ISAHLUKO 13

Imikhosi Engamthokozisiyo uNkulunkulu

“Lidinge okuthokozisa iNkosi.”—KWABASE-EFESU 5:10.

1. UJehova usondeza abantu abanjani kuye njalo kungani kumele sihlale sinanzelela lokho okufunwa nguNkulunkulu?

UJESU wathi, ‘Abakhonzi beqiniso bazamkhonza uBaba ngomoya langeqiniso, ngoba yibo abakhonzi abanjalo uBaba abadingayo.’ (UJohane 4:23) Lapho uJehova ethola abantu abanjalo njengoba lawe wakuthola, uyabasondeza kuye laseNdodaneni yakhe. (UJohane 6:44) Leso yisibusiso esikhulu kakhulu! Kodwa abathanda iqiniso leBhayibhili kumele ‘badinge okuthokozisa iNkosi,’ ngoba uSathane uyingcitshi yokuqila.—Kwabase-Efesu 5:10; ISambulo 12:9.

2. Chasisa ukuthi uJehova ubabona njani labo abahlanganisa inkolo yeqiniso leyamanga.

² Cabanga ngokwenzakala eNtabeni iSinayi lapho ama-Israyeli ecela u-Aroni ukuthi abenzele unkulunkulu. U-Aroni wavuma njalo wenza ithole legolide kodwa wathi lalimela uJehova. Wathi: “Kusasa kuzakuba lomkhosi kaJehova.” UJehova wayengelandaba yini ukuthi bahlanganisa inkolo yeqiniso leyamanga? Hatshi. Wenza ukuthi kubulawe abantu abayizinkulungwane ezintathu ababekhonze isithombe. (U-Eksodusi 32:1-6, 10, 28) Sifundani kulokhu? Nxa sifuna ukuzigcina sisethandweni lukaNkulunkulu, kumele ‘singathinti lutho olungcolileyo’ njalo sivikele iqiniso ukuze lingonakaliswa yiloba yini.—U-Isaya 52:11; UHezekheli 44:23; KwabaseGalathiya 5:9.

3, 4. Kungani kumele siqakathekise izimiso zeBhayibhili nxa sihlola imikhuba lemikhosi ejayelekileyo?

³ Okudanisayo yikuthi ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli, okuyibo ababesenza ukuthi amaKhristu angalandeli izimfundiso zamanga, abantu ababezithi bangamaKhristu ababengalithandi iqiniso baqalisa ukulandela imikhuba lemikhosi yabahedeni kanye lokugcina amalanga ayebonwa ngabahedeni “njengangcwele” besithi ngokwesiKhristu. (2 KwabaseThesalonika 2:7, 10) Njengoba sizabe sixoxa ngeminye yemikhosi le, nanzelela ukuthi itshengisa njani umoya womhlaba hatshi okaNkulunkulu. Izikhathi ezinengi, imikhosi yomhlaba ilokuthile efanana ngakho: Ikhanga izinkanuko zomzimba njalo ikhuthaza okukholelwa yinkolo yamanga kanye lokusebenzelana lemimoya, konke lokhu okuzimpawu ‘zeBhabhiloni eNkulu.’a (ISambulo 18:2-4, 23) Khumbula ukuthi uJehova wabona ngawakhe ukwenyanyeka kwemikhuba yabahedeni okuvela khona yonke imikhuba ejayelekileyo. Lalamuhla, akuthandabuzwa ukuthi imikhosi enjalo iyenyanyeka kuJehova. Lathi kumele siyibone ngendlela efananayo imikhosi le.—2 UJohane 6, 7.

⁴ Njengoba singamaKhristu eqiniso, siyakwazi ukuthi imikhosi ethile kayimthokozisi uJehova. Ngakho kumele sizimisele ngenhliziyo yonke ukungahlanganyeli emikhosini enjalo. Ukuhlola kafitshane izizathu ezenza uJehova angathokozi ngemikhosi enjalo kuzaqinisa ukuzimisela kwethu ukuthi sibalekele loba yini engenza singahlali sisethandweni lukaNkulunkulu.

