September

UJesu wamzwela uMatha loMariya. “Wakhala” ebabona behlulukelwe ngemva kokufelwa ngumfowabo uLazaro. (Joh. 11:32-35) Wayengakhali ngenxa nje yokuthi umngane wakhe ayemthanda wayesefile ngoba phela wayekwazi ukuthi uzamvusa. Kodwa wakhala ngoba wayekwazi ukuthi abangane bakhe abathandayo babesizwa ubuhlungu obukhulu ngokufelwa nguLazaro. Kuyasinceda kakhulu ukufunda ngozwelo lukaJesu. Siyamthanda ngoba wayelendaba labanye. Kuyasiduduza ukwazi ukuthi khathesi uyiNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu lokuthi sekuseduze ukuthi aqede konke ukuhlupheka. Nguye yedwa ongasikhiphela ubuhlungu obalethwa nguSathane ngoba wathwala nzima futhi wahlupheka ngesikhathi elapha emhlabeni. Kuyisibusiso sibili ukuba loMbusi ‘osizwelayo ebuthakathakeni bethu.’​—Heb. 2:17, 18; 4:15, 16. w19.03 17 ¶12-13

Lanxa sincedisa abanye ukuthi bafunde ngoNkulunkulu, kayisithi esenza umsebenzi oqakatheke kakhulu. (1 Khor. 3:6, 7) UJehova nguye odonsa abantu. Umuntu ngamunye esimtshumayezayo uyazikhethela ukuthi uzazamukela loba kasoze azamukele izindaba ezinhle kusiya ngokuthi inhliziyo yakhe injani. (Mat. 13:4-8) Khumbula ukuthi abantu abanengi kabazange bakwamukele lokho uJesu ayekufundisa lanxa wayenguMfundisi omkhulu kulabo bonke. Yikho akumelanga sidane nxa abantu abanengi esizama ukubanceda bengazilaleli izindaba ezinhle. Sizaphumelela emsebenzini wokutshumayela nxa singaba lendaba labantu esibatshumayezayo futhi sizakukholisa kakhulu ukutshumayela. Sizathokoza kakhulu ngoba siyabe sisipha. Kanti njalo siyabe sisenza kube lula ukuthi labo ‘abalesifiso sokuthola ukuphila okungapheliyo’ bamukele izindaba ezinhle. (ImiSeb. 13:48) Yikho “nxa nje siseselethuba, kasenzeni okuhle kubo bonke.” (Gal. 6:10) Singenza njalo sizathokoza ngoba siyabe sikhazimulisa uBaba wethu osezulwini.​—Mat. 5:16. w19.03 25 ¶18-19

INkosi uDavida yabhala yathi: “Umkhulu uJehova njalo ufanele kakhulu ukudunyiswa.” (Hubo. 145:3) Amazwi la atshengisa ukuthi uDavida wayemthanda uJehova futhi lokhu kwenza wazimisela ‘ukumdumisa phakathi kwebandla.’ (1 ImiLan. 29:10-13; Hubo. 40:5) Lamuhla enye indlela esingadumisa ngayo uJehova yikuphendula emihlanganweni yebandla. Sonke siyalalela nxa abafowethu labodadewethu bephendula emihlanganweni yebandla. Siyakholisa kakhulu ukuzwa abantwana abancane bephendula ngenhliziyo yonke. Kanti njalo siyajabula nxa sisizwa umfowethu loba udadewethu esitshela ngegugu alithole eLizwini likaNkulunkulu. Kwezinye izikhathi kuyasimangalisa ukubona abazalwane abalenhloni loba abasafundela ulimi ‘bequnga isibindi’ ukuze baphendule. (1 Thes. 2:2) Manje singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyakuqakathekisa abakwenzayo? Lathi kufanele siphendule futhi sibabonge ngemva kwemihlangano ngezimpendulo zabo ezikhuthazayo. Nxa singenza njalo, sizabakhuthaza ngokholo lwethu, labo basikhuthaze ngokholo lwabo.​—Rom. 1:11, 12. w19.01 8 ¶1-2; 9 ¶6

Amadoda alitshumi ayethwele nzima ngenxa yokuthi ayelobulephero futhi kwakukhanya kungathembisi ukuthi ayezasila. Kodwa ngelinye ilanga abona uJesu, uMfundisi Omkhulu. Ayesezwile ukuthi uJesu welapha yonke imikhuhlane. Emi khatshana amemeza athi: “Jesu, Mfundisi, sizwele isihawu!” UJesu wawasilisa amadoda la. Asithandabuzi ukuthi wonke athokoza ngomusa uJesu ayewatshengise wona. Kodwa omunye walamadoda kazange abongele enhliziyweni kuphela, watshengisa ngezenzo ukuthi uyabonga. Indoda le engumSamariya yadumisa uNkulunkulu “ngelizwi elikhulu.” (Luk. 17:12-19) Lathi sifuna ukwenza njengomSamariya, sibonge nxa abanye besitshengisa umusa. UJehova uyatshengisa ukuthi uyabonga. Enye indlela akwenza ngayo lokhu yikubusisa labo abamthokozisayo. (2 Sam. 22:21; Hubo. 13:6; Mat. 10:40, 41) IBhayibhili lisikhuthaza ukuthi ‘silingisele uNkulunkulu njengoba singabantwana abathandwayo.’ (Efe. 5:1) Ngakho isizatho esiqakathekileyo esenza sibonge abanye yikuthi sifuna ukulingisela uJehova. w19.02 14 ¶1-2; 15 ¶4

