January

Ukholo lukaThimothi lwalusekelwe ezimfundisweni zeBhayibhili ayengathandabuzi ukuthi ziliqiniso futhi ezamenza wafuna ukuba ngumngane kaJehova. Lawe kumele utaditshe iBhayibhili uze ucine ungasakuthandabuzi lokho elikufundisayo ngoJehova. Nanzi izinto ezintathu okumele ubezazi mhlophe ukuze ungakuthandabuzi lokho okukholwayo. Okokuqala, kumele uqiniseke ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu unguMdali wezinto zonke. (Eks. 3:14, 15; Heb. 3:4; Isam. 4:11) Okwesibili, kumele wazi ukuthi kungani ukholwa ukuthi iBhayibhili lilomlayezo kaNkulunkulu oya ebantwini. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) Okwesithathu, kumele wazi ukuthi uJehova uleqembu labantu elimkhonza lihlelekile, elikhokhelwa nguKhristu lokuthi iqembu lelo ngoFakazi bakaJehova. (Isaya. 43:10-12; Joh. 14:6; ImiSeb. 15:14) Akudingi ukuthi wazi konke okuseBhayibhilini. Inhloso yakho kumele ibe ngeyokusebenzisa ‘amandla akho okucabanga’ ukuze ungathandabuzi ukuthi okukholwayo kuliqiniso.—Rom. 12:1. w20.07 10 ¶8-9

Isiphrofetho lesi sikhuluma ngomtshitshi wentethe ezilobuso obunjengobomuntu futhi ‘ezilezinto ezingathi yimiqhele yegolide’ emakhanda azo. (Isam. 9:7) Zihlukuluza “abantu [izitha zikaNkulunkulu] abangelalo uphawu lukaNkulunkulu emabunzini abo.” Zibahlukuluza okwenyanga ezinhlanu, okuhambelana lobude bempilo yentethe. (Isam. 9:4) Kuyakhanya sibili ukuthi ivesi le ikhuluma ngezinceku zikaJehova ezigcotshiweyo. Zikhuluma ngesibindi ngezahlulelo zikaNkulunkulu ezizakwehlela umhlaba lo omubi futhi lokho kwenza abawusekelayo bangakhululeki. Sitsho ukuthi intethe okukhulunywa ngazo kuJoweli 2:7-9 zitshiyene yini lezikuSambulo? Ye. Ngezinye izikhathi ulutho okukhulunywa ngalo kwamanye amavesi lungamela into etshiyeneyo kwamanye. Ngokwesibonelo, kuSambulo 5:5 uJesu ubizwa ngokuthi ‘uyiSilwane sesizwana sakoJuda’ kodwa ku-1 Phetro 5:8 uDeveli kuthiwa ‘unjengesilwane esibhongayo.’ w20.04 3 ¶8; 5 ¶10

Incekukazi kaSarayi okwakuthiwa nguHagari yenza ubuthutha ngesikhathi isingumka-Abhrama. Yazithwala yasiqalisa ukweyisa uSarayi owayengelabantwana. Izinto zaba zimbi kakhulu okokuthi uSarayi wamphatha kubi uHagari okwenza wacina ebaleka. (Gen. 16:4-6) Isono esilaso singenza sicabange ukuthi uHagari wayengowesifazana owayezigqaja njalo okwakufanele aphathwe kubi. Kodwa le kayisiyo indlela uJehova ayembona ngayo. Yikho wathumela ingilosi yakhe kuye. Yathi isimtholile yamnceda ukuthi atshintshe indlela ayecabanga ngayo futhi yambusisa. UHagari wananzelela ukuthi uJehova wayekade emkhangele lokuthi wayebona konke okwakusenzakala kuye. Wathokoza kakhulu waze wathi kuye, ‘UnguNkulunkulu obonayo, lowo ongibonayo.’ (Gen. 16:7-13) Kuyini uJehova ayekwazi ngoHagari? Wayeyazi indlela ayekhule ngayo lakho konke okwakwenzakale empilweni yakhe. UJehova wayekwazi ukuthi kwakungaqondanga ukuthi uHagari adelele uSarayi. Kodwa wayizwisisa indlela uHagari ayezizwa ngayo lezimo ayekuzo yikho wamphatha ngomusa. w20.04 16 ¶8-9

Umphostoli uPhawuli wathi wonke amaKhristu eqiniso asemncintiswaneni. (Heb. 12:1) Kungelani lokuthi singanani kumbe ukuthi siyagula loba hatshi, sonke kumele siqinisele size siyetshaya intambo nxa sifuna ukuthola umvuzo uJehova asithembisa wona. (Mat. 24:13) UPhawuli wayekhululekile ukukhuluma ngokugijima emncintiswaneni ngoba yena ‘wayegijime waze wayafika ekucineni.’ (2 Tim. 4:7, 8) Kodwa yiwuphi umncintiswano ayekhuluma ngawo? Kwezinye izikhathi wayekhuluma ngokunye okwakusenziwa emidlalweni yeGrisi ukuze acacise izifundo eziqakathekileyo. (1 Khor. 9:25-27; 2 Tim. 2:5) Izikhathi ezinengi wayefananisa umncintiswano wokuphila lowokugijima. (1 Khor. 9:24; Gal. 2:2; Flp. 2:16) Umuntu ungena emncintiswaneni wokuphila ngesikhathi ezinikela kuJehova futhi ebhabhathizwa. (1 Phet. 3:21) Intambo uyitshaya nxa uJehova esemnika umvuzo wokuphila okungapheliyo.—Mat. 25:31-34, 46; 2 Tim. 4:8. w20.04 26 ¶1-3