UKUKHONZA ILANGA KWETHIWA IBIZO ELITSHA ELITHI IKHISIMUSI

5. Kungani singaba leqiniso lokuthi uJesu kazalwanga mhlaka 25 December?

⁵ IBhayibhili kalikhulumi ngokunanzwa kwelanga likaJesu lokuzalwa. Iqiniso yikuthi vele ilanga lakhe lokuzalwa kalaziwa. Kodwa sileqiniso lokuthi kazalwanga mhlaka 25 December okuyinyanga elomqando kuleyondawo azalelwa kuyo.b Isizathu esenza sibe leqiniso lokuthi uJesu kazalwanga ngalelolanga ngesokuthi uLukha wabhala esithi ‘abelusi babehlala emlageni’ belinda imihlambi yabo yezimvu ebusuku ngesikhathi uJesu azalwa ngaso. (ULukha 2:8-11) Ngabe kwakungumkhuba wabo ukuhlala “emlageni” umnyaka wonke, lokho kwakungasoze kuqanjwe. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi eBhethilehema kubalezulu kanye longqwaqwane, imihlambi yayingeke igcinwe egangeni njalo abelusi babengasoze ‘babesemlageni.’ Okunye yikuthi uJosefa loMariya baya eBhethilehema ngoba uKhesari Agastu wayelaye ukuthi kube lokubalwa kwabantu. (ULukha 2:1-7) Kwakungeke kwenzeke ukuthi uKhesari alaye abantu ababengawuthandi umbuso wamaRoma ukuthi baye emadolobheni azalelwa okhokho babo khona kuyisikhathi somqando.

6, 7. (a) Imikhuba eminengi yeKhisimusi yasukela ngaphi? (b) Yiwuphi umehluko okhona phakathi kokupha kwamaKhristu lokupha ngesikhathi seKhisimusi?

⁶ IKhisimusi kakukhulunywa ngayo eMibhalweni kodwa isukela emikhosini yabahedeni yasendulo enjengo-Saturnalia waseRoma, umkhosi owawungoka-Saturn unkulunkulu wezokulima. Ngendlela efananayo, ibhuku okuthiwa yi-New Catholic Encyclopedia lithi abakhonza unkulunkulu u-Mithra babesenza umkhosi “wosuku lokuzalwa kwelanga elinganqobekiyo” mhlaka 25 December. “IKhisimusi yaqalisa ngesikhathi ukukhonzwa kwelanga kusenziwa kakhulu eRoma,” ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-300 uJesu efile.

AmaKhristu eqiniso apha ngoba ethanda abanye

⁷ Ngezikhathi zemikhosi le, abahedeni babenikana izipho njalo besidla, okuyizinto ezenziwa ngesikhathi seKhisimusi lamuhla. Kodwa njengoba kusenzakala lamuhla, ukunikana izipho ngeKhisimusi okwakusenziwa ngezikhathi zamaRoma kwakungahambisani lalokho okubhalwe ku-2 KwabaseKhorinte 9:7, ethi: “Umuntu ngamunye kanike lokho amise enhliziyweni yakhe ukukunikela, kungabi luhonono loba ngokubanjwa ngamandla ngoba uNkulunkulu uthanda onikela ngokuthokoza.” AmaKhristu eqiniso apha ngoba ethanda abanye, kawaphi ngelanga elithile kuphela njalo kawakhangeleli ukuthi nxa engapha lawo aphiwe. (ULukha 14:12-14; bala imiSebenzi 20:35.) Okunye yikuthi bayabonga ukungahlanganiswa kusiphithiphithi sesikhathi seKhisimusi lobunzima bokubhadala izikwelede ezenziwa ngabantu abanengi ngalesisikhathi somnyaka.—UMathewu 11:28-30; UJohane 8:32.

8. Izazi zezinkayenzi zapha uJesu izipho zelanga lakhe lokuzalwa yini? Chasisa.

⁸ Kodwa abanye bangahle, babuze ‘izazi zezinkanyezi zona kazimphanga yini uJesu izipho zelanga lakhe lokuzalwa?’ Hatshi. Ukupha kwabo kwakuyindlela yokutshengisa ukuthi bahlonipha uJesu ngoba engumuntu oqakatheke kakhulu. Lokhu kwakujayele ukwenziwa ngezikhathi zeBhayibhili. (1 AmaKhosi 10:1, 2, 10, 13; UMathewu 2:2, 11) Iqiniso yikuthi kabazange babuye ngelanga uJesu azalwa ngalo. Kabafikanga uJesu eseselusane esitebeleni kodwa bafika eselezinyanga ezinengi ezelwe njalo esehlala endlini.

KUMELE NGIHLANGANYELE YINI EMKHOSINI OTHILE?

Isimiso: “‘Ngakho phumani kubo lehlukane labo, kutsho iNkosi. Lingathinti lutho olungcolileyo, mina ngizalemukela.’”—2 KwabaseKhorinte 6:17.

