April

Wena ucabanga njengoNkulunkulu yini kumbe njengabantu bomhlaba? Sonke siyalwisa sibili ukuziphatha ngendlela uNkulunkulu ayifunayo, kodwa kumele sihlole ukuthi imicabango yethu injani. Kuqakathekile ukuthi senze konke okusemandleni ethu ukuze imicabango yethu ihambelane lekaNkulunkulu. Kodwa lokho kungaba nzima ngoba umoya womhlaba ugcwele yonke indawo. (Efe. 2:2) Kulula ukuthi sithatheke ngemicabango yabantu balumhlaba ngoba iyakhanga futhi ingasikhuthaza ukuthi siqakathekise okufunwa yithi. Ngakho nxa singananzeleli singacina sesicabanga njengabantu balumhlaba kulokuthi sicabange njengoJehova. Nxa singavumela umhlaba ubumbe indlela esicabanga ngayo, sizaqakathekisa kakhulu okufunwa yithi njalo sifune ukuzenzela umathanda. (Mak. 7:21, 22) Ngakho kumele sizimisele ukuba ‘lemicabango kaNkulunkulu’ hatshi ‘eyabantu.’ w18.11 18 ¶1; 19 ¶3-4

UJehova wakhuluma loJesu okwamahlandla amathathu eveza ukuthi uyamthanda kakhulu. Kumele ukuthi ukuzwa lokhu kwamkhuthaza uJesu. Ngokwesibonelo, wathi esanda kubhabhathizwa eMfuleni uJodani, uJehova wakhuluma amazwi asembhalweni walamuhla. Kukhanya kulelihlandla uJohane uMbhabhathizi nguye kuphela owezwa uJehova ekhuluma leNdodana yakhe. Kodwa kwathi sekusele phose umnyaka ukuthi uJesu afe, abaphostoli bakhe abathathu bazizwela ngezabo uJehova esithi: “Lo yiNdodana yami engiyithandayo; ngiyathokoza kakhulu ngayo. Yilaleleni!” (Mat. 17:5) UJehova waphinda wakhuluma loJesu ngesikhathi sekusele insukwana ukuthi abulawe. (Joh. 12:28) UJesu waqakathekisa ukwenza intando kaYise lanxa wayekwazi ukuthi wayezaphathwa njengomkhohlisi njalo abulawe ngendlela ebuhlungu. (Mat. 26:39, 42) Wabekezelela ukuphathwa ngendlela elihlazo ngoba wayekwazi ukuthi ukuphiwa udumo nguYise kungcono kulokuphiwa udumo ngabantu.​—Heb. 12:2. w18.07 10-11 ¶15-16

Ngemva kokusungula iSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa, uJesu watshengisa ukuthi ulesibindi esimangalisayo. Wavuma ukwenza intando kaYise lanxa wayesazi ukuthi uzakwetheswa icala lokuthuka uNkulunkulu abesebulawa ngendlela elihlazo. (Mat. 26:65, 66) UJesu wahlala eqotho ngoba wayefuna ukungcwelisa ibizo likaNkulunkulu lokusekela ubukhosi bakhe kanye lokuvulela abantu abaphendukayo ithuba lokuthola ukuphila okungapheliyo. Kanti njalo wancedisa abalandeli bakhe ukuthi babe lesibindi sokumelana lobunzima obabuzabehlela. UJesu waphinda watshengisa ukuthi ulesibindi ngokungakhathazeki kakhulu ngalokho okwakuzamehlela. Ayezihlupha ngakho kakhulu yikuthi angabasiza njani abaphostoli bakhe ababethembekile. Isidlo esilula ayesenze ngemva kokuxotsha uJudasi sasizasiza bonke ababezakuba ngabalandeli bakhe abagcotshiweyo ukuthi bahlale bekhumbula ukuthi igazi likaJesu elachithekayo libancede njani kanye lokuthi bangamalunga esivumelwano esitsha.​—1 Khor. 10:16, 17. w19.01 22 ¶7-8

UYise wamphendula esezulwini wathi: “Ngilikhazimulisile futhi ngizaphinda ngilikhazimulise.” UJesu wayekhathazekile ngenxa yomlandu omkhulu ayelawo wokuhlala ethembekile kuJehova. Wayekwazi ukuthi wayezabhaxabulwa futhi abulawe kabuhlungu. (Mat. 26:38) Kodwa ayekhathazeke ngakho kakhulu yikukhazimulisa ibizo likaYise. Wetheswa icala lokuthuka uNkulunkulu njalo wayekhathazeke ngokuthi ukufa kwakhe kwakuzakwenza ukuthi uNkulunkulu akhulunyelwe kubi. Siyakhathazeka njengoJesu nxa ibizo likaJehova likhulunyelwa kubi. Mhlawumbe lathi siphathwa kubi kumbe sikhathazekile ngezindaba ezingamanga ezikhulunywa ngabaphikisi. Okwenza sikhathazwe yizindaba lezi yikuthi zingenza ibizo likaJehova lingcoliswe. Ngezikhathi ezinjalo amazwi kaJehova ayasiduduza. UJehova uzahlala elikhazimulisa ibizo lakhe.​—Hubo. 94:22, 23; Isaya. 65:17. w19.03 11-12 ¶14-16

