April

U-Aristakhu, umKhristu owayevela eThesalonika esabelweni saseMakhedoniya watshengisa ukuthi ungumngane oqotho kamphostoli uPhawuli. IBhayibhili liqalisa ukukhuluma ngaye lapho uPhawuli evakatshele e-Efesu phakathi kohambo lwakhe lwesithathu engumnali. Wathi eloPhawuli kwatheleka ixuku lambamba. (ImiSeb. 19:29) Esekhululiwe kazange aye kwenye indawo ukuze avikeleke kodwa watshengisa ukuthi uqotho ngokuqhubeka elaye. Ngemva kwenyanga ezithile eseseGrisi, waqhubeka elaye lanxa abaphikisi babelokhu befuna ukubulala uPhawuli. (ImiSeb. 20:2-4) Ngabo-58 C.E. ngesikhathi uPhawuli ethunyelwa eRoma eyisibotshwa, u-Aristakhu wayelaye kulolohambo olude futhi babebonke bebhidlikelwa ngumkhumbi. (ImiSeb. 27: 1, 2, 41) Kukhanya sebeseRoma wabotshwa loPhawuli okwesikhathi esithile. (Kol. 4:10) Kumele ukuthi uPhawuli kwamkhuthaza njalo kwamduduza ukuba lomngane oqotho njengo-Aristakhu. Lathi singalingisela u-Aristakhu ngokuba ngabangane abaqotho kubafowethu labodadewethu, hatshi nxa izinto zihamba kuhle kuphela kodwa ‘langezikhathi zenhlupheko.’ w20.01 9 ¶4-5

Umuntu ogcotshiweyo angabona angani isibusiso alaso kasimfanelanga. Lanxa kunjalo kathandabuzi lakancane ukuthi uJehova umkhethile. Uyathokoza kakhulu futhi uyabonga ngethemba alalo lokuyaphila ezulwini. (1 Phet. 1:3, 4) Lokhu kutsho ukuthi abagcotshiweyo bayakufuna yini ukufa? Umphostoli uPhawuli wawuphendula umbuzo lo. Wafanisa umzimba wabo wenyama letende. Wathi: “Thina esisetendeni leli siyabubula futhi sikhathazeke kakhulu ngoba kasifuni ukutshiya indlu le esilayo lanxa sifuna ukwembeswa yile enye ukuze okufayo kuginywe yikuphila.” (2 Khor. 5:4) Kayisikho ukuthi amaKhristu la awasakuthandi ukuphila emhlabeni okokuthi asefuna ukufa masinyane. Ayakukholisa ukuphila futhi afuna ukusebenzela uJehova nsuku zonke endawonye lezimuli zawo kanye labangane. Kodwa kungelani lokuthi enzani, awalikhohlwa ithemba lawo elikhazimulayo lokuyaphila ezulwini.—1 Khor. 15:53; 2 Phet. 1:4; 1 Joh. 3:2, 3. w20.01 23 ¶12-13

Indlela uBaba wethu osithandayo asifundisa ngayo yikusilaya nxa kufanele. Usilaya ngendlela ezitshiyeneyo. Ngokwesibonelo singaqondiswa ngesikubale eBhayibhilini loba esikuzwe emhlanganweni webandla kumbe sincediswe ngabadala bebandla. Kungelani lokuthi uJehova usebenzisa yiphi indlela ukuthi asilaye, uhlala esenza njalo ngoba esithanda. (Jer. 30:11) UJehova uyasisekela nxa sisebunzimeni. UBaba wethu osezulwini uyasisekela nxa sisebunzimeni njengoba nje ubaba olothando esenza njalo ebantwaneni bakhe nxa besebunzimeni. Usebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze asivikele kuloba yini engaphambanisa ubungane bethu laye. (Luk. 11:13) UJehova uphinda asincedise nxa sikhathazekile. Ngokwesibonelo, usinika ithemba ngekusasa futhi ithemba leli liyasinceda ukuthi siqinisele nxa sisebunzimeni. Ngakho kungelani lokuthi sehlelwa yibuphi ubunzima, uBaba wethu osithandayo uzakuqeda konke okusizwisa ubuhlungu. Inhlupho esihlangana lazo ngezesikhatshana kodwa izibusiso uJehova asinika zona zizahlala kuze kube nini lanini.—2 Khor. 4:16-18. w20.02 5 ¶14-15

Singaphumelela ukulwisana lomona. Cabanga ngabafowabo bakaJosefa. Kwathi sekudlule iminyaka eminengi bemphathe kubi baphinda bahlangana laye eGibhithe. UJosefa wathi engakabatsheli ukuthi ungubani waqala wenza icebo lokuthi abone ukuthi basebentshintshile yini. Wabanxusa ukuthi bazekudla laye njalo ngesikhathi besidla wayenika icinathunjana uBhenjamini ukudla okunengi kulokwabanye. (Gen. 43:33, 34) Kodwa abafowabo abazange babelomona ngoBhenjamini. Batshengisa ukuthi balendaba lomfowabo kanye loyise uJakhobe. (Gen. 44:30-34) Abafowabo bakaJosefa benelisa ukwenza ukuthi kuphinde kube lokuthula emulini yangakibo ngenxa yokuthi babengaselamona. (Gen. 45:4, 15) Lathi nxa singasiphuna umona enhliziyweni sizakwenza ukuthi emulini lasebandleni kuhlale kulokuthula. UJehova ufuna silwisane lomona futhi senze konke okusemandleni ethu ukuze kube lokuthula. Nxa singathobeka, sisuthiseke ngalokho esilakho njalo sincome abanye ngokuhle abakwenzayo kasisoze sibe lomona. w20.02 19 ¶17-18