Eminye imibuzo okumele uzibuze yona mayelana lomkhosi kumbe lomkhuba ojayelekileyo

Ukhanya ngokucacileyo yini ukuthi wasukela emfundisweni yenkolo yamanga, okugoqela ukusebenzelana lemimoya?—U-Isaya 52:11; 1 KwabaseKhorinte 4:6; 2 KwabaseKhorinte 6:14-18; ISambulo 18:4.
Udumisa ngendlela engafanelanga yini umuntu othile, inhlanganiso ethile kumbe uphawu oluthile lwelizwe?—UJeremiya 17:5-7; ImiSebenzi 10:25, 26; 1 UJohane 5:21.
Uphakamisa umhlobo othile kumbe iqembu elithile njengelingcono kulamanye yini?—ImiSebenzi 10:34, 35; 17:26.
Utshengisa “umoya wasemhlabeni” yini, ophikisana lomoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu?—1 KwabaseKhorinte 2:12; Kwabase-Efesu 2:2.
Ukuhlanganyela kwami kuwo kungakhuba abanye yini?—KwabaseRoma 14:21.
Nxa ngingakhetha ukuhlanganyela kuwo, ngingachasisa njani izizathu zami kwabanye ngendlela etshengisa inhlonipho?—KwabaseRoma 12:1, 2; KwabaseKholose 4:6.

Imibhalo elandelayo ingancedisa ekuphenduleni imibuzo emayelana lemikhosi ejayelekileyo:

“[Ama-Israyeli ayengathembekanga] baphithikana labezizwe bathatha imikhubo yazo.”—IHubo 106:35.
“Lowo ongathenjwa ngokuncinyane angathenjwa njalo ngokunengi, ikanti lowo ongathembekanga ngokuncinyane angeke njalo athembeke ngokunengi.”—ULukha 16:10.
“Kalisibo abomhlaba.”—UJohane 15:19.
“Alingeke libe lokuhlanganyela etafuleni leNkosi lasetafuleni lamadimoni.”—1 KwabaseKhorinte 10:21.
“Ngoba selichithe isikhathi esaneleyo ngaphambili lisenza lokho abahedeni abakhetha ukukwenza—impilo yobudlova, inkanuko, lokudakwa, ukuzitika, ukuzivusa amadlabuzane kanye lezithombe eziyisinengiso.”—1 UPhetro 4:3.

OKUTSHIWO LIBHAYIBHILI NGAMALANGA OKUZALWA

9. Kuyini okwenzakala ngesikhathi kunanzwa amalanga okuzalwa amabili okukhulunywa ngawo eBhayibhilini.

⁹ Lanxa ukuzalwa komntwana kuyinto ethokozisayo izikhathi ezinengi, iBhayibhili kalikhulumi ngokunanzwa kosuku lokuzalwa lwaloba yiphi inceku kaNkulunkulu. (IHubo 127:3) Lokhu kwakuliphutha yini? Hatshi, ngoba kukhulunywa ngokunanzwa kwamalanga amabili okuzalwa, elikaFaro waseGibhithe lelikaHerodi Antiphasi. (Bala uGenesisi 40:20-22; UMakho 6:21-29.) Kodwa zombili izenzakalo lezo kakukhulunywa ngazo kuhle ikakhulu esikaHerodi esenza uJohane uMbhaphathizi waqunywa ikhanda.

10, 11. AmaKhristu akuqala ayekubona njani ukunanzwa kwamalanga okuzalwa njalo kungani kwakunjalo?

¹⁰ Ibhuku okuthiwa yi-The World Book Encyclopedia lithi, “AmaKhristu akuqala ayebona ukunanzwa kwelanga lokuzalwa likaloba ngubani njengomkhuba wabahedeni.” Ngokwesibonelo, amaGiriki asendulo ayekholwa ukuthi kulomoya obakhona ekuzalweni komuntu ngamunye njalo umoya lowo uyamvikela okwempilo yakhe yonke. Ibhuku elithi The Lore of Birthdays lithi: “Umoya lo wawusebenza ngendlela eyimfihlo lonkulunkulu obakhona nxa umuntu ezalwa.” Amalanga okuzalwa futhi alesikhathi eside ehlanganiswa lokufundwa kwezinkanyezi.

AMALANGA ABONWA “NJENGANGWELE“ KANYE LOKUKHONZA USATHANE

Kumele sikunanzelele ukuthi ilanga eliqakatheke kakhulu ukwedlula wonke enkolweni yokukhonza uSathane yilanga lomuntu lokuzalwa. Kungani? Ngenxa yokuthi abakhonza uSathane bakholwa ukuthi umuntu ngamunye ungunkulunkulu nxa engakhetha ukuzibona njalo. Yikho ukunanzwa kosuku lokuzalwa yikunanza ukuzalwa kukankulunkulu. Kuliqiniso ukuthi abantu abanengi kabacabangi ngendlela yokuziphakamisa enjalo. Kodwa, ibhuku okuthiwa yi-The Lore of Birthdays lithi: “Amanye amakhefu enza ukuthi inhliziyo ithokoze, kodwa amalanga okuzalwa enza umuntu acabange ukuthi uqakathekile.”

Amanye amalanga “angcwele” ukwedlula wonke ekhalendeni labakhonza uSathane yibusuku be-Walpurgis kanye le-Halloween. I-Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary ichasisa ubusuku be-Walpurgis ngokuthi “yibusuku kuzakusa kuyi-May Day lapho okukholwa ukuthi abathakathi bahamba bayehlangana endaweni eyabe ivunyelwene.”