Abafundi bakaJesu kwakungathi bayaphupha. UJesu wayesanda kubatshela ukuthi wayesezahlukuluzwa futhi abulawe. Lokho kwabamangalisa ngoba bona babekhangelele ukuthi uzabuyisela umbuso ko-Israyeli. Umphostoli uPhetro wathi esizwa lokho wathi kuye: “Zizwele isihawu Nkosi; lokho ngeke kwenzeke kuwe loba sekutheni.” Kodwa uJesu wamphendula wathi: “Yana emva kwami Sathane! Uyisikhubekiso kimi ngoba kawucabangi imicabango kaNkulunkulu kodwa ucabanga eyabantu.” (Mat. 16:22, 23, NW; ImiSeb. 1:6) Impendulo kaJesu yakwenza kwacaca ukuthi imicabango kaNkulunkulu kayifanani lemicabango yabantu bomhlaba lo obuswa nguSathane. (1 Joh. 5:19) Kodwa amazwi kaPhetro wona ayetshengisa ukuthi ucabanga njengabantu bomhlaba abaqakathekisa okufunwa yibo. UJesu wayekwazi ukuthi indlela uYise acabanga ngayo itshiyene leyabantu. Indlela uJesu aphendula ngayo uPhetro iveza ukuthi wayengafuni ukulandela imicabango yabantu kodwa wayefuna ukulandela ekaJehova. w18.11 18 ¶1-2

UJehova uyathokoza kakhulu nxa ebona amamiliyoni abantu emhlabeni wonke ethe gwaqa eSidlweni SeNkosi Sakusihlwa. Kakhangeli ubunengi babantu kuphela kodwa unanzelela lomuntu ngamunye oyabe ekhona. Uyababona bonke abangena iSikhumbuzo minyaka yonke. Abanye babo yilabo abathwele nzima ngenxa yokuhlukuluzwa. Kulabanye abakuqakathekisayo ukungena iSikhumbuzo lanxa bengabuyi emihlanganweni esiba layo maviki wonke. UJehova uphinda abone lalabo ababuya eSikhumbuzweni okokuqala bezobona ukuthi kanti vele kwenziwani embuthanweni lo. Uyathokoza kakhulu nxa ebona abantu bebuya ngobunengi eSikhumbuzweni. (Luk. 22:19) Kodwa okumthokozisa kakhulu yisizatho esenza babuye embuthanweni lo. Siyakufuna yini ukufundiswa nguJehova lenhlanganiso yakhe?​—Isaya. 48:17, 18; Joh. 6:45. w19.01 26 ¶1-3

UJesu wayengaqakathekisi okufunwa nguye kuphela kodwa wayelendaba lalokho okufunwa ngabanye. Ngokwesibonelo, wayezinika isikhathi sokuba labafundi bakhe kungelani lokuthi udiniwe loba ukhathazekile. (Luk. 22:39-46) Wayengalindeli ukuthi abantu bamenzele izinto ezinhle kodwa nguye owayesukumela phezulu ukuze asize abanye ngalokho abakudingayo. (Mat. 20:28) Siyimuli ebambeneyo ekhonza uNkulunkulu weqiniso futhi sisebenzisa isikhathi sethu sinxusa abantu ukuthi babuye bazokhonza lathi. Kodwa esifisa ukubasiza kakhulu yilabo “abangabemuli yethu yabakholwayo” abangasayifezi inkonzo. (Gal. 6:10) Siyabathanda yikho sibanxusa ukuthi babuye emihlanganweni yebandla ikakhulu eSikhumbuzweni. Lathi njengoJehova loJesu siyathokoza kakhulu nxa sibabona bebuyela kuBaba wethu.​—Mat. 18:14. w19.01 29 ¶12, 14; 30 ¶15

