February

INkosi uHezekhiya yathi isibangwa lezibi yacela ukuthi uJehova ayisilise. Lakanye uJehova wayisilisa. (2 Amakho. 20:​1-6) Kodwa umphostoli uPhawuli wathi ethandaza kuJehova emncenga ukuthi amkhiphe “ameva enyameni,” uJehova kazange alukhiphe uhlupho lolo. (2 Khor. 12:​7-9) INkosi uHerodi yayifuna ukubabulala bobabili umphostoli uJakhobe loPhetro. Lanxa kunjalo, uJakhobe wabulawa kodwa uPhetro yena wasindiswa ngendlela eyisimangaliso. (Imiseb. 12:​1-11) Singazibuza ukuthi, ‘Kungani uJehova wasindisa uPhetro kodwa wangamsindisi uJakhobe?’ IBhayibhili kalisitsheli. Kodwa esingakuthandabuziyo yikuthi uJehova “kakwenzi okungalunganga.” (Dute. 32:4) Ngezinye izikhathi uJehova kaphenduli imithandazo yethu ngendlela esifuna ngayo. Asiyisoli indlela uJehova akhetha ukuphendula ngayo imithandazo yethu ngoba siyathemba ukuthi indlela azaphendula ngayo iqondile njalo itshengisa ukuthi uyasithanda.—Jobe. 33:13. w23.11 21 ¶6

UJakhobe waphefumulelwa ukuthi abhale ukuthi abantu abahlakaniphileyo ‘bazimisele ukulalela.’ Lokhu kutsho ukuthi kumele sibalalele ngenhliziyo yonke labo uJehova abanike amandla. Lanxa kunjalo uJehova kakhangelelanga ukuthi silalele abantu abafuna ukuthi singalandeli imithetho yakhe. (Imiseb. 4:​18-20) Izikhathi ezinengi singakubona kulula ukulalela uJehova kulokulalela abantu. Phela uJehova uhlala esinika imithetho epheleleyo. (Hubo. 19:7) Kodwa njengoba abantu belesono, eyabo imithetho kungaba nzima ukuyilalela. Lanxa kunjalo uBaba wethu osezulwini unike abazali, iziphathamandla kanye labadala ebandleni amandla phezu kwethu. (Zaga. 6:20; 1 Thes. 5:12; 1 Phet. 2:​13, 14) Nxa sibalalela, siyabe silalela uJehova. w23.10 6 ¶2-3

Enye indlela esingaqinisa ngayo ukholo lwethu yikucabangisisa ngamandla kaJehova. Ulawo amandla okugcwalisa konke akuthembisayo. Phela yena unguSomandla. (Jobe. 42:2; Mak. 10:27; Efe. 3:20) Wathembisa u-Abrahama loSara ukuthi babezakuba lendodana lanxa basebegugile. (Gen. 17:​15-17) Waphinda watshela u-Abrahama ukuthi izizukulwane zakhe zazizaphiwa ilizwe leKhenani. Kwakungakhanya angani isithembiso leso ngeke sigcwaliseke njengoba abako-Israyeli ababeyizizukulwane zika-Abrahama basebeleminyaka leminyaka beyizigqili eGibhithe. Kodwa sacina sigcwalisekile. Watshela uMariya owayeyintombi egcweleyo ukuthi wayezakuba lendodana. Lokhu kwakugcwalisa isithembiso uJehova ayesenze kudaladala ensimini yase-Edeni. (Gen. 3:15) Ukucabanga ngezithembiso uNkulunkulu azenzileyo lokuthi uzigcwalise njani kusenza sikholwe sibili ukuthi ulamandla okuletha umhlaba omutsha.—Josh. 23:14; Isaya. 55:​10, 11. w23.04 28 ¶10-12

UJehova wayiphendula imithandazo kaDavida ngoba wamkhulula. (1 Sam. 19:​10, 18-20; 2 Sam. 5:​17-25) Lathi asikuthandabuzi lokhu okwatshiwo nguDavida. (Hubo. 145:18) Kwezinye izikhathi uJehova angaphendula imithandazo yethu ngendlela esiyabe singayikhangelelanga. UPhawuli wacela ukuthi uNkulunkulu akhiphe “ameva enyameni” yakhe. UPhawuli wakhuleka kathathu etshela uNkulunkulu ngohlupho lolu. UJehova wayiphendula yini imithandazo yakhe? Wayiphendula sibili, kodwa kenzanga lokho uPhawuli ayekukhangelele. UJehova kazange alususe uhlupho lwakhe, kodwa wamnika amandla okuthi aqhubeke emkhonza ethembekile. (2 Khor. 12:​7-10) Lathi kwezinye izikhathi imithandazo yethu ingaphendulwa ngendlela ebesingayikhangelelanga. Kodwa uJehova uyakwazi khona kanye esikudingayo lokuthi angasincedisa njani. Phela uyenelisa ukwenza “izinto ezinkulu kakhulu ukwedlula lezo esizicelayo kumbe esizicabangayo.” (Efe. 3:20) Lokhu kutsho ukuthi uJehova angaphendula imithandazo yethu ngesikhathi esingasikhangelelanga kumbe ngendlela esingayicabangeliyo. w23.05 8-9 ¶4-6