“INkosi ithembekile njalo izaliqinisa, ilivikele komubi.” (2 Thes. 3:3) UJehova usivikela njani? Usinike izigqoko zokuzivikela empini njengoba sisilwa loSathane. (Efe. 6:13-17) Izigqoko lezi ziqinile futhi ziyasebenza sibili, kodwa zizasivikela kuphela nxa singazigqoka zonke futhi singazikhiphi. Ngokwesibonelo, ibhanti leqiniso limela iqiniso eliseLizwini likaNkulunkulu. Kungani kumele siligqoke? Ngenxa yokuthi iqiniso eliseLizwini likaNkulunkulu liyasivikela ukuze singakhohliswa nguSathane ‘onguyise wamanga.’ (Joh. 8:44) Sekuleminyaka leminyaka eqamba amanga, futhi usedukise “umhlaba wonke.” (Isam. 12:9) Siligqoka njani ibhanti leli? Siligqoka ngokufunda iqiniso mayelana loJehova, ngokumkhonza “ngomoya langeqiniso” langokuthembeka kukho konke esikwenzayo.—Joh. 4:24; Efe. 4:25; Heb. 13:18. w21.03 26-27 ¶3-5

Okwakusenza ilizwe lelo libe ligugu kakhulu yikuthi yikho lapho abantu ababekhonza khona uJehova. Kusukela ngePhentekhosti lika-33 C.E., “iLizwe” lelo kwakungaseyindawo ethile esemhlabeni ngoba khathesi abantu bakaJehova basabalele emhlabeni wonke. Lamuhla “iLizwe Elihle” yindlela abantu bakaJehova abaphila ngayo egoqela ukukhonza kwabo emihlanganweni yebandla lasekutshumayeleni. Ngezinsuku zokucina inkosi yasenyakatho ingene kanengi ‘eLizweni Elihle.’ Ngokwesibonelo, ngesikhathi amaNazi eGermany eyinkosi yasenyakatho angena ‘eLizweni Elihle’ ngokuhlukuluza langokubulala abantu bakaNkulunkulu ikakhulu ngeMpi Yomhlaba Yesibili. Ngemva kwempi le, iSoviet Union yaba yinkosi yasenyakatho futhi yangena ‘eLizweni Elihle’ ngokuhlukuluza abantu bakaNkulunkulu langokubabamba ngamandla ukuthi baye kwelinye ilizwe. w20.05 13 ¶7-8

Kulamanye amadoda aphila uJesu engakabuyi emhlabeni aba ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu. U-Abrahama wayelokholo oluqinileyo. Kwathi sekudlule iminyaka engaphezu kwengu- 1 000 efile, uJehova wambiza ngokuthi ‘ungumngane wakhe.’ (Isaya. 41:8) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi lanxa abantu bengafa, uJehova uyabe elokhu ebabona bengabangane bakhe abaseduze. U-Abrahama ulokhu ephila enkumbulweni kaJehova. (Luk. 20:37, 38) Omunye nguJobe. Ngesikhathi izingilosi zibuthene ezulwini, uJehova wakhuluma amazwi atshengisa ukuthi uyamthemba uJobe. Wathi ‘kalasici, uqondile, uyindoda emesabayo uNkulunkulu futhi exwaya okubi.’ (Jobe. 1:6-8) UDanyeli wakhonza uNkulunkulu ethembekile okweminyaka engaba ngu-80 eselizweni elalilabantu abangamkhonziyo uJehova. UNkulunkulu wayembona njani uDanyeli? Izingilosi zayiqinisekisa kathathu indoda leyo eyayisigugile ukuthi uNkulunkulu ‘uyayiqakathekisa kakhulu.’ (Dan. 9:23; 10:11, 19) Kasithandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uyakufuna sibili ukuvusa abangane bakhe abathandekayo.—Jobe. 14:15. w20.05 26-27 ¶3-4

Umuntu ofunda kuhle angafunda imithetho kaNkulunkulu futhi ayiqakathekise. Kodwa umuntu lo uzalalela uJehova ngoba emthanda yini? Khumbula ukuthi u-Adamu lo-Eva babewazi umthetho kaNkulunkulu kodwa babengamthandi ngenhliziyo yonke. (Gen. 3:1-6) Yikho akwenelanga ukufundisa abantu imithetho kaNkulunkulu kuphela. Imithetho kaJehova iyasinceda sonke isikhathi. (Hubo. 119:97, 111, 112) Kodwa kungenzeka esibafundisa iBhayibhili bangakuboni lokhu nxa bengazwisisi ukuthi uJehova wafaka imithetho leyo ngoba esithanda. Yikho singabuza abantu esifunda labo imibuzo le: “Yindaba uNkulunkulu esithi izinceku zakhe zenze lokhu kumbe zingenzi lokhu? Lokhu kusifundisani ngaye?” Kumele ukuthi sizathinta inhliziyo zabantu esibafundisayo nxa singabancedisa ukuthi bacabange ngoJehova futhi balithande ngenhliziyo yonke ibizo lakhe elikhazimulayo. Abasoze bathande kuphela imithetho kodwa bazathanda loJehova. Bazakuba lokholo oluqinileyo njalo bazenelisa ukuqinisela nxa sebehlangana lobunzima esikhathini esizayo.—1 Khor. 3:12-15. w20.06 10 ¶10-11

