December

Okunye okusithokozisa kakhulu nxa sifunda ngoJesu yikuthi uyazwisisa izinto ezisihluphayo thina abantu abalesono. Wathi esemhlabeni ‘wajabula lababejabula, walila lababelila.’ (Rom. 12:15) Ngokwesibonelo, “wathokoza kakhulu ngomoya ongcwele” ngesikhathi abafundi abangu-70 bephenduka bethokoza ngemva kokuphumelela emkhankasweni wokutshumayela. (Luk. 10:17-21) Kodwa “wadabuka kakhulu emoyeni wakhe njalo wakhathazeka” ebona abantu ababethanda uLazaro behlulukelwe ngenxa yokuthi wayesefile. (Joh. 11:33) Kuyini okwenza indoda le engelasono yaba lesihawu futhi yazwela abantu abalesono? UJesu wayebathanda abantu. Ayekuthanda kakhulu kulokho uYise ayekudalile ngabantu. (Zaga. 8:31) Lokhu kwenza wabayazi kuhle indlela abantu abacabanga ngayo. Umphostoli uJohane wathi: “Yena wayekwazi okuphakathi komuntu.”​—Joh. 2:25. w19.03 20 ¶1-2

USathane watshabalalisa inotho kaJobe wamtshiya engumyanga, wabulala izisebenzi zakhe njalo wenza ukuthi asale engaselasithunzi emphakathini. Ngemva kwalokho wahlasela imuli yakhe wabulala abantwabakhe abalitshumi. Waphinda watshaya umzimba wakhe ngamathumba abuhlungu. Umkakhe wadabuka kakhulu ngalokhu okwakusenzakala waze wamtshela ukuthi aqalekise uNkulunkulu azifele. UJobe laye wayesebona kungcono ukuthi afe. Lanxa kunjalo wayelokhu ezimisele ukuba qotho. USathane wathi ekubona lokhu wamhlasela ngenye indlela. Wasebenzisa amadoda amathathu ayengabangane bakaJobe. Amadoda la avakatshela uJobe okwensuku ezithile kodwa kawazange amduduze, ayelokhu emtshela amazwi ahlabayo futhi emsola. Amtshela ukuthi uNkulunkulu nguye owayemehlisela inhlupho kanye lokuthi wayengelandaba lobuqotho bakhe. Aphinda amenza umuntu omubi, esithi izono zakhe yizo ezibangela ukuthi ajeziswe.​—Jobe. 1:13-22; 2:7-11; 15:4, 5; 22:3-6; 25:4-6. w19.02 4 ¶7-8

Okunye ukwesaba kuyasinceda. Ngokwesibonelo, kumele sesabe ukwenza izinto ezingamthokozisiyo uJehova. U-Adamu lo-Eva babengasoze bamhlamukele aluba babesesaba ukwenza izinto angazithandiyo. Bathi sebonile amehlo abo avuleka, okutsho ukuthi bananzelela ukuthi basebelesono. Badlulisela isono leso lokufa ebantwaneni babo. Njengoba basebenanzelele ukuthi sebonile, bayangiswa yibunqunu babo futhi babuvala. (Gen. 3:7, 21) Lanxa kumele sesabe ukwenza izinto ezingamthokozisiyo uJehova, akumelanga sikwesabe kakhulu ukufa. UJehova usivulele indlela yokuthola ukuphila okungapheliyo. Uyasithethelela nxa singazisola ngesono esiyabe sisenzile. Uzasithethelela ngenxa yokuthi silokholo emhlatshelweni weNdodana yakhe. Enye indlela eqakathekileyo esingatshengisa ngayo ukuthi silokholo yikuzinikela kuNkulunkulu lokubhabhathizwa.​—1 Phet. 3:21. w19.03 5-6 ¶12-13

Ama-Israyeli kwakumele ambonge uJehova ngoba kunengi ayewenzele khona. Wawakhulula ebugqilini ngemva kokwehlisela amaGibhithe Inhlupho Ezilitshumi. Wasewasindisa emlonyeni wesilwane ngokutshabalalisa wonke amabutho eGibhithe eLwandle Olubomvu. Ama-Israyeli atshengisa ukuthi ayabonga ngokuhlabela ingoma yokunqoba edumisa uJehova. Kodwa ahlala engabantu ababongayo yini? Ngesikhathi ama-Israyeli esenkangala ehlelwa yibunzima, akhohlwa konke okuhle ayekwenzelwe nguJehova futhi atshengisa ukuthi ayengabongi. (Hubo. 106:7) Uzulu wonke wako-Israyeli waqalisa ‘ukukhonona kuMosi lo-Aroni.’ Kodwa iqiniso yikuthi wayekhonona kuJehova. (Eks. 16:2, 8) Lokhu kwamdanisa uJehova. Yikho wathi bonke ababengamlalelanga babezafela enkangala ngaphandle kukaJoshuwa loKhalebi.​—Nani. 14:22-24. w19.02 17 ¶12-13