Okunye ongakwenza ukuze utshengise ukuthi uyambonga uJehova ngothando lwakhe yikuthandaza kuye. Uzamthanda kakhulu uNkulunkulu nxa uthandaza kuye umtshela okukukhathazayo futhi umbonga ngakho konke akwenzele khona. Kanti njalo ubungane benu buzaqina nxa ubona indlela aphendula ngayo imithandazo yakho. Kawusoze uthandabuze ukuthi uyakuzwisisa. Kodwa ukuze ube seduze kakhulu laye kumele uzwisise indlela acabanga ngayo. Kumele wazi lokuthi ufuna wenzeni. Ukutaditsha iLizwi lakhe iBhayibhili yikho kodwa okuzakwenza uthole ulwazi lolu. Ngakho liqakathekise. IBhayibhili yilo lodwa elikhuluma iqiniso ngoJehova langalokho ahlose ukukwenzela khona. Nxa ulibala nsuku zonke, ulungiselela ozakufunda lomuntu okufundisayo futhi usebenzisa okubalayo uyabe utshengisa ukuthi uyaliqakathekisa. (Hubo. 119:97, 99; Joh. 17:17) Ulohlelo lokubala iBhayibhili nsuku zonke yini? Uyalulandela yini? w20.03 5 ¶8-9

Nxa ungenelisi ukuhamba kakhulu ungahlala endaweni elabantu abanengi ubusutshumayeza labo abadlulayo. Ungatshumayela loba nini lapho kuvela ithuba kumbe ubhale izincwadi loba utshumayele ngefoni. Abamemezeli abanengi abangenelisi ukungena indlu ngendlu ngenxa yokugula loba ezinye inhlupho bayakukholisa ukutshumayela ngendlela lezi. Lanxa ugula ungenelisa ukuyenza ngokupheleleyo inkonzo yakho. UPhawuli wathi: “Ngilamandla okwenza zonke izinto ngenxa yalowo ongipha amandla.” (Flp. 4:13) UPhawuli wayewadinga amandla lawo ngesikhathi egula kolunye uhambo lwakhe engumnali. Wachasisela abaseGalathiya wathi: “Okwangenza ngathola ithuba lami lokuqala lokutshumayela kini izindaba ezinhle yikuthi ngangigula.” (Gal. 4:13) Lathi nxa sigula singenelisa ukutshumayela izindaba ezinhle kubodokotela, amanesi kanye labanye abasinakekelayo. Izikhathi ezinengi abantu laba bayabe besemsebenzini nxa abamemezeli betshumayela lapho abahlala khona. w19.04 4-5 ¶10-11

Ngomnyaka wenkonzo ka-2018 bekulabamemezeli bezindaba ezinhle abedlula 223 000 abahlala ezindaweni lapho umsebenzi wethu ongavunyelwa khona ngokupheleleyo lalapho eminye imisebenzi yethu engavunyelwa khona. Lokhu akusimangalisi ngoba amaKhristu eqiniso azahlukuluzwa. Loba nini ohulumende bangasalisa ukukhonza uNkulunkulu wethu esimthandayo uJehova kungelani lokuthi sihlala ngaphi. Kwesinye isikhathi singacabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu kathokozi ngathi nxa uhulumende engasasivumeli ukuthi senze umsebenzi wethu. Kodwa kumele sikhumbule ukuthi ukuhlukuluzwa akutsho ukuthi uJehova kathokozi ngathi. Ngokwesibonelo, uNkulunkulu wayethokoza sibili ngomphostoli uPhawuli. Umphostoli lo waba lesibusiso sokubhala amabhuku angu-14 eMibhalo YamaKhristu YesiGrikhi njalo wayengumphostoli kwabezizweni. Lanxa kunjalo wahlukuluzwa okuzwayo. (2 Khor. 11:23-27) Okwenzakala kuPhawuli kusifundisa ukuthi uJehova uyavumela ukuthi izinceku zakhe ezithembekileyo zihlukuluzwe. w19.07 8 ¶1, 3

