UJehova uMngane Wethu Obedlula Bonke

1. Ngenxa yokuthi sadalwa ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu, silawaphi amakhono?

ABANTU bakujayele ukuthi, “Umfana lo ufanana xathu loyise.” Kunjalo sibili, abantwana abanengi bafana xathu labazali babo. Kuvele kuyimvelo ukuthi umntwana afuze uyise lonina. UBaba wethu osezulwini, uJehova nguye osipha ukuphila. (Hubo. 36:⁠9) Kanti njalo thina abantwabakhe abasemhlabeni simfuzile kwezinye izinto. Ngenxa yokuthi sadalwa ngomfanekiso wakhe, silekhono lokucabanga, ukwenza izinqumo lokuba labangane siphinde siqhubeke silobungane labo.​—⁠Gen. 1:⁠26.

2. Kuyini okungenza uJehova abe nguMngane wethu?

2 Kuyenzeka ukuthi uJehova abe nguMngane wethu obedlula bonke. Siba ngabangane bakhe ngenxa yokuthi uyasithanda langenxa yokuba lokholo kuye laseNdodaneni yakhe. UJesu wathi: “UNkulunkulu walithanda ilizwe waze wanikela iNdodana yakhe iyiyo yodwa ukuze kuthi loba ngubani okholwa kuyo angabhubhi kodwa abe lokuphila okungapheliyo.” (Joh. 3:​16) Kulabantu abanengi ababengabangane bakaJehova abakhulu. Ake sikhulume ngababili.

‘U-ABHRAHAMA UMNGANE WAMI’

3, 4. Ekubeni ngabangane bakaJehova, yiwuphi umehluko owawukhona phakathi kuka-Abhrahama labosendo lwakhe?

3 UJehova wabiza inhloko eyayingukhokho wako-Israyeli ngokuthi, ‘u-Abhrahama, umngane wami.’ (Isaya. 41:⁠8) Kanti njalo ku-2 Imilando 20:​7, u-Abhrahama ubizwa ngokuthi ngumngane kaNkulunkulu. Kuyini okwenza ukuthi indoda le eyayithembekile, u-Abhrahama, iqhubeke ingumngane woMdali wayo? Isizatho yikuthi yayilokholo.​—⁠Gen. 15:⁠6; bala uJakhobe 2:​21-⁠23.

4 UJehova wayenguBaba njalo enguMngane wosendo luka-Abhrahama olwacina luyisizwe sako-Israyeli wasendulo. Kodwa okudanisayo yikuthi abantu laba bacina bengayisibo bangane bakaNkulunkulu. Ngani? Ngoba bacina bengasakukholwa lokho ababekuthenjiswe nguJehova.

5, 6. (a) Kuyini okwenza ukuthi uJehova abe nguMngane wakho? (b) Yiyiphi imibuzo okumele sizibuze yona?

5 Ukuqhubeka ufunda ngoJehova kuzakwenza ukuthi umthande kakhulu njalo lokholo lwakho luzaqhubeka luqina. Cabanga ngesikhathi kukucacela ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona sibili lokuthi ungaba lobuhlobo obuqinileyo laye. Wafunda lokuthi sonke sizalwa silesono ngenxa yokungalaleli kuka-Adamu. Wazwisisa ukuthi abantu bonke bahlukaniswe loNkulunkulu. (Kol. 1:​21) Wacina usukwazi lokuthi uBaba wethu osezulwini uyasithanda, kakhatshana lathi futhi ulendaba lathi. Lapho sifunda ngenhlawulo yomhlatshelo kaJesu njalo sisiba lokholo kuyo, saqalisa ukusebenzela ukuthi sibe ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu.

6 Nxa sizihlola, nanku esingazibuza khona: ‘Ubungane bami loNkulunkulu buyathuthuka yini? Ngimthemba ngokupheleleyo yini? Kuyakhanya yini nsukuzonke ukuthi ngiqhubeka ngimthanda uMngane wami omkhulu uJehova?’ Omunye umuntu wasendulo owayengumngane omkhulu kaJehova nguGidiyoni. Asihloleni isibonelo sakhe esihle, sibone ukuthi sisinceda ngani.