Kumele sibekezele ngoba kuthatha isikhathi ukuthi umuntu abuyele kuJehova. Abanengi ababengasayifezi inkonzo bathi bavakatshelwa kanengi ngabadala labanye ebandleni bengakaqalisi futhi ukungena imihlangano yebandla lokutshumayela. Udadewethu wase-Asia okuthiwa nguNancy uthi: “Umngane oseduze ebandleni wanginceda kakhulu. Wayengithanda angani ngingusisi wakhe. Wayengikhumbuza izikhathi sisakholisa ndawonye. Wayelalelisisa nxa ngangimtshela indlela engangizizwa ngayo futhi wayengesabi ukungicebisa. Watshengisa ukuthi ungumngane weqiniso owayezimisele ukungincedisa loba nini.” Nxa umuntu edanile angezwa ubuhlungu njengomuntu olimeleyo. Uzwelo lufanana lomuthi olamandla onganceda umuntu lowo azizwe ngcono. Abanye abangasayifezi inkonzo bakhutshwa ngomunye ebandleni kudala futhi balokhu besizwa ubuhlungu njalo bezondile. Lokhu kwenza bangafuni ukubuyela kuJehova. Abanye bangabe becabanga ukuthi abaphathwanga kuhle. Bangabe bedinga umuntu ozabalalela futhi azwisise indlela abazizwa ngayo. w20.06 26 ¶10-11

Sonke isikhathi nxa ungayala ukulingwa kuba lula ukuthi uqhubeke usenza okuhle. Ungakhohlwa lokuthi indlela engaqondanga abantu bomhlaba lo ababona ngayo ezemacansini ivela kuSathane. Ngakho nxa unganqoba isilingo uyabe ‘umnqobile omubi.’ Siyavuma ukuthi uJehova nguye olelungelo lokutsho ukuthi yikuphi okuyisono futhi senza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuthi singakwenzi. Kodwa nxa singenza isono siyathandaza kuJehova sivume ukuthi siphambanisile. (1 Joh. 1:9) Kanti njalo nxa singenza isono esikhulu siyacela uncedo ebadaleni bebandla abayibo ababekwe nguJehova ukuthi basinakekele. (Jak. 5:14-16) Lanxa kunjalo akumelanga sihlale sizithonisisa ngamaphutha esawenza kudala ngoba uBaba wethu olothando wasenzela umhlatshelo ngeNdodana yakhe ukuze izono zethu zithethelelwe. Nxa uJehova esithi uzazithethelela izoni eziphendukayo uyabe eqinisile sibili. Yikho akulalutho olungasivimba ukuthi simkhonze silomzwangedwa ohlanzekileyo.—1 Joh. 2:1, 2, 12; 3:19, 20. w20.07 22-23 ¶9-10

UJehova wake waba yedwa kodwa wayengelasizungu ngoba kadingi ukuthi kube lomunye umuntu ukuze athokoze. Lanxa kunjalo wayefuna abanye bakholise ukuphila yikho waqalisa ukudala ngenxa yokuthi ulothando. (1 Joh. 4:19) Waqala ngokudala iNdodana yakhe uJesu. Kusetshenziswa yona ‘kwadalwa zonke ezinye izinto,’ okugoqela izingilosi. (Kol. 1:16) UJesu wayethokoza ukusebenza loYise. (Zaga. 8:30) Izingilosi lazo zathokoza ngesikhathi uJehova kanye lesisebenzi sakhe esiyingcitshi uJesu bedala amazulu lomhlaba. Zatshengisa njani ukuthi ziyathokoza? Zaqalisa ‘ukumemeza ngentokozo’ sekudalwe umhlaba futhi asithandabuzi ukuthi zaqhubeka zikwenza lokho lapho zibona zonke ezinye izinto sezidaliwe, ikakhulu abantu. (Jobe. 38:7; Zaga. 8:31) Izinto lezi uJehova azidalayo zaveza ukuthi ulothando njalo uhlakaniphile.—Hubo. 104:24; Rom. 1:20. w20.08 14 ¶1-2