Enye indlela uJehova atshengisa ngayo ukuthi ulendaba lezinceku zakhe yikuzisiza ukuthi zimelane lezitha zazo. Izitha zethu ezinkulu nguSathane lamadimoni. UJehova uyasixwayisa ngezitha lezi futhi uyasitshela lokungasinceda ukuthi simelane lazo. (Efe. 6:10-13) Singenelisa ukumelana loDeveli nxa sivuma ukuncediswa nguJehova njalo simthemba ngokupheleleyo. Sizaqiniseka njengomphostoli uPhawuli owathi: “Nxa uNkulunkulu elathi, ngubani ongamelana lathi?” (Rom. 8:31) SingamaKhristu eqiniso yikho kasizihluphi ngoSathane lamadimoni. Esikuqakathekisayo yikufunda ngoJehova lokumkhonza. (Hubo. 25:5) Lanxa kunjalo, kumele siyazi imisebenzi kaSathane ukuze angasiqilibezeli.—2 Khor. 2:11. w19.04 20 ¶1-2

Siyalalelisisa yini nxa sikhuluma lomuntu okhathazekileyo? Ukulalelisisa akutsho ukuphongukhangela umuntu okhuluma lawe uthule ungatsho lutho. Singatshengisa ukuthi siyamzwela umfowethu loba udadewethu nxa esilandisela indaba yakhe. Kwezinye izikhathi amazwi alomusa angaveza indlela esizizwa ngayo. Engxenye singathi: “Ngilusizi ngalokho okwakwehlelayo.” Mhlawumbe singabuza imibuzo emilutshwana ukuze sibe leqiniso lokuthi siyakuzwisisa akutshoyo. Singathi: “Ungangichasisela yini lokho okutshoyo ukuze ngikuzwisise kuhle?” kumbe sithi, “Laphana uze uthi . . . , ngizwe angani ubusithi . . . Yikho yini obukutsho?” Amazwi anjengalawa angamtshengisa ukuthi ubumlalele sibili njalo uzama ukuzwisisa indaba yakhe. (1 Khor. 13:4, 7) Khumbula ukuthi kumele ‘uphuze ukukhuluma.’ Ungamngeni emlonyeni ufuna ukumcebisa loba ufuna ukuqondisa indlela acabanga ngayo. Kanti njalo kumele ube lesineke. Kulokuthi sibatshele ukuthi bangalulungisa njani uhlupho lwabo kumele sitshengise ukuthi siyabazwela.—1 Phet. 3:8. w19.05 17-18 ¶15-17

Indoda kumele ithande umkayo “njengoba nje loKhristu eliphatha njalo ibandla.” (Efe. 5:28, 29) Kufanele ilingisele uKhristu endabeni yokuba lothando olungazifuneli okwalo ngokuqakathekisa lokho okufunwa ngumkayo kulalokho ekufunayo yona. Amanye amadoda akhulela endaweni lapho abantu ababengaphathani kuhle khona futhi bengelathando angakubona kunzima ukutshengisa uthando olunjalo. Lanxa kungaba nzima ukuthi antshintshe, kumele enze njalo ukuze alalele umthetho kaKhristu. Indoda etshengisa uthando olungazifuneli okwalo iyahlonitshwa ngumkayo. Ubaba obathandayo abantwabakhe kasoze abahlukuluze ngalokho akutshoyo loba akwenzayo. (Efe. 4:31) Kodwa utshengisa ukuthi uyabathanda lokuthi uyabaqakathekisa ukuze bazizwe bevikelekile. Abantwana bayamthanda ubaba owenza njalo, futhi bayamthemba. w19.05 6 ¶21

Amazwi la kaGabriyeli ayesitshoni ngoMariya? Kambe uMariya wacabanga ukuthi uJesu wayezabusa esikhundleni seNkosi uHerodi kumbe ukuthi wayezabusa esikhundleni samakhosi ako-Israyeli? Nxa uJesu wayezakuba yinkosi kutsho ukuthi uMariya wayezakuba ngunina wenkosi njalo imuli yakhe yayizahlala esigodlweni senkosi. Kodwa akulandawo eBhayibhilini etshengisa ukuthi uMariya wacela ukuba lesikhundla esingcono eMbusweni. UMariya wayengowesifazana owayethobeke kakhulu. Kumele sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi inhloso yethu enkulu yokutaditsha iLizwi likaNkulunkulu kanye lamabhuku enhlanganiso yikuthi sisondele kakhulu kuJehova. Kanti njalo sifuna ukubona ngokucacileyo ukuthi ‘singabantu abanjani’ lokuthi yiluphi untshintsho okumele silwenze ukuze sithokozise uNkulunkulu. (Jak. 1:22-25; 4:8) Ngaso sonke isikhathi nxa siqalisa ukutaditsha kumele sicele uJehova asinike umoya wakhe. Kumele simncenge ukuthi asincedise sifunde okunengi futhi asisize sibone lapho okumele senze khona untshintsho. w19.05 31 ¶18-19

