April

Banengi abantu okukhulunywa ngabo eBhayibhilini abahlangana lenhlupho ababengazilindelanga. Ake sixoxe ngoJakhobe. Uyise wamtshela ukuthi aye kuLabhani ukuze athathe omunye wamadodakazi akhe. Phela uLabhani wayekhonza uJehova. UJakhobe wakwenza lokhu futhi wayengathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova wayezambusisa. (Gen. 28:​1-4) UJakhobe waya eKhenani emzini kaLabhani owayelamadodakazi amabili uLeya loRasheli. UJakhobe wabona indodakazi encane kaLabhani uRasheli, yamthatha umoya, wasevuma ukuthi asebenzele uyise okweminyaka eyisikhombisa ukuze amthathe abe ngumkakhe. (Gen. 29:18) Kodwa akusahambanga ngendlela uJakhobe ayeyikhangelele. ULabhani waqila uJakhobe ngokumnika indodakazi yakhe endala uLeya. ULabhani watshela uJakhobe ukuthi nxa wayefuna uRasheli kwakuzamele asebenze eminye iminyaka eyisikhombisa, wasemnika uRasheli ngemva kweviki eyodwa. (Gen. 29:​26, 27) ULabhani waphinda waqila uJakhobe lasendabeni zebhizimusi. Wamqila okweminyaka engu-20!—Gen. 31:​41, 42. w23.04 15 ¶5

Ngubani esingamcela ukuthi asiduduze futhi asicebise? Siyazi mhlophe impendulo yombuzo lo. Siyenelisa ukuthandaza kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngoba usinxusa ukuthi senze njalo. Uze athi: “Thandazani kokuphela.” (1 Thes. 5:17) Sikhululekile ukuthandaza kuye simcela ukuthi asincedise kukho konke esikwenzayo. (Zaga. 3:​5, 6) UJehova ufuna sithandaze kuye kanengi ngenxa yokuthi uhlala ekulungele ukusilalela. UJesu wayekwazi ukuthi uJehova uyayiqakathekisa kakhulu imithandazo yabantu bakhe. Engakabuyi emhlabeni wayebona indlela uYise ayephendula ngayo imithandazo yamadoda labesifazana ababethembekile. Ngokwesibonelo uJesu wambona uYise ephendula imithandazo kaHana, ekaDavida, leka-Elija leyezinye izinceku zakhe. (1 Sam. 1:​10, 11, 20; 1 Amakho. 19:​4-6; Hubo. 32:5) Lokhu yikho okwenza uJesu wafundisa abafundi bakhe ukuthi bathandaze kanengi lokuthi bangathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uyabalalela.—Mat. 7:​7-11. w23.05 2 ¶1, 3

UMphristi Omkhulu uJehoyada wayemesaba uJehova. Ukwesaba kwakhe uJehova kwacaca ngesikhathi indodakazi kaJezebheli u-Athaliya ihluthuna ubukhosi koJuda. U-Athaliya wayelolunya futhi ekufuna phansi phezulu ukubusa. Yikho waze wazama ukubulala bonke abosendo lwesikhosini lanxa kwakungabazukulu bakhe! (2 Imilan. 22:​10, 11) Kodwa uJehowashi, omunye wabantwana benkosi wasinda ngoba uJehoshabhethi umkaJehoyada wamthatha. Yena lomkakhe bamfihla basebemondla. Abakwenzayo kwanceda ukuthi usendo lwamakhosi emuli kaDavida lungatshabalali. UJehoyada wayeqotho kuJehova yikho engazange amesabe u-Athaliya. UJehoyada waphinda watshengisa ukuthi uqotho kuJehova ngesikhathi uJehowashi eseleminyaka eyisikhombisa. Wabumba icebo lokuthi uJehowashi abe yinkosi futhi nxa lalingaphumelela kwakuzabe sekubusa umuntu wosendo lukaDavida. Kodwa uJehoyada wayengabulawa nxa icebo lelo lingasaphumelelanga. Okuhle yikuthi uJehova walibusisa icebo lelo laphumelela. w23.06 17 ¶12-13

INkosi uNebhukhadinezari yayingacabanga ukuthi uDanyeli usevukela ibisimbulala kodwa uDanyeli waba lesibindi wayichasisela iphupho layo. Kuyini okungabe kwanceda uDanyeli ukuthi abe yindoda elesibindi? Kufanele ukuthi esakhula wafunda okunengi kubazali bakhe. (Dute. 6:​6-9) UDanyeli wayewazi kuhle uMthetho. Wayengazi iMithetho Elitshumi kuphela lokunye okulutshwana nje okwakusemthethweni kodwa wayekwazi lezinto okwakumele zidliwe ngama-Israyeli lalezo okwakungamelanga azidle. (Levi. 11:​4-8; Dan. 1:​8, 11-13) UDanyeli wafunda lembali yabantu bakaNkulunkulu futhi wayekwazi ukuthi kuyini okwakusenzakala kubo nxa babeyekela ukulalela imithetho kaJehova. (Dan. 9:​10, 11) Okwenzakala empilweni kaDanyeli kwamenza wangathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova lezingilosi zakhe ezilamandla babemsekela.—Dan. 2:​19-24; 10:​12, 18, 19. w23.08 3 ¶5-6