¹¹ Okunye okwakusenza izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zasendulo zingalandeli imikhuba yamalanga okuzalwa yikuthi yasukela kubahedeni lasezintweni zobudimoni. Kodwa esinye isizathu esasisenza benze njalo yikuthi babelezimiso. Kungani sisitsho njalo? Laba kwakungabantu abathobekileyo ababengaboni ukuzalwa kwabo njengokuqakatheke kakhulu okokuthi kumele bakunanze.c (UMikha 6:8; ULukha 9:48) Kulokuthi benze njalo, babedumisa uJehova njalo bembonga ngesipho sokuphila esiligugu.d—AmaHubo 8:3, 4; 36:9; ISambulo 4:11.

12. Kungenzakala njani ukuthi ilanga lethu lokufa libe ngcono kulelanga lethu lokuzalwa?

¹² Bonke abafa bethembekile kuNkulunkulu basenkumbulweni yakhe njalo impilo yabo yakusasa ivikelekile. (UJobe 14:14, 15) UmTshumayeli 7:1 uthi: “Ibizo elihle lingcono kulamakha amnandi, lelanga lokufa lingcono kulelanga lokuzalwa.” “Ibizo” lethu yibuhlobo obuhle loNkulunkulu esibuthole ngokumkhonza ngokuthembeka. Kuqakathekile ukuthi sinanzelele ukuthi isenzakalo okwathiwa amaKhristu asikhumbule siphathelane lokufa hatshi ukuzalwa kukaJesu, “ibizo” lakhe elihle kakhulu liqakathekile ukuze sisindiswe.—KumaHebheru 1:3, 4; ULukha 22:17-20.

**I-EASTER—UKUKHONZWA KWENZALO ABANENGI ABATHI LIKHEFU LIKAKHRISTU**

13, 14. Imikhuba eminengi eye-Easter edume kakhulu isukela ngaphi?

¹³ I-Easter yaziwa ngokuthi yikunanzwa kokufa kukaKhristu kodwa iqiniso yikuthi isukela enkolweni yamanga. Ibizo elithi Easter lihlanganiswa le-Eostre, kumbe i-Ostara, unkulunkulukazi we-Anglo-Saxon wokukhanya lowokulima. Kwenzakala njani ukuthi amaqanda lomvundla kusetshenziswe ngesikhathi se-Easter? Ibhuku okuthiwa yi-Encyclopædia Britannica lithi amaqanda “ayedumile njengezimpawu zempilo entsha kanye lovuko,” besekusithi umvundla usulesikhathi eside usetshenziswa njengophawu lwenzalo. Ngakho iqiniso yikuthi i-Easter ngumkhosi odumisa inzalo okwathiwa ngowokuzalwa kukaJesu.e

¹⁴ UJehova angavuma yini ukuthi umkhuba ongcolileyo wenzalo ukhunjulwe njengokuvuswa kweNdodana yakhe? Hatshi! (2 KwabaseKhorinte 6:17, 18) Iqiniso yikuthi iMibhalo kayikhuthazi futhi kayilayi ukuthi kukhunjulwe ukuvuswa kukaJesu. Ngakho-ke ukunanza ukuvuswa kukaJesu kusetshenziswa ibizo lokuthi Easter kuyikungathembeki okukhulu kakhulu.

UMNYAKA OMUTSHA—WASUKELA NGAPHI?

15. Kungani kungamelanga izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zinanze umkhosi woMnyaka Omutsha?

¹⁵ Umkhosi wokunanzwa koMnyaka Omutsha usukela emasikweni abahedeni. Imikhuba lelanga lokunanza uMnyaka Omutsha kuyatshiyana iLizwe ngeLizwe. Isichazamazwi okuthiwa yi-Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend sithi: “Amazwe amanengi aseYurophu laweMelika ananza ukudlula komnyaka omdala lokufika komnyaka omutsha ngamadili amakhulu, ngokunatha langokugida ngendlela engelasimilo.” Isichazamazwi leso siphinde sithi lakwamanye amazwe “babona ukuphela komnyaka kanye lokuqalisa komunye njengesikhathi sokukholisa.” Kodwa uRoma 13:13 uyaxwayisa: “Kasiziphatheni kuhle, njengasemini, hatshi emadilini okuminza lokudakwa, hatshi ekuxhwaleni kokufeba lentokozo yobugangi, hatshi ngokuxabana langomona.”—1 UPhetro 4:3, 4; KwabaseGalathiya 5:19-21.

GCINA UMTSHADO WAKHO UHLANZEKILE

16, 17. (a) Kungani abafuna ukutshada kumele basebenzise izimiso zeBhayibhili ukuze bahlole imikhuba ethile eyenziwa emitshadweni? (b) Kuyini okumele amaKhristu acabange ngakho endabeni yemikhuba enjengeyokuhaza irayisi kumbe okunye?