Enye intombazana eseklasini ichasisela abanye ngenhlonipho ukuthi yona ngeke inanze umkhosi othile ophathelane lenkolo loba ezombusazwe ngoba kawumthokozisi uJehova. Omunye ujaha olenhloni utshumayela endlini ngendlu abeseqoqonda endlini okuhlala khona umfana afunda laye owake wachothoza oFakazi bakaJehova. Enye indoda esebenza nzima ukuze inakekele imuli yayo itshelwa ngumqhatshi wayo ukuthi yenze okuthile okungekho emthethweni. Lanxa ikwazi ukuthi ingaphelelwa ngumsebenzi, itshela umqhatshi wayo ukuthi kumele ithembeke njalo ilalele umthetho kahulumende ngoba lokho yikho uNkulunkulu akukhangelele ezincekwini zakhe. (Rom. 13:1-4; Heb. 13:18) Kuyini okunanzeleleyo kuboFakazi laba abathathu? Mhlawumbe okunye yikuthi balesibindi futhi bathembekile. Kodwa okuqakatheke kakhulu yikuthi batshengise ukuba qotho kuJehova. Lokhu yikho okubasize ukuthi bangavumi ukwephula umthetho kaNkulunkulu. Kumele ukuthi uJehova uyaziqhenya ngalokho abakwenzileyo. Lathi siyafuna ukuthi uBaba wethu osezulwini azigqaje ngathi. w19.02 2 ¶1-2

UMthetho wawuvikela ikakhulu labo ababengenelisi ukuzivikela, ngokwesibonelo izintandane labafelokazi kanye labezizweni. Abahluleli bako-Israyeli batshelwa ukuthi ‘bangavaleli owezizweni loba ongelayise ilungelo lakhe loba bathathe isambatho somfelokazi ukuze sibe yisibambiso.’ (Dute. 24:17) UJehova watshengisa ukuthi wayelendaba lezintandane labafelokazi futhi wayejezisa labo ababebaphatha kubi. (Eks. 22:22-24) Ukhangelele ukuthi abakhokhelayo babelendaba labantu bakhe. Uyakuzonda ukuya emacansini kwezihlobo, ukuhlukuluzwa kwabantwana kwezemacansini kanye leganyavu. Ufuna wonke umuntu avikelwe futhi ahlulelwe kuhle, ikakhulu labo abangelabantu bokubasiza. (Levi. 18:6-30) Nxa singathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova usahlulela kuhle sizamthanda kakhulu. Kanti njalo nxa sithanda uNkulunkulu lemithetho yakhe sizabathanda abanye futhi sibaphathe kuhle. w19.02 24-25 ¶22-26

Kuqakathekile ukuthi sinanzelele izinto ezingacina zisenza ukuthi singcoliswe yimicabango kaSathane. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova uthi ‘singaqali ukuxoxa ngokuziphatha okubi kwezemacansini langayo yonke imihlobo yokungcola.’ (Efe. 5:3) Manje kumele senzeni nxa abanye emsebenzini loba esikolo bengaqalisa ukuxoxa ngezindaba zemacansini? Umzwangedwa wethu ungasixwayisa njengomlindi olimukisa abantu ngengozi esisiza. (Rom. 2:15) Kuyabe sekumele sikhethe ukuthi sizalalela wona yini kumbe sizalalela abantu labo futhi sikhangele amapikitsha abawabukayo. Nxa sihlakaniphile sizantshintsha ingxoxo loba sisuke kubo ukuze sivikele izinhliziyo zethu. Lanxa lokho kungaba nzima kumele sibe lesibindi sokufulathela loba yini engangcolisa izingqondo zethu njalo isenze siziphathe kubi. Singenza njalo, uJehova uzasinika amandla lokuhlakanipha ukuze senelise ukubalekela imicabango kaSathane.​—2 ImiLan. 16:9; Isaya. 40:29; Jak. 1:5. w19.01 17-18 ¶12-13