“UJEHOVA UYIKUTHULA”

7-9. (a) Kuyini okumangalisayo okwenzakala kuGidiyoni njalo umpumela waba yini? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.) (b) Singabuqinisa njani ubuhlobo bethu loJehova?

7 UMahluleli uGidiyoni, wakhonza uJehova ngesikhathi izinto zimi manzonzo ko-Israyeli ngemva kokungena kwabo eLizweni elalithenjisiwe. KuBahluleli isahluko-6 kukhulunywa ngengilosi kaJehova eyafika kuGidiyoni e-Ofira. Ngesikhathi leso, abako-Israyeli babethwele nzima ngabako-Midiyani ababengomakhelwana babo. Yikho uGidiyoni wayengabhuleli amabele egcekeni, kodwa wayewabhulela esikhamelweni sewayini lapho ayengawafihla khona masinya. Kwammangalisa uGidiyoni ukuthi ingilosi yafika kuye yambiza ngokuthi “butho elilamandla” yikho wasezibuza ukuthi kambe uJehova owayekhulule abako-Israyeli eGibhithe wayezabakhulula yini. Yathi imtshela eyayikuthunyiwe, ingilosi yamqinisekisa ukuthi uJehova wayemsekela sibili.

8 UGidiyoni wayezibuza ukuthi ‘wayezabahlenga njani abako-Israyeli ezandleni zamaMidiyani.’ Impendulo eyayivela kuJehova yayicacile isithi: “Ngizakuba lawe, njalo amaMidiyani uzawacakazela phansi wonke ndawonye.” (Abahlu. 6:​11-​16) Kodwa kungenzeka ukuthi uGidiyoni wayelokhu engelaqiniso, yikho wacela isibonakaliso. Nanzelela ukuthi engxoxweni le, kuyazicacela ukuthi uJehova wayengokoqobo sibili kuGidiyoni.

9 Okwasuka kwenzakala ngemva kwalokho kwaqinisa ukholo lukaGidiyoni njalo kwamenza wasondela phansi kukaNkulunkulu. UGidiyoni walungisa ukudla wasekunika ingilosi. Wananzelela ukuthi ingilosi le yayithunywe nguJehova sibili lapho ithinta ukudla lokhu ngomqwayi wayo kwasekusitsha ngendlela eyisimangaliso. Emangele, uGidiyoni wamemeza wathi: “A, Jehova Wobukhosi! Ngibone ingilosi kaJehova ubuso ngobuso!” (Abahlu. 6:​17-​22) Kodwa lokhu kwatshiya uGidiyoni engasafuni yini ukuba ngumngane kaNkulunkulu? Hatshi! Okwenzakalayo yikuthi wasuka wamazi kakhulu uJehova okokuthi wambona enguNkulunkulu wokuthula. Lokhu kukhanya nge-alithare alakhayo elabizwa ngokuthi​—⁠“Jehovah-shalom, NW,” elitsho ukuthi “uJehova uyiKuthula.” (Bala ABahluleli 6:​23, 24) Nxa sicabangisisa ngalokho uJehova asenzela khona nsuku zonke, sisuka sinanzelele ukuthi unguMngane weqiniso. Ukuhlala sithandaza kuNkulunkulu kwenza sibe lokuthula kwangaphakathi njalo ubungane bethu laye buqina kakhulu.

NGUBANI ‘OZAHLALA ENDLINI KAJEHOVA ENGCWELE NA’?

10. IHubo 15:​3, 5 lithi uJehova ufuna senzeni ukuze sibe ngabangane bakhe?

10 Kulezimiso okumele sizilandele ukuze uJehova abe nguMngane wethu. Njengoba kubhaliwe kuHubo-​15, uDavida wahlabela ngokuthi kumele senzeni ukuze ‘sihlale endlini kaJehova engcwele,’ okutsho ukuthi ukuze sibe ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu. (Hubo. 15:⁠1) Asikhulumeni ngezimiso ezimbili, ukunganyundeli lokuthembeka kukho konke esikwenzayo. Ekhuluma ngalokhu, uDavida wathi ohlala endlini kaJehova engcwele ‘kachothozi ngolimi lwakhe njalo uyakwala ukuthengwa ukuze kwetheswe umlandu kongelacala.’​—⁠Hubo. 15:​3, 5.

