likaNkulunkulu limi kuze kube nini lanini. Ukwazi lokhu kusenza sibe leqiniso lokuthi zonke izithembiso zikaJehova zizagcwaliseka loba sekutheni. (Josh. 23:14) Ukubona indlela uJehova alondoloze ngayo iLizwi lakhe kuyaluqinisa ukholo lwethu futhi kwenza simthande kakhulu. Khumbula ukuthi okwenza wasinika lona yikuthi uyasithanda njalo ufuna lisincede ukuze sithokoze empilweni. (Isaya. 48:17, 18) Lokhu kumele kusifuqe ukuthi simthande njalo silalele imithetho yakhe.​—1 Joh. 4:19; 5:3. w17.09 21-22 ¶13-14

Ukufundisa abantwana ukuthi balalele umlayo lo kungaba nzima nxa omunye umzali engalamukeli iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini. Lanxa kunjalo kumele umhloniphe umkakho njalo umncome ngakho konke okuhle akwenzayo. Ungaqali ukutshela abantwana amaphutha enziwa ngomunye wakho. Bachazele ukuthi umuntu ngamunye kumele azikhethele ukuthi uyafuna yini ukukhonza uJehova loba hatshi. Benze babone lokuthi nxa bengazimisela ukulalela lokho okufundiswa liBhayibhili, umkakho laye angacina esekhonza uJehova. Ikanti kwesinye isikhathi indoda engakhonziyo ingayala ukuthi umkayo afundise abantwana ngoNkulunkulu loba ukuthi ahambe labo emihlanganweni yebandla. Ezimeni ezinjalo inkosikazi engumKhristu kumele izame ukuthola izindlela engazisebenzisa ukuze ifundise abantwana iqiniso. (ImiSeb. 16:1; 2 Tim. 3:14, 15) Kumele izame ukusebenzisa loba yiliphi ithuba elivelayo ukuze incedise abantwana ukuthi bamazi uJehova futhi bahloniphe imithetho yakhe.​—ImiSeb 4:19, 20. w17.10 14 ¶9-10

UJehova ulesihawu njalo abantu labo balaso ngoba badalwe ngomfanekiso wakhe. Ngakho kasimangali nxa sibona abantu abangamkhonziyo uNkulunkulu besiba lesihawu kwabanye. (Gen. 1:27) IBhayibhili lilezibonelo ezinengi zabantu ababelesihawu. Ngokwesibonelo ngelinye ilanga uSolomoni wayethetha icala labesifazane ababili ababebanga umntwana. Ngakho ukuze abone ukuthi ngubani owayengunina womntwana, uSolomoni wathi umntwana kaqunywe phakathi. Kodwa ngenxa yesihawu lowo owayengunina womntwana wala ukuthi aqunywe. (1 AmaKho. 3:23-27) Esinye isibonelo ngesendodakazi kaFaro eyadobha uMosi emfuleni ngesikhathi elusane. Kwakumele abulawe ngoba wayengumntwana wamaHebheru. Kodwa indodakazi kaFaro yamthatha yamgcina ngoba ‘yayimzwela usizi.’​—Eks. 2:5, 6. w17.09 8-9 ¶2-3

UJehova ukhangelele ukuthi sibe ngabantu abathobekileyo ngoba ukuthobeka kuyanceda kakhulu. (Zaga. 22:4) Ngokwesibonelo nxa sithobekile sonke sizakwenelisa ukulondoloza ukuthula lokumanyana ebandleni. Kanti njalo uJehova uzasitshengisa umusa wakhe omkhulu nxa singahlala sithobekile. Umphostoli uPhetro wabhala wathi: “Lonke zembathiseni ngokuthobeka omunye komunye, ngoba, ‘uNkulunkulu umelana labazigqajayo kodwa abe lomusa kwabathobekileyo.’” (1 Phet. 5:5) Lamuhla abantu abanengi bakubona kuyibuthutha ukuba ngumuntu omnene futhi obekezelayo. Kodwa umbono wabo unxele! Khumbula ukuthi ukubekezela lobumnene ngezinye izimpawu zobuntu bukaJehova uNkulunkulu omkhulu kulabo bonke ezulwini lasemhlabeni. Yena uyisibonelo esihle kakhulu endabeni yokubekezela lobumnene. Ngokwesibonelo wabekezelela u-Abhrahama loLothi ngesikhathi bebuza imibuzo eminenginengi futhi waphendula leyomibuzo esebenzisa izingilosi zakhe. (Gen. 18:22-33; 19:18-21) Kanti njalo uJehova wabekezelela abako-Israyeli okweminyaka edlula engu-1 500 lanxa babephambuka kuye kanenginengi.​—Hez. 33:11. w17.08 25 ¶13-14

