September

UNkulunkulu unike uJesu amandla okuthi aqede zonke inhlupho zabantu. Ngesikhathi uJesu esenza izimangaliso wayetshengisa ukuthi ulamandla okukhipha zonke inhlupho abantu abehluleka ukuziqeda. Ulamandla okuqeda khona kanye okubangela ukuhlupheka kwabantu. Ngokwesibonelo uyenelisa ukuqeda isono okuyiso esibangela ukugula kanye lokufa. (Mat. 9:​1-6; Rom. 5:​12, 18, 19) Izimangaliso azenzayo zatshengisa ukuthi uyenelisa ukwelapha “yonke imihlobo” yemikhuhlane lokuthi ulamandla okuvusa abantu abafileyo. (Mat. 4:23; Joh. 11:​43, 44) Kanti njalo ulamandla okuthulisa iziphepho ezilolaka lokukhulula abantu emadimonini. (Mak. 4:​37-39; Luk. 8:2) Kuyaduduza kakhulu ukwazi ukuthi uJehova unike iNdodana yakhe uJesu amandla okwenza izimangaliso zonke lezi! Asithandabuzi ukuthi konke esikuthenjiswe nguJehova kuzagcwaliseka nxa uMbuso wakhe usubusa emhlabeni. Izimangaliso ezenziwa nguJesu ngesikhathi esemhlabeni zisitshengisa ukuthi uzakwenza okukhulu kakhulu emhlabeni wonke njengoba kunguye oyiNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. w23.04 3 ¶5-7

Nxa usebandleni elilabamemezeli abanengi engxenye kuba kalutshwana ukuthi bakuqambe futhi ungacina usubona kungcono ukufika uzihlalele nje. Kodwa ungakhalali. Lungiselela izimpendulo ezinengi. Nxa bengakukhutha umhlangano uqalisa uyabe ukwazi ukuthi ngeke uphele bengakuqambanga. Nxa ulungiselela isifundo se-Nqabayokulinda zama ukubona ukuthi indima ngayinye ingenelana njani lesihloko. Ungenza njalo uzenelisa ukuphendula kuloba yiphi indima. Mhlawumbe okunye ongakwenza yikuphakamisa endimeni leziyana ezingathi zijiyile. Ngenxa yani? Ngoba balutshwana abantu abajayele ukuphakamisa endimeni lezo. Ake sithi imihlangano isize yalandelana ulokhe ungaqanjwa. Ungenzani? Tshela oqhubayo umhlangano ungakaqalisi ukuthi ufuna ukuphendula ngaphi kwakhona. w23.04 21-22 ¶9-10

UJosefa wayengaphuzi ukwenza ayekutshelwa nguJehova futhi lokhu kwenza ukuthi ayikhokhele kuhle imuli yakhe. Kwaba lezikhathi ezintathu lapho uNkulunkulu amtshela okwakumele akwenze. Wayekwenza masinyane ayekutsheliwe lanxa kwezinye izikhathi kwakungalula. (Mat. 1:20; 2:​13-15, 19-21) UJosefa wamvikela uMariya, wamsekela futhi wamnakekela ngenxa yokuthi wayelalela lokho okwakutshiwo nguNkulunkulu. Kumele ukuthi okwenziwa nguJosefa kwenza ukuthi uMariya amthande futhi amhloniphe kakhulu. Madoda, lingalingisela uJosefa ngokwenza lokho okutshiwo liBhayibhili mayelana lokuthi kumele liyiphathe njani imuli yenu. Nxa lingalandela okutshiwo liBhayibhili lanxa kwezinye izikhathi kusitsho ukuthi litshintshe indlela elenza ngayo izinto, liyabe litshengisa ukuthi liyabathanda omkenu futhi lokho kuzakwenza ukuthi uthando lwenu luvuthe. Udadewethu ohlala eVanuatu oseleminyaka edlula 20 etshadile uthi: “Okwenza ngimhloniphe kakhulu umkami yikuthi uyadinga ukuthi uJehova uthini, abesesenza lokho akutshoyo. Lokho kwenza ngihlaliseke futhi ngizithembe izinqumo azenzayo.” w23.05 21 ¶5

AmaJuda ayebuyela evela eBhabhiloni kwakumele abe ‘yisizwe esingcwele’ kuNkulunkulu. (Dute. 7:6) Lanxa kunjalo kukhona okwakumele kulungisiswe ngabantu laba ukuze bathokozise uJehova. AmaJuda amanengi ayezalelwe eBhabhiloni futhi kukhanya ayesecabanga njengabantu baseBhabhiloni futhi esenza njengabo. Ngemva kweminyaka amaJuda ebuyele ko-Israyeli, uMbusi uNehemiya wasala engelankani esizwa ukuthi abantwana ababezalelwe ko-Israyeli babengalwazi ulimi lwamaJuda. (Dute. 6:​6, 7; Neh. 13:​23, 24) Manje abantwana laba babezafunda njani ukuthanda uJehova futhi bamkhonze bona bengasizwisisi isiHebheru? Phela amabhuku amanengi eBhayibhili ayebhalwe ngesiHebheru. (Ezra. 10:​3, 44) Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi zinengi izinto okwakumele amaJuda azilungisise, kodwa kwakuzabe kulula ukuthi azilungisise eseko-Israyeli, lapho ukukhonza kweqiniso okwakubuyiselwa khona kancane kancane.—Neh. 8:​8, 9. w23.05 15 ¶6-7