Kwezinye izikhathi singathi siphakathi kolunye uhlupho siphinde sehlelwe ngolunye. Ngokwesibonelo, umzalwane okuthiwa nguJohn olomkhuhlane ophambanisa ukusebenza kuhle kwengqondo lomgogodla (multiple sclerosis) waphelelwa futhi wadana kakhulu ngesikhathi ebalekelwa ngumkakhe ngemva kweminyaka engu-19 betshadile. Kanti njalo amadodakazi akhe amabili atshiya ukukhonza uJehova. UBob lomkakhe uLinda bona behlelwa zinhlupho ezitshiyene lezikaJohn. Baphelelwa yimisebenzi njalo kwasekumele basuke endlini ababehlala kuyo ngoba babengasenelisi ukuyibhadalela. ULinda waphinda wabanjwa umkhuhlane wenhliziyo owawungambulala njalo waba lomunye umkhuhlane owawusuhlasela amasotsha omzimba. Sileqiniso lokuthi uJehova uMdali wethu uyayizwisisa indlela esizizwa ngayo nxa sikhathazekile. UnguBaba wethu osithandayo njalo uyafuna ukusincedisa ukuthi silwisane lenhlupho ezisehlelayo. (Flp. 4:6, 7) ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lilezindaba ezinengi ezikhuluma ngobunzima izinceku zakhe ezabubekezelelayo. w19.06 14 ¶2-3

Nxa sisiba lomusa ebantwini abangaselabomkabo siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyabathanda. Phela bayabadinga abangane abahle njengoba sebebodwa. Ungenzani ukuze utshengise ukuthi ungumngane wabo? Mhlawumbe ungabanxusa ukuthi bazokudla ngakini loba ubacele ukuthi like libethwe ngumoya kwenye indawo kumbe liphume lonke ekutshumayeleni. Kwesinye isikhathi ungabacela ukuthi babuye bazokwenza lani ukukhonza kwemuli. UJehova uzathokoza ungenza njalo ngoba yena “useduze lalabo abalezinhliziyo ezephukileyo” njalo ‘ungumlamuleli’ loba umvikeli wabafelokazi. (Hubo. 34:18; 68:5) Zonke ‘izinhlupheko zizakhohlakala’ nxa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu usubusa emhlabeni futhi sekuseduze ukuthi lokho kwenzakale. Sisilindele ngabomvu isikhathi lapho ‘izinto zakuqala zingasayikukhunjulwa kumbe zifike engqondweni.’ (Isaya. 65:16, 17) Sisalindele lesosikhathi kasiqhubekeni sisekelana futhi sitshengisa ngamazwi langezenzo ukuthi siyabathanda abafowethu labodadewethu.—1 Phet. 3:8. w19.06 25 ¶18-19

Enye iNqabayokulinda yakudala yathi: “Umuntu omazi kuhle uNkulunkulu uzamthemba kakhulu nxa esehlukuluzwa.” Lelo liqiniso sibili! Kumele simthande futhi simthembe ngokupheleleyo uJehova ukuze senelise ukuqinisela nxa sihlukuluzwa. (Mat. 22:36-38; Jak. 5:11) Bala iBhayibhili nsuku zonke ulenhloso yokusondela kakhulu kuJehova. (Jak. 4:8) Nxa ulibala nanzelela ubuntu bukaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo ungafunda ngothando lwakhe, isihawu kanye lomusa. Ngesikhathi ubala ngalokho akutshoyo lakwenzayo, zama ukuzwisisa ukuthi ukuthanda okunganani. (Eks. 34:6) Abanye bangakubona kunzima ukukholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyabathanda ngenxa yokuthi abakaze batshengiswe ukuthi bayathandwa. Nxa ungomunye wabo, bhala phansi nsuku zonke indlela uJehova akutshengise ngazo isihawu kanye lomusa. (Hubo. 78:38, 39; Rom. 8:32) Nxa ungacabanga ngokwenzakale empilweni yakho futhi unakane ngokubale eLizwini likaNkulunkulu uzananzelela ukuthi kunengi okwenzelwe nguJehova ongakubhala. Nxa ungaba lezizatho ezinengi zokumbonga uJehova ngalokho akwenzela khona, ubungane bakho laye buzaqina kakhulu.—Hubo. 116:1, 2. w19.07 2-3 ¶4-5

UJehova kasinikanga ilungelo lokuthi sitshayele abazalwane bethu imithetho. Umuntu owenza njalo kabavikeli kodwa uzama ukuba ngumbusi wokholo lwabo. USathane uDeveli uzaqhubeka ezama ukuhlukuluza izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekileyo. (1 Phet. 5:8; Isam. 2:10) USathane lalabo abamsekelayo bazazama ukusivimbela ukuthi sikhonze uJehova. Lanxa sisesaba kasisoze siyekele ukumkhonza loba sekutheni. (Dute. 7:21) UJehova ulathi njalo uzaqhubeka esisekela lalapho umsebenzi wethu ungasavunyelwa. (2 ImiLan. 32:7, 8) Kasizimiseleni ukwenza njengabaphostoli abatshela ababusi bangalesosikhathi bathi: “Yahlulelani lina ukuthi kuqondile yini emehlweni kaNkulunkulu ukuthi silalele lina kulokuthi silalele uNkulunkulu. Kodwa thina kasingeke siyekele ukukhuluma ngezinto esizibonileyo lesizizwileyo.”—ImiSeb. 4:19, 20. w19.07 13 ¶18-20