UJesu kazange afune ukuthi ukufa kwakhe kukhunjulwe ngokwenza idili elimangalisayo. Watshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi basale bemkhumbula ngokwenza isidlo esilula kanye ngomnyaka. (Joh. 13:15; 1 Khor. 11:23-25) Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi uJesu wayengazigqaji. Kuyasithokozisa ukuba leNkosi elobuntu obuhle kangaka! (Flp. 2:5-8) Singamlingisela njani uJesu? Kumele siqakathekise kakhulu okufunwa ngabanye hatshi lokho okufunwa yithi. (Flp. 2:3, 4) Khumbula okwenziwa nguJesu ngobusuku bokucina engakabulawa. Lanxa wayesazi ukuthi uzahlukuluzwa futhi abulawe kabuhlungu, okwakumkhathaza kakhulu yikuthi abaphostoli bakhe abathembekileyo babezasala bekhala ezimathonsi. Ngakho ngalobobusuku wabafundisa izinto ezinengi, wabakhuthaza njalo wabaqinisa. (Joh. 14:25-31) Watshengisa ukuthi wayeqakathekisa kakhulu okwakufunwa ngabanye ukwedlula lokho ayekufuna. Lathi yikho okufanele sikwenze. w19.01 21 ¶5-6

Abanengi bethu luyake lusithi tha uvalo nxa sifuna ukuphendula emihlanganweni yebandla. Lawe ujayele ukutshaywa luvalo yini? Nxa kunjalo, ungakhathazeki ngoba lokho kutshengisa ukuthi uthobekile njalo ubona abanye bengcono kulawe. UJehova uyabathanda abantu abathobekileyo. (Hubo. 138:6; Flp. 2:3) Lanxa kunjalo, ufuna umdumise futhi ukhuthaze abafowenu labodadewenu ebandleni. (1 Thes. 5:11) Yikho uzakunika isibindi ngoba uyakuthanda. IBhayibhili lilezimiso ezingasinceda ukuthi singesabi ukuphendula nxa sisemihlanganweni yebandla. Ngokwesibonelo, lisitshela ukuthi sonke siyake siphambanise nxa sikhuluma. (Jak. 3:2) Liveza lokuthi uJehova uyakwazi ukuthi silesono. (Hubo. 103:12-14) Abafowethu labodadewethu labo bayakwazi lokhu futhi bayasithanda kakhulu. (Mak. 10:29, 30; Joh. 13:35) Ngakho bayazwisisa ukuthi kwezinye izikhathi kasiphenduli ngendlela esiyabe sifisa ngayo. w19.01 8 ¶3; 10-11 ¶10-11

Lanxa lokhu kungakhanya kunzima lingenelisa ukukwenza. UJehova ufuna lithokoze futhi liphumelele empilweni. Uzimisele ukulisiza ukuthi liphumelele khathesi lisesebatsha lalapho selikhulile. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngalokho okwenzakala ngesikhathi ama-Israyeli ethatha iLizwe Lesithembiso. Abako-Israyeli bathi sebezangena eLizweni Lesithembiso, uNkulunkulu kazange abalaye ukuthi baqeqetshe amabutho loba bafundele ukulwa impi. (Dute. 28:1, 2) Wabatshela ukuthi balalele imilayo yakhe futhi bamthembe. (Josh. 1:7-9) Kwakumele babe lokholo ngoba kwakungakhanya angathi ayebalaya khona kwakungeke kubancede ngalutho nxa sebehlaselwa. Kodwa ekucineni kwakhanya ukuthi kwakuqondile ngoba uJehova wabancedisa ukuthi banqobe zonke izizwe ababesilwa lazo. (Josh. 24:11-13) Lathi kumele sibe lokholo ukuze senelise ukulalela uNkulunkulu ngoba yilo oluzakwenza siphumelele kukho konke esikwenzayo. w18.12 25 ¶3-4

Abanye lamuhla bakhutshwa yindlela esesizwisisa ngayo imibhalo ethile. Abanye badela iqiniso ngenxa yokulalela izinto ezikhulunywa ngabahlamuki kanye labaphikisi abatshila lokho esikukholwayo. Lokhu kwenze abanye baqalisa ‘ukuphambuka’ batshiya uJehova kanye lebandla. (Heb. 3:12-14) Kabazange balingisele umphostoli uPhetro owaqhubeka elokholo futhi emthemba uJesu. Abanye batshiye iqiniso bengananzeleli. Abantu laba bafanana lesikepe ebesisekhunjini, esilokhu sidonswa ngamagagasi kancane kancane size singene olwandle. IBhayibhili lithi abantu abanjalo ‘bayaduka.’ (Heb. 2:1) Bona kabafanani lomuntu otshiya iqiniso ngabomu, kodwa bayakhukhuleka bengananzeleleli. Lokhu kubangela ukuthi bacine bengasamkhonzi uJehova futhi sebekhatshana laye. w18.11 9 ¶5-6