UJehova wasidala ngendlela yokuthi siyenelisa ukuthanda abanye futhi siyafuna labo basithande. Yikho sizwa ubuhlungu mhlawumbe size sesabe nxa singathandwa. Omunye umfowethu wabhala wathi: “Ngesikhathi amasotsha engitshaya, engithethisa futhi engethusela ngenxa yokuthi nginguFakazi kaJehova ngezwa ngisesaba futhi ngiyangeka.” Ukuzondwa ngale indlela kubuhlungu kodwa akusimangalisi ngoba uJesu watsho ukuthi sizazondwa. Abantu bomhlaba lo bayabazonda abalandeli bakaJesu ngenxa yokuthi labo ‘kabasibo bomhlaba’ njengoJesu. (Joh. 15:17-19) Yikho lanxa sibahlonipha ohulumende, kasibakhonzi kumbe sikhonze izinto ezimela isizwe. Sikhonza uJehova kuphela. Siyakwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu nguye olelungelo lokubusa abantu lanxa uSathane ‘lenzalo’ yakhe bekuphika lokho. (Gen. 3:1-5, 15) Sitshumayela ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu yiwo kuphela ozaqeda inhlupho zabantu lokuthi sekuseduze ukuthi uchoboze bonke abawuphikisayo. (Dan. 2:44; Isam. 19:19-21) Lezi zindaba ezinhle kwabathobekileyo kodwa zindaba ezimbi kwababi. w21.03 20 ¶1-2

UJehova uyabaqakathekisa odadewethu abaqotho abasebandleni. Bahlakaniphile, balokholo, bayatshiseka, balesibindi, bayaphana futhi benza imisebenzi emihle. (Luk. 8:2, 3; ImiSeb. 16:14, 15; Rom. 16:3, 6; Flp. 4:3; Heb. 11:11, 31, 35) Siyathokoza ngokuba lasebekhulile abanengi ebandleni. Bangabe bethwaliswe nzima yikugula okubangelwa yikuguga. Lanxa kunjalo bayatshumayela futhi benza konke okusemandleni abo ukuthi bakhuthaze njalo baqeqetshe abanye. Kunengi esikufunda kubo futhi baqakathekile kuJehova lakithi. (Zaga. 16:31) Cabanga ngabasakhulayo. Bahlangana lobunzima njengoba bekhula emhlabeni lo obuswa nguSathane uDeveli futhi ogcwele imfundiso zakhe eziyingozi. Kodwa kuyasikhuthaza ukubabona bephendula emihlanganweni yebandla, betshumayela futhi belwela ukholo lwabo ngesibindi. Lina elisakhulayo liqakathekile sibili ebandleni likaJehova.—Hubo. 8:2. w20.08 21-22 ¶9-11

Nxa sisanda kuqalisa ukuphuma ekutshumayeleni futhi sitshela abanye ukuthi singoFakazi bakaJehova, singaphikiswa ngabemuli, sihlekwe ngabangane bethu njalo abanye bangangawulaleli umlayezo esiwutshumayelayo. Ungenzani ukuze ube lesibindi? Okokuqala, kumele ukholwe ukuthi uJesu ulokhu ewuqondisa umsebenzi wokutshumayela esezulwini. (Joh. 16:33; Isam. 14:14-16) Okwesibili, woba lokholo oluqinileyo esithembisweni sikaJehova sokuthi uzakunakekela. (Mat. 6:32-34) Nxa ukholo lwakho luqhubeka luqina uzaqhubeka usiba lesibindi. Watshengisa ukuthi ulokholo oluqinileyo ngesikhathi utshela abangane bakho labangakini ukuthi usufunda iBhayibhili laboFakazi bakaJehova njalo usungena imihlangano yabo. Kumele ukuthi kulotshintsho olukhulu osulwenzile empilweni yakho ukuze uphile ngendlela uJehova ayifunayo. Lalokhu kutshengisa ukuthi ulokholo kanye lesibindi. Nxa ungaqhubeka utshengisa ukuthi ulesibindi kawusoze uthandabuze ukuthi “uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uzakuba lawe loba kungaphi lapho oya khona.”—Josh. 1:7-9. w20.09 5 ¶11-12

INkosi u-Asa yenza kuhle ngoba yathembela kuJehova ngenhliziyo yayo yonke. Yakhonza uJehova ngezikhathi kulobunzima langezikhathi kulokuthula. Kusukela u-Asa esesemncane ‘inhliziyo yakhe yayinamathele kuJehova.’ (1 AmaKho. 15:14) Enye indlela u-Asa atshengisa ngayo ukuthi uzinikele kuJehova ngenhliziyo yonke yikuqeda ukukhonza kwamanga koJuda. IBhayibhili lithi: “Wasusa wonke ama-alithare ezizweni lezindawo zokukhonzela, wadiliza izinsika zakhona lezithombe zikankulunkulukazi u-Ashera.” (2 ImiLan. 14:3, 5) Waze wasusa logogo wakhe uMahakha esikhundleni sakhe embusweni ngoba wayekhuthaza abantu ukuthi bakhonze isithombe. (1 AmaKho. 15:11-13) U-Asa kazange adilize izithombe kuphela kodwa wancedisa abantu bakoJuda ukuthi baphinde babuyele kuJehova. UJehova wabusisa u-Asa labantu bakoJuda ngokubanika isikhathi sokuthula. Okweminyaka elitshumi yokubusa kuka-Asa “kwakulokuthula elizweni.”—2 ImiLan. 14:1, 4, 6. w20.09 14 ¶2-3