¹⁶ Masinyane “ilizwi lomyeni lelomlobokazi kalisoze lizwakale kuwe [Bhabhiloni eNkulu] futhi.” (ISambulo 18:23) Kungani? Esinye sezizathu ngesokusebenzelana kweBhabhiloni Enkulu lemimoya. Lokhu kungenza umtshado ungcole kusukela ngelanga lomtshado.—UMakho 10:6-9.

¹⁷ Imikhuba iyatshiyana indawo ngendawo. Eminye imikhuba engakhanya angani kayilimazi ingaba ngesukela emikhubeni yeBhabhiloni ekhangelelwe ukuthi ilethe ‘inhlanhla’ kwabatshadayo kumbe kwabaze emtshadweni. (U-Isaya 65:11) Eminye imikhuba le igoqela ukuhaza irayisi kumbe okunye. Umkhuba lo ungabe wasukela ekukholweni ukuthi ukudla lokho okuhazwayo kuthokozisa imimoya emibi ukuze ingalimazi labo abatshadayo. Okunye yikuthi sekulesikhathi eside irayisi kuthiwa inika ngendlela eyisimangaliso inzalo, intokozo kanye lempilo ende. Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi bonke abafuna ukuhlala besethandweni lukaNkulunkulu kumele bangalandeli yonke imikhuba engcolileyo.—Bala u-2 Khorinte 6:14-18.

18. Yiziphi izimiso zeBhayibhili okumele ziqondise labo abatshadayo kanye lalabo abaze emtshadweni?

¹⁸ Ngendlela efananayo, izinceku zikaJehova ziyayibalekela imikhuba yomhlaba enjalo engenza imitshado kanye lokwenzelwa khona imitshado kungabi lesithunzi kumbe kulimaze umzwangedwa wabanye. Ngokwesibonelo, babalekela ukukhuluma ngezemacansini, ukuphoxa okucaphulayo lokudlala ngezinto ezingenza abatshadayo kanye labanye babelenhloni. (IZaga 26:18, 19; ULukha 6:31; 10:27) Babalekela lezindawo zokutshadela ezimangalisayo kakhulu ezingatshengisi ukuthobeka kodwa ezitshengisa ‘ukuzigqaja ngezimpahla.’ (1 UJohane 2:16) Nxa uhlela umtshado, khumbula ukuthi uJehova ufuna lelolanga lakho eliqakathekileyo libe yinto ongasoze uzisole ngayo kodwa kube yinto ozathokoza ngayo.f

UKUTSHAYANISA AMAGILASI NGUMKHUBA WEZENKOLO YINI?

19, 20. Elinye ibhuku lithi umkhuba wokutshayanisa amagilasi wavelangaphi, futhi kungani umkhuba lo ungamukelwa kumaKhristu?

¹⁹ Omunye umkhuba ojayelekileyo emitshadweni lakweminye imibuthano yikutshayanisa amagilasi. Ibhukwana okuthiwa yi-International Handbook on Alcohol and Culture ka-1995 lithi: “Ukutshayanisa amagilasi . . . ngumkhuba walezinsuku owasukela emihlatshelweni yasendulo lapho okunathwayo okungcwele okwakunikelwa kubonkulunkulu . . . ukuze umuntu athole ayekufisa, umthandazo ofinqwe ngamazwi athi ‘mpilo ende!’ kumbe ‘kumpilakahle yakho!’”

²⁰ Kuliqiniso ukuthi abantu abanengi babona ukutshayaniswa kwamagilasi kungayisiwo mkhuba wenkolo. Kodwa umkhuba wokuphakamisa amagilasi ungahle ubonwe njengokucela isibusiso samandla angaphezu kwajayelekileyo “ezulwini” ngendlela engahambisani leMibhalo.—UJohane 14:6; 16:23.g

“AKUTHI BONKE ABAMTHANDAYO, UJEHOVA, BAZONDE OKUBI”

21. Lanxa eminye imikhosi edumileyo ingasukeli enkolweni, kungani amaKhristu kumele angahlanganyeli kuyo futhi kungani kumele enze njalo?

²¹ Umkhuba okhuthazwa yiBhabhiloni eNkulu ngezindlela ezitshiyeneyo utshengisa ukuwohloka kwezimiso zomhlaba walamuhla, ngoba minyaka yonke amanye amazwe abhadalela ukuthi kwenziwe imidlalo elokugida okungelabuntu futhi kujatshulelwa lempilo yezitabane. Kungaba kuhle yini ukuthi abantu abathanda uJehova bahlanganyele emidlalweni le kumbe ukuthi bayibukele? Ukwenza njalo kutshengisa yini ukuthi bayakuzonda okubi ngenhliziyo yonke? (AmaHubo 1:1, 2; 97:10) Ngakho-ke, kungcono kakhulu ukulingisela umbono womhubi owakhuleka esithi: “Phendula amehlo ami asuke ezintweni ezingesulutho”!—IHubo 119:37.