Uyafisa yini ukuqeqetshwa ukuze uthuthukise indlela otshumayela ngayo? Nxa ufisa, gcwalisa ifomu lokuya eSikolo Sabavangeli BoMbuso. Esikolo lesi kufundiswa abafowethu labodadewethu abathanda uJehova futhi abasenkonzweni yesikhathi sonke ukuze benze okunengi emsebenzini wokutshumayela. Labo abafuna ukuya esikolo lesi kumele bazimisele ukuyakhonza loba ngaphi nxa sebeqedile ukufunda. Wena awufisi yini ukufundiswa esikolo lesi ukuze wenze okunengi emsebenzini kaJehova? (1 Khor. 9:23) Silomusa lothando njalo siyaphana ngenxa yokuthi singabantu bakaJehova. Nsuku zonke sitshengisa ukuthi silendaba labanye. Lokhu kwenza sithokoze, sibe lokuthula futhi sisuthiseke. (Gal. 5:22, 23) Kungelani lokuthi izimo zakho zinjani, uzathokoza kakhulu nxa ungaqhubeka usebenza loJehova njalo umlingisela ngokuba ngumuntu ophanayo.​—Zaga. 3:9, 10. w18.08 27 ¶16-18

Pho sikhona yini isizatho esingenza umKhristu achithe umtshado abesetshada lomunye umuntu? UJesu wathi: “Loba ngubani olahla umfazi wakhe athathe omunye umfazi uyafeba kuye. Laye uma elahla indoda yakhe endele kwenye, uyafeba.” (Mak. 10:11, 12; Luk. 16:18) Amazwi la atshengisa ukuthi uJesu wayewuhlonipha umtshado futhi wayefuna labanye bawuhloniphe. Nxa umuntu engachitha umtshado wakhe ngobuqili abesetshada lomunye umuntu, uyabe efeba ngoba ukudivosa ngendlela enjalo akutsho ukuthi umtshado usuphelile. KuNkulunkulu abantu labo bayabe belokhu ‘benyamanye.’ UJesu waphinda wathi indoda elahla umkayo engonanga lutho imenza afebe. Kungani watsho njalo? Ngesikhathi sikaJesu owesifazana ochithekelwe ngumtshado wayengakubona kungcono ukuthi aphinde atshade ukuze athole indoda engamgcina. Nxa wayengenza njalo, laye wayeyabe esefeba. w18.12 11 ¶8-9

UHabakhukhi wathi esexoxe loJehova, inhliziyo yakhe yahlaliseka. Wazimisela ukuqhubeka ethembele kuJehova futhi emlindele ukuthi alungise izinto. Lesi kwakungasisifiso esiphelela emoyeni ngoba waphinda wathembisa ukuthi ‘uzalindela ngesineke usuku lomonakalo.’ (Hab. 3:16) Ukuzimisela kukaHabakhukhi kusifundisani? Okokuqala, sifunda ukuthi akumelanga siyekele ukuthandaza kuJehova kungelani lokuthi yibuphi ubunzima esiphakathi kwabo. Okwesibili, kufanele silalele lokho uJehova asitshela khona esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe lenhlanganiso yakhe. Okwesithathu, kumele simlindele ngesineke uJehova, simthembe ngenhliziyo yonke ukuthi ngesikhathi sakhe esifaneleyo uzabuqeda ubuhlungu esikubo. Nxa singaqhubeka sithululela uJehova isifuba, simlalela futhi simlindela ngesineke njengoHabakhukhi, sizahlaliseka enhliziyweni. Lokhu kuzasinceda sibekezelele ubunzima esiphakathi kwabo. Ithemba lethu lizakwenza sizimisele ukubekezela, futhi ukubekezela kuzasisiza sithokoze lanxa siphakathi kwenhlupho. Kanti njalo kasisoze sithandabuze ukuthi uBaba wethu osezulwini uzabuqeda ububi obusemhlabeni.​—Rom. 12:12. w18.11 15-16 ¶11-12

UJehova uthini ngomuntu obangela ukuthi abanye bacine benze isono? UJesu wathi: “Aluba umuntu ekhubekisa oyedwa walaba abancinyane abakholwa kimi ukuba enze isono, bekungaba ngcono kuye ukuthi aphoselwe olwandle ebotshelwe ilitshe elikhulu entanyeni yakhe.” (Mak. 9:42) Lapha uJesu wayecacisa ukuthi kuyisono esikhulu ukukhubekisa abanye. Njengoba wayelingisela uYise, amazwi akhe atshengisa ukuthi uJehova uzwa ubuhlungu nxa ebona umuntu esenza akufunayo engelandaba lokuthi kubaphatha njani abanye. (Joh. 14:9) Lawe ukubona kuyinto embi yini ukukhuba abanye? Uyakuzwisisa yini okutshiwo nguJehova? Kukhona yini okwenzayo okukhuba abanye? Nxa kulendlela yokugqoka loba eyokuzilungisa oyithandayo, uzakwenzani nxa ubona ukuthi ingakhuba abanye ebandleni loba ibenze bacabange ngezemacansini? Uzayitshiya yini ukuze utshengise ukuthi uyabathanda kumbe uzaqakathekisa okufunwa nguwe? w18.11 25 ¶9-10

Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi sibe qotho? Kumele sibe qotho ngoba uSathane wasola uJehova njalo wathi akulamuntu ongahlala ethembekile. Ingilosi le eyahlamukayo yakhuluma kubi ngebizo likaJehova yenza kwakhanya angathi unguMbusi omubi, ongathembekanga futhi ongelandaba labanye. Okudanisayo yikuthi u-Adamu lo-Eva balalela uSathane bahlamukela uJehova. (Gen. 3:1-6) Zinengi izinto uJehova ayebenzele zona esivandeni sase-Edeni ezazingabanceda ukuthi bamthande kakhulu. Kodwa ngesikhathi uSathane ebalinga babengamthandi ngenhliziyo yonke uJehova. Lokhu kwenza kwaba lombuzo othi: Kungenzakala yini ukuthi abantu bahlale bethembekile kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuthi bayamthanda? Ngamanye amazwi, abantu bangenelisa yini ukuba qotho kuNkulunkulu? Umbuzo lo uyaphendulwa endabeni kaJobe. (Jobe. 1:8-11) Laye wayelesono njengathi futhi ewenza amaphutha. Kodwa uJehova wayemthanda ngoba wayeyindoda eqotho. w19.02 3-4 ¶6-7

UJesu wathi indoda ethile yayihamba idinga amaphareli amahle. Yathi ithola elalilentengo ephezulu yahle yasuka ‘yayathengisa’ konke eyayilakho, yalithenga. (Mat. 13:45, 46) Umzekeliso lo utshengisa ukuthi iqiniso elimayelana loMbuso liqakatheke kakhulu. Yikho lathi sakhetha ukutshiya izinto esasizithanda ukuze silithole iqiniso leli eliphathelene loMbuso kaNkulunkulu kanye lamanye amagugu aseLizwini lakhe. Nxa singaqhubeka silithanda, kasisoze safa ‘salithengisa.’ (Zaga. 23:23) Lanxa kunjalo, abanye bethu bayakhohlwa ukuthi iqiniso liqakatheke kangakanani, baze bacine belithengisa. Kodwa akumelanga silithengise igugu leli esiliphetheyo! Manje singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyalithanda iqiniso lokuthi kasisoze salithengisa loba sekutheni? IBhayibhili lithi kumele ‘siqhubeke siphila ngokumayelana leqiniso.’ (3 Joh. 2-4) Lokhu kutsho ukuthi kufanele siphilele iqiniso, siliqakathekise ukwedlula loba yini njalo silisebenzise kukho konke esikwenzayo. w18.11 9 ¶3

Abako-Israyeli babetshelwe ukuthi bangalihlaseli iJerikho kodwa balibhode kanye ngelanga okwensuku eziyisithupha, besekusithi ngelanga lesikhombisa balibhode kasikhombisa. Mhlawumbe amanye amabutho ako-Israyeli ayezibuza esithi, ‘Kambe senzani sidlalisa isikhathi sethu lamandla ethu?’ Kodwa uMkhokheli wabo wayesazi ukuthi wenzani. Icebo lelo laqinisa ukholo lwabako-Israyeli njalo lenza baceza ingozi yokuyaqondana lamabutho aseJerikho. (Josh. 6:2-5) Indaba le isifundisani? Kwezinye izikhathi singabe singazizwisisi izinto ezintsha esizitshelwa yinhlanganiso. Ngokwesibonelo, kungenzakala ukuthi sasikubona kungaqondanga ukusebenzisa ezempucuko nxa sisekutshumayeleni loba emihlanganweni yebandla kumbe nxa sitaditsha iBhayibhili sisodwa. Kodwa khathesi sesikubona ukuthi kuyanceda kakhulu. Nxa singabona ukuthi esikutshelwayo kunceda ngani, ukholo lwethu luyaqina futhi siyahlala simanyene labafowethu labodadewethu. w18.10 23 ¶8-9

AmaJuda kanye labafundi bakaJesu babekhangelele ukuthi uMesiya uzalungisa izinhlupho zabo. Kungenzakala ukuthi lokhu yikho okwenza abantu beGalile bafuna ukuthi uJesu abe yinkosi yabo. Kukhanya babelomcabango wokuthi uJesu angaba ngumbusi ongcono kakhulu ngoba wayeyingcitshi ekukhulumeni, elamandla okwelapha abagulayo njalo esenelisa ukunika abalambileyo ukudla. UJesu wakunanzelela lokhu ngemva kokuba enike abantu abedlula 5 000 ukudla. IBhayibhili lithi: “UJesu esazi ukuthi babeqonde ukuza bazomenza inkosi ngenkani, wathi nyelele wabuyela entabeni yedwa.” (Joh. 6:10-15) Ngelanga elilandelayo uJesu waphinda wahlangana labantu laba njalo kungenzakala ukuthi ukuxokozela kwabo kwasekwehlile. Ngakho wasebenzisa lelothuba ukubachazela ukuthi wayelande ukuzobafundisa ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu hatshi ukugcwalisa izifiso zabo. Wasesithi kubo: “Lingasebenzeli ukudla khona okubolayo, kodwa sebenzelani ukudla okuhlalayo, okwempilo engapheliyo.”​—Joh. 6:25-27. w18.06 4 ¶4-5