Kuhle ukuthi sihlale sicabangisisa ngesithembiso esiseBhayibhilini esokuthi abafileyo bazavuswa. Kungani kumele senze njalo? Ngoba impilo ingaphongutshintsha sizithole sesigulela ukufa kumbe sifelwe ngumuntu esimthandayo singakhangelelanga. (Umtshu. 9:11; Jak. 4:​13, 14) Ithemba lokuthi abantu abafileyo bazavuswa lizasinceda nxa sesehlelwe zinhlupho ezinjalo. (1 Thes. 4:13) IMibhalo isenza singathandabuzi ukuthi uBaba wethu osezulwini usazi mhlophe lokuthi uyasithanda kakhulukazi. (Luk. 12:7) Phela uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu kuyabe kumele abekwazi konke ngathi ukuze aphinde asivuse silobuntu esasilabo futhi sikhumbula izinto ezake zenzakala kithi. UJehova usinike ithuba lokuthi siphile kuze kube nini lanini futhi lanxa singafa uzasivusa. Konke lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uyasithanda kakhulu! Kuyini okwenza sikholwe sibili ukuthi abafileyo bazavuswa? Siyakholwa ngoba sileqiniso lokuthi uJehova uyakufuna sibili ukukwenza lokuthi ulamandla okuthi agcwalise lokho ayabe ekuthembisile. w23.04 8-9 ¶2-4

UJosefa loMariya babencedisana ukuthi bahlale bengabangane bakaJehova. Babekuzwisisa sibili ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuthi bakhonze uJehova bendawonye. (Luk. 2:​22-24; 4:16) Abatshadileyo bangafunda okunengi kakhulu kubo. Lani nxa lilabantwana njengoJosefa loMariya kungaba nzima ukuthi liye emihlanganweni kumbe ukuthi lenze ukukhonza kwemuli. Kungaba nzima lokuthi lithole isikhathi sokutaditsha lokuthandaza libabili. Kodwa lingakhohlwa ukuthi nxa likhonza uJehova ndawonye liyasondela kuye futhi lothando lwenu luyakhula. Yikho qakathekisani izinto eziphathelane lokukhonza ukwedlula loba yini. Nxa lilenhlupho emulini yenu kungaba nzima ukuthi lihlale phansi lenze ukukhonza kwemuli. Manje lingenzani? Qalisani ngokwenza ukukhonza kwemuli okungathathi isikhathi eside futhi lixoxe ngezinto elizikholisayo lobabili. Lokhu kungenza lizwanane futhi libe lesifiso sokwenza izinto eziphathelane lokukhonza lindawonye. w23.05 22 ¶7-8

Ukwesaba uNkulunkulu kwamnceda njani u-Obhadiya? Kwamenza waba ngumuntu othembekileyo, yikho inkosi yamnika umsebenzi wokukhangela indlu yakhe. (Khangela uNehemiya 7:2.) Ukwesaba uNkulunkulu kwenza u-Obhadiya waba lesibindi esikhulu njalo lokhu kwamnceda ukuthi enze okulungileyo. Waphila ngesikhathi kubusa inkosi embi u-Ahabi. (1 Amakho. 16:30) Phezu kwalokho, inkosikazi ka-Ahabi uJezebheli yayikhonza uBhali futhi imzonda kakhulu uJehova okokuthi yaze yazama ukuqeda ukukhonza kweqiniso embusweni wako-Israyeli wasenyakatho. Kanti njalo uJezebheli wabulala abaphrofethi bakaNkulunkulu abanengi. (1 Amakho. 18:4) UJezebheli wathi eqalisa ukuzingela abaphrofethi bakaNkulunkulu ebabulala, u-Obhadiya wathatha abangu-100 wabafihla. ‘Wafaka abangu-50 ebhalwini olulodwa, kwathi abanye abangu-50 wabafaka kolunye ubhalu futhi waqhubeka ebanika ukudla lamanzi.’ (1 Amakho. 18:​13, 14) Aluba wabanjwa, wayezabulawa sibili. Kufanele ukuthi njengomuntu wonke nje, u-Obhadiya wayengakufuni ukufa. Kodwa wayethanda uJehova labantu bakhe ukwedlula impilo yakhe. w23.06 16 ¶9-10