URabheka wayekhaliphile futhi esukumela phezulu ukuze enze okuqondileyo. (Gen. 24:58; 27:​5-17) Kanti njalo wayehlonipha futhi ezehlisa. (Gen. 24:​17, 18, 65) Nxa ungathobeka njengoRabheka njalo usekele labo uJehova ababeke ukuthi bakhokhele uzakuba yisibonelo esihle kubo bonke emulini yakho lasebandleni. Wonke amaKhristu afuna ukuthuthuka kumele athobeke. U-Esta wayethembekile kuNkulunkulu futhi wayezithoba. Lokhu kwamnceda ukuthi angazikhukhumezi lalapho eseyindlovukazi. Walalela lokho uModekhayi amtshela khona futhi wakwenza. (Esta. 2:​10, 20, 22) Lathi singalingisela u-Esta ngokucela ukuthi abanye basicebise besesisenza lokho abasitshela khona. (Tit. 2:​3-5) Kulokunye u-Esta akwenzayo okwatshengisa ukuthi wayethobekile. Lanxa “wayelitshatshazi futhi elomzimba omuhle” kazange adinge ukubukwa ngabantu.—Esta. 2:​7, 15. w23.12 19-20 ¶6-8

UJehova kafuni ukuthi sizithwalise umthwalo onzima ngokuhlala sizithonisisa. Nxa sasivuma isono sethu saphenduka futhi senza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuthi singasiphindi, singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova usesithethelele. (Imiseb. 3:19) Nxa sesikwenzile konke lokhu, uJehova kafuni ukuthi siqhubeke sizithonisisa. Uyakwazi ukuthi ukuhlala sizithonisisa kungasiqeda amandla. (Hubo. 31:10) Ukuhlala sidanile kungenza sicine sikhalala siphume emncintiswaneni wokuphila. (2 Khor. 2:7) Nxa ulohlupho lokuhlala uzithonisisa hlala ucabanga ngokuthi uNkulunkulu “uyathethelela sibili.” (Hubo. 130:4) Nxa esebathethelele labo abaphenduke ngenhliziyo yonke ubathembisa ukuthi ‘kasoze abe esasikhumbula isono sabo.’ (Jer. 31:34) Lokhu kutsho ukuthi izono esazenza kudala uJehova wasithethelela zona kasoze aphinde azikhumbule. Ungaqhubeki uzithonisisa ngenxa yokuthi awusenelisi ukwenza eminye imisebenzi yenkonzo ngenxa yezono owazenza kudala. UJehova kaqhubeki ecabanga ngezono owazenzayo, ngakho lawe ungaqhubeki ucabanga ngazo. w23.08 30-31 ¶14-15

Ngesikhathi somkhuhlane we-COVID-19, oFakazi bakaJehova ababelalela lokho esasikutshelwa yinhlanganiso yethu kabazange bakhathazeke njengalabo ababelalela izindaba ezingamanga. (Mat. 24:45) Kumele sihlale sicabanga “izinto eziqakatheke kakhulu.” (Flp. 1:​9, 10) Izinto ezingasiphambanisa zingasithathela isikhathi sethu esinengi kanye lamandla ebesingawasebenzisa ezintweni eziluncedo kakhulu. Izinto ezijayelekileyo empilweni ezinjengokudla, lokunatha, lokuzilibazisa kanye lomsebenzi wethu zingasiphambanisa nxa singazenza zibe ngeziqakatheke kakhulu empilweni. (Luk. 21:​34, 35) Nsuku zonke sizwa izindaba ezimayelana labantu abavukelayo kanye lezimpikiswano zezombusazwe. Akumelanga sivume ukuthi izinto lezi zisiphambanise ngoba lathi singacina sesisekela uhlangothi oluthile ezinhliziyweni zethu. USathane usebenzisa izindlela ezitshiyeneyo ukuze enze kube nzima ukuthi sizimisele ukwenza okuqondileyo. w23.07 16-17 ¶12-13