UJesu wayebazwela abantu ngenxa yokuthi wayebathanda. Wayeyizwisisa imizwa yalabo ababenjengomhlanga ohluzukileyo kumbe intambo yesibane esizacitsha. Lokho kwakusenza ukuthi abe ngumuntu ozwisisayo, olomusa njalo obekezelayo. (Mak. 10:14) Thina kasilayo inhlakanipho kaJesu futhi kasenelisi ukufundisa njengaye. Kodwa kumele sitshengise ukuthi siyabazwisisa abantu abasensimini yethu ngokunanzelela indlela esikhuluma ngayo, isikhathi esibalanda ngaso kanye lokuthi sixoxa labo okwesikhathi esinganani. Lamuhla abantu abanengi ‘bahlukuluzekile futhi baphelelwe’ ngenxa yokuthi abezokuthengiselana labezombusazwe kanye labafundisi bamasonto bangamaqili njalo balesihluku. (Mat. 9:36) Yikho sebekubona kungcono ukuthemba ilitshe kulokuthemba umuntu. Kuqakathekile-ke ukuthi sikhethe kuhle amabala njalo sibe lelizwi elimnandi elitshengisa ukuthi silomusa lozwelo! Lanxa silazi iBhayibhili futhi sisenelisa ukulichasisa kuhle, okwenza abantu basilalele yikuthi silendaba labo njalo siyabazwisisa. w18.09 31-32 ¶13-14

Singatshengisa njani ukuthi sifuna ukukhokhelwa nguNkulunkulu? Singakwenza ngokubala iBhayibhili lokulalela imilayo yakhe kanye lokuqakathekisa ukukhonza ukwedlula loba yini. Nxa singenza njalo, sizathokoza kakhulu futhi kasisoze sithandabuze ukuthi izithembiso zikaNkulunkulu zizagcwaliseka. (Tit. 2:13) Nxa sifuna ukuhlala sithokoza kumele siqhubeke siqinisa ubuhlobo bethu loJehova. Umphostoli uPhawuli waphefumulelwa ukuthi alobe amazwi la athi: “Thokozani eNkosini [uJehova] kokuphela. Ngiyatsho futhi ngithi: Thokozani!” (Flp. 4:4) Ukuhlakanipha okuvela kuJehova kuyasinceda ukuthi sibe ngabangane bakhe abaseduze. (Zaga. 3:13, 18) Yikho nxa sifuna ukuhlala sithokoza akumelanga sibale iLizwi likaNkulunkulu kuphela kodwa kumele sikusebenzise lokho esikubalayo. UJesu watshengisa ukuthi lokhu kuqakathekile lapho esithi: “Nxa lizazi izinto lezi lizathokoza lingazenza.” (Joh. 13:17, NW; Jak. 1:25) Kuqakathekile ukuthi sisebenzise esikufundayo ngoba singenza njalo uNkulunkulu uzaqhubeka esikhokhela njalo sizahlala sithokoza. w18.09 18 ¶4-6

U-Ephafrasi wayebazi kuhle abazalwane futhi wayebathanda kakhulu. Lanxa ‘wayeyisibotshwa kanye’ loPhawuli kazange abakhohlwe abazalwane, wayebakhulekela ukuze bahlale belokholo oluqinileyo. (Filim. 23) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi wayengaqakathekisi okufunwa nguye kuphela kodwa wayelendaba labanye. Ukuthandazela abanye kuyanceda sibili ikakhulu nxa sibaqamba ngamabizo. (2 Khor. 1:11; Jak. 5:16) Ngobani ongabaqamba ngamabizo nxa uthandaza? Ungaqamba abafowethu labodadewethu abasebandleni kanye labanye okwaziyo ukuthi bathwele nzima ezimulini zabo. Phela abanye kumele benze izinqumo ezinkulu futhi balwisana lezilingo. Thandazela lalabo abafelwe yizihlobo zabo labangane, labasanda kwehlelwa ngumonakalo wemvelo lezimpi kanye lalabo abathwele nzima ngenxa yokuswela imali. Imithandazo yethu iyabanceda kakhulu abafowethu labodadewethu. w18.09 5-6 ¶12-13

Ngesikhathi uPhawuli ebhala amazwi akhulunywa nguJesu wayengakhulumi ngokunika abanye izinto esilazo kuphela kodwa wayekhuluma langokubakhuthaza lokubeluleka kanye lokwenza okuthile ukuze sibaphathise. (ImiSeb. 20:31-35) Ngakho wasifundisa ngamazwi langezenzo ukuthi sithande abanye njalo sisebenzise isikhathi sethu lamandla ethu kanye lakho konke esilakho ukuze sibasize. Ingcitshi ezibona ngokudlelana kwabantu emphakathini sezinanzelele ukuthi ukupha kwenza umuntu ajabule. Elinye ibhuku libika ukuthi “abantu bathi bayathokoza kakhulu nxa banganceda abanye.” Abanye abachwayisisayo bathi ukusiza abanye “kwenza umuntu aphile impilo elenjongo njalo asuthiseke.” Yikho ezinye ingcitshi zisithi kuhle ukuthi abantu benze umsebenzi womphakathi bengaholi ukuze bathuthukise impilakahle yabo futhi bajabule. Lokhu kakusimangalisi ngoba uJehova uMenzi womuntu wavele watsho eLizwini lakhe ukuthi ukupha kuyathokozisa.​—2 Tim. 3:16, 17. w18.08 22 ¶17-18