22. Kunini lapho umKhristu angasebenzisa khona umzwangedwa wakhe ukuze akhethe ukuthi uzahlanganyela yini emkhosini othile loba hatshi?

²² Ngamalanga emikhosi yomhlaba, umKhristu kumele ananzelele ukuthi kenzi abanye bacabange ukuthi uyahlanganyela emkhosini lowo ngendlela enza ngayo. UPhawuli wabhala wathi, “Ngakho langabe liyadla kumbe liyanatha, loba kuyikuphi elikwenzayo, kwenzeleni udumo lukaNkulunkulu.” (1 KwabaseKhorinte 10:31; bona ibhokisi elithi “Ukwenza Izinqumo Ezitshengisa Ukuhlakanipha.”) Kodwa nxa umkhuba kumbe umkhosi ungelazici zenkolo yamanga, ungayisiwo ngxenye yezombangazwe njalo ungephuli izimiso zeBhayibhili, umKhristu ngamunye angazikhethela ukuthi uzahlanganyela yini kuwo loba hatshi. Lapho esenza isinqumo, kumele acabange ngokuthi abanye bazizwa njani ukuze angabakhubi.

DUMISA UNKULUNKULU NGAMAZWI LANGEZENZO

23, 24. Sinika njani ubufakazi obuhle ngezimiso zikaJehova ezilungileyo?

²³ Abanye babona amalanga emikhosi ethile edumileyo njengamathuba okuba ndawonye kwezimuli labangane. Ngakho nxa omunye umuntu engacabanga ngendlela eyiphutha ukuthi ukungahlanganyeli kwethu emikhosini ethile ngenxa yezizathu eziseMibhalweni kakutshengisi uthando, singamchasisela ukuthi oFakazi bakaJehova bayakuqakathekisa ukuba ndawonye kwezimuli labangane okwakhayo. (IZaga 11:25; UmTshumayeli 3:12, 13; 2 KwabaseKhorinte 9:7) Kuyasithokozisa ukuba lalabo esibathandayo ngasosonke isikhathi somnyaka, kodwa ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu siyamthanda kanye lezimiso zakhe ezilungileyo, kasifuni kungcolisa izikhathi lezi ezithokozisayo ngemikhuba engamthokozisiyo.—Bona ibhokisi elithi “Ukukhonza Kweqiniso Kuletha Intokozo Enkulu Kakhulu.”

UKUKHONZA KWEQINISO KULETHA INTOKOZO ENKULU KAKHULU

UJehova “unguNkulunkulu othokozayo” njalo ufuna izinceku zakhe zithokoze. (1 KuThimothi 1:11, NW) Iqiniso lelo likhanya emibhalweni elandelayo:

“Othokozayo unjengosedilini kokuphela.”—IZaga 15:15, The Holy Bible in Ndebele.
“Ngiyakwazi ukuthi kakukho okungcono ebantwini kulokuthi bajabule njalo benze okuhle besaphila. Ukuthi wonke umuntu adle, anathe azuze ukusuthiseka ekusebenzeni gadalala kwakhe—lokhu kuyisipho sikaNkulunkulu.”—UmTshumayeli 3:12, 13.
“Umuntu ophanayo, upha iseluleko ngezinto zokuphana; njalo ngokuphathelane lezinto zokuphana, yena ngokwakhe uzaphakama.”—U-Isaya 32:8, NW.
‘Wozani kimi lina lonke elikhatheleyo lelisindwayo, ngizaliphumuza. Ngokuba ijogwe lami lilula lomthwalo wami kawusindi.’—UMathewu 11:28, 30.
“Lizalazi iqiniso, njalo iqiniso lizalikhulula.”—UJohane 8:32.
“Umuntu ngamunye kanike lokho amise enhliziyweni yakhe ukukunikela, kungabi luhonono loba ngokubanjwa ngamandla, ngoba uNkulunkulu uthanda onikela ngokuthokoza.”—2 KwabaseKhorinte 9:7.
‘Izithelo zikamoya luthando, lokuthokoza, lokuthula, lomusa, lokulunga.’—KwabaseGalathiya 5:22.
“Izithelo zokukhanya zikhona kubo bonke ubuhle, lokulunga kanye leqiniso.”—Kwabase-Efesu 5:9.