USolomoni wayenothe kakhulu futhi eyinkosi elamandla. Ngelinye ilanga wathi: “Ake ngizame ukuzithokozisa ngibone ingabe kuhle yini.” (UmTshu. 2:1-10) Ngakho waqala ukwakha izindlu, waba lezivande ezinkulu lamaphakhi njalo wenza loba kuyini okwakuthokozisa inhliziyo yakhe. Kodwa wayithola yini intokozo? Wasuthiseka yini ngezinto zonke lezi ayeselazo? Impendulo isegcekeni ngoba wazikhulumela yena ngokwakhe amazwi asembhalweni walamuhla. Wena uzasisebenzisa yini isifundo esatholwa nguSolomoni? UJehova uyakuxwayisa ukuze ungaweli engozini. Kafuni ukuthi ufunde ngendlela ebuhlungu. Ngakho kumele ube lokholo futhi umlalele kukho konke okwenzayo. Ukholo luzakunceda ukuthi uqakathekise ukwenza intando yakhe ukwedlula loba yini. Nxa ungakwenza lokho kawusoze uzisole ngoba iBhayibhili lithi uNkulunkulu kasoze alukhohlwe ‘uthando owamtshengisa lona.’ (Heb. 6:10) Yikho luqinise ukholo lwakho ngoba yilo oluzakunceda ubone ukuthi uBaba wethu osezulwini ufuna uphumelele empilweni.​—Hubo. 32:8. w18.12 22 ¶14-15

Umuntu ongumngane kaNkulunkulu ukhanya ngokuba lokholo futhi uyamlingisela zikhathi zonke. Uqondiswa nguNkulunkulu kukho konke akwenzayo futhi uzimisele ukumlalela. (1 Khor. 2:12, 13) Wayenjalo uDavida. Wahlabela wathi: “Jehova, usungahlukanisele isabelo sami kanye lenkezo yami.” (Hubo. 16:5) “Isabelo” ayekhuluma ngaso kwakuyibungane bakhe loNkulunkulu. UDavida wayemthemba uNkulunkulu futhi ephephela kuye. (Hubo. 16:1) Kwamsiza ngani lokhu? Wabhala wathi: “Inhliziyo yami iyathokoza lolimi lwami luyajabula.” Amazwi la atshengisa ukuthi into eyayimthokozisa kakhulu yikuba ngumngane kaJehova. (Hubo. 16:9, 11) Abantu abaphilela ukusuthisa izifiso zabo loba ukudinga imali ngeke bayithole intokozo eyatholwa nguDavida. (1 Tim. 6:9, 10) Ngakho ukuba lokholo kuJehova kanye lokumkhonza yikho okuzakwenza ujabule futhi uphumelele empilweni. Manje ungaluqinisa njani ukholo lwakho? Kufanele uzinike isikhathi sokubala iLizwi likaNkulunkulu lesokubuka izinto azidalileyo njalo ucabangisise ngobuntu bakhe kanye lokuthi utshengisa njani ukuthi uyakuthanda.​—Rom. 1:20. w18.12 25 ¶7-8

Lapha uPhawuli wayekhuthaza amaKhristu ukuthi ahloniphe umtshado futhi awuphathe njengento eligugu. Wena uyawuqakathekisa yini umtshado? Nxa sihlonipha umtshado siyabe silingisela uJesu. AbaFarisi bathi bembuza ngendaba yokuchitha umtshado wabakhumbuza amazwi akhulunywa nguNkulunkulu ngesikhathi ehlanganisa u-Adamu lo-Eva, athi: “Ngalesisizatho indoda izatshiya uyise lonina imanyane lomfazi wayo, kuthi labo bobabili babe nyamanye.” UJesu waqhubeka wathi: “Lokho uNkulunkulu asekuhlanganisile akungehlukaniswa muntu.” (Mak. 10:2-12; Gen. 2:24) Okwatshiwo nguJesu kugcizelela ukuthi umtshado wasungulwa nguNkulunkulu njalo akumelanga uchithwe. UNkulunkulu kazange athi u-Adamu lo-Eva babengawuchitha umtshado wabo nxa befuna. Wayehlose ukuthi indoda ibe lomfazi oyedwa, lomfazi abe lendoda eyodwa futhi “bobabili” bamanyane kuze kube nini lanini. w18.12 10-11 ¶2-4

Sathi siqalisa ukufunda iqiniso sabona ukuthi ukulalela imilayo kaJehova kuqakathekile. Kodwa ukuqhubeka sifunda okunengi ngaye kwenza sizwisise ukuthi uthandani futhi uzondani kanye lokuthi uthini ngezindaba ezitshiyeneyo. Lokhu kuyasinceda ukuthi simvumele asiqondise kukho konke esikwenzayo. Siyafuna sibili ukuthi imicabango yethu ihambelane lekaJehova kodwa kungaba nzima kwezinye izikhathi. Singehluleka ukulandela lokho uJehova akutshoyo ngenxa yokuthi silesono. Ngokwesibonelo, siyakwazi ukuthi ufuna sitshumayele futhi silalele lokho asitshela khona ngezemacansini lenotho kanye lokusetshenziswa kwegazi. Loba kunjalo, kungaba nzima ukuthi sizwisise ukuthi kungani esitsho njalo. Pho kuyini okungasinceda sintshintshe imicabango yethu ukuze ihambelane lekaJehova? Yikuguqula indlela esicabanga ngayo ngokubala iLizwi likaNkulunkulu ukuze sizwisise imicabango yakhe njalo sicabangisise ngayo, besesizama ngamandla wonke ukwenza imicabango yethu ihambelane leyakhe. w18.11 23-24 ¶2-4