UJehova ulokhu ebakhokhela abantu bakhe njengakudala. Ubakhokhela esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe leNdodana yakhe eyinhloko yebandla. Kodwa bukhona yini ubufakazi obutshengisa ukuthi lalamuhla uJehova uyabasebenzisa abantu ukuthi basikhokhele? Ye bukhona. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngokwenzakala sekwedlule umnyaka ka-1870. UCharles Taze Russell labanye bakhe baqalisa ukuzwisisa ukuthi umnyaka ka-1914 wawuzabe uqakatheke kakhulu eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu. (Dan. 4:​25, 26) Okwenza baphuma lomnyaka lo yikuchwayisisa iziphrofetho eziseBhayibhilini. UJehova wayebakhokhela yini ekuchwayisiseni kwabo? Kusegcekeni sibili ukuthi wayebakhokhela. Izinto ezenzakala emhlabeni ngo-1914 zatshengisa ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu wawusuqalisile ukubusa. Kwaba leMpi Yomhlaba Yokuqala futhi ngemva kwayo kwaba lemikhuhlane emibi, lokuzamazama komhlaba lokuswelakala kokudla. (Luk. 21:​10, 11) Kuyacaca sibili ukuthi uJehova wayesebenzisa amadoda la ayethembekile ukuthi ancedise abantu bakhe. w24.02 22 ¶11

Singabantu bakaJehova futhi siyakwazi ukuthi uyasithanda lokuthi ufuna sikholise impilo. (Rom. 8:​35-39) Asithandabuzi lokuthi ukwenza lokho okutshiwo liBhayibhili kuhlala kusinceda. (Isaya. 48:​17, 18) Manje singenzani nxa singehlelwa zinhlupho ebesingazilindelanga? Ngokwesibonelo, omunye emulini angenza into engasidanisa. Singabe singenelisi ukwenzela uJehova okunengi ngenxa yokuthi siyagula. Singehlelwa ngumonakalo ongasitshiya sigula kumbe singaselalutho. Kumbe singahlukuluzwa ngenxa yokuthi sikhonza uJehova. Nxa singehlelwa yizinto ezinjalo singacina sizibuza imibuzo le: ‘Kungani lokhu kwehlele mina? Kambe ukuthi kulento embi engiyenzileyo? Kambe ukuthi uJehova usengitshiyile yini?’ Wake wazibuza imibuzo enjalo yini? Nxa wake wazibuza imibuzo leyo ungapheli amandla. Zinengi kakhulu inceku zikaJehova ezithembekileyo ezake zazizwa njalo.—Hubo. 22:​1, 2; Hab. 1:​2, 3. w23.04 14 ¶1-2

Nxa sesilingwa ukuthi senze okubi siyaphangisa ukulahla loba yiwuphi umcabango omubi njalo kasenzi loba yini engaphambanisa ubungane bethu loNkulunkulu. UJehova ukhangelele ukuthi ‘simlalele ngenhliziyo yonke.’ (Rom. 6:​17, amabala angaphansi) Ngeke siyitshintshe imithetho yakhe njalo lokho asitshela khona kuyasinceda zikhathi zonke. (Isaya. 48:​17, 18; 1 Khor. 6:​9, 10) USathane wenza ukuthi abantu basethusele kumbe basihlukuluze, efuna ukuthi sicine singasamlaleli uNkulunkulu. Unjengesilwane “esidinga esingamudla,” ufuna ukuqeda ubungane bethu loNkulunkulu. (1 Phet. 5:8) AmaKhristu aphila ngesikhathi sabaphostoli ayesethuselwa, etshaywa futhi ngezinye izikhathi ebulawa ngenxa yokuthi ayezimisele ukuma aqine aqhubeke elalela uJehova. (Imiseb. 5:​27, 28, 40; 7:​54-60) Lalamuhla uSathane uyabangela ukuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu bahlukuluzwe. Ubufakazi balokho siyabubona kubafowethu labodadewethu abaphathwa ngesihluku eRussia lakwamanye amazwe. Kanti njalo izitha zikaNkulunkulu zibathwalise nzima abafowethu labodadewethu ngendlela ezitshiyeneyo. USathane kasebenzisi ukuhlukuluzwa kuphela, uphinde asebenzise ‘lezenzo zobuqili.’—Efe. 6:11. w23.07 15-16 ¶6-9