ISikhumbuzo sokufa kukaJesu lilanga eliqakatheke kakhulu ebantwini bakaNkulunkulu. Yilo lodwa ilanga uJesu atshela abalandeli bakhe ukuthi balinanze. (Luk. 22:​19, 20) Siyasikhumbuza izindlela esingatshengisa ngazo ukuthi siyawubonga umhlatshelo kaJesu. (2 Khor. 5:​14, 15) Siyasinika lethuba lokuthi “sikhuthazane” labafowethu labodadewethu. (Rom. 1:12) Kanti njalo abanye abanengi abayabe benxusiwe bathintwa inhliziyo yilokho abakuzwayo labakubonayo besebefisa ukufunda iBhayibhili. Cabanga ngokuthi iSikhumbuzo sitshengisa njani ukuthi simanyene labafowethu labodadewethu emhlabeni wonke. Lezi ngezinye izizatho ezenza iSikhumbuzo siqakatheke kakhulu kithi. w24.01 8 ¶1-3

Ukuhlala sicabangisisa ngalokho uJehova loJesu abasenzela khona kuzasinceda sikuzwisise kakhulu ukuthi bathanda munye ngamunye wethu. (Gal. 2:20) Inhlawulo yisipho esitshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyasithanda. UJehova watshengisa ukuthi uyasithanda ngokunikela ngoJesu, iNdodana yakhe eligugu kakhulu. Wavuma ukuthi iNdodana yakhe ihlupheke njalo ife ngenxa yethu. UJehova kafihli indlela azizwa ngayo kodwa uyasitshengisa ukuthi uyasithanda. (Jer. 31:3) Wasidonsela kuye ngoba uyasithanda. (Khangela loDutheronomi 7:​7, 8.) Akulalutho loba umuntu ongasehlukanisa lothando lwakhe. (Rom. 8:​38, 39) Uthando lolu lukwenza uzwe njani? w24.01 28 ¶10-11

AmaKhristu agcotshiweyo ayaliqakathekisa ithemba lokuya ezulwini. Omunye wabo kwakungumfowethu uFrederick Franz. Wathi: “Esikuthembayo kuzakwenzakala sibili futhi bonke abangu-144 000 bazakuthola lokho esikuthenjiswa nguNkulunkulu. Kanti njalo umvuzo lo uzabe ungcono kakhulu ukwedlula loba yini esingayicabanga.” Ngo-1991 wathi: ‘Lokhu siliqakathekisa kakhulu ithemba lethu futhi nxa isikhathi silokhu sidlula sililindele, siyabe silokhu singezelela indlela esiliqakathekisa ngayo. Sizimisele ukuqhubeka sililindele ithemba lethu. Khathesi ithemba leli ligxilile enhliziyweni yami ukwedlula loba nini.’ Kungelani lokuthi sikhangelele ukuphila phakade ezulwini loba khonapha emhlabeni, sonke silethemba elikhazimulayo elisenza sithokoze. Kanti njalo ithemba lethu alisoze lisidanise. w23.12 9 ¶6; 10 ¶8

Phandle komnyango wethabanikeli kwakule-alithare lekhopha lapho okwakusenziwa khona imihlatshelo yezinyamazana eyayinikelwa kuJehova. (Eks. 27:​1, 2; 40:29) Lanxa kunjalo imihlatshelo leyo yayingenzi ukuthi abantu bathethelelwe izono zabo ngokupheleleyo. (Heb. 10:​1-3) Imihlatshelo yezinyamazana eyayihlala isenziwa ethabanikeli yayimela umhlatshelo owodwa owawuzakwenza ukuthi izono zabantu zithethelelwe ngokupheleleyo. UJesu wayekwazi ukuthi uJehova wayemthume emhlabeni ukuthi azonikela ngokuphila kwakhe ukuze kube ngumhlatshelo wenhlawulo yabantu. (Mat. 20:28) Yikho ngesikhathi ebhabhathizwa, watshengisa ukuthi uzimisele ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. (Joh. 6:38; Gal. 1:4) Impilo kaJesu yanikelwa “kanye kuphela” ukuze kuhlawulelwe izono zabantu bonke abalokholo kuye.—Heb. 10:​5-7, 10. w23.10 26-27 ¶10-11

Akulalutho esingalwenza ukuze sizihlenge esonweni lasekufeni. (Hubo. 49:​7, 8) Yikho uJehova wahlela ukuthi uJesu anikele ngempilo yakhe ngenxa yethu. UJehova loJesu bazidela kakhulu ukuze benze lokhu. Nxa singahlala sicabangisisa ngalokho uJehova loJesu abakwenzayo ukuze basihlawulele sizayiqakathekisa kakhulu inhlawulo. U-Adamu wathi esewonile, yena labantwabakhe babengaselathemba lokuphila phakade. Yikho uJesu wanikela ngempilo yakhe epheleleyo ukuze asihlenge besesisiba lethemba lokuphila okungapheliyo elaselilahlwe ngu-Adamu. Ngesikhathi esemhlabeni uJesu ‘kenzanga sono, lobuqili abutholakalanga emlonyeni wakhe.’ (1 Phet. 2:22) Ngesikhathi uJesu esifa wayephelele njengoba nje lo-Adamu wayenjalo engakawoni yikho wayesenelisa ukunikela ngempilo yakhe ukuze asihlenge.—1 Khor. 15:45; 1 Thim. 2:6. w24.01 10 ¶5-6