UHabakhukhi waphila ngesikhathi esinzima kakhulu. Abantu bakoIsrayeli babesenza izinto ezimbi futhi belodlakela. Lokhu kwamkhathaza kakhulu waze wazibuza ukuthi, ‘UJehova uzabuqeda nini bonke ububi lobu? Kungani sekwedlule isikhathi eside kangaka engakalungisi izinto?’ Phela wayesithi angathalaza ngapha langapha abone abantu bakibo bephathana kubi futhi becindezelana. Lanxa lokhu kwakumqeda amandla, wathandaza kuJehova emcela ukuthi alungise izinto. Mhlawumbe uHabakhukhi wayesecabanga ukuthi uJehova uyaphuza njalo wayengaselandaba labantu bakhe. Wena sewake wafikelwa ngumcabango onjalo yini? UHabakhukhi wayengasamthembi yini uJehova? Wayengaselalo yini ukholo lokuthi izithembiso zakhe zizagcwaliseka? Hatshi, wayelokhu emthemba uJehova futhi wayelalo ukholo, yikho wakhetha ukubikela yena konke okwakumhlupha kulokuthi athembele komunye umuntu. Okwakusenza uHabakhukhi akhathazeke yikuthi wayengazwisisi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzazilungisa nini inhlupho lezo lokuthi kungani emyekela ephakathi kobunzima obungaka. w18.11 14 ¶4-5

Ngesikhathi uPhetro lo-Andreya benxuswa nguJesu ukuthi babe ‘ngabagoli babantu,’ “batshiya amambule abo” bamlandela. (Mat. 4:18-20) Lanxa kunjalo, ukufunda iqiniso akutsho ukuthi sekumele utshiye umsebenzi ngoba uNkulunkulu ukhangelele ukuthi sisebenze ukuze sinakekele izimuli zethu. (1 Tim. 5:8) Kodwa umuntu osethole iqiniso kaphileli ukudinga imali ngoba uyabe esenanzelela ukuthi kuyini okuqakatheke kakhulu empilweni. Omunye owesifazana okuthiwa nguMaria wakwenza lokhu. Wayesephilela i-golf ngoba wayezimisele ukuthuthuka aze abe ngumdlali odumileyo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi waqalisa ukufunda iBhayibhili njalo waqalisa ukukusebenzisa empilweni yakhe lokho ayekufunda. UMaria wakubona ukuthi ukugijimisa inotho ngapha ekhonza uJehova kwakuzakwenza impilo yakhe ibe nzima. (Mat. 6:24) Yikho wakhetha ukulahlekelwa lithuba lokuba ngumdlali odumileyo. Khathesi uyaphayona njalo uyathokoza kakhulu ngoba usekwazi ukuthi uphilelani. w18.11 5 ¶9-10

UJesu eseleminyaka engu-30 wawutshiya umsebenzi wokubaza, waqalisa ukuhamba etshumayela ngoba wayesazi ukuthi lokhu yikho okwakuqakatheke kakhulu. Wathi uNkulunkulu wayemthume emhlabeni ukuthi azotshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. (Mat. 20:28; Luk. 3:23; 4:43) UJesu wayewuqakathekisa kakhulu umsebenzi wokutshumayela njalo wayefuna labanye bamncedise. (Mat. 9:35-38) Abanengi bethu asikwazi ukubaza. Lanxa kunjalo sonke singabatshumayeli bezindaba ezinhle futhi umsebenzi lo uqakatheke kakhulu ngoba siwenza loNkulunkulu, yikho sibizwa ngokuthi “siyizisebenzi kanye loNkulunkulu.” (1 Khor. 3:9; 2 Khor. 6:4) Siyakwazi ukuthi “wonke amazwi [kaJehova] aqinisile.” (Hubo. 119:159, 160) Yikho sizama ngamandla wonke ukuthi ‘siliphathe kuhle ilizwi leqiniso’ nxa sitshumayela. (2 Tim. 2:15) Ngakho-ke asiqhubekeni sithuthukisa indlela esisebenzisa ngayo iBhayibhili ngoba yilo ithuluzi esilisebenzisa kakhulu nxa sifundisa abantu iqiniso ngoJehova, loJesu kanye loMbuso wakhe. w18.10 11 ¶1-2