Okudanisayo yikuthi lanxa siyabe sizimisele ukwenza esikuhlelileyo ziba khona izinto ezingasibuyisela emuva. Ngokwesibonelo, kungaba ‘lezehlakalo ezisijuma silibele’ ezingenza sicine siswela isikhathi sokwenza lokho esikuhlelileyo. (Umtshu. 9:11) Singehlelwa yibunzima obungasiqeda amandla sisale sidanile. (Zaga. 24:10) Isono esizalwa laso singenza senze izinto ezingenza kube nzima ukuthi siphumelele ukwenza lokho esikuhlelileyo. (Rom. 7:23) Kanti njalo kwezinye izikhathi kungaba yikuthi siyabe sidiniwe nje. (Mat. 26:43) Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi silwisane lezinto ezisibuyisela emuva? Khumbula ukuthi nxa kungaba lento ekubuyisela emuva ayisikho ukuthi sekwalile. IBhayibhili liyatsho ukuthi singehlelwa yibunzima bulandelana. Kodwa liphinda lisicacisele ukuthi singaqhubeka ngokwenza lokho esiyabe sikuhlelile. Nxa ungaqhubeka ulwisa ukwenza lokho okuhlelileyo lanxa kulezinto ezikubuyisela emuva, uyabe utshengisa uJehova ukuthi uzimisele ukumthokozisa. Kumele ukuthi uJehova uyathokoza kakhulu nxa ekubona uqhubeka ulwisa ukwenza lokho oyabe ukuhlosile! w23.05 30 ¶14-15

Ukuphayona kunganceda ijaha ukuthi lenelise ukusebenza kuhle labantu abatshiyeneyo. Kuyalinceda lokuthi lenelise ukusebenzisa kuhle imali lokusuthiseka. (Flp. 4:​11-13) Okuzakunceda ukuthi uqalise inkonzo yesikhathi sonke yikuba liphayona elisizayo njalo lokhu kuzakunceda nxa usuqalisa ukuphayona okwesikhathi sonke. Ukuphayona kungakunceda ukuthi uthole ithuba lokwenza eminye imisebenzi yesikhathi sonke, njengokusebenza eBhetheli lokwakha izakhiwo zenhlanganiso. Amadoda angamaKhristu kumele asebenze nzima ukuthi abe ngabadala bebandla ukuze ancedise abafowethu labodadewethu. IBhayibhili lithi amadoda alalamela umsebenzi lo ‘afisa umsebenzi omuhle.’ (1 Thim. 3:1) Umzalwane kumele aqale abe yinceku ekhonzayo. Inceku ezikhonzayo zincedisa abadala ngemisebenzi eminengi etshiyeneyo. Abadala lezinceku ezikhonzayo bayazithoba bancedise abafowethu labodadewethu futhi bakhuthele emsebenzini wokutshumayela. w23.12 28 ¶14-16

INkosi uJosiya yayileminyaka engu-16 ngesikhathi iqalisa ukudinga uJehova. Yayifuna ukufunda ngoJehova kanye lokwenza intando yakhe. Kodwa kwakungalula ukuthi inkosi le esakhulayo ikwenze lokho. Ngalesosikhathi abantu abanengi babekhonza izithombe, yikho kwakudingeka ukuthi uJosiya abe lesibindi ukuze abancedise bakhonze uNkulunkulu weqiniso. Lakanye wayelaso! Waqalisa ukususa ukukhonza kwamanga elizweni engakabi leminyaka engu-20. (2 Imilan. 34:​1, 2) Lanxa usesemncane ungalingisela uJosiya ngokudinga uJehova langokufunda ngobuntu bakhe. Lokho kuzakunceda ukuthi ufise ukuzinikela kuye. Nxa ungazinikela kuJehova kuyabe sekumele uphile njani? Umfowethu okuthiwa nguLuke owabhabhathizwa eleminyaka engu-14 uthi: “Kusukela khathesi sengizakwenza ukuthi ukukhonza uJehova kube yikho okuza kuqala empilweni yami futhi ngizame ngamandla wonke ukumthokozisa.” (Mak. 12:30) Lawe uzathokoza kakhulu nxa ungazama ukwenza njalo. w23.09 11 ¶12-13