UJesu wathi esevusiwe wangena eNgcwelengcwele yethempeli likaJehova. Khathesi sekucaca ukuthi uhlelo lukaJehova lokukhonza kweqiniso olusekelwe emhlatshelweni wenhlawulo futhi olukhokhelwa nguMphristi Omkhulu uJesu Khristu lungcono kakhulu. Umphristi omkhulu wako-Israyeli wayengena eNgcwelengcwele eyayenziwe ngabantu ephethe igazi lemihlatshelo yezinyamazana kodwa uJesu wangena “ezulwini ngokwalo,” indawo engcwele kulazo zonke ukuze ame phambi kukaJehova. Esesezulwini wethula umhlatshelo wakhe ayewenze ngempilo yakhe yasemhlabeni “ukuze asuse isono ngomhlatshelo wakhe.” (Heb. 9:​24-26) Sonke singenelisa ukukhonza uJehova ethempelini lakhe kungelani lokuthi ithemba lethu ngelasezulwini kumbe ngelasemhlabeni. w23.10 28 ¶13-14

Cabanga ngalokho uJesu asenzela khona khathesi esezulwini njengoba eyiNkosi yethu futhi enguMphristi Omkhulu olozwelo. Ngaye singathandaza sisondele kuNkulunkulu “esihlalweni sobukhosi somusa omkhulu” sicela ukuthi asincedise “ngesikhathi esifaneleyo” lokuthi abe lesihawu kithi. (Heb. 4:​14, 15) Nsuku zonke kumele sihlale sicabanga ngalokho uJehova loJesu abasenzela khona. Uthando abasitshengisa lona kumele lusifuqe ukuthi sikhuthale ekukhonzeni uJehova. (2 Khor. 5:​14, 15) Eyinye indlela esingatshengisa ngayo ukuthi siyabonga yikuncedisa abanye ukuthi babe ngoFakazi bakaJehova futhi babe ngabafundi bakaJesu. (Mat. 28:​19, 20) Lokhu yikho kanye umphostoli uPhawuli akwenzayo. Wayekwazi ukuthi intando kaJehova yikuthi “abantu bemihlobo yonke basindiswe njalo bathole ulwazi oluqondileyo lweqiniso.”—1 Thim. 2:​3, 4. w23.10 22-23 ¶13-14

Abanengi bethu sijayele ukubalela abantu esibatshumayezayo amavesi la ukuze sibaduduze futhi sibatshele lokuthi impilo izabe injani ePharadayisi. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sincedise abanye ukuthi bangathandabuzi ukuthi izithembiso okukhulunywa ngazo kuSambulo 21:​3, 4 zizagcwaliseka? Thina kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi singathandabuzi? UJehova kazange acine ngokusithembisa kuphela kodwa wasinika lezizatho ezingenza sithembe ukuthi uzakwenza lokho asithembisa khona. Emavesini alandelayo yikho esithola khona izizatho ezingenza sisithembe isithembiso sikaJehova esimayelana lePharadayisi. Amavesi lawo athi: “Lowo owayehlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi wathi: ‘Khangela! Ngenza izinto zonke zibe zintsha.’ Waphinda wathi: ‘Bhala ngoba amazwi la athembekile futhi aliqiniso.’ Wasesithi kimi: ‘Sekwenzakele! Mina ngingu-Alfa lo-Omega, isiqalo lesiphetho.’”—Isam. 21:​5, 6a. w23.11 3 ¶3-5

Indlela umfowethu osakhulayo agqoka ngayo lazilungisa ngayo layo iyatshengisa ukuthi uyisebenzisa kuhle yini ingqondo. Abantu abanengi ababuya lezitayila ezintsha zefeshini ngabantu abangelandaba lemithetho kaJehova loba abangaziphathanga. Ngakho izigqoko abazenzayo ziyabamba kakhulu futhi ezinye zenza amadoda akhangeleke njengabesifazana. Okunye okutshengisa ukuthi umfowethu osakhulayo uyathuthuka yikulandela izimiso eziseBhayibhilini nxa ekhetha lokho azakugqoka lokulingisela izibonelo zabanye abenza kuhle abasebandleni. Angazibuza ukuthi: ‘Izinto engizikhethayo ziyatshengisa yini ukuthi ngiyazwisisa izimiso eziseBhayibhilini lokuthi ngilendaba labanye? Indlela engigqoka ngayo iyatshengisa yini ukuthi ngikhonza uNkulunkulu?’ (1 Khor. 10:​31-33) Umfowethu osakhulayo oyisebenzisa kuhle ingqondo yakhe uzahlonitshwa ngabafowabo labodadewabo futhi athandwe nguYise osezulwini. w23.12 26 ¶7