Kumele sizame ukuzwisisa indlela abantu esibatshumayezayo abacabanga ngayo labazizwa ngayo. Umphostoli uPhawuli wakhulela phakathi kwamaJuda yikho kwakumele antshintshe intshumayelo yakhe lapho etshumayeza abeZizweni ngoba babesazi okulutshwana kumbe bengazi lutho ngoJehova langeMibhalo. Singamlingisela njani uPhawuli? Singachwayisisa ukuze sizwisise indlela abantu abasensimini yethu abacabanga ngayo labazizwa ngayo. (1 Khor. 9:20-23) Inhloso yethu ngeyokudinga abantu ‘abafaneleyo.’ (Mat. 10:11) Nxa sifuna ukuphumelela ukwenza lokhu kumele sibuze abantu lokho abakucabangayo besesilalelisisa. Umzalwane ose-England ujayele ukubuza abantu ukuthi bangenzani ukuze bathokoze emitshadweni yabo, ukuthi bangabakhulisa njani abantwababo lokuthi bangabekezela njani nxa bephathwa kubi. Ngemva kokulalela impendulo uyathi, “Ucabangani ngamazwi la abhalwa eminyakeni engu-2 000 eyadlulayo?” Esetsho njalo uyababalela imibhalo efaneleyo esebenzisa ifoni yakhe engazange athi “iBhayibhili.” w19.07 21-22 ¶7-8

Kumele simthande okunganani uNkulunkulu? UJesu wawuphendula umbuzo lo lapho ekhuluma lomFarisi. Wathi: “Kumele uthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, langomphefumulo wakho wonke, langengqondo yakho yonke.” (Mat. 22:36, 37) Kumele simthande ngenhliziyo yonke uNkulunkulu futhi uthando lwethu kumele luqhubeke lukhula nsuku zonke. Kumele simazi ukuze simthande. IBhayibhili lithi: “Loba ngubani ongelathando kakamazi uNkulunkulu ngoba uNkulunkulu uluthando.” (1 Joh. 4:8) Umphostoli uPhawuli wathi sizamthanda kakhulu uNkulunkulu nxa ‘singaba lolwazi oluqondileyo lokuqedisisa konke’ ngaye. (Flp. 1:9) Sathi siqalisa ukufunda iBhayibhili saqala ukuthanda uNkulunkulu lanxa sasisazi okulutshwana ngaye. Ukuqhubeka sifunda ngaye kwenza uthando lwethu lwaqhubeka lukhula. Yikho sikuqakathekisa kakhulu ukubala iBhayibhili nsuku zonke lokucabangisisa ngalokho esikubalayo.—Flp. 2:16. w19.08 9 ¶4-5

Nxa ungathutha ngenxa yokuntshintsha umsebenzi wenkonzo obuwenza sekumele ube labangane abatsha lapho osukhona. Khumbula ukuthi kumele ube lomusa ukuze ube labangane. Xoxela abanye okuhle okukholisileyo enkonzweni kaJehova ukuze babone ukuthi uyathokoza. Nxa litshiye umsebenzi wenkonzo ebeliwenza ngenxa yokuthi umkakho ubengasaphilanga kuhle, ungamsoli. Kanti njalo nxa kunguwe ongaphilanga kuhle ungazithonisisi njalo ungacabangi ukuthi udanise omunye wakho. Khumbula ukuthi ‘linyamanye’ lokuthi lafunga phambi kukaJehova ukuthi lizagcinana kumnyama kubomvu. (Mat. 19:5, 6) Nxa latshiya umsebenzi wenkonzo elaliwenza ngenxa yokuthi umkakho wazithwala kumele liqinisekise umntanenu ukuthi limthanda ukwedlula umsebenzi lo. Hlalani limtshela ukuthi limbona ‘engumvuzo’ ovela kuNkulunkulu. (Hubo. 127:3-5) Mxoxeleni langalokho elalikukholisa emsebenzini elaliwenza. Nxa lingenza njalo umntanenu laye angaba senkonzweni yesikhathi sonke. w19.08 22 ¶10-11

IBhabhiloni Enkulu, okutsho zonke inkolo zamanga ilethe ihlazo ebizweni likaNkulunkulu. Ifundise amanga ngaye, yenza njengesifebe ngokusekela imibuso yabantu kulokuthi isekele okaNkulunkulu, yacindezela abalandeli bayo, yabaphundla imali futhi yabulala labantu abanengi, kuhlanganise lezinceku zikaNkulunkulu. (Isam. 18:24; 19:2) UJehova uzasebenzisa ‘impondo ezilitshumi zesilo esibomvu gebhu’ ukuthi atshabalalise ‘isifebe esikhulu.’ Isilo lesi yinhlanganiso yomanyano wezizwe okuthiwa yi-United Nations. Impondo ezilitshumi zona ngohulumende abasekela inhlanganiso le. Ohulumende laba bazahlasela iBhabhiloni Enkulu ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu asibekileyo. ‘Bazaphundla konke elakho futhi bayinqunule’ ngokuyithathela inotho yayo langokuchaya egcekeni ububi bayo obesabekayo. (Isam. 17:3, 16) Ukubhujiswa kweBhabhiloni Enkulu kuzakwenzakala ngokucwayiza kwelihlo angathi kwenzakale ngelanga elilodwa futhi kuzabethusa bonke akade beyisekela njengoba ibihlala izikhukhumeza isithi: “Kangisoze ngilile loba sekutheni.”—Isam. 18:7, 8. w19.09 10 ¶10-11