Ngesikhathi umphostoli uPhawuli ebhala incwadi yakhe yokuqala eyayisiya kwabaseThesalonika, ibandla lelo lalingakabi lomnyaka likhona. Lokhu kutsho ukuthi amadoda ayebekiwe ayengakabi lolwazi olunengi futhi kungenzakala ayephambanisa kanengi. Lanxa kunjalo kwakumele ahlonitshwe. Ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu kuzamele sibalalele kakhulu abadala bebandla lethu ukwedlula indlela esingabe sisenza ngayo khathesi. Phela kungenzakala ukuthi ngalesosikhathi kube nzima ukuthi abafowethu abasemawofisini amakhulu labasegatsheni bathintane lathi. Yikho kuqakathekile ukuthi sifunde khathesi ukubathanda lokubahlonipha abadala bebandla lethu. Kungelani lokuthi kwenzakalani asizisebenziseni kuhle ingqondo zethu, singakhangeli amaphutha enziwa ngabadala kodwa sicabange ngokuthi uJehova uyawakhokhela amadoda la athembekileyo esebenzisa uKhristu. Ithemba lethu lokusindiswa livikela ingqondo zethu njengoba ingwane yayivikela ikhanda lesotsha. Siyananzelela ukuthi lokhu esikuphiwa ngumhlaba lo akuncedi ngalutho. (Flp. 3:8) Ithemba lethu liyasinceda ukuthi sihlaliseke lokuthi singakhathazeki kakhulu. w23.06 11-12 ¶11-12

Labo abanxuswa ‘ngowesifazana oyisiwula’ kumele bakhethe ukuthi bazahamba yini endlini yakhe kumbe abasoze bahambe. Kulezizatho eziqakathekileyo ezisenza sibalekele ukuziphatha okubi. IBhayibhili lithi “owesifazana oyisiwula” uthi: “Amanzi atshontshiweyo amnandi.” (Zaga. 9:17) Ayini ‘lawomanzi atshontshiweyo’? IBhayibhili lifanisa ukuya emacansini kwendoda lomkayo abatshadileyo lamanzi amnandi. (Zaga. 5:​15-18) Indoda lowesifazana bayavunyelwa ukuthi bakholise ukuya emacansini nxa betshade ngokusemthethweni. Lokhu kutshiyene kakhulu ‘lamanzi atshontshiweyo.’ Amanzi la atshontshiweyo angabe esitsho ukuziphatha okubi kumbe ukuya emacansini okungekho emthethweni. Abantu abenza lokho bakwenza becatshile njengoba nje lamasela ejayele ukutshontsha ecatshile. ‘Amanzi la atshontshiweyo’ angakhanya emnandi kakhulu, ikakhulu nxa kuyikuthi labo abawatshontshayo babona angani abasoze babanjwe. Lokhu yikuziqila sibili ngoba uJehova ubona konke okwenzakalayo. Akulanto embi kumbe ebaba ukwedlula ukulahlekelwa yibungane bethu loJehova. Ngakho ngeke sithi into le embi kangaka ‘imnandi.’—1 Khor. 6:​9, 10. w23.06 22 ¶7-9

Ungenzani nxa ungananzelela ukuthi awusathandazi ngenhliziyo yonke loba ukuthi ukutshumayela awusakukholisi kakhulu njengakuqala? Ungacabangi ukuthi awuselawo umoya kaJehova. Njengoba ungumuntu olesono indlela ozizwa ngayo ingatshintshatshintsha. Nxa ungabona ukuthi awusakutshisekeli ukwenza izinto eziphathelane lokukhonza cabanga ngomphostoli uPhawuli. Lanxa wayezama ukulingisela uJesu, wayekwazi ukuthi ngezinye izikhathi wayezakuzwa kungatsho ukuthi enze lokho okwakumele akwenze. UPhawuli wayezimisele ukwenza inkonzo yakhe kungelani lokuthi wayesizwa njani. NjengoPhawuli, lawe nxa usenza izinqumo ungalandeli lokho okufunwa yinhliziyo yakho kodwa zimisele ukwenza okulungileyo lanxa usizwa kungatsho. Nxa ungaqhubeka usenza okuhle ungacina usukuthanda okwenzayo.—1 Khor. 9:16. w24.03 11-12 ¶12-13

Singatshengisa ukuthi siyabathanda abafowethu labodadewethu ngokuba lobungane labo. (2 Khor. 6:​11-13) Abanengi bethu sisemabandleni alabafowethu labodadewethu abavela endaweni ezitshiyeneyo labalobuntu obutshiyeneyo. Okungasinceda ukuthi sibathande kakhulu bonke yikukhangela okuhle abakwenzayo. Nxa singafunda ukubona abanye ngendlela uJehova ababona ngayo siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyabathanda. Ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu kuzabe kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi sithandane. UJehova uzasivikela njani nxa ukuhlupheka okukhulu sekuqalisa? Ake sibone ukuthi uJehova wabatshelani abantu bakhe ngesikhathi iBhabhiloni yasendulo ihlaselwa. Wathi: “Hambani bantu bami, ngenani ezindlini zenu zangaphakathi, beselivala iminyango yenu. Licatshe okwesikhatshana ulaka luze ludlule.” (Isaya. 26:20) Mhlawumbe lathi kuzamele senze njalo ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu. w23.07 6-7 ¶14-16