²⁴ Amanye amaKhristu aphumelele kakhulu ekufundeni imicijo esesahlukweni 16 sebhuku elithi IBhayibhili Lifundisani Sibili?h lalabo ababuza befuna sibili ukwazi. Kumele sikhumbule ukuthi esikufunayo yikuthi umuntu akwazi iqiniso hatshi ukuthi sinqobe ukuphikisana. Ngakho-ke kumele ube lenhlonipho, ungazondi njalo ‘ingxoxo yakho ibe lomusa, ifakwe itshwayi.’—KwabaseKholose 4:6.

25, 26. Abazali bangabanceda njani abantwana babo ukuthi bakhule ekukholweni kanye lasekuthandeni kwabo uJehova?

²⁵ Njengezinceku zikaJehova, sifundiswe izinto ezinengi. Siyakwazi ukuthi kungani sikholwa izinto ezithile, ukuthi kungani sisenza ezinye izinto lokuthi kungani singenzi izinto ezithile. (KumaHebheru 5:14) Ngakho bazali fundisani abantwana benu ukuthi basebenzise izimiso zeBhayibhili. Ngokwenza njalo, liyabe libanceda ukuthi basebenzise iMibhalo lapho bephendula labo abababuza ngabakukholwayo njalo liyabe libenza babeleqiniso lokuthi uJehova uyabathanda.—U-Isaya 48:17, 18; 1 UPhetro 3:15.

²⁶ Bonke abakhonza uNkulunkulu “ngomoya langeqiniso” kababalekeli kuphela imikhosi engavumelani leBhayibhili kodwa balwela lokuhlala bethembekile ekuphileni kwabo kwansukuzonke. (UJohane 4:23) Lamuhla, abantu abanengi bacabanga ukuthi kakuncedi ukuthi umuntu athembeke. Kodwa njengoba sizabona esahlukweni esilandelayo, izindlela zikaNkulunkulu ziyanceda kakhulu.

a Bona ibhokisi elithi “Kumele Ngihlanganyele Yini Emkhosini Othile?” Amanye amalanga abonwa “njengangcwele” kanye lemikhosi kubhalwe ku-Watch Tower Publications Index, edindwe ngoFakazi bakaJehova.

b Ngokusekelwe embalini eseMibhalweni lesemabhukwini abantu, uJesu angabe wazalwa ngo-2 B.C.E. ngenyanga yesiJuda ka-Ethanimi, eqondana lo-September/October ngokwekhalenda lethu lalamuhla.—Bona i-Insight on the Scriptures, umqulu 2, emakhasini 56-57, edindwe ngoFakazi bakaJehova.

c Bona ibhokisi elithi “Amalanga Abonwa Njengangcwele Kanye Lokukhonza USathane.”

d Isivumelwano soMthetho sasifuna ukuthi owesifazana anikele umhlatshelo wesono kuNkulunkulu ngemva kokubeletha. (ULevi 12:1-8) Lokhu kwakukhumbuza abesifazana iqiniso elibuhlungu lokuthi abantu badlulisela isono ebantwaneni babo njalo kwakuzanceda ama-Israyeli ukuthi abelombono olungileyo ngokuzalwa komntwana njalo lokhu kwakungahle kuwavikele ekuthini angalandeli imikhuba yabahedeni eyamalanga okuzalwa.—IHubo 51:5.

e U-Eostre (kumbe u-Eastre) laye wayengunkulunkulukazi wenzalo. NgokweSichazamazwi okuthiwa yi-The Dictionary of Mythology, “wayelomvundla owawusenyangeni owawuthanda amaqanda njalo ngezinye izikhathi unkulunkulu lowo wayetshengiswa elekhanda lomvundla.”

f Bona izihloko ezintathu ezimayelana lemitshado kanye lemibuthano yabangane ku-Nqabayokulinda ka-October 15, 2006, emakhasini 18-31.

g Bona i-Nqabayokulinda ka-February 15, 2007, emakhasini 30-31.

h Elidindwe ngoFakazi bakaJehova.

UKWENZA IZINQUMO EZITSHENGISA UKUHLAKANIPHA

Ngezinye izikhathi, kungaba lezimo okufanele sitshengise ukuthi siyamthanda yini uJehova lokuthi siyazwisisa yini ukuthi izimiso zeBhayibhili zisebenza njani? Ngokwesibonelo, umKhristu angamenywa ngulowo atshade laye ongakholwayo ukuthi ayekudla lezihlobo zakhe ngesikhathi sekhefu elinanzwa ngabantu abanengi. Amanye amaKhristu angasamukela isimemo leso kodwa amanye angala. Nxa umKhristu angasamukela isimemo esinjalo, kumele enze kucace ukuthi uvakatshe ngenjongo yokuzokudla lezihlobo kuphela hatshi ukuthi ananze ikhefu lelo.