Nxa inkosikazi ingabona ukuthi umkayo ulingisela inhloko yakhe uJesu Khristu, kubalula ukuthi layo ‘imhloniphe’ kakhulu. (Efe. 5:22-25, 33) Inhlonipho le izakwenza ukuthi imzwisise umkayo. Kuqakathekile ukuthi abazali batshengise ukuthi bayazwisisana ngoba lokhu kuzakwenza ukuthi abantwababo babalingisele. Abazali yibo abalomlandu wokufundisa abantwababo ukuba ngabantu abazwisisayo. Ngokwesibonelo, bangabafundisa ukuthi bangagijigijimi eWolu yoMbuso. Kanti njalo nxa kulombuthano wokuzilibazisa, abazali bangatshela abantwababo ukuthi bayekele abantu abadala bathathe kuqala ukudla. Nxa umntwana angasivulela umnyango kumbe asenzele okunye okuhle, kumele simncome. Lokhu kuzakwenza ukuthi athabe njalo ahlale ekhumbula ukuthi “ukupha kubusisekile okudlula ukwamukela.” w18.09 29 ¶5-6

Indlela iNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu esikhokhela ngayo itshengisa ukuthi ilelihlo elibukhali elibona okuphambili. Ngakho kasicabangeni ngokuthi untshintsho oselwenziwe yinhlanganiso lusisiza ngani. Kungaba kuhle ukuthi ekukhonzeni kwemuli lixoxe ngokuthi indlela imihlangano esisenziwa ngayo lendlela esesitshumayela ngayo kulisize njani. Ukunanzelela ukuthi untshintsho olwenziwa yinhlanganiso kaJehova lunceda thina kuzakwenza ukuthi silwamukele ngazo zombili. Ngokwesibonelo, khathesi asisaphrinti amabhuku amanengi futhi sesisebenzisa kakhulu ezempucuko. Lokhu konga imali njalo kwenza umsebenzi woMbuso uqhubekele phambili emhlabeni wonke. Yikho kasizameni ukuzisebenzisa kakhulu ezempucuko ngoba nxa sisenza njalo, siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi sifuna ukuyisebenzisa kuhle iminikelo yenhlanganiso. Nxa sisekela uMkhokheli wethu uKhristu, siyabe siqinisa ukholo lwabanye njalo sisenza ukuthi kube lokumanyana ebandleni. w18.10 25-26 ¶17-19

Nxa singaba lesineke, uNkulunkulu angasisebenzisa ukuphendula imithandazo yomuntu ohlulukelweyo. (2 Khor. 1:3-6) Kodwa ungakhangeleli ukuthi abafowethu labodadewethu benze okuphezu kwamandla abo. Nxa ungahlala ukhangelele ukuthi kabasoze baphambanise, uzadana ngoba sonke siyawenza amaphutha. (UmTshu. 7:21, 22) Khumbula ukuthi uJehova kalindelanga ukuthi senze okungaphezu kwamandla ethu. Yikho nxa singamlingisela, sizenelisa ukubekezelela abazalwane bethu. (Efe. 4:2, 32) Kuqakathekile ukuthi sibancome ngalokho abakwenzayo kulokuthi sibasole ngokuthi kabenzi konke okusemandleni abo loba sibaqathanise labanye. Nxa singabakhuthaza, bazabona ukuthi siyabathanda futhi bazakukholisa ukukhonza uNkulunkulu.​—Gal. 6:4. w18.09 16 ¶16-17

Ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu kwakufanana lokudla kuJesu. Phela imizimba yethu iyaqina njalo yakheke kuhle nxa singadla ukudla okwakha umzimba. Ukholo lwethu lalo luyaqina nxa sisenza intando kaNkulunkulu futhi lokhu kuzasenza sithole ukuphila okungapheliyo. Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo ngulowo osebenzisa lokho akufundiswa nguJehova. (Hubo. 107:43) Ukuhlakanipha kuyanceda sibili. IBhayibhili lithi: “Kakukho okuloyisayo okungalinganiswa lakho. . . . Kuyisihlahla sokuphila kulabo abakwamukelayo; labo abakuphathayo bazabusiswa.” (Zaga. 3:13-18) UJesu wathi: “Lingaze lizazi lezi izinto lizabusiswa nxa lizenza.” (Joh. 13:17) Lapha uJesu wayesitsho ukuthi abafundi bakhe babezahlala bethokoza nxa babengaqhubeka besenza lokho ayebafundisa khona. Kwakungamelanga bakwenze okwelanga elilodwa kuphela kodwa kwakumele bakwenze okwempilo yabo yonke. w18.09 4 ¶4-5

UJehova watshela u-Adamu lo-Eva ukuthi bazale abantwana, bande bagcwalise umhlaba futhi bawubuse. (Gen. 1:28) Lokhu kwakumele kubenze bangazicabangi bona bodwa kodwa bacabange langabantwana ababezakuba labo. Njengoba uMdali wayetshengise ukuthi uyazithanda izidalwa zakhe, u-Adamu lo-Eva labo kwakumele bacabange ngekusasa labantwababo. UJehova wayefuna benze umhlaba wonke ube liPharadayisi. Yikho ukuze umsebenzi lo omkhulu uphumelele kwakumele yonke imuli ka-Adamu ibambisane. Aluba u-Adamu lo-Eva kabazange bone, bona lenzalo yabo babezakholisa kakhulu ukusebenza loJehova ukuze injongo yakhe yokuthi umhlaba wonke ube liPharadayisi igcwaliseke. Lokhu kwakuzakwenza ukuthi bangene ekuphumuleni kwakhe. (Heb. 4:11) Umsebenzi lo wawuzabenza bathole intokozo emangalisayo futhi basuthiseke! Kanti njalo uJehova wayezabanika izibusiso ezinengi ngenxa yokuzinikela kwabo ukuthi bancede abanye. w18.08 18 ¶2;19-20 ¶8-9