Abanye ababone ngezenzo zakho ukuthi ungumuntu ozwisisayo. Zibuze: ‘Abantu bangibona ngingumuntu ozwisisayo yini, ongabambeleli kulokho akucabangayo futhi ovuma ukutshintsha? Kumbe bangibona ngingumuntu olukhuni, olesihluku njalo olenkani? Ngiyabalalela yini abanye ngenze lokho abakufisayo nxa kungelamthetho oyephulwayo?’ Nxa singenza okusemandleni ethu ukuthi sibe ngabantu abazwisisayo siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi silingisela uJehova loJesu. Nxa izimo zingatshintsha empilweni kumele sibe ngabantu abazwisisayo sivume ukutshintsha. Phela nxa izimo zingatshintsha kujayele ukuvela ezinye inhlupho esiyabe singazikhangelelanga. Ngokwesibonelo ungazithola usuhlaselwe ngumkhuhlane obungawulindelanga, kumbe kungaqabuka sekulohlupho lwemali elizweni, kumbe sekulotshintsho kwezombusazwe okungabangela ukuthi impilo ibe nzima kakhulu. (Umtshu. 9:11) Kanti njalo singakhathazeka nxa kungathiwa sitshintshe umsebenzi ebesiwenza enhlanganisweni kaJehova. Okungasinceda ukuthi sivumelane lotshintsho yizinto lezi ezine: (1) Kwamukele ukuthi izimo sezitshintshile, (2) khangela phambili ungazihluphi ngosekudlulile, (3) cabanga ngezinto ezinhle ezenzakalayo empilweni yakho njalo (4) ncedisa abanye. w23.07 21-22 ¶7-8

Umphrofethi uDanyeli wayeseselijaha nje ngesikhathi ethunjwa ngabaseBhabhiloni bemsusa eJerusalema lapho ayehlala khona bemusa elizweni elalikhatshana kakhulu. Lanxa uDanyeli wayesesemncane iziphathamandla zeBhabhiloni zahle zamthanda zimbona nje. Phela ‘wayengelasici, ebukeka’ futhi wayevela emulini eyayihlonitshwa. (1 Sam. 16:7) Ngenxa yalokho abaseBhabhiloni bamqeqetsha befuna ukuthi ayesebenza esigodlweni. (Dan. 1:​3, 4, 6) UJehova wayethanda uDanyeli ngenxa yobuntu bakhe obuhle. Kungenzakala ukuthi uDanyeli wayengabe eleminyaka engu-20 ngesikhathi uJehova embala phakathi kwamadoda ayelungile uNowa loJobe. Amadoda la ayekhonze uJehova ethembekile okweminyaka eminengi. (Gen. 5:32; 6:​9, 10; Jobe. 42:​16, 17; Hez. 14:14) UDanyeli wenza okulungileyo okwempilo yakhe yonke futhi uJehova waqhubeka emthanda.—Dan. 10:​11, 19. w23.08 2 ¶1-2

Nxa kulendlu ofuna ukuyithenga uyabe ufuna ukwazi konke ngendlu leyo. Lathi yikho esingakwenza nxa sifunda njalo sitaditsha iBhayibhili. Nxa ungabala ugijima uzakukha phezulu ufunde izinto ezilula kuphela “eziphathelane lamazwi kaNkulunkulu angcwele.” (Heb. 5:12) Yikho njengomuntu ofuna ukuthenga indlu ongena phakathi ayihlole, lawe lihlolisise iBhayibhili ukuze uzwisise okunengi. Indlela engcono yokutaditsha iBhayibhili yikubona ukuthi elikukhulumayo kungenelana njani. Zama ukuzwisisa ukuthi yiliphi iqiniso olikholwayo lokuthi yindaba ulikholwa. Kulezinto okumele sizifunde sijule nxa sifuna ukuzwisisa iLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Umphostoli uPhawuli wakhuthaza abafowabo labodadewabo abangamaKhristu ukuthi balihlolisise iLizwi likaNkulunkulu ukuze ‘bazwisise ngokugcweleyo ububanzi, lobude, lokuphakama lokujula’ kweqiniso. Lokhu kwakuzakwenza ukholo lwabo ‘lugxile futhi luqine.’ (Efe. 3:​14-19) Lathi yikho okufanele sikwenze. w23.10 18 ¶1-3