Kumele ukuthi uzamthanda kakhulu uJehova nxa ungafunda okunengi ngaye eLizwini lakhe. Indlela omthanda ngayo yiyo eyenza uzimisele ukusebenzisa lokho okufundayo. Kanti njalo izimiso zeBhayibhili zikunceda ukuthi wenze izinqumo ezinhle. Uphinda utshintshe indlela obona ngayo izinto lendlela oziphatha ngayo ngoba ufuna ukuthokozisa uNkulunkulu. Uyazama ukulingisela uYihlo osezulwini njengomntwana olingisela umzali wakhe olothando. (Efe. 5:​1, 2) Singazibuza imibuzo le: ‘Sengimthanda kakhulu yini uJehova khathesi nxa ngiqathanisa lendlela engangimthanda ngayo ngiqalisa ukuba ngumKhristu? Kusukela ngibhabhathizwa, indlela engicabanga ngayo lengenza ngayo isihambelana lekaJehova yini, ikakhulu endabeni yokuthanda abafowethu labodadewethu?’ Nxa kuyikuthi “uthando owawulalo kuqala” selupholile ungapheli amandla. Lokho kwake kwenzakala lakumaKhristu akuqala. Kodwa uJesu kazange awalahlele iganga njalo lathi kasoze asikhalale. (Isam. 2:​4, 7) Uyakwazi ukuthi singaluvuselela uthando esasilalo ngesikhathi siqalisa ukufunda iqiniso. w23.07 8 ¶2-3

Umphostoli uPhetro wenza amaphutha amanengi. Okokuqala, uPhetro wazithemba kakhulu wazitshaya isifuba esithi yena wayezaqhubeka ethembekile lanxa abanye abaphostoli babengamlahla uJesu. (Mak. 14:​27-29) Ngemva kwalokho uPhetro wehluleka ukuhlala elindile. (Mak. 14:​32, 37-41) Ixuku labantu lathi selizobopha uJesu, uPhetro wacela ezinyaweni. (Mak. 14:50) Ekucineni waphika kathathu ukuthi uyamazi uJesu waze wafunga esenzela ukuthi bamkholwe. (Mak. 14:​66-71) UPhetro wenzani ngesikhathi enanzelela ukuthi wayeyenze isono esikhulu? Wehluleka ukuzibamba wakhala kabuhlungu. (Mak. 14:72) UJesu kazange amsole uPhetro ngamaphutha ayewenzile kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi wamtshela ukuthi wayezaphiwa imisebenzi eqakathekileyo. (Joh. 21:​15-17) Lanxa uPhetro wayekwazi ukuthi wayeyenze isono esikhulu kazange akhalale, waqhubeka ezama ukwenza okuhle. Ngenxa yani? Kungenxa yokuthi wayeqiniseka ukuthi iNkosi yakhe uJesu kayizange imkhalale. Sifundani? UJehova ufuna singakuthandabuzi ukuthi uyasithanda lokuthi uyasixolela nxa singaphambanisa.—Rom. 8:​38, 39. w24.03 18-19 ¶13-15

Umuntu oziphatha kubi angazizwa eyangeka, azibone engasimuntu walutho kumbe azithwale engakafuni loba adilize imuli yakhe. Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi umuntu uyabe ehlakaniphile nxa ebalekela indlu yowesifazana oyisiwula. Abantu abaziphatha kubi baphambanisa ubungane babo loJehova futhi baphinda bathole lemikhuhlane engenza ukuthi bafe masinyane. (Zaga. 7:23) UZaga 9:18 uphetha esithi: “Izethekeli zakhe zisengcwabeni elitshonayo.” Manje kungani abantu abanengi beqileka baye endlini yowesifazana lo obangela ukuhlupheka? (Zaga. 9:​13-18) Okunye okulinga abantu abanengi yiphonogirafi. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi akulalutho olubi ngokuyibukela. Kodwa iphonogirafi iyabaphambanisa abantu futhi yenza ukuthi oyibukelayo angazihloniphi njalo angabahloniphi abanye. Kanti njalo nxa ungavele uqalise ukuyibukela kunzima ukuyiyekela. Imifanekiso yokuziphatha okubi ilamandla kakhulu. Kunzima ukuthi umuntu ayikhiphe engqondweni. Kanti njalo okubi kakhulu yikuthi iphonogirafi kayibulali izifiso ezimbi kodwa iyazikhwezela. (Kol. 3:5; Jak. 1:​14, 15) Izikhathi ezinengi umuntu obukela iphonogirafi ucina eseziphathe kubi. w23.06 23 ¶10-11