Kudala “inkosi yaseningizimu” yake yahlasela abantu bakaJehova. (Dan. 11:40) Ngokwesibonelo, ngesikhathi seMpi Yomhlaba yokuqala leyesibili abafowethu labodadewethu abanengi babotshwa ngenxa yokuthi babengafuni ukungena kwezombusazwe futhi labantwana baboFakazi baxotshwa ezikolo ngenxa yalesosizatho. Eminyakeni esanda kwedlula, abantu bakaJehova abangaphansi ‘kwenkosi yaseningizimu’ bebehlangana lezinye izilingo ebezingenza kube nzima ukuthi babe qotho eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, ngesikhathi sokhetho umKhristu angalingeka ukuthi asekele iqembu elithile lezombusazwe kumbe umuntu othile okhankasela ukukhethwa. Lanxa umKhristu lo engasoze ayevota uyabe esekela iqembu elithile engqondweni yakhe lasenhliziyweni yakhe. Kuqakathekile ukuthi singatshengisi ngezenzo kuphela ukuthi asingeneli kwezombangazwe kodwa sinanzelele lemicabango yethu kanye lendlela esizizwa ngayo ngezombusazwe.—Joh. 15:​18, 19. w23.08 12 ¶17

Emncintiswaneni wokuphila kumele ‘sigijime ngendlela ezakwenza siwuthole umvuzo.’ (1 Khor. 9:24) UJesu wathi sinanzelele ukuthi ‘singakhulelwa yikudla kakhulu lokunatha sedlulise kanye lezinkathazo zokuphila.’ (Luk. 21:34) Umbhalo lo leminye ingakunceda ubone lapho okumele ulungisise khona ukuze ugijime kuhle emncintiswaneni wokuphila. Siyaqiniseka ukuthi sizanqoba emncintiswaneni wokuphila ngoba uJehova uzasinika amandla. (Isaya. 40:​29-31) Ngakho ungehlisi ijubane lakho! Lingisela umphostoli uPhawuli owenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuthi athole umvuzo ayewuthenjisiwe. (Flp. 3:​13, 14) Lanxa kungelamuntu ongakugijimela emncintiswaneni lo uJehova angakuncedisa ukuthi uphumelele. Angakuncedisa lokuthi uthwale imithwalo okumele uyithwale futhi ulahle leyo okumele uyilahle. Nxa uncediswa nguJehova ungenelisa ukuqinisela ugijime uze uwuthole umvuzo! w23.08 31 ¶16-17

Ngesikhathi uJesu eleminyaka engu-12 abazali bakhe bamtshiya eJerusalema. (Luk. 2:​46-52) UJosefa loMariya kwakumele baqiniseke ukuthi bonke abantwababo babekhona eqenjini labantu ababehamba labo sebebuyela ekhaya ngemva komkhosi. UJosefa loMariya bathi sebemtholile uJesu, uMariya wamsola ngalokho okwakwenzakele. UJesu wayengahle abatshele ukuthi yibo ababephambanisile, kodwa wabaphendula kuhle abazali bakhe ngamazwi alenhlonipho. UJosefa loMariya “abazange bakuzwisise ayekutsho.” Lanxa kunjalo uJesu “waqhubeka ezehlisa kubo.” Nxa lina abasakhulayo lingananzelela amaphutha enziwa ngabazali benu kumbe libone angathi abalizwisisi kwezinye izikhathi, kwakube nzima yini ukuthi libalalele? Nxa kunjalo kuyini okuzalinceda ukuthi libalalele? Cabangani ngokuthi uJehova uzezwa njani nxa lingalalela. IBhayibhili lithi ukulalela abazali benu “kuyayithokozisa iNkosi.” (Kol. 3:20) UJehova uyakwazi ukuthi kwezinye izikhathi abazali benu abalizwisisi lokuthi bangalifakela imithetho okungaba nzima ukuthi liyilalele. Nxa lingabalalela lanxa kunzima uJehova uyathokoza. w23.10 7 ¶5-6