Sijayele ukugcinisa abanye izinto zethu eziligugu. Ngokwesibonelo, singafaka imali yethu ebhanga. Nxa sisenza njalo siyabe sikhangelele ukuthi igcinwe kuhle, ingalahleki kumbe itshontshwe. Umphostoli uPhawuli wakhumbuza uThimothi ukuthi uphiwe into eligugu okutsho ulwazi oluqondileyo olumayelana lenhloso kaNkulunkulu ngabantu. Wayephathiswe lesibusiso ‘sokutshumayela ilizwi lesokwenza umsebenzi womvangeli.’ (2 Tim. 4:2, 5) UPhawuli wamkhuthaza ukuthi avikele lokho akuphathisiweyo. Lathi siphathiswe izinto eziligugu. UJehova usinike ulwazi oluqondileyo lweqiniso eliligugu elitholakala eLizwini lakhe iBhayibhili. Iqiniso leli liligugu ngoba lisinceda ukuthi sibe ngabangane bakaJehova futhi lisitshengisa ukuthi singenzani ukuze sithokoze empilweni. Nxa singalikholwa iqiniso leli kasisoze sikhohliswe zimfundiso zamanga njalo sizaziphatha ngendlela uNkulunkulu ayifunayo.—1 Khor. 6:9-11. w20.09 26 ¶1-3

Umfundi kumele abone ukuthi uyatshiseka lokuthi uyaqiniseka ngalokho okufundiswa liBhayibhili. Lokhu kungenza akuthande akufundayo. Mhlawumbe ungamtshela ukuthi iBhayibhili likuncede njani empilweni yakho. Ungenza njalo, uzabona ukuthi lingamnceda laye. Ngesikhathi lifunda, xoxela umfundi wakho ngabanye abafowethu labodadewethu ababelenhlupho ezinjengezakhe futhi bazinqoba. Ungahamba lomunye ummemezeli ongamnceda. Ncedisa umfundi wakho abone ukuthi iBhayibhili lingamnceda empilweni yakhe. Nxa umfundi wakho etshadile, umkakhe laye uyafunda yini? Nxa engafundi, mcele abekhona nxa lifunda. Khuthaza umfundi wakho ukuthi axoxele abangakibo labangane bakhe lokho akufundayo.—Joh. 1:40-45. w20.10 16 ¶7-9

UJosefa loMariya bancedisa uJesu ukuthi enze izinto ezithokozisa uNkulunkulu ngoba balandela lokho akutshela abazali. (Dute. 6:6, 7) Babemthanda sibili uJehova futhi ababekuqakathekisa kakhulu yikuncedisa abantwababo ukuthi labo bamthande. UJosefa loMariya bakhetha ukuhlala bekhonza uJehova belabantwababo. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi maviki wonke babesiya esinagogeni eNazaretha futhi minyaka yonke babesiya eJerusalema ukuyananza iPhasika. (Luk. 2:41; 4:16) Kumele ukuthi besendleleni besiya eJerusalema babefundisa uJesu labanawakhe ngembali yabantu bakaJehova, futhi bedlula bebona ezinye indawo okukhulunywa ngazo eMibhalweni. Njengoba imuli yabo yayilokhu ikhula, kufanele ukuthi kwakusiba nzima ukuthi bahlale besenza izinto eziphathelane lokukhonza. Kodwa kabazange bayekele yikho uJehova wababusisa. Imuli yabo yahlala iseduze loJehova ngenxa yokuthi babeqakathekisa ukumkhonza. w20.10 28 ¶8-9

Nxa omunye angakucela ukuthi uhambe laye esifundweni sakhe, kungaba kuhle ukuthi ulungiselele isihloko esizafundwa. Umzalwane okuthiwa nguDaniel oliphayona lesikhathi sonke uthi: “Ngiyathokoza nxa engicele ukuhamba laye elungiselele isifundo. Lokhu kwenza akhulume izinto ezizanceda umfundi.” Kanti njalo umfundi uzabona ukuthi lobabili lilungiselele futhi lokho kuzenza ukuthi laye alungiselele. Lanxa ungasoze wenelise ukulungiselela okuzwayo, zama ukudinga imicijo eqakathekileyo kulokho okuzafundwa. Umthandazo uqakatheke kakhulu nxa kufundwa. Yikho cabanga ngokuthi uzakuthini nxa ungacelwa ukuthi ukhuleke. Nxa ungenza njalo imithandazo yakho izathinta inhliziyo yomfundi. (Hubo. 141:2) UHanae ohlala eJapan ukhumbula imithandazo eyayisenziwa ngudade owayeke ahambe lodadewethu owayemfundisa iBhayibhili. Uthi: “Ngabona ukuthi wayemthanda sibili uJehova futhi lami ngangifuna ukuba njengaye. Ngangibona lokuthi uyangithanda nxa wayengiqamba ngebizo emithandazweni.” w21.03 9-10 ¶7-8