UJesu wathi esungula iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe wasebenzisa isinkwa sePhasika kanye lewayini elalisele. Watshela abaphostoli bakhe ukuthi isinkwa sasimela umzimba wakhe ongelasono lokuthi iwayini lona lalimela igazi lakhe elaselizachitheka ukuze bahlawulelwe. Kumele ukuthi kabazange bamangale bembona esebenzisa izinto ezijayelekileyo ukusungula umbuthano oqakatheke kangaka. Kuyini okwenza bangamangali? Babesakukhumbula lokho uJesu ayekwenze ezinyangeni ezadlulayo ngesikhathi evakatshele abangane bakhe, uLazaro loMatha kanye loMariya. UJesu waqalisa ukufundisa. UMatha laye wayekhona ngekhaya kodwa wayephathekile ngokulungisela uJesu izibiliboco. Phela wayesazi ukuthi uvakatshelwe ngumuntu oqakathekileyo. UJesu wathi ekubona lokho wameluleka ngomusa uMatha, emtshela ukuthi kwakungadingakali ukuthi alungise ukudla okunengi kangako. (Luk. 10:40-42) Kodwa kazange aphelele ekukhulumeni kuphela. Kwathi sekusele amahola ukuthi afe laye wenza isidlo esingelazinto ezinengi, esungula iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe. w19.01 20-21 ¶3-4

UJehova wanika uJesu udumo ngendlela ayengayicabangeli. IMibhalo iveza ukuthi uJesu esevusiwe waphiwa isikhundla esiphezulu kakhulu njalo waba ngowokuqala ukuthola isipho sokungafi. (Flp. 2:9; 1 Tim. 6:16) Siyabona ke ukuthi uJesu wabusiswa ngenxa yokuthembeka kwakhe. Kuyini okuzasisiza ukuthi singazikhathazi ngokufuna udumo emhlabeni lo esiphila kuwo? Yikukhumbula ukuthi uJehova uyabanika udumo zikhathi zonke labo abathembekileyo kuye njalo uyabanika umvuzo ngezindlela abangazicabangeliyo. Kakho phakathi kwethu ongachaza zonke izibusiso esizazinikwa nguJehova esikhathini esizayo. Ngakho okwakhathesi kasiqhubekeni sibekezelela inhlupho lobunzima esihlangana labo njalo sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi umhlaba lo uyadlula. (1 Joh. 2:17) UBaba wethu uJehova ‘kasuye ongalunganga kasoke awukhohlwe umsebenzi wethu lothando esamtshengisa lona.’​—Heb. 6:10. w18.07 11 ¶17-18

Ngobusuku bokucina uJesu elabaphostoli bakhe wayekhathazeke kakhulu ngendaba yokumanyana. Yikho wakhuleka ecela ukuthi abafundi bakhe babambane njengoba nje yena loJehova bemanyene. Ukumanyana kwabo kwakuzakuba yibufakazi obusegcekeni bokuthi uJehova nguye owayethume uJesu emhlabeni. Ukuba lothando kwakuzatshengisa ukuthi bangabalandeli bakaJesu beqiniso njalo kwakuzabagcina bemanyene. (Joh. 13:34, 35) UJesu waqonqosela abaphostoli bakhe ukuthi bamanyane ngoba wananzelela ukuthi babelohlupho endabeni le. Ngokwesibonelo ngesikhathi benanza isidlo sokucina baphinda baphikisana ngokuthi “ngubani kubo owayebonakala emkhulu kulabo bonke.” (Luk. 22:24-27; Mak. 9:33, 34) Kanti njalo uJakhobe loJohane bake bacela ukuthi uJesu abanike izikhundla eziphezulu eMbusweni wakhe.​—Mak. 10:35-40. w18.06 8 ¶1-2

UJehova ufuna abantu abatshadileyo bathandane okwempilo yabo yonke. (Mat. 19:3-6) Umuntu ophingayo uyabe emenze isihluku omunye wakhe, yikho umlayo wesikhombisa wawusithi: “Ungafebi.” (Dute. 5:18) Uyabe enze “isono kuNkulunkulu” futhi emzwise ubuhlungu omunye wakhe. (Gen. 39:7-9) Ubuhlungu lobo bungathatha isikhathi eside ukuthi buphele. UJehova ulendaba labantwana, ufuna bathokoze futhi bazizwe bevikelekile. Walaya abazali ukuthi banakekele abantwababo lokuthi babancedise babe ngabangane bakhe. Abazali kwakumele babafundise uMthetho kaJehova ukuze bawuqakathekise njalo babafundise lokumthanda. (Dute. 6:6-9; 7:13) Abazali kwakungamelanga babalahlele iganga abantwababo loba babaphathe kubi kodwa kwakufanele bababone belilifa lesipho esivela kuJehova.—Hubo. 127:3. w19.02 21 ¶5, 7