Nxa esikolo kungaba lomunye umuntu othi oFakazi bakaJehova kumele batshintshe umbono wabo ngezitabane, ungamqinisekisa ukuthi siyazihlonipha izinqumo ezenziwa ngumuntu ngamunye. (1 Phet. 2:17) Nxa ungenza njalo uzenelisa ukumchasisela ukuthi ukulandela lokho okutshiwo liBhayibhili mayelana lokuziphatha kusinceda njani. Nxa umuntu engabamba inkani ephikisa lokho esikukholwayo akumelanga sihle sizitshele ukuthi siyakwazi ukuthi yena ukholwani. Ngokwesibonelo, ungenzani nxa ofunda laye engathi akulangqondo ukukholwa kuNkulunkulu? Kuyabe kuqondile yini ukuhle uzitshele ukuthi ukholwa ukuthi izinto zazenzakalela lokuthi ukwazi okunengi ngendaba le? Kungenzakala ukuthi kazake acabangisise ngayo, ukhuluma ajayele ukukuzwa kuphela. Mhlawumbe ungamlayela ku-jw.org lapho angathola khona izihloko ezimayelana lokudalwa kwezinto. Ngemva kwesikhathi angafisa ukuthi lixoxe ngevidiyo kumbe indaba ayabe eyithole kuwebhusayithi yethu. Nxa singatshengisa ukuthi siyamhlonipha umuntu, angacina esefisa ukufunda okunengi ngalokho okutshiwo liBhayibhili. w23.09 17 ¶12-13

Nxa singenza amaphutha kumele silungisise lokho esiyabe sikuphambanisile siqhubeke sithembela kuJehova. Singenza njalo singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzaqhubeka esisebenzisa futhi esibusisa. (Zaga. 28:13) USamsoni wayephambanisa njengabantu bonke kodwa kazange akhalale. Waqhubeka esenza okusemandleni akhe ukuthi akhonze uJehova langesikhathi aze avume ukuqilwa nguDelila. UJehova laye kazange amkhalale uSamsoni. Waphinda wamsebenzisa ngendlela emangalisayo. UJehova wayelokhu embala phakathi kwabantu abalokholo oluqinileyo, yikho wenza ukuthi laye abhalwe phakathi kwabantu ababelokholo okukhulunywa ngabo kuHebheru isahluko 11. Kuyasikhuthaza kakhulu ukuthi sikhonza uBaba wethu osezulwini olothando njalo ohlala esiqinisa ikakhulu nxa izinto zingasihambeli kuhle. Yikho lathi kasilingiseleni uSamsoni sincenge uJehova sisithi: “Ngicela ungikhumbule unginike amandla.”—Abahlu. 16:28. w23.09 7 ¶18-19

Njengoba sikwazi ukuthi usuku lukaJehova seluseduze, senza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuthi sitshele abanye izindaba ezinhle. Kodwa ngezinye izikhathi singathikaza ukutshumayela ngenxa yokuthi siyabe sisesaba ukuthi abantu bazasihlasela kumbe ukuthi bazacabangani ngathi. Lokhu kwenzakala kuPhetro. Ngobusuku uJesu athonisiswa ngabo uPhetro wakufihla ukuthi wayengomunye wabafundi bakhe, waze waphika lokuthi uyamazi. (Mat. 26:​69-75) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uPhetro wakunqoba ukwesaba futhi wabhala wathi: “Lingakwesabi lokho abakwesabayo njalo lingakhathazeki.” (1 Phet. 3:14) Amazwi kaPhetro ayasiqinisekisa ukuthi lathi singakunqoba ukwesaba abantu. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi singesabi abantu? UPhetro wathi: “Vumani ezinhliziyweni zenu ukuthi uKhristu uyiNkosi lokuthi ungcwele.” (1 Phet. 3:15) Lokhu kugoqela ukucabangisisa ngokuthi uJesu Khristu uyiNkosi yethu lokuthi ulamandla amakhulu. w23.09 27-28 ¶6-8

Kumele siqhubeke sizama ngamandla wonke ukuthi singacini sesisenza “imisebenzi yobumnyama engancediyo.” (Efe. 5:11) Kuba lula ukuthi umuntu acine esenza isono nxa ebukela izinto ezingcolileyo kumbe ezemacansini loba nxa ezilalela kumbe ekhuluma ngazo. (Gen. 3:6; Jak. 1:​14, 15) Umhlaba kaSathane uzama ukusiqila. Ufuna sikholwe ukuthi lokho uJehova athi yikuziphatha okubi lalokho athi kungcolile akukubi. (2 Phet. 2:19) Enye indlela uDeveli aselesikhathi eside eyisebenzisa yikuvala abantu ingqondo ukuze bangenelisi ukwehlukanisa okulungileyo lokungalunganga. (Isaya. 5:20; 2 Khor. 4:4) Yikho lamuhla amafilimu amanengi, lenhlelo ze-TV kanye lamawebhusayithi kugcwele izinto eziphikisana lemithetho kaJehova. USathane ufuna sicabange ukuthi imikhuba engcolileyo kanye lobufebe obugcwele emhlabeni lamuhla akusiphambanisi ngalutho.—Efe. 5:6. w24.03 22 ¶8-10