UJesu unxusa bonke abantu ukuthi baze kuye njalo kasoze abaxotshe labo abafuna ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngeqiniso. (Joh. 6:37, 38) Bonke abalandeli bakaKhristu baphiwe umsebenzi uJehova athume uJesu ukuthi awuqondise njalo kuyisibusiso ukuwenza. Sileqiniso lokuthi uJesu uzahlala elathi ukuze asincedise emsebenzini lo. (Mat. 28:18-20) Abantu abathobekileyo babekuthanda ukuba loJesu. (Mat. 19:13, 14; Luk. 7:37, 38) Kungani babekuthanda? Cabanga ngomehluko owawukhona phakathi kukaJesu labaFarisi. Abakhokheli benkolo laba babengelathando futhi bezikhukhumeza. (Mat. 12:9-14) Kodwa uJesu wayelothando futhi ethobekile. AbaFarisi babethanda ukuba ngabadumileyo emphakathini njalo babezigqaja ngezikhundla ababelazo. UJesu watshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi kwakungamelanga babe njalo. Wabafundisa ukuthi bathobeke lokuthi bazibone bezinceku. (Mat. 23:2, 6-11) AbaFarisi babewasebenzisa kubi amandla abo futhi lokhu kwakusenza abantu babalalele ngoba besesaba lokho okwakuzabehlela nxa bengalaleli. (Joh. 9:13, 22) UJesu waphumuza abanye ngokubatshengisa uthando langokukhuluma labo ngomusa. Wena uyamlingisela yini? w19.09 20 ¶1; 21 ¶7-8; 23 ¶9

Imihlangano iyasinceda sisondele kuJehova. Indlela esingena ngayo imihlangano iyatshengisa ukuthi sizenelisa yini ukuqinisela nxa sesihlukuluzwa esikhathini esizayo. (Heb. 10:24, 25) Kungani sisitsho njalo? Phela nxa singaba lomkhuba wokulova imihlangano khathesi kungelazizatho ezizwakalayo kungaba nzima kakhulu ukuthi siyingene esikhathini esizayo nxa sesingasavunyelwa ukuhlangana labafowethu labodadewethu. Kodwa nxa singazimisela ukungena imihlangano asisoze siyekele ukuhlangana ndawonye lanxa abaphikisi bengazama ukusivimba. Kumele sikuthande khathesi ukungena imihlangano. Nxa singenza njalo akulakuphikiswa loba umthetho okhitshwa ngohulumende ozakwenza silalele abantu kulokuthi silalele uNkulunkulu. (ImiSeb. 5:29) Ibambe ngekhanda imibhalo oyithandayo. (Mat. 13:52) Lanxa ulohlupho lokukhohlwa, uJehova uzasebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuthi ukukhumbuze imibhalo oyithandayo. (Joh. 14:26) Imibhalo le izakunceda ukuthi uhlale useduze loJehova, uqinisele njalo uqhubeke uthembekile. w19.07 3 ¶5; 4 ¶8-9

Nxa wazalwa sekwedlule u-1914 kutsho ukuthi uphile impilo yakho yonke “ezinsukwini zokucina” zomumo lo wezinto. Sonke sesike sezwa ngalokho uJesu athi kuzakwenzakala kulezinsuku zokucina. Okunye kwakhona yizimpi, ukuswelakala kokudla, ukuzamazama komhlaba, imikhuhlane emibi, ukwanda kobubi lokuhlukuluzwa kwabantu bakaJehova. (Mat. 24:3, 7-9, 12; Luk. 21:10-12) Kanti njalo sibona abantu beziphatha ngendlela eyakhulunywa ngumphostoli uPhawuli. Thina oFakazi bakaJehova siyaqiniseka ukuthi siphila ‘ezinsukwini zokucina’ sibili. (Mik. 4:1) Sekuyisikhathi eside u-1914 wadlula, yikho kumele ukuthi khathesi siphila ekucineni kwazo ‘izinsuku zokucina.’ Njengoba ukuphela sekuseduze kangaka, kuqakathekile ukuthi sizazi izimpendulo zemibuzo elandelayo: Kuyini okuzakwenzakala ekupheleni ‘kwezinsuku zokucina’? UJehova ukhangelele ukuthi senzeni sisalindele lokho okuzakwenzakala? w19.10 8 ¶1-2