Lanxa amanye amazwe engaphikisana lombuso we-United States leBritain, awasoze awunqobe futhi awasoze angene endaweni yawo. Okwenza sitsho njalo yikuthi “ilitshe” elimela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu lizatshaya inyawo zesithombe liziphahlaze. Inyawo lezi zimela umbuso we-United States leBritain. (Dan. 2:​34, 35, 44, 45) Uyakholwa yini ukuthi isiphrofetho sikaDanyeli esimayelana lenyawo ezenziwe ngensimbi lebumba siliqiniso? Nxa ukukholwa kuzakhanya ngendlela ophila ngayo. Awusoze utshone ugijimisana lemali kumbe ezinye izinto ezisemhlabeni lo ngoba uyabe ukwazi ukuthi sekuseduze ukuthi zitshabalaliswe. (Luk. 12:​16-21; 1 Joh. 2:​15-17) Ukuzwisisa isiphrofetho lesi kuzakunceda lokuthi ubone ukuqakatheka komsebenzi wokutshumayela lowokufundisa. (Mat. 6:33; 28:​18-20) Nxa ungataditsha isiphrofetho lesi kungaba kuhle ukuthi uzibuze umbuzo lo, ‘Engikhetha ukukwenza empilweni yami kuyatshengisa yini ukuthi ngiyakholwa ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu usuzasusa bonke ohulumende abakhona emhlabeni?’ w23.08 11 ¶13-14

Thobeka uvume ukuthi kwezinye izikhathi ngeke wenelise ukwenza konke ofuna ukukwenza ngenxa yeminyaka yakho kumbe impilakahle yakho loba ezinye izimo nje. Lingisela uBhazilayi, wale ukwenza eminye imisebenzi ebandleni nxa kuyikuthi iminyaka yakho loba impilakahle yakho ingenza kube nzima ukuthi uyenze. (2 Sam. 19:​35, 36) NjengoMosi, vuma ukuncediswa njalo unike abanye eminye imisebenzi ukuze ingakwandeli. (Eks. 18:​21, 22) Nxa ungathobeka uvume ukuthi kukhona ongenelisi ukukwenza awusoze uzithwalise nzima ngezinto ezizakusinda. Kanti njalo akumelanga sizisole ngezinqumo ezimbi ezenziwe ngabanye. Asenelisi ukwenzela abanye izinqumo njalo asenelisi ukubavikela ukuthi bangehlelwa yizinto ezimbi nxa bangakhetha kubi. Ngokwesibonelo nxa umntwana angakhetha ukuyekela ukukhonza uJehova, abazali bezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu kakhulu. Kodwa nxa abazali bangazisola ngenxa yesinqumo esibi esiyabe senziwe ngumntanabo bayabe bezithwalisa umthwalo osindayo. UJehova kakhangelelanga ukuthi bathwale umthwalo lo. w23.08 29 ¶11-12

Ngezinye izikhathi uSamsoni wayewenza amaphutha ngoba laye wayelesono njengathi. Wake wenza esinye isinqumo esamthela emanyaleni. Wayeke wathembisana lomunye owesifazana ongumFilisti kodwa “nguJehova owayefuna enze njalo, edinga ithuba lokulwa lamaFilisti.” Ngesinye isikhathi uSamsoni waya endlini yesifebe esasihlala edolobheni lamaFilisti okuthiwa yiGaza. UJehova wamnika amandla okuthi athwale iminyango yegedi ledolobho lelo, idolobho lasala lingavikelekanga. (Abahlu. 14:​1-4; 16:​1-3) Kodwa wathi esesebenze okwesikhathi engumahluleli “wathandana lowesifazana owayehlala esigodini seSorekhi okwakuthiwa nguDelila.” Kungenzeka ukuthi uDelila wayengasimFilisti kodwa wayengum-Israyeli. UDelila waphiwa inkalakatha yemali ngamaFilisti ngenxa yokuthengisa uSamsoni. w23.09 5 ¶12-13

Ukuzwisisa kungasinceda ukuthi sibe mnene. Umuntu ozwisisayo uyazibamba nxa abanye bephikisa lokho akukholwayo. Izikhathi ezinengi nxa abantu besibuza imibuzo abasitsheli izizatho ezenza basibuze. Yikho singakaphenduli, kuhle ukuzikhumbuza ukuthi asikwazi okungabe kwenze umuntu wabuza umbuzo. (Zaga. 16:23) Ngesinye isikhathi amadoda ako-Efrayimi alanda uGidiyoni ezondile ambuza ukuthi kungani engawabizanga ngesikhathi esiyakulwa lezitha zako-Israyeli. Kungenzakala ukuthi okwenza azonda yikuthi ayebona angathi akhangelelwe phansi. Manje uGidiyoni wenzani? Watshengisa ukuthi ungumuntu ozwisisayo. Wazama ukuzwisisa ukuthi kungani babezondile wasebaphendula kuhle. Indaba le yaphetha njani? Wathi esebaphendule kuhle, “ulaka lwabo lwehla.”—Abahlu. 8:​1-3. w23.09 16 ¶8-9