UJobe waqhubeka elethemba lokuthi uNkulunkulu uzambusisa. Wayekholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyabona ukuthi uqotho. Lanxa wahlangana lobunzima waqhubeka elethemba lokuthi uJehova wayezacina embusisile. Ukuba lethemba kwamnceda ukuthi azimisele ukuhlala eqotho. UJehova wathokoza ngalokho uJobe akwenzayo njalo wambusisa kakhulu. (Jobe. 42:12-17; Jak. 5:11) Lasemhlabeni omutsha uzathola ezinye izibusiso. Phela uNkulunkulu wethu kantshintshi. (Mal. 3:6) Nxa singahlala sikhumbula ukuthi uJehova uyabanika umvuzo abantu abathembekileyo sizazimisela ukuhlala siqotho kuye futhi kasisoze sithandabuze ukuthi sizakuba lekusasa elihle. (1 Thes. 5:8, 9) Kwezinye izikhathi ungadana nxa ubona abanye abantu bengasakuqakathekisi ukuba qotho kuJehova. Kodwa kumele ukhumbule ukuthi awuwedwa ngoba banengi abantu bakaJehova emhlabeni wonke abazimisele ukuhlala beqotho. Kanti njalo uzabalwa phakathi kwamadoda labesifazana basendulo ababethembekile futhi abaqhubeka beqotho lanxa babekhangelane lokufa.​—Heb. 11:36-38; 12:1. w19.02 7 ¶15-16

Ngesikhathi seSikhumbuzo kungaba kuhle ukuthi ngamunye wethu azibuze imibuzo le: ‘Ngingatshengisa njani ukuthi ngilothando njengoJesu? Ngiqakathekisa lokho okufunwa ngabanye yini ukwedlula engikufunayo? Ngiyabazwisisa yini abafowethu labodadewethu kumbe ngikhangelele ukuthi benze okuphezu kwamandla abo?’ Kuqakathekile ukuthi sihlale silingisela uJesu njalo sibe “lesisa” kwabanye. Sizafika isikhathi lapho esizakuma khona ukwenza iSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaKhristu. Ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu uJesu ‘uzafika’ athathe “abakhethiweyo” abaseleyo ukuze bayebusa laye ezulwini. Nxa lokho sekwenzakele, kasisoze siqhubeke sisenza iSikhumbuzo. (1 Khor. 11:26; Mat. 24:31) Lanxa kunjalo, kasisoze siwukhohlwe umbuthano lo oqakathekileyo ngoba usifundisa okunengi ngobuntu bukaJesu. Sizahlala sikhumbula ukuthi uthobekile, ulesibindi futhi ulothando ukwedlula loba nguphi umuntu owake waphila. w19.01 25 ¶17-19

Kuqakathekile ukuthi sinanzelele lokho esiyikho ngaphakathi. Phela inhliziyo singayifanisa lomzimba. Njani? Okokuqala, nxa umuntu efuna ukugcina umzimba wakhe uqinile kufanele adle ukudla okwakha umzimba futhi ahlale ewuqeqetsha. Lathi nxa sifuna ukugcina izinhliziyo zethu kumele sihlale sibala iBhayibhili kanye lamabhuku esiwaphiwa yinhlanganiso. Kanti njalo kumele sitshengise ukuthi silokholo ngokuhlala sisebenzisa esikufundayo futhi sikutshele abanye. (Rom. 10:8-10; Jak. 2:26) Okwesibili, umuntu angakhanya angathi uqinile nxa umkhangele kanti ngaphakathi umkhuhlane uyamudla. Lathi singacabanga ukuthi silokholo oluqinileyo ngenxa yokuthi sikhanya sikhuthele ekukhonzeni kanti ngaphakathi sifukamele izifiso ezimbi. (1 Khor. 10:12; Jak. 1:14, 15) Akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi uSathane ufuna ukusintshintsha sibe lemicabango enjengeyakhe. w19.01 15 ¶4-5

Kumele sizibuze imibuzo le ethi: ‘Mina ngenza njalo yini? Ngiyakwenza yini lokho okwenziwa ngumSamariya olesihawu?’ (Luk. 10:30-35) ‘Ngingatshengisa njani ukuthi ngilesihawu futhi ngingabenzelani abahluphekayo ukuze kukhanye ukuthi ngiyabazwela? Ngokwesibonelo, ngingenzani ukuze ngisize abafowethu labodadewethu asebekhulile kumbe abangabafelokazi kanye labantwana abalabazali abangamkhonziyo uJehova? Ngingabaqinisa njani abahlulukelweyo?’ (1 Thes. 5:14; Jak. 1:27) Nxa singenzela abanye isihawu siyathokoza ngenxa yokuthi siyabe sisipha, futhi okuhle kakhulu yikuthi siyabe sithokozisa uJehova. (ImiSeb. 20:35; Heb. 13:16) INkosi uDavida yaveza ukuthi uJehova uyambusisa umuntu olesihawu, yathi: “UJehova uzamvikela alondoloze impilo yakhe; uzambusisa phakathi kwelizwe.” (Hubo. 41:1, 2) Nxa singaba lesihawu kwabanye, uJehova laye uzakuba lesihawu kithi njalo lokho kuzasenza sihlale sithokoza.​—Jak. 2:13. w18.09 19 ¶11-12