IBhayibhili likhuluma ngabantu abanengi ababebekezela. Kungaba kuhle ukuthi uzinike isikhathi sokutaditsha ngabantu laba. Ngokwesibonelo lanxa uDavida wagcotshwa esesemncane ukuthi abe yinkosi yako-Israyeli, kwadingeka ukuthi alinde okweminyaka engakaqalisi ukubusa. USimiyoni lo-Ana bakhonza uJehova bethembekile besalindele ukuthi uMesiya othenjisiweyo afike. (Luk. 2:​25, 36-38) Ngesikhathi utaditsha ngomunye umuntu oseBhayibhilini owabekezelayo, zibuze imibuzo le: Kuyini okungabe kwamnceda ukuthi abekezele? Ukubekezela kwamnceda njani? Ngingamlingisela njani? Okunye okuzakunceda yikufunda langalabo abangazange babekezele. (1 Sam. 13:​8-14) Ungazibuza ukuthi: ‘Kuyini okungabe kwenza ukuthi behluleke ukubekezela? Yibuphi ubunzima obabehlelayo ngenxa yokungabekezeli kwabo?’ w23.08 25 ¶15

Umphostoli uPhetro wayeqotho, kazange avumele loba yini ukuthi imyekelise ukuqhubeka elandela uJesu. Watshengisa ukuthi uqotho ngesikhathi uJesu ekhuluma amazwi abafundi bakhe ababengawazwisisi. (Joh. 6:68) Abanengi bahle bayekela ukulandela uJesu bengazange balindele ukuthi abachasisele. Kodwa uPhetro kazange enze njalo, wananzelela ukuthi uJesu nguye kuphela “olamazwi okuphila okungapheliyo.” UJesu wayekwazi ukuthi uPhetro labanye abaphostoli babezamtshiya. Lanxa kunjalo wakhuluma amazwi atshengisa ukuthi wayeqiniseka ukuthi uPhetro wayezaphenduka aqhubeke ethembekile. (Luk. 22:​31, 32) UJesu wayezwisisa ukuthi ‘umoya uyafisa kodwa umzimba ubuthakathaka.’ (Mak. 14:38) Yikho lanxa uPhetro wamphika, kazange amlahle umphostoli wakhe. Wathi esevusiwe wabonakala kuPhetro njalo kungenzakala ukuthi uPhetro wayeyedwa ngalesosikhathi. (Mak. 16:7; Luk. 24:34; 1 Khor. 15:5) Kufanele ukuthi lokho kwamkhuthaza kakhulu uPhetro owayedaniswe yilokho ayekwenzile! w23.09 22 ¶9-10

UNkulunkulu uyathethelela kumbe asibekele izono zalabo abalokholo kuye. Uyabathethelela ngokupheleleyo njalo kaphindi ababalele izono zabo. (Hubo. 32:​1, 2) Abantu abanjalo uNkulunkulu uthi kabalacala njalo balungile ngenxa yokholo lwabo. U-Abrahama loDavida labanye ababekhonza uNkulunkulu bethembekile kwathiwa balungile lanxa babelesono futhi bewenza amaphutha. UNkulunkulu wathi kabasoleki, ikakhulu nxa beqathaniswa labantu ababengakhonzi ngoba bona babelokholo kuye. (Efe. 2:12) Encwadini ayibhalela amaKhristu angamaRoma, umphostoli uPhawuli wachasisa ukuthi kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi sibe lokholo ukuze sibe ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu. U-Abrahama loDavida baba ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuthi babelokholo. Yikho lathi singaba ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu nxa silokholo. w23.12 3 ¶6-7

AmaKhristu wonke lamuhla alesibusiso esiligugu esokwenza iminikelo kuJehova. Asebenzisa isikhathi sawo, lamandla awo kanye lempahla yawo ukuze umsebenzi woMbuso kaNkulunkulu uqhubekele phambili. Singatshengisa ukuthi siyasiqakathekisa isibusiso esilaso sokukhonza uJehova ngokumupha okungcono kakhulu esilakho. Umphostoli uPhawuli wakhuluma ngalokho amaKhristu akhonza uJehova okumele ahlale ekwenza. (Heb. 10:​22-25) Lokhu kugoqela ukuthandaza kuJehova, ukutshumayeza abanye, ukuya emihlanganweni yebandla kanye lokukhuthazana ‘ikakhulu njengoba sibona usuku [lukaJehova] lusondela.’ Ibhuku leSambulo selisiyaphela kulamazwi engilosi kaJehova athi: “Khonza uNkulunkulu!” njalo amazwi la iwakhuluma kabili ukuze igcizelele ukuthi lokho kuqakathekile. (Isam. 19:10; 22:9) Kasingakhohlwa iqiniso elijulileyo elimayelana lethempeli likaJehova elikhulu kanye lesipho esiligugu esilaso sokukhonza uNkulunkulu wethu omkhulu! w23.10 29 ¶17-18