Kufanele sikhuleke ukuze sithole ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu. Kodwa nanzelela ukuthi uPhawuli wathi ‘ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu kudlula ukuqedisisa konke.’ Kutshoni lokhu? Amanye amaBhayibhili athi “kudlula konke esingabe sikucabanga” loba “wonke amacebo esilawo.” Ngamanye amazwi uPhawuli wayesithi “ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu” kuyamangalisa futhi akulalutho esingalulinganisa lakho. Lanxa singabona angathi inhlupho zethu seziphezu kwamandla ethu akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi uJehova ukhangele njalo angenza esingakukhangelelanga. (2 Phet. 2:9) Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sithole “ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu” lanxa siphakathi kobunzima? Yikuhlala silobuhlobo obuhle laye. Ubuhlobo obuhle loJehova sibuthola ngokuba lokholo “kuKhristu uJesu” owasifelayo. Inhlawulo le ngenye into enhle esiyenzelwe nguBaba wethu ukuze atshengise ukuthi uyasithanda. UJehova uyayisebenzisa ukuze asithethelele izono futhi lokhu kuyasinceda ukuthi sibe lomzwangedwa omuhle lokuthi sisondele kuye.​—Joh. 14:6; Jak. 4:8; 1 Phet. 3:21. w17.08 10, 12 ¶7, 15

Ngezinye izikhathi abantu abafelweyo bayabe bedabukile emoyeni njalo kuba nzima ukuthi baveze okusezinhliziyweni zabo. Lanxa umuntu ofelweyo engazama ukuchaza ukuthi uzwa njani, izikhathi ezinengi kuba nzima kwabanye ukuthi bazwisise ukuthi utshoni. Kwesinye isikhathi singaswela ukuthi sithini emuntwini ofelweyo. Kodwa okunceda kakhulu esingakwenza ‘yikulila lalabo abalilayo.’ (Rom. 12:15) Nxa ukuthola kunzima ukuyakhangelana lomuntu ofelweyo umduduze kungaba ngcono ukuthi umbhalele incwadi, ikhadi kumbe umthumele umlayezo. Ungambhalela levesi engamduduza loba ukhulume okuhle okukhumbulayo okwakusenziwa ngumufi. Okunye esingakwenza yikuthandazela abafowethu labodadewethu abafelweyo. Kanti njalo ukuthandaza labo kungabaduduza kakhulu. w17.07 14-16 ¶13-16

Ungenzani nxa wena lomkakho seliphakathi kwenhlupho ezithile kumbe nxa sekusenzakala izinto obungazikhangelelanga? Cabanga ngendlela uJehova aphatha ngayo abantu bako-Israyeli. Wayezibiza ngokuthi ungumyeni wabo. (Isaya. 54:5; 62:4) Kodwa khumbula ukuthi abako-Israyeli bamdanisa kanengi kangakanani. Ubuhlobo babo loJehova basebufanana lomtshado olezinhlupho. Lanxa kunjalo uJehova kazange abakhalale kodwa wabathethelela kanenginengi futhi wazigcina izithembiso ayebathembise zona. (Hubo. 106:43-45) UJehova uyisibonelo esihle kakhulu. Ngakho abatshadileyo abamthandayo uJehova kumele bamlingisele. Akumelanga loba sekutheni babalekele izinhlupho abalazo emtshadweni wabo ngokudivosa. Kufanele bakhumbule ukuthi uJehova usebahlanganisile njalo ukhangelele ukuthi bagcine isifungo abasenzayo. IBhayibhili lithi abatshadileyo bangadivosa kuphela nxa omunye efebile hatshi ngenxa yezinye nje izizatho. (Mat. 19:5, 9) Yikho nxa abatshadileyo bezama ngamandla wonke ukulondoloza umtshado wabo lasezimeni ezinzima bayabe betshengisa ukuthi bayabusekela ubukhosi bukaJehova. w17.06 31 ¶17-18