Ungenzani nxa abantu bangahamba bekhuluma kubi ngawe? UJesu loJohane uMbhabhathizi labo bake baphathwa kubi. (Mat. 11:18, 19) UJesu wenzani lapho abantu bemqambela amanga? Kulokuthi achithe isikhathi sakhe ezama ukuzigeza, wakhuthaza abantu ukuthi bakhangele lokho ayekwenza layekufundisa. Yikho wathi “ukuhlakanipha kuyaziveza ukuqonda kwakho ngezenzo zakho.” (Mat. 11:19) Sithola isifundo esihle endabeni le. Nxa abantu bangakhuluma kubi ngathi singafisa ukuzigeza ukuze sitshengise ukuthi lokho abantu abakuzwayo kungamanga aluhlaza. Kodwa indlela engcono yokuzigeza yikuphila ngendlela ezakwenza abantu bangawakholwa lawomanga. Isibonelo sikaJesu sisitshengisa ukuthi nxa singaqhubeka siziphatha kuhle, abantu bazabona ukuthi lokho abakuzwileyo ngathi kungamanga. w18.08 6 ¶11-13

Kulokuthile okuyisiqokoqela okumayelana lokungalaleli esikuthola endabeni kaKhayini lekaSolomoni kanye lakulokho okwenzakala kuma-Israyeli eNtabeni iSinayi. Bonke abantu laba babelethuba ‘lokuphenduka’ babuyele kuJehova. (ImiSeb. 3:19) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova kaphangi akhalale abantu bakhe nxa bephambuka. Ngokwesibonelo u-Aroni waphenduka futhi uJehova waba lomusa kuye wamthethelela. Lamuhla uJehova angasixwayisa esebenzisa indaba ethile eseBhayibhilini, izinto esizinikwa yinhlanganiso yakhe loba abafowethu labodadewethu esikhonza labo. Nxa singalalela njalo sisebenzise izeluleko esiziphiwayo uJehova uzasitshengisa isihawu. Umusa esiwutshengiswa nguJehova usinceda njani? (2 Khor. 6:1) Usinika ithuba lokuthi sibalekele izinkanuko zomhlaba kanye lemikhuba engamthokozisiyo uNkulunkulu. (Tit. 2:11-14) Loba nini singahlangana lezimo ezingaphambanisa ubuqotho bethu kuJehova ngoba siphila emhlabeni obuswa nguSathane. Ngakho kasizimiseleni ukuqhubeka sisohlangothini lukaJehova. w18.07 21 ¶20-21

Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sibe lesifiso esikhulu sokuthola udumo oluvela kuJehova njalo singathatheki ngokufuna udumo emhlabeni lo? Kufanele sicabangisise ngemicijo emibili eqakatheke kakhulu. Owokuqala, akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi uJehova uyabanika udumo zikhathi zonke abantu abamkhonza ngokuthembeka. (Heb. 6:10; 11:6) Abantu abanjalo baligugu kakhulu kuye futhi kasoze abalahlele iganga. Lisitshela lokuthi, “uyayilinda indlela yabalungileyo” njalo uyakwazi ukuhlenga abantu abamesabayo ekulingweni. (Hubo. 1:6; 2 Phet. 2:9) Owesibili, uJehova uyenelisa ukusinika udumo ngendlela esiyabe singayicabangeli. UJehova kasoze abanike umvuzo abantu abenza izenzo ezinhle phambi kwabantu ukuze babonwe. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi sebewutholile umvuzo wabo. (Mat. 6:1-5) Kodwa labo abangalutholiyo udumo ngezenzo zomusa abazenzayo bazabusiswa. UJesu waveza ukuthi uJehova ukhangele ensitha, uyakubona okuhle abakwenzayo futhi uzabanika umvuzo. w18.07 9 ¶8, 10

UPhetro wasala emangele ezibuza ukuthi ilizwi lalingabe lifuna ukumtshelani. Kusenjalo kwafika amadoda ayethunywe nguKhoneliya. Umoya ongcwele watshela uPhetro ukuthi ahambe lamadoda la emzini kaKhoneliya. Lakanye uPhetro wasukumela phezulu. Aluba wahlulela ngalokho ayekubona ngamehlo akhe, wayengasoze aye emzini kaKhoneliya ngoba amaJuda ayengalugxobi emizini yabantu beZizweni. Pho kuyini okwenza uPhetro wahamba lanxa ekuqaliseni wayebabandlulula abeZizweni? Wayesentshintshe indlela ayecabanga ngayo ngenxa yalokho ayekubone embonweni kanye lalokho ayekutshelwe ngumoya ongcwele. Lokho uPhetro akuzwa ngoKhoneliya kwamthinta kwamancane waze wathi: “Sengibona khathesi ukuthi uNkulunkulu kathandi abanye kulabanye abantu, kodwa wamukela abantu benhlanga zonke abamesabayo, abenza okulungileyo.” (ImiSeb. 10:34, 35) Ukuthola ulwazi lolu olutsha kwamthokozisa uPhetro. Wayesefundile ukuthi kakumelanga ahlulele abanye ngokuthi bangumhlobo bani. w18.08 9 ¶3-4