Indlela uJehova loJesu abathandana ngayo ngeke iqathaniswe laloba nguphi ubaba lendodana yakhe. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi kwamzwisa ubuhlungu kakhulu uJehova ukubona iNdodana yakhe ihlukuluzwa, iphikwa futhi ilingwa. Loba nguphi umzali owake wafelwa ngumntanakhe uyakwazi ukuthi kubuhlungu njani ukufelwa ngumntwana. Siyakholwa sibili ukuthi abantu bazavuswa kodwa siyabuzwa ubuhlungu nxa singafelwa ngumuntu esimthandayo. Lokhu kuyasinceda sizwisise ukuthi uJehova wayengabe esizwa njani ngesikhathi ebona iNdodana yakhe ihlupheka futhi isifa ngo-33 C.E. (Mat. 3:17) Kusukela khathesi kuze kuyefika ilanga leSikhumbuzo zama ukutaditsha okunengi ngenhlawulo ngesikhathi utaditsha uwedwa kumbe ekukhonzeni kwemuli. Kanti njalo ngelanga leSikhumbuzo ungakhohlwa ukubukela uhlelo oluqakathekileyo loKukhonza Kwekuseni. Nxa singalungisa inhliziyo zethu singakangeni iSikhumbuzo sizenelisa ukuncedisa abanye ukuthi babe khona ukuze bafunde okunengi.—Ezra. 7:10. w24.01 11 ¶10-12

Eyinye indlela esingathola ngayo amandla avela kuJehova yikuthandaza kuye. UJehova angaphendula imithandazo yethu ngokusinika “amandla amakhulu futhi angajayelekanga.” (2 Khor. 4:7) Okunye okungasinceda sithole amandla yikubala iLizwi likaNkulunkulu lokucabangisisa ngalokho elikutshoyo. (Hubo. 86:11) Amazwi kaJehova aseBhayibhilini ‘alamandla.’ (Heb. 4:12) Nxa ungathandaza kuJehova njalo ubale iLizwi lakhe uzathola amandla azakunceda ukuthi uqinisele, uhlale uthokoza futhi wenze umsebenzi owuphiweyo lanxa ungakhanya angathi unzima. Asixoxeni ngokuthi uJehova wamqinisa njani umphrofethi uJona. UJona wesaba ukuya lapho uJehova ayemthume khona. Ngenxa yalokho yena labanye ababesemkhunjini baphosa babulawa yisiphepho esikhulu esaqubuka elwandle. Ababetshayela umkhumbi bathi sebemjikele elwandle waginywa yinhlanzi enkulu, wazithola esesemnyameni esiswini senhlanzi. UJona wenzani ukuze athole amandla ngesikhathi esesiswini senhlanzi? Wathandaza kuJehova.—Jona. 2:​1, 2, 7 w23.10 13 ¶4-6

Lanxa incwadi zomphostoli uPhetro wayezibhalela amaKhristu okuqala, uJehova wenza ukuthi zibe seLizwini lakhe. Yikho lathi kungasinceda lokho esikufunda encwadini zakhe. (Rom. 15:4) Siphila labantu abangazikholwayo iziphrofetho eziseBhayibhilini. Abasiphikisayo bangasihleka ngoba sekulesikhathi eside silindele ukuphela. Abantu abachothozayo bangathi vele akusoze kwafika. (2 Phet. 3:​3, 4) Ukuzwa umuntu esimtshumayezayo, loba esisebenza laye kumbe omunye emulini ekhuluma izinto ezinjalo kungaxegisa ukholo lwethu. Kodwa uPhetro wasitshela lokho okungasinceda. Abanye bangabona angani uJehova uyaphuza ukuqeda umumo lo wezinto onzima. Amazwi kaPhetro angasinceda ukuthi sibone izinto ngendlela eyiyo ngoba asikhumbuza ukuthi indlela uJehova abona ngayo isikhathi itshiyene kakhulu lendlela abantu ababona ngayo. (2 Phet. 3:​8, 9) Iminyaka eyinkulungwane ifana lelanga elilodwa kuJehova. UJehova uyabekezela njalo kafisi ukuthi loba ngubani abhujiswe. Kodwa umumo lo wezinto uzaphela nxa usuku lwakhe lungafika. w23.09 26-27 ¶2-5