Okwenziwa nguSathane ensimini yase-Edeni kwenza kwaba lokuthandabuza ukuthi uJehova ufanele yini ukubusa. Ayekufuna yikuthi abantu bacabange ukuthi uJehova ngumbusi omubi futhi ocindezelayo. Ngamanye amazwi wayesithi abantu abamdingi uNkulunkulu, bangaphila ngcono nxa bezibusa. (Gen. 3:1-4) Kanti njalo amazwi akhe ayesitsho lokuthi nxa izinto sezinzima loba ngubani angamtshiya uNkulunkulu. (Jobe. 2:4, 5) UNkulunkulu uvumele ukuthi kudlule isikhathi abantu bezibusa ukuze bazibonele ngawabo ukuthi okwatshiwo nguSathane kuliqiniso yini kumbe hatshi. UJehova uyakwazi ukuthi konke lokhu okwatshiwo nguSathane ngamanga aluhlaza. Manje kungani eyekele kwadlula isikhathi eside kangaka engayilungisanga indaba le? Khumbula ukuthi indaba le ithinta bonke abantu kanye lezingilosi ezulwini. (Hubo. 83:18) U-Adamu lo-Eva bala ukubuswa nguJehova njalo kusukela ngalesosikhathi abantu abanengi benza okufananayo. Lokhu kwenza abanye bacine becabanga ukuthi uSathane uqinisile ngalokho akutshoyo. w17.06 22-23 ¶3-4

Umsebenzi wokutshumayela uyanceda kakhulu ngoba usifundisa ukuthi sibe ngabantu abakhutheleyo, abenelisa ukukhuluma labanye, abalesibindi futhi abazingcitshi zokufundisa. (Zaga. 21:5; 2 Tim. 2:24) Okunye okuhle ngomsebenzi lo yikuthi usenza sijayele ukusebenzisa iMibhalo etshiyeneyo nxa sichaza lokho esikukholwayo. Kodwa okuhle kakhulu yikuthi siyabe sisebenza loJehova. (1 Khor. 3:9) Ungenelisa ukuthokoza ekutshumayeleni lanxa bebalutshwana abalalela izindaba ezinhle. Okungakunceda yikukhumbula ukuthi umsebenzi lo uwenza labanye ebandleni. Lanxa kungumuntu oyedwa ofunda lothile aze abhabhathizwe, wonke umuntu ebandleni uyathokoza ngoba uyabe encedisile. Ngokwesibonelo omunye umfowethu okuthiwa nguBrandon waphayona okweminyaka engu-9 endaweni eyayilabantu abalutshwana kakhulu ababethanda ukufunda iBhayibhili. Uthi: “Angikaze ngifunde lomuntu aze abhabhathizwe kodwa abanye bona sebeke bakwenza lokhu. Angizisoli lakancane ukuthi ngakhetha ukuba senkonzweni yesikhathi sonke.”​—UmTshu. 11:6. w17.07 23-24 ¶7, 9-10

UHana wahlala iminyaka engelabantwana kodwa unyanewabo uPhenina elabantwana abanengi. (1 Sam. 1:4-7) IBhayibhili lithi ‘minyaka yonke’ unyanewabo wayemgolomba ukuze amcaphule. Lokhu kwakubangela ukuthi ahlale ekhathazekile njalo esizwa ubuhlungu. UHana wakhuleka kuJehova ecela ukuthi amsize. (1 Sam. 1:12) Kusegcekeni ukuthi wayethemba ukuthi uJehova angamnika lokho ayekucelile loba amduduze ngenye indlela. Sizaqhubeka silokhu sihlangana lezinhlupho ezitshiyeneyo njengoba siphila emhlabeni lo obuswa nguSathane. (1 Joh. 5:19) Kodwa okusinika amandla yikwazi ukuthi uJehova ‘nguNkulunkulu wenduduzo yonke.’ (2 Khor. 1:3) Okunye okungasinceda ukuthi silwisane lezinhlupho zethu yikuthandaza. Lokhu yikho kanye okwenziwa nguHana. Wakhuleka kuJehova emtshela konke okwakumkhathaza njalo wamncenga ukuthi amsize. Lathi kumele senze okufananayo, kufanele simncenge uJehova futhi sitsho konke okusenzikini yezinhliziyo zethu.​—Flp. 4:6, 7. w17.06 6 ¶10-11