Kungaba yikuhlakanipha ukuthi umKhristu akhulume latshade laye bengakayikudla lezihlobo, kodwa lokhu kumele akwenze ngenhlonipho. Kumele amchasisele ukuthi kungayangisa kangakanani ukuthi yena yedwa ale ukuhlanganyela lezihlobo ezinanza ikhefu. Lowo atshade laye ongakholwayo angakhetha ukuthi bavakatshele izihlobo lezi ngelinye ilanga.—1 UPhetro 3:15.

Kodwa kuthiwani nxa indoda yomfazi ongumKhristu ilokhu iqhubekela phambili isithi umkayo ahambe layo ngemva kokuthi inkosikazi le isimchasisele ukuthi kungani ingahambi? Inkosikazi le ingaphetha ngokuthi njengoba umkayo eyinhloko yemuli, ulomsebenzi wokupha imuli ukudla. (KwabaseKholose 3:18) Ngelanga leli, umkakhe ufeza umsebenzi wakhe wokupha imuli ukudla ngokuhlela ukuthi bayekudla lezihlobo. Inkosikazi le engumKhristu ingathola lethuba elihle lokufakaza ngesikhathi leso. Akutsho ukuthi ukudla lokho sekungcolile ngenxa yokuthi kudliwa ngekhefu elinanzwa ngabantu abanengi. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 8:8) UmKhristu angabona ukudla lokho njengokwansuku zonke, futhi angahlanganyeli ekubingeleleni kwekhefu lelo, ezingomeni zalo, ekutshayaniseni amagilasi lokunye okuhambisana lalelokhefu.

Okunye okumele umKhristu acabange ngakho yikuthi ukuyakudla lezihlobo ngelanga lelo kungaphatha njani abanye akhonza labo. Inkosikazi engumKhristu kumele icabange ngokuthi abanye bangakhubeka nxa bengezwa ngokuvakatshela kwakhe izihlobo ezingakhonziyo ngelanga lelo.—1 KwabaseKhorinte 8:9; 10:23, 24.

Okunye okumele acabange ngakho yikuthi izihlobo lezo zizamcindezela yini ukuthi avume ukunanza ikhefu lelo? Ngenxa yokungafuni ukuyangeka, umKhristu angakubona sekunzima ukwala! Ngakho kuqakathekile ukuthi umKhristu acabangisise ngendaba le kuseselesikhathi, ehlolisisa lokho esesixoxe ngakho njalo asebenzise lomzwangedwa wakhe ofundiswe kuhle.—ImiSebenzi 24:16.

Kumele Ngiyamukele Yini Ibhonasi Yekhisimusi?

Ngesikhathi seKhisimusi, umqhatshi angangezelela iholo lezisebenzi zakhe ngokuzipha ibhonasi. UmKhristu kumele angayamukeli yini? Hatshi. Umqhatshi angabe engacabangi ngokuthi nxa izisebenzi zakhe zingamukela ibhonasi le ziyabe sezinanza iKhisimusi. Umqhatshi angabe enika izisebenzi zakhe zonke ingxenye yemali etholwe yinkampani. Ibhonasi ingabe ingeyokubonga umsebenzi owenziwe yizisebenzi zakhe umnyaka wonke njalo kuyikuzikhuthaza ukuthi ziqhubekele phambili ngokusebenza nzima. Umqhatshi angapha izisebenzi zakhe zonke izipho futhi phakathi kwalezi zisebenzi kungaba lamaJuda, amaMozilemu kumbe abanye nje, kungelani lokuthi bayananza iKhisimusi kumbe hatshi. Ngakho isikhathi lesosipho esibuye ngaso kumbe ibizo lekhefu langaleso sikhathi kakutsho ukuthi umuntu onguFakazi kaJehova kumele angasamukeli.

Lanxa isipho singaphiwa ngekhefu elithile, lokhu akutsho ukuthi osamukelayo ulombono ofananayo ngekhefu lelo. Omunye umuntu osebenza lomKhristu kumbe isihlobo somKhristu singamtshela ukuthi, “Ngiyakwazi ukuthi kawulinanzi ikhefu leli, kodwa ngifuna ukuthi wamukele isipho lesi engikunika sona.” Nxa umzwangedwa womKhristu ungamhluphi ngalokho, angakhetha ukusamukela isipho leso njalo abonge engakuhlanganisi lekhefu lelo. (ImiSebenzi 23:1) Ngesikhathi lapho angeke akhube khona abanye, umKhristu angachasisa ngokuhlakanipha ukuthi yena akalinanzi ikhefu lelo.

Kodwa kuthiwani nxa lowo onika umKhristu isipho efuna ukutshengisa ukuthi umKhristu lowo kaqinanga ekukholweni kwakhe kumbe ukuthi angalinanza ikhefu lelo nxa engaphiwa isipho? Nxa kunjalo, kungaba ngcono ukungasamukeli isipho leso. Sifuna ukuba leqiniso lokuthi sikhonza uJehova uNkulunkulu kuphela.—UMathewu 4:8-10.