Umphrofethi u-Isaya wakhuluma amazwi athokozisayo amayelana leNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu. Waphrofetha ukuthi uJesu “kayikwahlulela ngalokho akubona ngamehlo akhe, loba aqume ngalokho akuzwa ngendlebe zakhe. Kodwa abaswelayo uzabehlulela ngokulunga.” (Isaya. 11:3, 4) Lokhu kuyasijabulisa kakhulu ngoba siphila labantu abalobandlululo futhi abakhangelela abanye phansi. Sonke siyafisa ukuba loMahluleli ongasoze asahlulele ngalokho akubona ngamehlo. Nsuku zonke kukhona esikucabangayo ngabanye abantu. Lanxa kunjalo kasenelisi ukwahlulela kuhle njengoJesu ngoba thina silesono. Sijayele ukwahlulela ngalokho esikubona ngamehlo. Kodwa ngesikhathi uJesu esemhlabeni wasilaya ukuthi singahluleli ‘ngesikubona ngamehlo,’ kodwa ‘sahlulele ngendlela elungileyo.’ Kuyakhanya ukuthi uJesu ufuna sibe njengaye, singahluleli abanye ngendlela abakhangeleka ngayo. w18.08 8 ¶1-2

Lanxa singamuzwa uNkulunkulu ekhuluma esezulwini, usinike iLizwi lakhe iBhayibhili elisitshela konke afuna sikwenze. Kanti njalo umoya wakhe uncedisa “umphathi othembekileyo” ukuthi aqhubeke enika izinceku zakhe ukudla. (Luk. 12:42) Kunengi ukudla okusinceda ukuthi siqinise ukholo lwethu. Ngokwesibonelo silamabhuku, izinto ezikuwebhusayithi, amavidiyo kanye lokulalelwayo. Sengathi wonke amazwi kaNkulunkulu alotshwe eBhayibhilini angenza sibe leqiniso lokuthi akulalutho olungamehlula lokuthi uzakuqeda konke okusikhathazayo okubangelwa nguSathane kanye lomhlaba lo omubi. Kanti njalo kasizimiseleni ukulalelisisa ilizwi likaJehova. Nxa singenza njalo sizenelisa ukubekezelela loba yiziphi inhlupho esiphakathi kwazo khathesi kanye lalezo ezizasehlela esikhathini esizayo. IBhayibhili lithi: “Kumele libe ngabaqiniselayo ukuze kuthi lapho seliyenzile intando kaNkulunkulu, lamukele ukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso.”​—Heb. 10:36. w19.03 13 ¶17-18

Kumele ukuthi uJoshuwa wayengabe ezibuza ukuthi isizwe sako-Israyeli sasizamamukela yini ukuthi abe nguMkhokheli waso njengoba sasesileminyaka leminyaka sikhokhelwa nguMosi. (Dute. 34:8, 10-12) Elinye ibhuku elicubungula iBhayibhili lichaza uJoshuwa 1:1, 2 lisithi: “Ezizweni ezazikhona endulo lalezo ezikhona lamuhla, isikhathi esinzima futhi esiyingozi kulazo zonke ngesokuntshintshwa komkhokheli.” Kayisikho ukuthi uJoshuwa wayesesaba umnyama ongelampisi. Lanxa wayelovalo, akwenza ngemva kwensukwana kwatshengisa ukuthi uyamthemba uJehova. (Josh. 1:9-11) Lakanye uJehova kazange amlahle ngoba iBhayibhili liveza ukuthi wakhokhela uJoshuwa kanye lesizwe sako-Israyeli esebenzisa ingilosi yakhe. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ingilosi leyo kwakunguLizwi, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu elizibulo. (Eks. 23:20-23; Joh. 1:1) UJehova wancedisa isizwe sakhe ukuthi silwamukele untshintsho lokuba lomkhokheli omutsha uJoshuwa. w18.10 22-23 ¶1-4

UJehova uyabaqakathekisa labo abamkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke njalo uyabhala amabizo abo ‘emqulwini wencwadi yesikhumbuzo.’ Ukubhalwa kwamabizo ethu ‘encwadini yesikhumbuzo’ akutsho ukuthi sokumele sigoqe izandla kodwa kulokuthile uJehova akhangelele ukuthi sikwenze. UMalaki wacacisa ukuthi kumele ‘simesabe uJehova sihloniphe ibizo lakhe.’ Akumelanga sikhonze omunye umuntu loba olunye ulutho ngoba lokho kungabangela ukuthi uJehova acitshe amabizo ethu encwadini yakhe yesikhumbuzo. (Eks. 32:33; Hubo. 69:28) Ukuzinikela lokubhabhathizwa akutsho ukuthi uyabe usukufezile lokho uJehova akukhangelele kuwe. Phela lezi yizinto ezenziwa kanye kuphela njalo esingazikhohlwa masinyane. Kodwa nxa sizinikele ukuba ngabakaJehova kumele siqhubeke simlalela nsuku zonke okwempilo yethu yonke.​—1 Phet. 4:1, 2. w18.07 23-24 ¶7-9