UJesu wayekwazi ukuthi abafundi bakhe babengabambanga lutho ngesikhathi begola inhlanzi, yikho wathi kubo: “Phosani umambule wenu ngasekunene kwesikepe lizazuza khona. Bathe sebenze njalo behluleka ukudonsa umbule ngenxa yobunengi bezinhlanzi.” (Joh. 21:1-6) Ngemva kokubenzela ukudla kwekuseni uJesu wabuza uSimoni Phetro amazwi asembhalweni walamuhla. Wayekhuluma ngani uJesu? UPhetro wayekuthanda ukugola inhlanzi. Ngakho kukhanya uJesu wambuza umbuzo lo ukuze abone ukuthi kuyini ayekuthanda kakhulu. Wayethanda uJesu lalokho ayekufundisa yini kumbe wayethanda kakhulu inhlanzi lebhizimusi yokugola inhlanzi? UPhetro waphendula wathi: “Yebo Nkosi, uyakwazi ukuthi ngiyakuthanda kakhulu.” (Joh. 21:15, NW) Kusukela ngalesosikhathi uPhetro watshengisa ukuthi uyamthanda kakhulu uKhristu. Wazinikela emsebenzini wokutshumayela njalo waba yinsika ebandleni. w17.05 22 ¶1-2

Ukuthemba uJehova kwasiza uPhawuli ukuthi enelise ukulwisana lobunzima ayehlangana labo. Kazange avumele ukuthi inhlupho ayehlangana lazo zimenze athwale imikhono ekhanda. Kuyini okwamnceda ukuthi abekezele? Yikuthemba “uNkulunkulu wenduduzo yonke, osiduduzayo kuzo zonke izinhlupheko zethu.” (2 Khor. 1:3, 4) Ukuthandaza kwenza sibe seduze loJehova. (Hubo. 86:3; 1 Thes. 5:17; Rom. 12:12) Nxa sithandaza kuBaba wethu osezulwini simtshela konke okusezinhliziyweni zethu ubungane bethu laye buyaqina ngoba uyayizwa imithandazo yethu. (Hubo. 65:2) Kanti njalo siyasondela kuye nxa sibona indlela aphendula ngayo imithandazo yethu. Siyakubona lokuthi “uJehova useduze kulabo abacela kuye.” (Hubo. 145:18) Ukuthemba uJehova kuyasinceda lokuthi senelise ukumelana lobunzima esingahlangana labo. w17.05 19 ¶9-10

Uzakwenzani nxa abadala ebandleni bangenza isinqumo ongasizwisisiyo loba ongavumelani laso? Isimo esinjalo singabangela ukuthi sisole indlela uJehova enza ngayo izinto futhi singabathembi abakhokhelayo ebandleni. Ukuthobeka kungakunceda njani nxa sekunjalo? Okokuqala, ukuthobeka kuzakunceda ukuthi uvume ukuthi kawukwazi konke okungabe kwenzakele. Ikanti lanxa ungabe ukwazi, khumbula ukuthi nguJehova kuphela obona okusenhliziyweni yomuntu. Ukucabangisisa ngalokhu kuzakwenza ubone ukuthi kulalapho ophelela khona lokuthi kumele untshintshe umbono wakho ngaleyondaba. Okwesibili, ukuthobeka kuzakusiza ukuthi ubekezele njalo ulindele ukuthi uJehova alungise izinto ngesikhathi sakhe esifaneleyo. IBhayibhili lithi: “Ababi kakuyikubalungela; futhi kabayikuhlala insuku ezinengi.” (UmTshu. 8:12, 13, The Holy Bible in Ndebele.) Kuyakhanya sibili ukuthi ukuthobeka kuyanceda kakhulu.​—1 Phet. 5:5. w17.04 25-26 ¶10-11