Omunye udadewethu okuthiwa nguYoshiko wemukela indaba ezibuhlungu. Udokotela wakhe wamtshela ukuthi usesalelwe zinyanga ezilutshwana ukuthi afe. Manje wenzani uYoshiko? Wakhumbula ivesi ayithanda kakhulu esembhalweni walamuhla. Wasetshela udokotela ukuthi kesabi ngoba uJehova umbambe ngesandla. Ivesi le yamduduza udadewethu njalo yamnceda ukuthi athembe uJehova ngenhliziyo yonke. Lathi ingasisiza ukuthi singakhathazeki kakhulu lanxa siphakathi kwenhlupho ezinkulu. Ngesikhathi uJehova etshela u-Isaya ukuthi abhale amazwi la wayefuna ukududuza amaJuda ayezathunjwa ahanjiswe eBhabhiloni. Kanti njalo waphinda wawalondoloza eLizwini lakhe ukuze ancede abantu bakhe ngesikhathi esizayo. (Isaya. 40:8; Rom. 15:4) Ngakho ibhuku lika-Isaya lizasiqinisa kakhulu njengoba sesiphila ‘ezikhathini ezinzima.’​—2 Tim. 3:1. w19.01 2 ¶1-2

Ukungahlali ndawonye akutsho ukuthi umtshado usuphelile futhi ukutshiya otshade laye kudala inhlupho. Umphostoli uPhawuli wabhala isizatho esingenza abatshadileyo bakhethe ukuqhubeka bendawonye. Wathi: “Indoda engakholwayo isingcweliswe ngomkayo, lomfazi ongakholwayo usengcweliswe ngendoda yakhe ekholwayo. Kungenjalo ngabe abantwana benu bangcolile, kodwa okwamanje bangcwele.” (1 Khor. 7:14) Lamuhla kulabafowethu labodadewethu abanengi abakhethe ukuqhubeka behlala labomkabo abangakholwayo lanxa belezinhlupho emitshadweni yabo. Khathesi abanye babo sebethokoza ngoba omkabo sebantshintsha baba ngoFakazi bakaJehova. (1 Khor. 7:16; 1 Phet. 3:1, 2) Enhlanganisweni kaJehova silabafowethu labodadewethu abanengi abathokozayo emitshadweni yabo. Kumele ukuthi bakhona lasebandleni okulo. Okwenza bathokoze yikuthi bayathandana kakhulu, bathembekile komunye lomunye futhi bayawuhlonipha umtshado.​—Heb. 13:4. w18.12 14 ¶18-19

Ibala elithi Edeni litsho “ukuthokoza.” Lakanye kwakuthokozisa sibili ukuba sesivandeni leso ngoba sasisihle kakhulu, silezinyamazana ezitshiyeneyo futhi lokudla kwakuyithaphutshiye. (Gen. 1:29-31) Ibala lesiHebheru elitsho “isivande” lihunyutshwa ngokuthi pa·raʹdei·sos ngolimi lwesiGrikhi. Elinye ibhuku elabhalwa nguM’Clintock loStrong lithi nxa umuntu ongumGrikhi esizwa ibala elithi pa·raʹdei·sos, uhle acabange indawo enkulu futhi enhle njengephakhi, evikelekileyo njalo elezihlahla ezinhle ezithela izithelo ezitshiyeneyo. Lithi uyabe esebona kugeleza lezifudlana zamanzi ezilotshani obuluhlaza emaceleni, lapho okudla khona imihlambi yezimvu lezinyamazana zeganga. (Khangela loGenesisi 2:15, 16.) UNkulunkulu wafaka u-Adamu lo-Eva endaweni elipharadayisi. Lanxa kunjalo, wacina ebaxotsha ngoba bephula umthetho wakhe ngabomo. Lokho kwenza ukuthi bona kanye labantwababo balahlekelwe yisibusiso sokuhlala ePharadayisi. (Gen 3:23, 24) Lanxa indawo le yayingasahlali muntu, kukhanya yaqhubeka ikhona kwaze kwafika uZamcolo ngesikhathi sikaNowa. w18.12 3-4 ¶3-5

Abazali bayazama ukusiza abantwababo ukuthi babe lesimilo esihle. Nxa abantwana bangakhetha ukusebenzisa ababekufundiswa ngabazali babo, kabasoze bazithele ebunzimeni kodwa bazakwenelisa ukwenza izinqumo abangasoze bazisole ngazo. UJehova unjengomzali olothando. Ufuna abantwabakhe bayikholise impilo. (Isaya. 48:18) Ngakho usifundisa izimiso ezingasisiza ukuthi siziphathe kuhle njalo sihlalisane kuhle labanye. Imfundo asipha yona itshengisa ukuthi ufisa sicabange ngendlela yena acabanga ngayo. Lokho akusicindezeli kodwa kwenza sihlakaniphe. (Hubo. 92:5; Zaga. 2:1-5; Isaya. 55:9) Kuyasinceda lokuthi sikhethe ngendlela ezakwenza sithokoze lanxa siyabe sizenzela izinqumo. (Hubo. 1:2, 3) Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi imicabango kaJehova kayisicindezeli kodwa iyasinceda! w18.11 19-20 ¶7-8