Kasiqali ngitsho lakancane ukwenza izinto uNkulunkulu azizondayo. Kodwa kwezinye izikhathi kungaba nzima ukuthi senze izinqumo ezinhle, ikakhulu nxa kungelamthetho oseBhayibhilini ophathelane lesimo esikuso. Pho kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi senze isinqumo esithokozisa uNkulunkulu? Ezimeni ezinjalo yikho lapho okusebenza khona umzwangedwa oqeqetshwe liBhayibhili. UJehova wasinika izimiso eziqondisa umzwangedwa lasezindabeni ezingelamthetho obhalwe phansi. Uthi: “Mina nginguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho okufundisa lokho okuhle kakhulu kuwe, ekutshengisa indlela okumele uhambe ngayo.” (Isaya. 48:17, 18) Ukucabangisisa ngezimiso eziseBhayibhilini kwenza izinhliziyo kanye lezingqondo zethu ziwuqondise kuhle umzwangedwa ukuze ungalahleki. Lokhu kuzasisiza ukuthi senze izinqumo ezinhle. Isimiso liqiniso eliqathekileyo loba imfundiso eqondisa indlela esicabanga ngayo njalo esinceda ukuthi senze izinqumo ezinhle. Ukwazi izimiso zikaJehova kugoqela lokuzwisisa indlela acabanga ngayo kanye lokuthi kungani esinika imithetho. w18.06 17 ¶5; 18 ¶8-10

AmaHerodiya avusa indaba le esenzela ukwethesa uJesu icala lokuvukela umbuso. Aluba uJesu wathi umthelo lo akufanelanga ubhadalwe wayezabotshwa. Kanti njalo ngabe wathi kuqondile ukuwubhadala, abalandeli bakhe babezamhlamukela. Pho uJesu wenzani? UJesu kazange athathe icele endabeni le. Wayekwazi mhlophe ukuthi abathelisi babelobugwelegwele. Kodwa kazange azikhathaze ngakho ngoba wayekwazi ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu yiwo ozalungisa zonke izinto ezikhathaza abantu. Wasitshiyela isibonelo okumele sisilingisele. Akumelanga sithathe icele kwezombusazwe lanxa kuleqembu elingakhanya lisenza izinto ezinhle. Kodwa kufanele siqhubeke sifuna uMbuso kaNkulunkulu lokulunga kwakhe. Akumelanga sibe lendaba lalokho okwenzakala kwezombusazwe loba sichothoze ukucindezelwa kwabantu esikubona kusenzakala. (Mat. 6:33) OFakazi bakaJehova abanengi sebatshiya imibono yezombusazwe ababelayo. w18.06 6 ¶9-11

Kukhanya uSathane kazange asebenzise ezemacansini kuphela ukuze ahuge izingilosi lezi kodwa angabe wazithembisa lamandla okubusa abantu. Kumele ukuthi wayehlose ukuphambanisa ukufika ‘kwenzalo yowesifazana’ eyayithenjisiwe. (Gen. 3:15) Kodwa icebo likaSathane lezingilosi zakhe alisaphumelelanga ngoba uJehova waletha uZamcolo emhlabeni. Ngakho akumelanga siyithathe lula indaba yokuziphatha kubi kwezemacansini leyokuzigqaja. Akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi izingilosi ezahugwa nguSathane zasezikhonze uJehova okweminyaka eminengi njalo zimbona mathupha. Lanxa kunjalo izingilosi lezi zaqala ukuba lezifiso ezimbi futhi zavumela ukuthi izifiso lezo zikhule. Ngakho lathi kufanele sinanzelele ngoba singaqala ukuba lezifiso ezimbi kungelani lokuthi sesilesikhathi esingakanani sisenhlanganisweni kaJehova ehlanzekileyo. (1 Khor. 10:12) Ngakho kumele sihlale sizihlola ukuze sixwaye imicabango emibi njalo silwisane lokuzigqaja.​—Gal. 5:26; Kol. 3:5. w18.05 25 ¶11-12