Lokhu akuphonguzenzakalela kodwa kufanele sisebenze nzima ukuze ‘siqhubeke’ sikhula. Ukuqhubeka usiya ekukhuleni kugoqela ukwengezelela ulwazi kanye lokuzwisisa. Yikho sihlala sikhuthazwa ukuthi sibale iBhayibhili nsuku zonke. (Hubo. 1:1-3) Wena uyakwenza yini lokhu? Ukubala iBhayibhili nsuku zonke kuzakunceda ukuthi ulithande iLizwi likaNkulunkulu njalo ujulise indlela ozwisisa ngayo imithetho kanye lezimiso zakhe. Umthetho oqakatheke kakhulu kuwo wonke amaKhristu ngumthetho wothando. UJesu watshela abafundi bakhe wathi: “Bonke abantu bazakwazi ukuthi lingabafundi bami uma lithandana.” (Joh. 13:35) UJakhobe umfowabo kaJesu wathi uthando ‘ngumthetho wobukhosi.’ (Jak. 2:8) UPhawuli yena wathi: “Uthando luyikugcwaliswa komthetho.” (Rom. 13:10) Akusimangalisi ukubona indaba yothando igcizelelwa kangaka ngoba iBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi “uNkulunkulu uluthando.”​—1 Joh. 4:8. w18.06 19 ¶14-15

Ama-Israyeli ayehlamukele uJehova kodwa uMosi wazonda wabila ngento eyayingaqondananga laye. Lokhu kwenza wehluleka ukuzithiba njalo wakhuluma engacabanganga. UMosi wavumela ukuthi izenzo zabanye zimphambanise waze wacina esehluleka ukuqhubeka ekhangelise amehlo akhe kuJehova. UMosi wayiphatha kuhle indaba yamanzi ngesikhathi ivuka okokuqala. (Eks. 7:6) Kungenzakala ukuthi wayesediniwe futhi esedakekile ngenxa yokuhlamuka okwakusenziwa ngama-Israyeli okweminyaka eminengi. Ukukhathazeka kakhulu ngamaphutha abantu laba kungabe kwamenza wangasananzeleli ukuthi ukunika uJehova udumo kuqakatheke ukwedlula indlela ayesizwa ngayo. Kungenzakala ukuthi sehluleke ukuqhubeka sikhangelise amehlo ethu kuJehova njengoba nje kwenzakala kumphrofethi wakhe owayethembekile uMosi. UMosi wakhutha ugatsha sekusele kancane ukuthi angene eLizweni Lesithembiso. Lathi kumele siqaphele ngoba sekuseduze ukuthi singene emhlabeni omutsha. (2 Phet. 3:13) Kasifuni ukuthi kube lolutho oluzasiphambanisa sicine sesilahlekelwe yisibusiso sokungena emhlabeni omutsha. Ngakho kasiqhubekeni sikhangelise amehlo ethu kuJehova njalo sisenza intando yakhe.​—1 Joh. 2:17. w18.07 15 ¶14-16

USathane kenelisi ukusibamba ngamandla ukuthi senze esingakufuniyo. (Jak. 1:14) Abantu abanengi uyabasebenzisa ukuthi benze intando yakhe lanxa bona bengakunanzeleli. Kodwa nxa bangafunda iBhayibhili kuyabe sokumele bakhethe ukuthi bazakhonza bani. (ImiSeb. 3:17; 17:30) Nxa sizimisele ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu akulalutho olungenziwa nguSathane ukuze aphambanise ubuqotho bethu kuJehova. (Jobe. 2:3; 27:5) Kukhona okunye uSathane lamadimoni abangeke benelise ukukwenza. IMibhalo iveza ukuthi kabenelisi ukubona lokho okusezingqondweni lasezinhliziyweni zethu. UJehova loJesu yibo bodwa abenelisa ukwenza njalo. (1 Sam. 16:7; Mak. 2:8) Nxa singazama ngazo zonke izindlela ukukhuluma lokwenza izinto ezifunwa nguJehova, uzasivikela futhi kasoze avumele ukuthi uSathane asilimaze. (Hubo. 34:7) Kuqakathekile ukwazi isitha sethu kodwa akumelanga silale singalele ngenxa yokwesaba. Lanxa silesono, uJehova angasisiza ukuthi simnqobe uSathane. Nxa singamelana laye uzasibalekela.​—Jak. 4:7; 1 Phet. 5:9. w18.05 26 ¶15-17