Okuzasisiza ukuthi siqhubeke sihamba eqinisweni yikungavumi ukuyengwa loba ukucindezelwa ngabantu abangamkhonziyo uJehova. Sathi sesifunde iqiniso, ubudlelwano bethu lezihlobo kanye labanye abantu esibajayeleyo bantshintsha. Abanye bakwamukela esasesikukhethile kodwa abanye baqala ukusizonda lokusiphikisa. Izihlobo zethu labantu esisebenza labo kanye lesifunda labo esikolo bangazama ukusihuga ukuthi sinanze izinsuku zokuzalwa lamanye amakhefu akhona emphakathini. Pho singenzani nxa abantu besiyenga ukuthi sinanze amakhefu angamthokozisiyo uJehova? Ukuhlala sikhumbula ukuthi uJehova uthini ngezinto lezi kungasinceda kakhulu. Yikho kasihloleni amabhuku esiwaphiwa yinhlanganiso ukuze sifunde ukuthi amakhefu la aqalisa njani. Ukucabangisisa ngezizatho eziseMibhalweni ezenza singananzi amakhefu athandwa ngabantu kuzasisiza ukuthi siqhubeke sihamba endleleni ‘ethokozisa iNkosi.’ (Efe. 5:10) Nxa singamthemba uJehova njalo sinamathele eLizwini lakhe kasisoze ‘sesabe abantu.’​—Zaga. 29:25. w18.11 11 ¶10, 12

Nxa impilo ingantshintsha singalindelanga, kulula ukuthi sikhathazeke kakhulu size siswele lokuthi sibambe ngaphi. Lokhu kwakungenzakala lakuJosefa. Kodwa kazange avumele ukuthi uhlupho ayekulo lumqede amandla. Lanxa wayesejele, wayesebenza nzima kuyo yonke imisebenzi ayeyiphiwa ngumphathijele, njengalokho ayevele ekwenza ngesikhathi esebenzela uPhothifa. Lokhu kwenza uJehova wambusisa. (Gen. 39:21, 22) Nxa lathi sisebunzimeni obuphezu kwamandla ethu, kumele sibekezele futhi senze konke esikwenelisayo ukuze uJehova asibusise. (Hubo. 37:5) Kuliqiniso sibili ukuthi kwezinye izikhathi ‘singadideka kodwa kasisoze silahle ithemba.’ (2 Khor. 4:8) UJehova uzaqhubeka elathi nxa singahlala sikhuthele emsebenzini wokutshumayela. w18.10 29 ¶11, 13

Ungezwa njani nxa umuntu omaziyo njalo omhloniphayo engakutshela ukuthi kalazi ibizo lakho futhi kalaqiniso ukuthi liyazana? Ukuzwa amazwi anjalo kuzwisa ubuhlungu sibili. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi sonke sadalwa silesifiso sokwaziwa kanye lesokuqakathekiswa ngabanye. Kasifuni ukuthi abantu basazi ukuthi singobani nje kuphela kodwa sifisa ukuthi bazi ubuntu bethu kanye lalokho esikufezileyo empilweni. (Nani. 11:16; Jobe. 31:6) Kumele sinanzelele ngoba isono esilaso singabangela ukuthi sidlulise amalawulo endabeni yokufuna ukwaziwa lokunikwa udumo ngabantu. Abantu abanengi emhlabeni lo obuswa nguSathane bagijimisa ukuthola udumo kanye lokuba ngomhlonitshwa. Lokhu kwenza bakhohlwe ngoJehova uBaba wethu osezulwini onguye okumele akhonzwe futhi anikwe udumo.​—Isam. 4:11. w18.07 7 ¶1-2