UPhawuli wadana ngenxa yokuthi amaJuda ayengafuni ukulalela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Lanxa kunjalo kazange akhalale kumbe ayekele ukuwatshumayeza. Wabhalela amaKhristu eRoma eveza isifiso ayelaso ngalawomaJuda wathi: “Isifiso senhliziyo yami lomkhuleko wami kuNkulunkulu ngabako-Israyeli yikuba basindiswe. Ngoba ngingafakaza ngabo ukuthi batshisekela uNkulunkulu, kodwa ukutshiseka kwabo akugxilanga ekwazini.” (Rom. 10:1, 2) UPhawuli uyasitshela ukuthi kuyini okwenza waqhubeka etshumayeza amaJuda. Wayefuqwa ‘yisifiso esasisenhliziyweni yakhe’ ngoba wayefisa ukuthi amaJuda asindiswe. (Rom. 11:13, 14) Wayefuna ukuthi uJehova ancedise amaJuda amukele izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Waphinda wathi: “Batshisekela uNkulunkulu.” UPhawuli wabona okuhle ebantwini laba lokuthi babengenelisa ukumkhonza uJehova. Wayelethemba lokuthi nxa amaJuda angafundiswa, angenelisa ukuntshintsha abe ngabalandeli bakaKhristu abatshisekayo njengaye. w18.05 13 ¶4; 15-16 ¶13-14

Sonke kumele sibe lelihlo elibukhali ukuze sibone lapho abafowethu abadinga khona usizo. UPhawuli watshela amaKhristu angamaHebheru wathi: ‘Ngakho qinisani izingalo ezibuthakathaka lamadolo axegayo. Yenzelani izinyawo zenu izindlela ezibekekileyo, ukuze abaqhulayo bangagogeki, kodwa basiliswe.’ (Heb. 12:12, 13) Sonke singenelisa ukukhuthaza abanye kungelani lokuthi sibadala kumbe sisesebancane. UPhawuli wabhala wathi: “Uma kukhona okukhuthazayo ngokuhlangana loKhristu, uma kulenduduzo evela ethandweni lwakhe, uma kulobudlelwano lomoya, uma kulozwelo lesihawu, phelelisani intokozo yami ngokuba ngqondo nye, lilothando lunye, limunye emoyeni njalo linjongo yinye. Lingenzi lutho ngokuzikhukhumeza loba ngokuziphakamisa okuyize kodwa ngokuthobeka. Khangelani abanye njengabangcono kulani. Lowo lalowo wenu kangakhathaleli inzuzo yakhe kuphela kodwa kakhathalele lenzuzo yabanye.”​—Flp. 2:1-4. w18.04 22 ¶10; 23 ¶12

UJehova wasikhulula esonweni lasekufeni esebenzisa uJesu. Ngakho kuqakathekile ukuthi sizinikele kuye sibe yizinceku zakhe. Ukukhuthala emisebenzini ephathelane lokukhonza kungasinceda ukuthi sisebenzise kuhle inkululeko esilayo futhi singabi yizigqili zomhlaba lo obuswa nguSathane. (Gal. 5:16) Lokhu yikho kanye okwenziwa nguNowa lemuli yakhe. Ngalesosikhathi abantu babengaziphathanga njalo bethanda udlakela. Kodwa kuyini okwasiza uNowa lemuli yakhe ukuthi bangalandeli izenzo zabantu ababephila labo? Bakhetha ukuzinikela emsebenzini ababewunikwe nguJehova. Umsebenzi lo wawugoqela ukwakha umkhumbi, ukubuthelela ukudla kwabo lokwezinyamazana kanye lokuxwayisa abantu ngengozi eyayisiza. IBhayibhili lithi: “UNowa wakwenza konke njengokulaywa kwakhe nguNkulunkulu.” (Gen. 6:22) Ukuzinikela kwakhe kwaba lempumela emihle ngoba yena lemuli yakhe basinda.​—Heb. 11:7. w18.04 10 ¶8; 11 ¶11-12

USathane lamadimoni akhe kabasebenzisi ohulumende kuphela ukuze ‘badukise umhlaba wonke’ kodwa basebenzisa lenkolo yamanga lezokuthengiselana. (Isam. 12:9) USathane usebenzisa inkolo yamanga ukuze afundise abantu amanga ngoJehova. Kanti njalo uzimisele ukukhohlisa abanengi ukuze bangabi lendaba lebizo likaNkulunkulu. (Jer. 23:26, 27) Ngakho abantu abanengi abacabanga ukuthi bakhonza uNkulunkulu abakunanzeleli ukuthi bakhonza amadimoni. (1 Khor. 10:20; 2 Khor. 11:13-15) Okunye okusetshenziswa nguSathane ukuze adukise abantu ngezokuthengiselana. Ngokwesibonelo wenza abantu bacabange ukuthi intokozo itholakala ngokubuthelela inotho lemali enengi. (Zaga. 18:11) Labo abathatheka ngamanga la bacina sebekhonza “iMali” kulokuthi bakhonze uNkulunkulu. (Mat. 6:24) Ngokuya kwesikhathi ukuthanda inotho lemali kucina kugqibela lonke uthando abalalo ngoNkulunkulu.​—Mat. 13:22; 1 Joh. 2:15, 16. w18.05 23 ¶6-7