Ithabanikeli lalinjengetende njalo ekuqaliseni ama-Israyeli ayelithwala nxa ayesuka kweyinye indawo esiya kwenye. Basebenzisa ithabanikeli lelo okweminyaka engaba ngu-500 kwaze kwafika isikhathi lapho okwasekwakhiwe khona ithempeli eJerusalema. (Eks. 25:​8, 9; Nani. 9:22) Ithabanikeli yindawo lapho ama-Israyeli ayehlangana khona ukuze akhonze futhi anikele lemihlatshelo yawo. (Eks. 29:​43-46) Lanxa kunjalo ithabanikeli lalimela okungcono kakhulu. ‘Laliyisithunzi sezinto ezisezulwini’ njalo lalimela ithempeli likaJehova elikhulu. Umphostoli uPhawuli wathi “itende leli [kumbe ithabanikeli] liyisifanekiso sezinto zakhathesi.” (Heb. 9:9) Yikho ngesikhathi ebhala incwadi eyayisiya kumaHebheru, amaKhristu ayevele esekhonza ethempelini likaJehova. Ithempeli leli laba khona ngo-29 C.E. Ngalowomnyaka uJesu wabhabhathizwa njalo waqalisa ukuba ‘ngumphristi omkhulu kakhulu’ ethempelini likaJehova.—Heb. 4:14; Imiseb. 10:​37, 38. w23.10 25-26 ¶6-7

Nxa sifuna ukukhonza uJehova sithokoza kumele senelise ukugoba loba ukuvumelana lezimo. Njani? Kumele sibe ngabantu abazwisisayo, sitshintshe nxa izimo zethu zingatshintsha njalo sihloniphe imibono yabanye lalokho abakhetha ukukwenza. Sifuna ukuba ngabantu abazwisisayo ngoba sikhonza uJehova. Kanti njalo sifuna ukuba ngabantu abathobekileyo labalozwelo. UJehova ubizwa ngokuthi “uliDwala” ngenxa yokuthi uma aqine kokulungileyo anganyikinyeki. (Dute. 32:4) Kodwa uphinda abe nguNkulunkulu ozwisisayo. UNkulunkulu wethu uqhubeka evumelana lezimo kusiya ngokuthi kwenzakalani emhlabeni lo ukuze lokho akuhlosileyo kugcwaliseke. UJehova wasidala ngomfanekiso wakhe, yikho lathi siyenelisa ukutshintsha sivumelane lezimo. EBhayibhilini usinika izimiso ezicacileyo ezisinceda ukuthi sikhethe kuhle kungelani lobunzima esiyabe sikubo. Okwenziwa nguJehova kanye lezimiso asinike zona kwenza sibone ukuthi lanxa ‘eliDwala’ uphinde abe nguNkulunkulu ozwisisayo. w23.07 20 ¶1-3

EBhayibhilini uJehova uzifanisa lomama olothando. (Isaya. 66:​12, 13) Cabanga ngomama olothando onakekela umntanakhe futhi oba leqiniso lokuthi uyamupha lokho akufunayo. Lathi nxa siphakathi kobuhlungu singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda. Kasikhalali nxa singaphambanisa. Isizwe sako-Israyeli sasihlala simdanisa uJehova. (Hubo. 103:8) Lanxa kunjalo wakhuluma amazwi ayetshengisa ukuthi wayelokhu ebathanda abantu bakhe ababephenduka. Wathi: “Waba ligugu kimi, waphiwa udumo njalo ngikuthandile.” (Isaya. 43:​4, 5) UNkulunkulu uzahlala esithanda ngoba uthando lwakhe alutshintshi. Lanxa singaze senze amaphutha amakhulu uzaqhubeka esithanda nxa singatshiya izono zethu sibuyele kuye. Uthembisa ukuthi ‘uzasithethelela ngendlela enkulu.’ (Isaya. 55:7) IBhayibhili lithi ‘uJehova uzasivuselela.’—Imiseb. 3:19. w24.01 27 ¶4-5