Ake sithi ufuna ukuthatha uhambo olude ngebhasi usiya embuthanweni oqakathekileyo edolobheni elithile. Kodwa nxa ufika erenkini ufica kulamabhasi amanengi. Kuyabe kumele uyazi ibhasi okufanele uyigade ukuze uyefika lapho oyakhona. Lokhu kuqakatheke kakhulu ngoba ukungena kuloba yiphi ibhasi oyibonayo kungabangela ukuthi ulahleke. Impilo layo injengohambo olude futhi abasakhulayo balindele ukuthatha uhambo lolu. Kwezinye izikhathi bangaphithana amakhanda ngenxa yezinqumo okumele bazenze kuloluhambo lwempilo. Ikanti lokukhetha kunzima ngoba bayabe sebeswele ukuthi bakhethe kuphi batshiye kuphi. Kodwa nxa ukwazi mhlophe ofuna ukukwenza empilweni ngeke uthwale nzima nxa usenza izinqumo. Nxa ungosakhulayo kufanele uzimisele ukuthi ufake uJehova kuqala empilweni yakho. Lokhu kutsho ukulandela iziqondiso zakhe nxa usenza izinqumo, kungaba ngeziphathelane lemfundo, umsebenzi, umtshado, ukuba labantwana lokunye okunengi. Kugoqela lokuhlela ukwenza izinto ezizaqinisa ubuhlobo bakho loNkulunkulu. Nxa ungaqakathekisa ukwenza intando kaJehova uzathola izibusiso njalo uphumelele empilweni. w18.04 25 ¶1-3

UJefitha kazange asephule isifungo ayesenzile futhi wanikela indodakazi yakhe eShilo ukuze iyekhonza ethabanikeli. (Abahlu. 11:30-35) Indaba le yayingalula kuJefitha. Kodwa kumele ukuthi indodakazi yakhe yiyo eyezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu. Lanxa kunjalo yasamukela isifungo esasenziwe nguyise. (Abahlu. 11:36, 37) Yavuma ukulahlekelwa ngamalungelo ayo ayegoqela ukutshada, ukuba labantwana, ukukhulisa usendo lukayise kanye lelifa okwakumele ilithole. Yayikudinga sibili ukududuzwa lokukhuthazwa. IBhayibhili lithi: “Kulokhu yikho okuvela khona umkhuba wama-Israyeli wokuthi minyaka yonke izintombi zako-Israyeli ziyaphuma okwezinsuku ezine ukuba zikhumbule indodakazi kaJefitha umGileyadi.” (Abahlu. 11:39, 40) Lathi lamuhla kumele sibancome futhi sibakhuthaze abafowethu labodadewethu abangatshadanga abazinikele emsebenzini ‘weNkosi.’​—1 Khor. 7:32-35. w18.04 17 ¶10-11

Inani elithile lezingilosi lahlamuka kanye loSathane. Kungakafiki uZamcolo uSathane wahuga ezinye izingilosi ukuthi ziziphathe kubi kwezemacansini lamadodakazi abantu. IBhayibhili lisebenzisa isifaniso ukuze lichaze lokho okwenziwa nguSathane. Lithi umgobho wadonsela phansi ingxenye yesithathu yezinkanyezi ezazisemkhathini. (Gen. 6:1-4; Isam. 12:3, 4) Ngesikhathi izingilosi lezi zihlamuka zaba ngaphansi kukaSathane. Kodwa akumelanga sicabange ukuthi izingilosi lezi ziliqembu nje elingahlelekanga. USathane uzama ukulingisela indlela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ohlelwe ngayo. Ngokwesibonelo yena uzibeke waba yinkosi yamadimoni, wasehlela amadimoni aba ngababusi njalo wawanika amandla okubusa umhlaba. Lokhu kuyenzakala sibili lanxa singenelisi ukukubona ngamehlo. (Efe. 6:12) USathane usebenzisa inhlanganiso le ebunjwa ngamadimoni ukuze aqondise bonke ohulumende babantu. w18.05 23 ¶5-6

Kwezinye izikhathi uJehova utshengisa ukuthi uyasithanda ngokusilaya njengobaba elaya umntanakhe amthandayo. UDavida wavuma ukulaywa nguJehova. Wayenakana ngemicabango kaJehova futhi eyivumela ukuthi iqondise indlela ayecabanga ngayo. Nxa lawe ungenza njalo, uzamthanda kakhulu uNkulunkulu futhi uzazimisela ukuhlala umlalela. Uzasondela eduze kwakhe njalo ube lokholo oluqinileyo. Omunye udadewethu okuthiwa nguChristin wathi: “Nxa ngingachwayisisa futhi ngicabangisise ngalokho engikubalayo, ngisala ngisizwa angathi bekubhalelwe mina sibili!” UNkulunkulu ufuna uhlakaniphe futhi ube lokuqedisisa. Yikho ekupha imfundo ejulileyo ezakusiza ukuthi uzwisise okwenzakala emhlabeni khathesi lokuthi kuyini okuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi esizayo. Kungani ekunika yonke imfundo le? Ufuna ukwazi ukuthi kuyini okuqakathekileyo empilweni, uhlakaniphe nxa usenza izinqumo njalo ungakhathazeki kakhulu ngekusasa lakho.​—Isaya. 26:3. w18.12 26 ¶9-10