Sonke sifuna ‘ukuqhubeka sithandana.’ Lanxa kunjalo kuqakathekile ukuthi sihlale sikhumbula amazwi kaJesu athi: “Lothando lwabanengi luzaphola.” (Mat. 24:12) Kodwa ayisikho ukuthi uJesu wayesithi abafundi bakhe abanengi babezayekela ukuthandana. Lamuhla abantu abanengi emhlabeni lo abalathando, yikho lathi kumele sinanzelele ukuthi singacini sisenza njengabo. Ngakho asixoxeni ngombuzo lo oqakathekileyo: Singabona njani ukuthi lokhu sibathanda kakhulu abazalwane? Eyinye indlela esingabona ngayo ukuthi sibathanda kangakanani abazalwane yikukhangela ukuthi senza njani nxa kungaba lento ephambanisekileyo. (2 Khor. 8:8) Nxa abanye bangasiphambanisela kumbe benze izinto ezisizwisa ubuhlungu, kungaba nzima ukuthi siqhubeke sibathanda. Umphostoli uPhetro wathi: “Phezu kwakho konke thandanani kakhulu ngoba uthando lusibekela izono ezinengi.”—1 Phet. 4:8. w23.11 10-11 ¶12-13

Siyabe singawulaleli umlayo kaJesu omayelana lothando nxa sithanda abanye ebandleni kodwa kulabanye esingabathandiyo. Lanxa kunjalo kulabanye esingaba ngabangane babo abaseduze kulabanye njengoba nje kwakunjalo lakuJesu. (Joh. 13:23; 20:2) Kodwa umphostoli uPhetro usikhumbuza ukuthi kumele sizame ngamandla ukuba “lothando lobuzalwane.” Lokhu kutsho ukuthi kumele sithande bonke abafowethu labodadewethu angathi sizalwa labo. (1 Phet. 2:17) UPhetro wasikhuthaza ukuthi ‘sithandane kakhulu ngenhliziyo yonke.’ (1 Phet. 1:22) Ivesi le nxa ikhuluma ngokuthanda “kakhulu” itsho ukuthanda umuntu lanxa kulezinto ezingenza kube nzima ukuthi umthande. Ngokwesibonelo, ungenzani nxa umzalwane angakuzwisa ubuhlungu kumbe akuphathe kubi? Ungezwa kusithi uphindisele njalo kungaba nzima ukuthi uqhubeke umthanda. Kodwa uPhetro wafunda kuJesu ukuthi ukuphindisela akumthokozisi uNkulunkulu. (Joh. 18:​10, 11) Wabhala wathi: “Lingabuyiseli okubi ngokubi lokuthethisa ngokuthethisa. Kodwa buyiselani ngokubusisa.” (1 Phet. 3:9) Nxa ungabathanda kakhulu abazalwane uzakuba lomusa kubo futhi ubazwisise. w23.09 28-29 ¶9-11

Umuntu kalutho. Iyamangalisa indlela umntwana akhula ngayo aze abe ngumuntu omdala futhi lokhu kuyazenzakalela. Kodwa akuzenzakaleli ukuthi umKhristu abe lokholo oluqinileyo futhi abe lobuntu obuhle. (1 Khor. 13:11; Heb. 6:1) Kuyabe kumele aqale abe ngumngane kaJehova futhi abeseduze kakhulu laye. Okunye okuqakathekileyo ngumoya ongcwele ngoba uzasinceda ukuthi sibe lobuntu obufunwa nguJehova, sifundele izinto ezizasinceda empilweni njalo silungiselele imisebenzi esingaba layo esikhathini esizayo. (Zaga. 1:5) UJehova wadala abantu kwaba labesilisa labesifazana. (Gen. 1:27) Kusegcekeni ukuthi abantu besilisa labesifazana babunjwa ngendlela etshiyeneyo. Kodwa batshiyene langezinye izindlela futhi. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova wadala amadoda labesifazana ukuze benze imisebenzi etshiyeneyo. Ngakho badinga ubuntu lolwazi oluzabanceda ukuthi bayenze kuhle leyomisebenzi.—Gen. 2:18. w23.12 18 ¶1-2

UJesu wayefuna yini ukuthi abanye balisebenzise ibizo likaYise? Ye wayefuna sibili. Kodwa ngalesosikhathi abanye abakhokheli benkolo bangabe babekholwa ukuthi ibizo likaNkulunkulu lingcwele kakhulu okokuthi kwakungamelanga likhulunywe ngabantu. Lanxa kunjalo uJesu kazange avume ukuthi imicabango le eyayingasekelwanga eLizwini likaNkulunkulu imvimbe ukuthi adumise ibizo likaYise. Ngokwesibonelo, wathi ekhiphe enye indoda amadimoni esabelweni samaGerasini, abantu besaba basebemncenga ukuthi asuke. UJesu wasuka esabelweni sabo. (Mak. 5:​16, 17) Lanxa kunjalo wayefuna ibizo likaJehova laziwe endaweni leyo. Yikho watshela indoda ayeyikhiphe amadimoni ukuthi itshele abantu lokho uJehova ayeyenzele khona, hatshi yena ayekwenzile. (Mak. 5:19) Lokho yikho afuna lathi sikwenze lamuhla. Ufuna senze ibizo likaYise laziwe emhlabeni wonke. (Mat. 24:14; 28:20) Nxa singenza njalo siyabe siyithokozisa iNkosi yethu uJesu. w24.02 10 ¶10