UJesu wayethembise umphostoli uPhawuli ukuthi uzafika kuhle eRoma. Kodwa amanye amaJuda eJerusalema ayefuna ukumcathamela ambulale. UKlawudiyu Lisiya owayeyinduna yamabutho watshelwa ngecebo lelo wasemnceda uPhawuli. Waphanga wakhipha umlayo wokuthi uPhawuli asuswe eJerusalema ahanjiswe eKhesariya ngapha evikelwe ngamasotsha amanengi. Esekhonale uSibalukhulu uFelikhe walaya ukuthi uPhawuli “alindwe esigodlweni sikaHerodi.” AmaJuda ayengasoze enelise ukumbulala eselapho. (ImiSeb. 23:12-35) Kodwa esikhundleni sikaFelikhe kwangena uFestu ‘owayefuna ukuthabisa amaJuda.’ Yikho wabuza uPhawuli wathi: “Uyafuna yini ukuya eJerusalema uyekwahlulelwa ngezinto lezi phambi kwami?” UPhawuli wayekwazi ukuthi angabulawa eJerusalema. Yikho waphendula wathi: “Ngidlulisela icala kuKhesari!” UFestu wathi kuPhawuli: “Usucele ukuthi icala lakho lidluliselwe kuKhesari, lakanye uzakuya kuKhesari.” Ngesikhatshana nje uPhawuli wayezabe eseseRoma, khatshana lamaJuda ayefuna ukumbulala.—ImiSeb. 25:6-12. w20.11 13 ¶4; 14 ¶8-10

Sonke siyake sizisole ngezinye izikhathi. Ngokwesibonelo, abanye bayazisola ngezinto ababezenza bengakafundi iqiniso. Abanye bona bazisola ngamaphutha abawenza sebebhabhathiziwe. (Rom. 3:23) Siyafisa sibili ukwenza izinto eziqondileyo kodwa “sonke siyaphambanisa izikhathi ezinengi.” (Jak. 3:2; Rom. 7:21-23) Lanxa ukuzisola kubuhlungu, kuyanceda ngoba kungenza silungisise ebesikuphambanisile futhi sizimisele ukungakuphindi. (Heb. 12:12, 13) Kungenzakala ukuthi sihlale sizisola lanxa sesiphendukile futhi uJehova esesithethelele. Ukuzisola okunjalo kuyingozi. (Hubo. 31:10, NWT; 38:3, 4) Kumele sinanzelele ukuthi singahlali sizisola ngoba uSathane angathokoza kakhulu nxa singayekela ukukhonza uJehova lanxa uJehova esesithethelele.—Khangela u-2 Khorinte 2:5-7, 11. w20.11 27 ¶12-13

Umhubi ongumLevi waqalisa ukuhawukela abantu ababi futhi ababezikhukhumeza. Kayisikho ukuthi wayefuna ukwenza izinto ezimbi njengabo kodwa wayebona angani baphila impilo engcono kuleyakhe. (Hubo. 73:2-9, 11-14) Izinto zazikhanya zibahambela kuhle. Babelemali, bekholisa impilo njalo bekhanya bengelanhlupho. UmLevi kwakumele abone izinto ngendlela kaJehova. Esekwenzile lokho wayengasakhathazekanga futhi wayesethokoza. Wathi: “Lomhlaba kawulakho engikufisayo ngaphandle kwakho [Jehova].” (Hubo. 73:25) Lathi kasingaqali ukuhawukela abantu ababi abakhanya bephumelela. Intokozo yabo ngeyesikhatshana. (UmTshu. 8:12, 13) Nxa singabahawukela sizadana kakhulu futhi singacina singaseyibo bangane bakaJehova. Yikho ungazibona usuqalisa ukuhawukela abantu ababi yenza okwenziwa ngumLevi. Lalela lokho esikutshelwa nguNkulunkulu njalo umkhonze ndawonye labanye abenza intando yakhe. Nxa ungamthanda ukwedlula loba yini uzathola intokozo yeqiniso futhi uzahlala usendleleni eya ‘ekuphileni koqobo.’—1 Tim. 6:19. w20.12 19 ¶14-16

Nxa uthandaza kuJehova umtshela okukukhathazayo, ungayekeli lokumbonga. Kuyanceda ukucabanga ngezinto ezinhle esilazo lanxa singabe siphakathi kwenhlupho ezinengi. Kodwa kuthiwani nxa ungenelisi ukuthulula isifuba sakho kuJehova, umtshela indlela ozizwa ngayo? Khumbula ukuthi uzawuphendula umthandazo wakho lanxa ongabe usenelisa ukukutsho kuyikuthi, ‘Ngicela ungincedise!’ (2 ImiLan. 18:31) Ungazithembi, kodwa themba uJehova. Ngensuku zomphrofethi u-Isaya, abantu bakoJuda babesesaba ama-Asiriya ayefuna ukubahlasela, yikho bacela abaseGibhithe ukuthi babancedise. (Isaya. 30:1, 2) UJehova wabaxwayisa ukuthi ukuthemba kwabo iGibhithe kwakuzabathela emanyaleni. (Isaya. 30:7, 12, 13) Wasebenzisa u-Isaya ukuthi abatshele lokho okwakuzabanceda ukuthi bangesabi. Wathi: “Amandla enu asekuthuleni lekwethembeni” uJehova.—Isaya. 30:15b. w21.01 3-4 ¶8-9