Kasimangali nxa sibona uSathane lamadimoni akhe besenza ukuthi iziphathamandla ‘ziqambe amanga.’ (1 Tim. 4:1, 2) Abakhokheli bezinkolo abaqambela abantu amanga balecala elikhulu ngoba babavalela ithuba lokuthola ukuphila okuphakade. Phela nxa umuntu angafundiswa amanga awakholwe futhi enze izinto ezizondwa nguNkulunkulu, ngeke akuthole ukuphila okungapheliyo. (Hos. 4:9) UJesu laye wayekwazi ukuthi abakhokheli bezinkolo ababekhona ngesikhathi sakhe babelecala lokudukisa abantu. Ngakho kazange abakhekheleze kodwa wabatshela wathi: “Maye, kini bafundisi bomthetho lakini baFarisi, lina bazenzisi! Lidabula ilizwe lihambe laphezu kolwandle lidinga ukuphendula oyedwa zwi, lithi selimzuzile limguqule abe yindodana [‘yeGehena,’ NW] okuphindwe kabili kulani.” (Mat. 23:15) Lokho kutsho ukuthi ababekwenza kwakuzabangela ukuthi lowomuntu abhujiswe. Yikho uJesu wabasola kakhulu waze wathi: ‘Lingabakayihlo uSathane ongumbulali.’​—Joh. 8:44. w18.10 7 ¶5-6

UJesu wayesitshoni lapha? Waqhubeka wathi: “Thokozani lijabule ngokuba mkhulu umvuzo wenu ezulwini, ngoba bahlukunyezwa ngaleyondlela abaphrofethi ababephambi kwenu.” (Mat. 5:12) Ngesinye isikhathi abaphostoli batshaywa batshelwa lokuthi bangasatshumayeli kodwa “basuka eSanihedrini bethokoza.” Kayisikho ukuthi babekukholisa ukutshaywa kodwa babethokoziswa yikuthi “basebebonakalisile ukuthi babengalimela ihlazo lokulihluphekela iBizo [likaJesu].” (ImiSeb. 5:41) Lalamuhla siyabekezela ngentokozo nxa sisehlelwa yibunzima kumbe sihlutshwa ngenxa yebizo likaJesu. (Jak. 1:2-4) Lathi kasikholisi nxa sihlutshwa. Kodwa nxa singahlala sithembekile, uJehova uzasinika amandla okubekezelela loba yibuphi ubunzima obusehlelayo. UJehova ‘uNkulunkulu othokozayo’ uyajabula nxa ebona lokho esimenzela khona, yikho lathi sithokoza lanxa sihlukuluzwa, siphikiswa emulini.​—1 Tim. 1:11, NW. w18.09 21 ¶18-20

Siphila ‘ezikhathini ezinzima’ njalo abantu abanengi bayahlupheka kakhulu okokuthi sebebona ukufa kungcono kulokuphila. (2 Tim. 3:1-5) Minyaka yonke abantu abedlula 800 000 bayazibulala, okutsho ukuthi kufa umuntu oyedwa ngemizuzwana engu-40 kuphela. Okudanisayo yikuthi lamanye amaKhristu acina esezibulala ngenxa yenhlupho eziwehlelayo. Lanxa abafowethu labodadewethu abanengi bengeke bakhalale impilo, abanye bathwele amagabha avuzayo yikho kumele sibakhe ngothando. Abanye bayahlukuluzwa njalo bayachothozwa. Abanye basebenza labantu abahlala bebagcona futhi bebanyeya. Kanti njalo abanye baswela sona isikhathi sokuphumula ngenxa yokuthi kumele basebenze ubusuku lemini ukuze bangaxotshwa emsebenzini. Abanye badliswa imbuya ngoluthi ezimulini zabo. Kungenzakala ukuthi bahlala bechothozwa ngomkabo abangamkhonziyo uJehova. Inhlupho zonke lezi zibaqeda amandla abazalwane bethu futhi zenza bazibone bengasibantu balutho. w18.09 13 ¶3, 5

Abazali bangasebenza loJehova ngokusiza abantwababo ukuthi baqakathekise imisebenzi ephathelane lokukhonza. Abazali abakwenzayo lokhu bayathokoza nxa bebona abantwababo bengena enkonzweni yesikhathi sonke futhi besiyancedisa lasezindaweni ezikhatshana. Abanye baba ngabanali kwamanye amazwe, abanye baphayona ezindaweni ezilabamemezeli abalutshwana njalo abanye basebenza eBhetheli. Lokhu kungenza abazali bahlale isikhathi eside bengabonananga labantwababo. Kodwa abazali abaqakathekisa inkonzo ukwedlula inhlalakahle yabo bakhuthaza abantwababo ukuthi baqhubeke befaka uMbuso kuqala ngoba lokho kwenza bathokoze. Kumele ukuthi abanengi babo bazizwa bechelesile enhliziyweni njengoHana owathi indodana yakhe uSamuyeli ‘uyinike’ uJehova. Bakubona kuyisibusiso esikhulu ukusebenza loJehova njalo bafisa ukuthi abantwababo bangabuyeli emuva.​—1 Sam. 1:28. w18.08 24 ¶4