Kungani umphostoli uPhawuli wabhala incwadi eyayisiya kumaKhristu angamaHebheru ayeseJudiya? Mhlawumbe ngenxa yezizatho ezimbili eziqakathekileyo. Esokuqala, wayefuna ukuwakhuthaza. Phela abanengi babo babelandela ukholo lwesiJuda bengakabi ngamaKhristu. Kumele ukuthi abakhokheli benkolo yesiJuda babebachothoza sebengamaKhristu. Ngenxa yani? Ngenxa yokuthi amaKhristu ayengela thempeli lapho ayengakhonzela khona, ayengela alithare lapho ayenganikela khona imihlatshelo kuNkulunkulu njalo ayengela baphristi ayebafundisa. Okwakusenziwa ngabakhokheli besiJuda kwakungabadanisa abafundi bakaKhristu futhi kuxegise lokholo lwabo. (Heb. 3:​12, 14) Kungenzeka ukuthi abanye babeke bacabange ukuthi babuyele okholweni lwesiJuda. Okwesibili, uPhawuli wathi amaKhristu lawo angamaHebheru ayengazimiselanga ukusebenza nzima ukuze azwisise izinto ezintsha kumbe ezijulileyo, okutsho “ukudla okuqinileyo” okutholakala eLizwini likaNkulunkulu. (Heb. 5:​11-14) Kanti njalo kukhanya abanye babo babelokhu besabambelele eMthethweni kaMosi. w23.10 24-25 ¶3-4

Abanye abesifazana bakhetha ukuhlala bengatshadanga. (Mat. 19:​10-12) Qiniseka ukuthi uJehova loJesu kababakhangeleli phansi odadewethu abangatshadanga. Emhlabeni wonke odadewethu abangatshadanga bayisibonelo esihle emabandleni abo. Odadewethu laba balothando njalo balendaba labanye. Lokhu kwenza babe ngomama labosisi babanengi ebandleni. (Mak. 10:​29, 30) Abanye baba senkonzweni yesikhathi sonke. Abesifazana abangamaKhristu yibo abenza okunengi kakhulu emsebenzini wokutshumayela emhlabeni wonke. (Hubo. 68:11) Ungahlela yini izimo zakho ukuze lawe ungene enkonzweni yesikhathi sonke? Ungaba liphayona kumbe usebenze ekwakhiweni kwezakhiwo zenhlanganiso loba uyesebenza eBhetheli. Thandaza ngalokho ofuna ukukwenza. Xoxa labanye abenza lokho ofisa ukukwenza ubabuze ukuthi ungenzani ukuze ufanele ukwenza lowomsebenzi. Ngemva kwalokho yenza uhlelo oluzakunceda uphumelele ukwenza lokho okufisayo. Nxa ungaphumelela ukuba senkonzweni yesikhathi sonke uzenelisa ukwenzela uJehova okunengi njalo uzathokoza. w23.12 22 ¶16-17

Njengoba ukuhlupheka okukhulu kusondela, kumele sinanzelele ukuthi khathesi sekuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi silalele umlayo wokuthi sitshumayele. Kodwa kungaba nzima ukuthi siqhubeke siwuqakathekisa umsebenzi lo nxa siphikiswa enkonzweni yethu kumbe nxa silohlupho lwemali. Manje kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi siqhubeke siqakathekisa umsebenzi lo ukwedlula zonke izinto? Yikuhlala siqiniseka ukuthi “uJehova wamabutho” uzasisekela. Uzahlala esincedisa nxa singaqakathekisa imisebenzi yoMbuso ukwedlula lokho esikufunayo. Kambe kuyini esingakwesaba nxa esincedisa? (Hag. 2:4) UJehova ufuna siwuqakathekise kakhulu umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi ngoba uzakwenza abantu bathole ukuphila. UHagayi wakhuthaza abantu bakaJehova ukuthi baphinde baqalise ukwenza umsebenzi ongcwele, owokwakha kutsha ithempeli. UJehova wathembisa ukuthi ‘wayezababusisa’ nxa bangawenza umsebenzi. (Hag. 2:​18, 19) Lathi uJehova kasoze ayekele ukusibusisa nxa singaqakathekisa ukwenza umsebenzi asiphe wona. w23.11 16 ¶8; 17 ¶11

Encwadini ayibhalela amaKhristu ayehlala eRoma, umphostoli uPhawuli wathi bonke abantu bayizoni. Nxa kunjalo, pho kuyini okungenza uNkulunkulu athokoze ngathi aze athi silungile kumbe kasilacala? UPhawuli wakhuluma ngalokho okwenziwa ngu-Abrahama ukuze ancede amaKhristu abone lokho okumele akwenze ukuze kuthiwe alungile. Ngesikhathi u-Abrahama ehlala elizweni leKhenani, uJehova wathi ulungile. Kungani uJehova watsho njalo? Kambe yikuthi u-Abrahama wayesenza konke okutshiwo nguMthetho kaMosi? Hatshi akunjalo. (Rom. 4:13) UMthetho kaMosi wanikwa isizwe sako-Israyeli ngemva kweminyaka edlula 400 uNkulunkulu ethe u-Abrahama ulungile. Manje kuyini okwenza uNkulunkulu wathi u-Abrahama ulungile? UJehova waba lomusa omkhulu ku-Abrahama wasesithi ulungile ngenxa yokuthi wayelokholo.—Rom. 4:​2-4. w23.12 3 ¶4-5