Sibusisiwe ngokuba yingxenye yenhlanganiso kaJehova kulezinsuku zokucina ezinzima. Impilo iqhubeka isiba nzima emhlabeni lo esiphila kuwo kodwa uJehova usinike abafowethu labodadewethu esikhonza labo simanyene. (Hubo. 133:1) Unceda lezimuli ukuthi zihlalisane kuhle futhi zithokoze. (Efe. 5:33–6:1) Uphinda asinike ukuhlakanipha kanye lokuqedisisa okusinceda ukuthi sihlale sithokoza njalo singakhathazeki kakhulu. Lanxa kunjalo kumele sisebenze nzima ukuze siqhubeke sikhonza uJehova sithembekile. Ngenxa yani? Ngenxa yokuthi ngezinye izikhathi abanye abantu bangasizwisa ubuhlungu. Kanti njalo singadaniswa ngamaphutha ethu ikakhulu nxa silokhu siphindaphinda into efananayo. Akumelanga sikhalale ukukhonza uJehova nxa omunye esikhonza laye engasidanisa. Kanti njalo kumele uqhubeke ukhonza uJehova nxa ungadaniswa ngumuntu otshade laye kumbe ungadaniswa yizinto oziphambanisayo. w24.03 14 ¶1-2

Uzahlala usizwa ngabanye abafowethu labodadewethu abakhetha ukwenza okunengi enkonzweni kaJehova. Abanye babo kungenzeka ukuthi bangena iSikolo Sabavangeli BoMbuso kumbe ukuthi bathuthela lapho okulabamemezeli abalutshwana khona. Nxa kuvuma ukuthi lawe wenze izinto lezi kungaba kuhle ukuthi uzenze. Abantu bakaJehova bahlala bedinga indlela abangangezelela ngazo inkonzo yabo. (Imiseb. 16:9) Kodwa ungenzani nxa izimo zakho zingakuvumeli ukuthi ungezelele inkonzo yakho khathesi? Ungazikhangeleli phansi usucabanga ukuthi awuqakathekanga njengabanye. Okuqakathekileyo yikuthi uqhubeke uqinisela emncintiswaneni wokuphila. (Mat. 10:22) Hlala ukhumbula ukuthi okuqakathekiswa nguJehova yikuthi wenze owenelisa ukukwenza kusiya ngezimo zakho. Le kuyabe kuyindlela eqakathekileyo yokuqhubeka ulandela uJesu ngemva kokubhabhathizwa kwakho.—Hubo. 26:1. w24.03 10 ¶11

UBaba wethu osezulwini uthembisa ukuthi uzasithethelela nxa singaphenduka ezonweni zethu. (Hubo. 86:5) Yikho nxa sizisola ngenhliziyo yonke ngenxa yezono esazenzayo kumele singathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uqinisile nxa esithi usesithethelele. Khumbula ukuthi uJehova uyazwisisa. Kakhangelelanga ukuthi simenzele izinto ezingaphezu kwamandla ethu. Uyakuqakathekisa konke esimenzela khona nxa sikwenza ngenhliziyo yonke. Cabanga langabantu okukhulunywa ngabo eBhayibhilini ababekhonza uJehova ngenhliziyo yonke. Ngokwesibonelo, umphostoli uPhawuli wamsebenzela nzima uJehova okweminyaka eminengi. Wahamba izinkulungwane zamakhilomitha njalo wavula amabandla amanengi. Kodwa impilo yakhe yatshintsha njalo wayengasenelisi ukutshumayela njengakuqala. Lokhu kwakusitsho ukuthi uNkulunkulu kasathokozi ngaye yini? Hatshi. Waqhubeka esenza konke okusemandleni akhe futhi uJehova wambusisa. (Imiseb. 28:​30, 31) Ngendlela efananayo, lokho esenelisa ukukwenzela uJehova kungatshintsha ngezinye izikhathi. Okuqakathekileyo kuye yikuthi siyabe sihloseni nxa simenzela imisebenzi yenkonzo. w24.03 27 ¶7, 9

Imithandazo kaJesu yafundisa abafundi bakhe okunengi mayelana lokuthandaza. UJesu wathandaza kanengi ngesikhathi esemhlabeni. Kwakumele adinge isikhathi sokuthandaza ngoba kwakukunengi okwakumele akwenze futhi wayehlala egcwalelwe ngabantu. (Mak. 6:​31, 45, 46) Wayevuka ekuseni kakhulu ukuze athole isikhathi sokuthandaza eyedwa. Ngelinye ilanga wathandaza ubusuku bonke ngoba wayefuna ukwenza isinqumo esiqakathekileyo. (Luk. 6:​12, 13) Ngobusuku bokucina uJesu engakabulawa wathandaza kanengi ecela uJehova ukuthi amncedise ukuthi aqhubeke ethembekile. (Mat. 26:​39, 42, 44) Okwenziwa nguJesu kusifundisa ukuthi kumele sizinike isikhathi sokuthandaza lanxa silezinto ezinengi zokwenza. Lokhu kungatsho ukuthi lathi sizinike isikhathi sokuthandaza ekuseni kakhulu kumbe ntambama. Singenza njalo siyabe sitshengisa uJehova ukuthi siyasiqakathekisa isipho lesi esiligugu. w23.05 3 ¶4-5