UJesu kazange athi ngeke kwenzeke. Waphinda wathi: ‘Libusisiwe lina elimpofu, ngoba okwenu nguMbuso kaNkulunkulu.’ (Luk. 6:20) Kodwa lokhu akutsho ukuthi bonke abayanga babezalalela lokho uJesu ayebafundisa khona futhi bathole izibusiso. Banengi abantu ababezidubekela abangazange bamlalele. Ngakho ngeke sithi umuntu ulobuhlobo obuhle loJehova ngenxa nje yokuthi ungumyanga loba unothile. Sibusisekile sibili ngoba silabafowethu labodadewethu abanengi abathanda uJehova futhi abamkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke kungelani lokuthi banothile loba bangabayanga. ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lilaya abanothileyo ukuthi ‘bangabeki ithemba labo enothweni engathembekanga, kodwa ukuba babeke ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu.’ (1 Tim. 6:17-19) Liphinda lilaye zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezinothileyo lezingabayanga ukuthi ziqaphele umkhuba wokuthanda imali. (1 Tim. 6:9, 10) Nxa singaphatha abafowethu labodadewethu ngendlela uJehova abaphatha ngayo, kasisoze sibahlulele ngokuthi balani empilweni. w18.08 10-11 ¶11-12

Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi sonke sizimisele ukutshengisa ukuthi siyambonga uJehova ngokusinika isibusiso sokuba ngabantu bakhe. Siyakwazi ukuthi ngesikhathi sizinikela kuye sasivuma ukuthi sesingabakhe. Ngakho kasizimiseleni ukuzonda okubi. Kanti njalo kasibathandeni abafowethu labodadewethu futhi sibahloniphe ngoba labo ngabakaJehova. (Rom. 12:10) IBhayibhili lithembisa ukuthi uJehova kasoze abatshiye abantu bakhe. (Hubo. 94:14) Lanxa singavelelwa yibunzima bani empilweni uJehova ngeke asilahle. Ngitsho lokufa uqobo ngeke kusehlukanise loJehova. (Rom. 8:38, 39) “Loba siphila kumbe sisifa, singabeNkosi.” (Rom. 14:8) Silulindele ngabomvu usuku lapho uJehova azavusa khona bonke abangabakhe abasemathuneni. (Mat. 22:32) Kodwa zinengi izibusiso esizitholayo lakhathesi, yikho iBhayibhili lisithi: “Sibusisekile isizwe uNkulunkulu waso onguJehova, abantu abakhethayo baba yilifa lakhe.”​—Hubo. 33:12. w18.07 26 ¶18-19

Abanye bacabanga ukuthi umuntu ngamunye ukhululekile ukuzikhethela akufunayo endabeni eziphathelane lokuthi uzafunda ufike ngaphi kanye lokuthi uzakwenza msebenzi bani. Bathi umuntu angakhetha akufunayo ingqe nje umzwangedwa wakhe umvumela. Mhlawumbe okwenza bacabange njalo ngamazwi kaPhawuli awatshela amaKhristu eKhorinte mayelana lokudla athi: “Kungani ukukhululeka kwami kumele kwahlulelwe ngesazela somunye na?” (1 Khor. 10:29) Kuliqiniso ukuthi silenkululeko yokuzenzela izinqumo ezindabeni lezi. Kodwa kumele sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi inkululeko esilayo ilalapho ephelela khona lokuthi izinqumo esizenzayo zilempumela. Yikho uPhawuli wabhala amazwi asembhalweni walamuhla. Lokhu kwenza sibone ukuthi kulezinto eziqakatheke ukwedlula inkululeko yethu okumele sicabangisise ngazo singakenzi izinqumo. w18.04 10 ¶10

Lamuhla umKhristu angaqhubeka esenza okubi ngapha esithi uyisikhonzi sikaJehova. (Jud. 11) Umuntu onjalo angabe etshiseka enkonzweni njalo engena yonke imihlangano yebandla. Kodwa engqondweni yakhe uyabe efihle umkhuba wokucabanga izinto ezingcolileyo, umhawu loba inzondo. (1 Joh. 2:15-17; 3:15) Ukufukamela imicabango enjalo kuyingozi ngoba kudonsela umuntu esonweni. Abanye ebandleni bangabe bengakunanzeleli konke lokhu. Kodwa uJehova ubona zonke izinto futhi uyababona bonke abenza angani basohlangothini lwakhe ngapha befihla okubi abakuthweleyo. (Jer. 17:9, 10) UJehova kasikhalali lanxa sisenza amaphutha. Nxa sesiphambuka endleleni eyiyo, uyasinqanda esithi: “Buyani kimi.” Ufuna sibambelele kuye ngamandla ikakhulu nxa silwisana lemikhuba engalunganga. (Isaya. 55:7) Nxa singakwenza lokhu uzasisiza ukuthi siqinise ukholo lwethu njalo asinike amandla okunqoba izifiso lemicabango engalunganga.​—Gen. 4:7. w18.07 18 ¶5-6