Abafowabo bakaKhristu abathembekileyo bazathola umvuzo wokuba ngamakhosi labaphristi kanye laye ezulwini. (Isam. 20:6) UJehova loJesu kanye lezingilosi bazathokoza kakhulu lapho abagcotshiweyo abangu-144 000 bethola umvuzo wabo wokuphila ezulwini. Umphostoli uJohane uthi esekhulume ngamakhosi kanye labaphristi abangu-144 000, abone “ixuku elikhulu” elisinde e-Amagedoni. Ixuku leli litshiyene leqembu uJohane aqala ukulibona ngoba lona lilabantu abanengi esingakwaziyo ukuthi bangaki. (Isam. 7:9, 10.) Abaseqenjini leli ‘bagqoke izembatho ezimhlophe’ okutsho ukuthi bahlale beqotho kuNkulunkulu lakuKhristu futhi bazigcina ‘bengelasici’ emhlabeni lo kaSathane. (Jak. 1:27) Bayamemeza besithi basindisiwe ngenxa yalokho abakwenzelwe nguJehova loJesu, oyiMvana kaNkulunkulu. Kanti njalo baphethe izingatsha zelala, okutshengisa ukuthi bayavuma ukuthi uJesu uyiNkosi ekhethwe nguJehova.—Khangela uJohane 12:12, 13. w21.01 15-16 ¶6-7

Nxa indoda ingalingisela indlela uJehova loJesu abasebenzisa ngayo amandla abo izayiphatha kuhle imuli yayo. Ngokwesibonelo, ukuthobeka. UJehova uhlakaniphe ukwedlula loba ngubani kodwa uyalalela nxa izinceku zakhe ziveza lokho ezikucabangayo. (Gen. 18:23, 24, 32) Lanxa yena engelasono, kalindelanga ukuthi singaphambanisi. Uzimisele ukusincedisa ukuthi siphumelele ekumkhonzeni. (Hubo. 113:6, 7) IBhayibhili lize lithi uJehova “ungumsizi.” (Hubo. 27:9; Heb. 13:6) INkosi uDavida yavuma ukuthi okwenza yaphumelela kukho konke eyayikwenza yikuthi uJehova uthobekile futhi wayeyincedisa. Khathesi asixoxeni ngesibonelo sikaJesu. Lanxa wayeyiNkosi, wagezisa inyawo zabafundi bakhe. UJesu ngokwakhe wathi: “Ngilitshiyele isibonelo ukuze lani lenze njengoba ngenzile kini.” (Joh. 13:12-17) Lanxa wayelesikhundla esiphezulu, wayengakhangelelanga ukuthi aphathwe njengenkosi kodwa wayezehlisa enze imisebenzi yenceku.—Mat. 20:28. w21.02 3-4 ¶8-10

Bafowethu abasakhulayo kunengi elingakwenza ukuze lincede ibandla. Phela inengi lenu lilamandla. Liluncedo sibili kubafowenu labodadewenu. Mhlawumbe likhangelele phambili ukuthi libe zinceku ezikhonzayo. Kodwa lingacabanga ukuthi abanye balibona lisesebancane kumbe ukuthi alikakulungeli ukuphiwa imisebenzi eqakathekileyo. Lanxa lisesebancane kukhona elingakwenza khathesi ukuze lithenjwe futhi lihlonitshwe ngabanye ebandleni. Majaha, abanengi benu kukhona abangakwenza ukuze bancede abanye ebandleni. Ngokwesibonelo asebekhulile bayathokoza nxa libancedisa ukuthi babekwazi ukusebenzisa ezempucuko nxa betaditsha lalapho besemihlanganweni yebandla. Lingabanceda sibili abafowenu labodadewenu laba ngolwazi elilalo ngezempucuko. Kukho konke okwenzayo yenza uYihlo osezulwini azigqaje ngawe. w21.03 2 ¶1, 3; 7 ¶18

Lanxa umfazi efundile kulomkakhe, kulokhu kungumlandu wayo indoda ukuthi ikhokhele ekukhonzeni kwemuli lakweminye imisebenzi yokukhonza. (Efe. 6:4) Lanxa inkosikazi ikwazi ukuthi umkayo nguye okhokhelayo endabeni zokukhonza, kungumlandu wayo ukuthi iqinise ukholo lwayo. Yikho kumele izinike isikhathi sokutaditsha lesokucabangisisa. Lokhu kuzayinceda ukuthi ihlale imthanda uJehova futhi imhlonipha njalo kuzakuba lula lokuthi izehlise kumkayo. Amakhosikazi atshengisa ukuthi ayamthanda uJehova ngokuzehlisa kubomkawo azathokoza kakhulu futhi asuthiseke kulalawo angalaleli lokho okutshiwo nguJehova ngobunhloko. Ayisibonelo esihle kumajaha lakwabesifazana abasesebatsha. Kanti njalo enza kube lothando lokuthula ebandleni. (Tit. 2:3-5) Lamuhla izinceku zikaJehova ezinengi ngabesifazana.—Hubo. 68:11, NWT. w21.02 13 ¶21-23