Ngobusuku umphrofethi uNathani atshela iNkosi uDavida amazwi asembhalweni walamuhla, uJehova watshela uNathani ukuthi uDavida kayisuye owayezamakhela ithempeli. (1 Imilan. 17:​3, 4, 11, 12) Kwamphatha njani uDavida lokhu? Kazange akhalale kodwa wahle waqalisa ukuqoqa izimali kanye lezinto ezazizasetshenziswa yindodana yakhe uSolomoni ekwakheni ithempeli. (1 Imilan. 29:​1-5) UDavida wathi esanda kutshelwa ukuthi kayisuye owayezakwakha ithempeli, uJehova wenza laye isivumelwano. Wamthembisa ukuthi omunye wosendo lwakhe wayezabusa kuze kube nini lanini. (2 Sam. 7:16) Akucabange ukuthi uDavida uzathokoza njani emhlabeni omutsha ngesikhathi sokubusa kukaJesu kweminyaka eyinkulungwane esesizwa ukuthi iNkosi le yavela kusendo lwakhe! Indaba le isinceda sibone ukuthi lanxa singeke senelise ukwenza konke ebesingabe sifisa ukukwenzela uJehova, yena angasibusisa ngendlela ebesingayikhangelelanga. w23.04 16 ¶8-10

Ungathola ukuthi kulezinye ingxenye zeMibhalo ezingakududuza kakhulu nxa usesaba. Ngokwesibonelo ungathola amavesi angakukhuthaza ebhukwini likaJobe, kumaHubo, kuZaga kanye lasemazwini kaJesu atholakala kuMathewu isahluko 6. Nxa ungathandaza kuJehova futhi ubale iLizwi lakhe uzayithola induduzo evela kuye. Asithandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzahlala esisekela ngezikhathi ezinzima. Kasoze asitshiye sodwa. (Hubo. 23:4) UJehova uthembisa ukuthi uzasivikela, asenze sihlaliseke, asisekele njalo asiduduze. U-Isaya 26:3 uthi ngoJehova: “Labo abathembela kuwe ngokupheleleyo uzabagcina, uzabanika ukuthula okungapheliyo, ngenxa yokuthi bayakuthemba.” Yikho thembela kuJehova futhi wenze konke okusemandleni akho ukuthi uthole uncedo lwakhe. Nxa ungenza njalo uzakuba lamandla lanxa uphakathi kobunzima. w24.01 25 ¶16-17

Amazwi la aphefumulelweyo asembhalweni ophezulu ayagcwaliseka lamuhla. Nansi esinye isiphrofetho esiduduzayo esigcwaliseka kithi lamuhla: ‘Bonke abantwabakho bazafundiswa nguJehova, lokuthula kwabantwabakho kuzakuba kukhulu. Uzamiswa uqine ekulungeni. Awusoze wesabe lutho njalo awusoze ube lesizatho sokwethuka, ngoba akulalutho olwesabekayo oluzasondela kuwe.’ (Isaya. 54:​13, 14) ‘Lonkulunkulu womumo lo wezinto’ uSathane, kalamandla okumisa umsebenzi wokufundisa owenziwa ngabantu bakaJehova. (2 Khor. 4:4) Ukukhonza kweqiniso sekuvuselelwe futhi akusoze kuphinde kuphanjaniswe, kuzahlala kukhona kuze kube nini lanini. Akulasikhali esilungiselwe ukusihlasela esizaphumelela! w24.02 4 ¶10

Isifungo sethu sokuzinikela kuJehova siyasiqakathekisa kakhulu. Lokho kutsho ukuthi kumele sibe leqiniso lokuthi izinqumo zethu lalokho esikwenzayo ezindabeni zezimuli akuphambanisi isifungo sethu. Siyenza kuhle yonke imisebenzi iMibhalo ethi kumele siyenze ezimulini zethu. Lanxa kunjalo asiqali ukuqakathekisa lokho okufunwa ngamalunga ezimuli zethu ukwedlula lokho okufunwa nguJehova. (Mat. 10:​35, 36; 1 Thim. 5:8) Kwezinye izikhathi kuyabe kumele senze izinqumo ezithokozisa uJehova lanxa lokho kuzatshiya izihlobo zethu zizondile. UJehova nguye owenza kwaba lezimuli futhi ufuna zithokoze. (Efe. 3:​14, 15) Nxa sifuna ukuthokoza kumele senze izinto ngendlela uJehova afuna senze ngayo. Ungathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova ukubona kuligugu konke ukuzidela okwenzayo ukuze umkhonze ngapha unakekela imuli yakho futhi uyiphatha ngendlela etshengisa ukuthi uyayithanda lokuthi uyayihlonipha.—Rom. 12:10. w24.02 18 ¶11, 13