Okusenza siqinisele yikuthemba uJehova hatshi ukuthemba ukuthi izimo zizakuba ngcono. (Rom. 12:12) Isithembiso sikaJesu esisembhalweni walamuhla sitshengisa ukuthi kumele sihlale sithembekile kungelani lobunzima obusehlelayo. Nxa singaqinisela khathesi kungelani lokuthi sihlangana labuphi ubunzima, ukholo lwethu luzaqina ukuhlupheka okukhulu kungakaqalisi. Ukuthemba uJehova kuphinda kusincede ukuthi sibe lesibindi seqiniso. Manje kuyini esingakwenza ukuze simthembe kakhulu? Kumele sibale iLizwi lakhe nsuku zonke futhi sicabangisise ngokuthi wabasindisa njani abantu bakhe ngesikhathi esidlulileyo. (Hubo. 68:20; 2 Phet. 2:9) Nxa sesihlaselwa yizizwe ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu kuzamele sibe lesibindi futhi sithembe uJehova ukwedlula loba nini. (Hubo. 112:7, 8; Heb. 13:6) Singamthemba khathesi sizakuba lesibindi nxa sesihlaselwa nguGogi. Siyaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzahlala esivikela.—1 Khor. 13:8. w19.10 18 ¶15-16

UDeveli nguye obusa umhlaba lo futhi uyawusebenzisa ukuze asenze siqakathekise kakhulu izinto esizifunayo njalo kube nzima kakhulu ukuthi silwisane lezifiso ezimbi. (Efe. 2:1-3) Akufunayo yikuthi sithande ezinye izinto kulokuthi sithande uJehova kuphela. Ngemva kokubhala ngokuphela komhlaba kaSathane langomhlaba omutsha ozayo umphostoli uPhetro wathi: “Bathandekayo, njengoba lilindele izinto lezi, yenzani konke okusemandleni enu ukuthi ekucineni alithole lingelasici, limsulwa njalo lilokuthula.” (2 Phet. 3:14) Nxa singalalela iseluleko lesi futhi senze okusemandleni ethu ukuthi siphile njalo sikhonze uJehova ngendlela ayifunayo siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi sizinikele kuye ngenhliziyo yonke. USathane kanye lomhlaba wakhe bazaqhubeka bezama ukusenza siqakathekise ezinye izinto kulokukhonza uJehova. (Luk. 4:13) Kodwa asisoze sithande omunye umuntu loba eyinye into ukwedlula uJehova. Sizimisele ukuzinikela kuye ngenhliziyo yonke ngoba vele kumele senze njalo. w19.10 27 ¶4; 31 ¶18-19

Zikhona izinto okumele sikhathazeke ngazo. Ngokwesibonelo, kumele sikhathazeke ngokufuna ukuthokozisa uJehova loJesu. (1 Khor. 7:32) Nxa singenza isono esikhulu siyakhathazeka ngokuthi siphinde sibe ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu. Siyakhathazeka ngokuthi singamthokozisa njani esitshade laye langokondla abemuli futhi siyakhathazeka ngabanye ebandleni. (1 Khor. 7:33; 2 Khor. 11:28) Kodwa akumelanga sihlale sikhathazeka ngokuthi sizakudlani lokuthi sizagqokani. (Mat. 6:31, 32) Ukukhathazeka ngezinto lezi kungenza sicine sesixotshana lenotho. Nxa lokhu kungenzakala ukholo lwethu luzaxega njalo ubungane bethu loJehova buzaphambaniseka. (Mak. 4:19; 1 Tim. 6:10) Kwesinye isikhathi singakhathazeka kakhulu ngokufuna ukwamukelwa ngabantu futhi lokhu kungenza sesabe ukuhlekwa kumbe ukuhlukuluzwa ukwedlula ukwesaba ukudanisa uJehova. Kumele sincenge uJehova ukuthi asinike ukholo lesibindi ukuze singesabi abantu.—Zaga. 29:25; Luk. 17:5. w19.11 15 ¶6-7

Kulezinye izinqumo eziqakathekileyo esingafuni ukuzintshintsha. Ngokwesibonelo, sinamathela esinqumeni sethu sokukhonza uJehova futhi sizimisele ukuhlala sithembekile kulowo esitshade laye. (Mat. 16:24; 19:6) Kodwa kulezinye izinqumo okungadingeka ukuthi sizintshintshe ngenxa yokuthi izimo ziyabe sezintshintshile. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi senze izinqumo ezinhle? Thandaza ucele ukuhlakanipha. Sonke ‘siyasilela ekuhlakanipheni.’ Yikho cela uJehova akuncedise nxa usenza isinqumo lalapho sekumele usintshintshe. Ungenza njalo, uJehova uzakuncedisa ukuthi wenze izinqumo ezinhle. Chwayisisa. Sebenzisa iLizwi likaNkulunkulu lamabhuku esiwanikwa yinhlanganiso yakhe futhi xoxa labantu obathembayo. (Zaga. 20:18) Ukuchwayisisa okunje kuqakathekile nxa ufuna ukwenza isinqumo sokuntshintsha umsebenzi, esokuthutha kumbe esemfundo ozayenza ukuze uzisekele ekukhonzeni uJehova. w19.11 27 ¶6-8

Kuyasithokozisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wasenzela indlela yokusikhulula esonweni. Wasebenzisa uJesu ukuthi asikhulule. Eminyakeni edlula 700 uJesu engakabuyi emhlabeni, umphrofethi u-Isaya wathi esikhathini esizayo kwakuzakuba lenkululeko enkulu kakhulu kulaleyo ama-Israyeli ayeyithola ngomnyaka weJubhili. Wabhala wathi: “Umoya kaJehova Wobukhosi uphezu kwami, ngoba uJehova ungigcobile ukuba ngitshumayele izindaba ezinhle kubayanga. Ungithumile ukuba ngibophe izinhliziyo ezidabukileyo, ngimemezele ukukhululwa kwabathunjiweyo.” (Isaya. 61:1) Isiphrofetho lesi sikhuluma ngobani? Isiphrofetho lesi esiqakathekileyo esimayelana lenkululeko saqalisa ukugcwaliseka ngemva kokuba uJesu eqalise inkonzo yakhe. Ngesikhathi esesinagogeni elisedolobheni lakibo eNazaretha wabalela amaJuda amazwi ka-Isaya akhuluma ngaye.—Luk. 4:16-19. w19.12 9-10 ¶6-8

Kumele ube lesibindi ukuze ukulungele ukuhlukuluzwa. Kodwa kuyini ongakwenza nxa ubona angani awulaso? Khumbula ukuthi ukuba lesibindi akuyi ngokuthi unganani, ulamandla anganani lokuthi yiziphi izinto owenelisa ukuzenza. Ake ucabange ngoDavida esesengumfana aze ajamelane loGoliyathi. Wayemncane, engelamandla futhi engahlomelanga ukulwa nxa simqathanisa lenkalakatha yendoda le. Wayengela ngitsho lenkemba. Lanxa kunjalo uDavida waba lesibindi sengwenya wayilanda indoda le eyayiziphakamisa. Kuyini okwenza uDavida waba lesibindi esingaka? Wayekholwa sibili ukuthi uJehova wayelaye. (1 Sam. 17:37, 45-47) Kazange azihluphe ngokuthi uGoliyathi wayemkhulu kulaye kodwa wananzelela ukuthi uGoliyathi wayeyibunyonyo nxa eqathaniswa loJehova. Sifundani endabeni le? Sifunda ukuthi sizakuba lesibindi nxa siqiniseka ukuthi uJehova ulathi lokuthi izitha zethu ziyibunyonyo nxa ziqathaniswa loNkulunkulu uSomandla.—2 ImiLan. 20:15; Hubo. 16:8. w19.07 5 ¶11-13

UThikhikhu wayengumngane othembekileyo kamphostoli uPhawuli. (ImiSeb. 20:4) Ngabo-55 C.E., uPhawuli wahlela ukuthi kuqoqwe imali eyayizanceda amaKhristu aseJudiya njalo kungenzakala wathuma uThikhikhu ukuthi ancedise emsebenzini lo owawuqakathekile. (2 Khor. 8:18-20) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uPhawuli wabotshwa okokuqala eRoma futhi uThikhikhu wayeyisithunywa sakhe. Wayehambisa izincwadi lemilayezo kaPhawuli ekhuthazayo emabandleni ase-Asiya. (Kol. 4:7-9) UThikhikhu wahlala engumngane othembekileyo kaPhawuli. (Tit. 3:12) Kayisiwo wonke amaKhristu ayengathenjwa njengoThikhikhu ngalesosikhathi. Ngabo-65 C.E., uPhawuli ebotshwe okwesibili wathi amaKhristu amanengi e-Asiya ayengafuni ukuba laye. Kungenzeka ayesesaba abaphikisi. (2 Tim. 1:15) Kodwa uPhawuli wayemthemba uThikhikhu yikho wamnika omunye umsebenzi. (2 Tim. 4:12) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uPhawuli wayekuqakathekisa ukuba lomngane omuhle njengoThikhikhu. w20.01 10 ¶7-8

Mhlawumbe uyazibuza ukuthi ugcotshiwe yini ngomoya ongcwele. Nxa kunjalo, cabanga ngemibuzo le eqakathekileyo: Uyakutshisekela yini ukwenza intando kaJehova? Ubona angathi uyatshiseka kakhulu emsebenzini wokutshumayela? Uyakuthanda yini ukutaditsha iBhayibhili lokufunda ‘izinto ezijulileyo zikaNkulunkulu’? Ubona angani uJehova uwubusisile umsebenzi wakho wokutshumayela? Uzizwa ulomlandu omkhulu yini wokunceda abanye ukuthi bafunde ngoJehova? Ulabo yini ubufakazi bokuthi uJehova ukuncedisile ngezindlela ezinengi empilweni yakho? Nxa imibuzo le uyiphendule ngoyebo, sekusitsho ukuthi ugcotshiwe yini? Hatshi. Ngenxa yani? Zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zingayiphendula njalo. Iqiniso yikuthi nxa uzibuza ukuthi ugcotshiwe yini ngomoya ongcwele kutsho ukuthi awugcotshwanga. Labo abakhethwe nguJehova kabafaniseli ukuthi bagcotshiwe. Bakwazi mhlophe lokhu! w20.01 23 ¶14