UJehova angasincedisa nxa sisebunzimeni. Ngokwesibonelo, siyabe sinika uJehova ithuba lokuthi asincedise nxa sicela kumqhatshi wethu ukuthi asinike isikhathi sokuthi siye emhlanganweni wesabelo. Kanti njalo nxa sicela ukuthi singasebenzi ngezinye izikhathi kumbe ngamanye amalanga ukuze singene imihlangano yebandla siyabe simnika ithuba lokuthi aphinde asincedise. Angasincedisa ngendlela esiyabe singayikhangelelanga njalo lokho kungenza ukuthi simthembe kakhulu. U-Ezra wayezithoba acele ukuthi uJehova amncedise. Nxa imisebenzi yakhe yayisimsinda, wayezithoba athandaze kuJehova ecela ukuthi amncedise. (Ezra. 8:​21-23; 9:​3-5) Abanye bakubona ukuthi u-Ezra wayethembele kuJehova, basebezimisela ukumncedisa lokulingisela indlela ayelokholo ngayo. (Ezra. 10:​1-4) Nxa sikhathazeke kakhulu ngokuthi sizazithola ngaphi izinto zokuziphilisa kumbe ngokuvikeleka kwemuli yethu, kumele sithandaze kuJehova siqiniseka ukuthi uzasincedisa. w23.11 18 ¶15-17

UJehova kakhangelelanga ukuthi senze khona kanye okwenziwa ngu-Abrahama ukuze kuthiwe silungile. Minengi imisebenzi esingayenza engatshengisa ukuthi silokholo. Okunye esingakwenza yikwamukela abantu abatsha ebandleni, lokuncedisa abafowethu labodadewethu abadinga uncedo kanye lokwenzela izimuli zethu izinto ezinhle. Nxa singenza konke lokhu, uNkulunkulu uzasamukela njalo asibusise. (Rom. 15:7; 1 Thim. 5:​4, 8; 1 Joh. 3:18) Enye indlela eqakathekileyo esitshengisa ngayo ukuthi silokholo yikukhuthala emsebenzini wokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle. (1 Thim. 4:16) Sonke singenelisa ukutshengisa ngezenzo ukuthi siyakholwa ukuthi lokho uJehova asithembisa khona kuzagcwaliseka lokuthi izindlela zakhe zingcono kakhulu. Nxa singenza njalo, kasithandabuzi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzakuthi silungile futhi asenze sibe ngabangane bakhe. w23.12 2 ¶3; 6 ¶15

INkosi uDavida yathi isizakufa yalaya uSolomoni ngamazwi asembhalweni walamuhla. (1 Amakho. 2:​1, 3) Wonke amadoda angamaKhristu afuna ukuthuthuka kungawanceda ukulalela amazwi la. Kumele afunde ukulalela imithetho kaNkulunkulu lokusebenzisa izimiso eziseBhayibhilini kukho konke akwenzayo ukuze athuthuke. (Luk. 2:52) Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi abafowethu abasakhulayo bathuthuke? Indoda engumKhristu ilemisebenzi eqakathekileyo emulini lasebandleni. Bafowethu abasakhulayo akuthandabuzwa ukuthi liyake licabange ngemisebenzi elingaba layo esikhathini esizayo. Mhlawumbe ufuna ukuba senkonzweni yesikhathi sonke kumbe ukuba yinceku ekhonzayo lokuthi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ube ngumdala webandla. Engxenye uyafisa ukuthi utshade futhi ube labantwana. (Efe. 6:4; 1 Thim. 3:1) Nxa ufuna ukuphumelela ukwenza izinto lezi kumele uthuthuke. w23.12 24 ¶1-2

Abadala abangamaKhristu baphiwe umsebenzi wokugcina izimvu zikaJehova eziligugu. Amadoda la azinikeleyo ayasiqakathekisa isibusiso alaso esokuncedisa abafowabo labodadewabo. Asebenza nzima ukuze abe ‘ngabelusi abelusa kuhle.’ (Jer. 23:4; 1 Phet. 5:2) Siyambonga kakhulu uJehova ngokusinika amadoda anjalo emabandleni! Abadala bangafunda okunengi kuGidiyoni owayengumahluleli. (Heb. 6:12) Wayelomsebenzi wokuvikela abantu bakaNkulunkulu lowokubelusa. (Abahlu. 2:16; 1 Imilan. 17:6) Abadala labo baphiwe umsebenzi wokuvikela lowokuncedisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu ezikhathini lezi ezinzima kakhulu. (Imiseb. 20:28; 2 Thim. 3:1) Nxa singahlola indaba kaGidiyoni siyabona ukuthi wayengenzi izinto ezingaphezu kwamandla akhe, lokuthi wayethobekile futhi elalela. Kwakumele afunde ukuqinisela ngesikhathi esenza imisebenzi yakhe. Kungelani ukuthi singabadala kumbe asisibobadala, kunengi abadala abakwenzayo esingababonga ngakho. Kumele siwasekele amadoda la asebenza nzima ukuthi asincede emabandleni.—Heb. 13:17. w23.06 2 ¶1; 3 ¶3