Kusegcekeni ukuthi uJosefa waphathwa ngendlela ebuhlungu kakhulu. Waphinda wachaza lokuthi kenzanga lutho olufanele ukuthi afakwe entolongweni. Ngakho wacela ukuthi umphathinkezo ‘amkhulumele kuFaro ukuze akhutshwe entolongweni.’ (Gen. 40:14) UJosefa wayesizwa njani ngalokho abantu ababemenze khona? Wayebuzwa sibili ubuhlungu ngoba wayephathwa kubi kungelalutho alwenzileyo. Yikho wachazela umphathinkezo indaba yakhe elethemba lokuthi indoda le ingenelisa ukumnceda. Kodwa nxa sifunda indaba kaJosefa siyabona ukuthi kazange atshele loba ngubani ukuthi abafowabo yibo abamthengisayo. Ngitsho laye uFaro ngokwakhe kazange amtshele. Lokhu akwenzayo uJosefa kuhle kakhulu. Abafowabo bathi befika eGibhithe, uFaro wabemukela kuhle wabatshela lokuthi bazohlala eGibhithe bakholise “amanono elizwe.”​—Gen. 45:16-20. w17.04 20-21 ¶12-13

Okunye okwenza uJehova afanele ukubusa yikuthi ulolwazi lenhlakanipho ejulileyo ngezinto ezidaliweyo. Ngokwesibonelo wanika iNdodana yakhe amandla okwelapha imikhuhlane eyayisehlula odokotela. (Mat. 4:23, 24; Mak. 5:25-29) Okwenziwa nguJesu akuzange kube yisimanga kuJehova ngoba uyakwazi ukuthi umzimba womuntu ubunjwe njani futhi uyenelisa ukulungisa loba yiwuphi umonakalo ongabe wenzakele kuwo. Kanti njalo uyenelisa lokuvusa abafileyo kanye lokuvikela izingozi ezingabangelwa yimvelo. Abantu abanengi emhlabeni lo obuswa nguSathane bazama lokhu lalokhuya ukuze baqede izingxabano ezikhona kodwa bayehluleka. UJehova nguye kuphela ongaletha ukuthula emhlabeni ngoba ulenhlakanipho emangalisayo. (Isaya. 2:3, 4; 54:13) Singaqhubeka sifunda ngolwazi uJehova alalo kanye lenhlakanipho yakhe, sizakutsho amazwi afanana lakamphostoli uPhawuli asembhalweni walamuhla. w17.06 28 ¶6-7

Abantu abanengi emhlabeni lo kabawuhloniphi umtshado. Nxa kungaba lezinhlupho loba ukungazwanani emitshadweni yabo bayakhalala besebekhetha ukudivosa. Kodwa amaKhristu eqiniso kawakwenzi lokhu. (1 Khor. 7:27) Phela ukwenza njalo kufanana lokuqambela uNkulunkulu amanga, into ayizondayo kakhulu. (Levi. 19:12; Zaga. 6:16-19) UJehova uyamzonda lomuntu odivosa umkakhe ngobuqili. (Mal. 2:13-16) UJesu waveza ukuthi sinye kuphela isizatho esingenza ukuthi abatshadileyo badivose. Wathi lokhu kungenziwa nxa omunye efebile futhi omunye wakhe engafuni ukumxolela. (Mat. 19:9; Heb. 13:4) Ukwehlukana khona kuyavunyelwa yini? IBhayibhili licacile lasendabeni le. (1 Khor. 7:10, 11) Akulasizatho esiqanjwayo eBhayibhilini esingenza umuntu ehlukane lomunye wakhe. Kodwa kwezinye izikhathi umKhristu angabona kungcono ukuthi ehlukane lomunye wakhe ikakhulu nxa emhlukuluza njalonje. Omunye angakhetha ukwenza lokhu nxa esevinjelwa ukukhonza uJehova ngumkakhe osehlamukile. w17.04 7 ¶14-16