Umphostoli uPhawuli wayelesibindi futhi eqinisela. Ngezinye izikhathi wayephela amandla, kodwa wayesenelisa ukuqinisela ngoba wayethembela kuJehova ukuthi amnike amandla awadingayo. (2 Khor. 12:8-10; Flp. 4:13) Lathi singaba lamandla esiwadingayo kanye lesibindi nxa singathembela kuJehova ukuthi asincedise. (Jak. 4:10) Ukwehlelwa zinhlupho akutsho ukuthi uJehova uyabe esijezisa. Umfundi uJakhobe wathi: “Nxa umuntu elingwa kangatsho ukuthi: ‘Ngilingwa nguNkulunkulu,’ ngoba uNkulunkulu ngeke alingwe ngezinto ezimbi njalo yena kalingi muntu.” (Jak. 1:13) Nxa singakuthandabuzi lokho okwatshiwo nguJakhobe, sizasondela kuBaba wethu osithandayo. UJehova nguNkulunkulu “ongantshintshiyo futhi ongaphenduphendukiyo.” (Jak. 1:17) Wasekela amaKhristu akuqala esebunzimeni futhi uzasisekela lathi. Thandaza ngenhliziyo yonke umcele ukuthi akunike ukuhlakanipha, ukholo lesibindi. Uzayiphendula imithandazo yakho. w21.02 31 ¶19-21

Ungakhuthaza umfundi weBhayibhili osebuya emihlanganweni yebandla ngokutshengisa ukuthi ulendaba laye. (Flp. 2:4) Ungamtshela ukuthi kuyakuthokozisa ukubona indlela athuthuka ngayo njalo ungambuza ukuthi uqhuba njani ezifundweni zakhe zeBhayibhili. Ungambuza ngabangakibo langomsebenzi wakhe. Kodwa nanzelela ukuthi awumbuzi imibuzo ezamenza abe lenhloni. Ukuxoxa ngezinto lezi kungenza libe ngabangane futhi lokhu kuzamnceda ukuthi athuthuke aze abhabhathizwe. Nxa umfundi eqhubeka ethuthuka menze abone ukuthi laye uqakathekile ebandleni. Lokhu ungakwenza ngokumnxusa emzini wakho lasemibuthanweni eliba layo labanye abazalwane. (Heb. 13:2) Nxa umfundi weBhayibhili esengummemezeli ungamcela ukuthi ahambe lawe ekutshumayeleni. Umfowethu ohlala eBrazil okuthiwa nguDiego uthi: “Abazalwane abanengi babengicela ukuthi ngiphume labo ekutshumayeleni. Lokhu kwanginceda ukuthi ngibazi kuhle futhi ngafunda okunengi kubo njalo ngasondela kuJehova loJesu.” w21.03 12 ¶15-16

UJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuthi bathande izitha zabo. (Mat. 5:44, 45) Kulula yini ukukwenza lokho? Ngitsho lakancane! Kodwa umoya ongcwele uyasincedisa ukuthi sikwenze. Izithelo zomoya zigoqela uthando, ukubekezela, umusa, ubumnene lokuzibamba. (Gal. 5:22, 23) Ziyasinceda ukuthi siqinisele nxa sizondwa. Abantu abanengi abasasiphikisi ngenxa yokuthi omkabo, abantwababo kumbe omakhelwane babatshengisa ubuntu lobo. Abanengi babo sebeze bengabafowethu labodadewethu. Yikho thandaza ucele umoya ongcwele nxa kukuthwalisa nzima ukuthanda labo abakuzondela ukuthi ukhonza uJehova. (Luk. 11:13) Kanti njalo ungathandabuzi ukuthi ukulalela lokho esikutshelwa nguNkulunkulu kungcono ukwedlula loba yini. (Zaga. 3:5-7) Nxa singatshengisa abanye ukuthi siyabathanda, bangayekela ukusiphikisa, futhi uJehova uzathokoza. Kodwa singenelisa ukuthokoza lanxa abasiphikisayo beqhubeka besizonda. w21.03 23 ¶13; 24 ¶15, 17

Umphrofethi uJoweli wayekhuluma ngokuhlasela kwebutho. (Jow. 2:1, 8, 11) UJehova wathi uzasebenzisa ‘ibutho lakhe elikhulu’ (okutsho amasotsha eBhabhiloni) ukujezisa ama-Israyeli angalaleliyo. (Jow. 2:25) Kuqondile sibili ukuthi kuthiwe ibutho leli livela ‘enyakatho’ ngoba abaseBhabhiloni babezahlasela abako-Israyeli bevela enyakatho. (Jow. 2:20) Ibutho leli lifaniswa lomtshitshi wentethe ohlelekileyo. Ekhuluma ngalo uJoweli uthi: ‘Lowo lalowo uhamba eqonde phambili. Baya ngesiqubu edolobheni. Bayakhwela bangene ezindlini; bangena ngamawindi njengamasela.’ (Jow. 2:8, 9) Kubone ngelihlo lengqondo okwenzakalayo, kugcwele amasotsha yonke indawo. Akulandawo yokucatsha. Kakho ongalibalekela ibutho leBhabhiloni. Njengentethe, abaseBhabhiloni (kumbe amaKhaledi) bahlasela idolobho leJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E. IBhayibhili lithi: ‘Inkosi yaseBhabhiloni ayisindisanga jaha loba ntombi, indoda endala loba oseluphele.’—2 ImiLan. 36:17. w20.04 5 ¶11-12