Unanzelele yini ukuthi umbhalo ophezulu uthini ngothando? Uthi, “seluthululelwe.” Esinye isichazamazwi seBhayibhili sithi uthando lukaNkulunkulu “lugelezela kithi njengamanzi omfula.” Amazwi la akuchaza kuhle ukuthi uJehova uyawathanda kakhulu amaKhristu agcotshiweyo! Abagcotshiweyo bayakwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ‘uyabathanda.’ (Jud. 1) Umphostoli uJohane wachasisa indlela abazizwa ngayo, wathi: “Khangelani ukuthi uBaba wasithanda njani saze sabizwa ngokuthi singabantwana bakaNkulunkulu!” (1 Joh. 3:1) UJehova uthanda abagcotshiweyo kuphela yini? Hatshi, utshengise ukuthi uyasithanda sonke. Yiphi indlela enkulu ukwedlula zonke uJehova atshengise ngayo ukuthi uyasithanda? Yikusihlawulela. Inhlawulo itshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda kakhulu ukwedlula loba ngubani.—Joh. 3:16; Rom. 5:8. w24.01 28 ¶9-10

Ivesi le iveza okwanceda uDavida ukuthi anqobe ukwesaba. Lanxa impilo yakhe yayisengozini, wacabangisisa ngalokho uJehova ayezamenzela khona. UDavida wayekwazi ukuthi uJehova wayezamsindisa ngesikhathi esifaneleyo. Phela uJehova wayethe uDavida wayezakuba yinkosi yako-Israyeli. (1 Sam. 16:​1, 13) Konke uJehova ayemthembisa khona, wayekuthatha angathi sekwenzakele. Kuyini uJehova athembise ukukwenzela khona? Kasikhangelelanga ukuthi asivikele kuzo zonke inhlupho ezingasehlela. Lanxa kunjalo, bonke ubunzima esihlangana labo khathesi uJehova uzabuqeda emhlabeni omutsha. (Isaya. 25:​7-9) UMdali wethu ulawo amandla okuvusa abantu abafileyo, lawokwelapha yonke imikhuhlane kanye lawokususa izitha zethu.—1 Joh. 4:4. w24.01 6 ¶12-13

Cabanga ngokuthi kungani wazinikela kuJehova njalo wabhabhathizwa. Wenza lokhu ngoba wawufuna ukusekela uJehova. Cabanga ngalokho okwenza wangathandabuzi ukuthi usulitholile iqiniso. Wafunda iqiniso ngoJehova wasuqalisa ukumhlonipha lokumthanda, wambona esenguYihlo osezulwini. Waba lokholo futhi lokhu kwenza wafuna ukuphenduka, wasuyekela ukwenza izinto ezimbi waqalisa ukwenza izinto ezihambelana lentando kaNkulunkulu. Wezwa ukhululeka ngesikhathi unanzelela ukuthi uNkulunkulu usekuthethelele. (Hubo. 32:2) Waqalisa ukubuya emihlanganweni yamaKhristu lokuxoxela abanye izinto ezinhle osuzifundile. Njengoba sewazinikela futhi wabhabhathizwa, ususendleleni eya ekuphileni futhi uzimisele ukuqhubeka uhamba kuyo. (Mat. 7:​13, 14) Zimisele ukuma uqine, ube qotho kuJehova njalo ulalele imithetho yakhe zikhathi zonke, ungavumi ukunyikinywa. w23.07 17 ¶14; 19 ¶19

Nxa ungacabangisisa ngomthandazo wokuzinikela kuJehova owawenzayo, uzathola amandla okumelana laloba yisiphi isilingo ongahlangana laso. Ngokwesibonelo, ungazidlisa satshanyana yini emuntwini otshadileyo? Ngeke, ngoba uyabe usuvele wazimisela ukuthi kawusoze wenze into enjalo. Nxa ungaphangisa ukulahla imicabango emibi, uzabalekela ubunzima obuhlangana lalabo abayekela imicabango emibi igxila ezingqondweni zabo. Lokhu kuzakunceda ukuthi ‘ungalugxobi endleleni yababi.’ (Zaga. 4:​14, 15) Ukucabangisisa ngalokho uJesu ayekwenza kungakunceda. Wayezimisele ukuhlala ethokozisa uYise. Ngakho lawe zimisele ukwala masinyane loba yini engasoze ithokozise uNkulunkulu wakho ozinikele kuye. (Mat. 4:10; Joh. 8:29) Izilingo kanye lenhlupho ohlangana lazo zikunika ithuba lokutshengisa ukuthi uzimisele ukuqhubeka ulandela uJesu. Qiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzakuncedisa nxa ungazimisela ukuqhubeka ulandela uJesu. w24.03 9-10 ¶8-10