11. Kungani kungamelanga sinyundele abanye?

11 Kwelinye ihubo, uDavida wasixwayisa wathi: “Nqanda ulimi lwakho ebubini.” (Hubo. 34:​13) Nxa singasilaleli isixwayiso lesi esaphefumulelwayo kungenza singabi lobuhlobo obuhle loBaba wethu olungileyo osezulwini. Vele khona ukunyundela luphawu lwesitha sikaJehova esikhulu, uSathane. Ibizo elithi “Develi” lithethwe ebaleni lesiGiriki elitsho “umnyundeli.” Kumele siqaphele esikukhulumayo ngabanye ukuze sihlale siseduze loJehova. Kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi siqaphele lokhu, ikakhulu emadodeni abekiweyo ebandleni.​—⁠Bala uHebheru 13:​17; UJuda 8.

12, 13. (a) Kungani kumele sithembeke kukho konke esikwenzayo? (b) Ukuthembeka kwethu kubasiza njani abanye?

12 Izinceku zikaJehova zaziwa ngokuthembeka hatshi ngobumenemene. Umphostoli uPhawuli wabhala wathi: “Sikhulekeleni, sileqiniso ukuthi silesazela esihle njalo sifisa ukuhlala ngobuqotho ngezindlela zonke.” (Heb. 13:​18) Asifuni ukuqila abazalwane bethu abangamaKhristu ngoba sizimisele “ukuhlala ngobuqotho ngezindlela zonke.” Ngokwesibonelo, nxa sibaqhatshile kumele sibaphathe kuhle zonke izikhathi njalo sibabhadale lokho esavumelana labo ukuthi sizabapha khona. Ngenxa yokuthi singamaKhristu, kumele sithembeke kulabo abasisebenzelayo lasebantwini bonke. Kanti njalo nxa siqhatshwe ngumKhristu esikhonza laye, akumelanga simhluphe, sibone angani sekumele siphathwe okweqanda.

13 Kukanengi sisizwa abantu abasebenzelana laboFakazi bakaJehova bebancoma kakhulu. Ngokwesibonelo, usibalukhulu wenhlanganiso enkulu yezokwakha wananzelela ukuthi oFakazi bakaJehova bathembekile. Wathi, “Lenza khona kanye eliyabe likuthembisile.” (Hubo. 15:⁠4) Ukuziphatha okunjalo kwenza sihlale singabangane bakaJehova. Kanti njalo kwenza uBaba wethu osezulwini olothando adunyiswe.

NCEDA ABANYE UKUTHI BABE NGABANGANE BAKAJEHOVA

14, 15. Enkonzweni yethu, singabanceda njani abanye ukuthi babe ngabangane bakaJehova?

14 Abantu abanengi esihlangana labo enkonzweni yethu babona angani ngeke kwenzeke ukuthi uNkulunkulu abe nguMngane wabo oseduze lanxa bekholwa ukuthi ukhona. Singabancedisa njani? Nanzelela ukuthi uJesu wabanika yiphi imilayezo abafundi bakhe lapho ebathuma ngababili ukuthi bayetshumayela: “Nxa lingena endlini, qalani lithi, ‘Ukuthula akube kule indlu.’ Nxa kulomuntu woxolo lapho, ukuthula kwenu kakube kuye; uma kungenjalo kuzabuyela kini.” (Luk. 10:​5, 6) Abantu bangalithanda iqiniso nxa sikhuluma labo ngomusa. Kanti njalo lokhu kungenza ukuthi abaphikisi bangaqhubeki besihlupha, kwenze ukuthi basamukele kuhle esikhathini esizayo.

15 Nxa sihlangana labantu abacwile enkolweni yamanga kumbe abenza imikhuba engekho eMibhalweni, kumele siqhubeke silomusa njalo silokuthula. Kulabanye abalesifiso sokufunda okunengi ngoNkulunkulu esimkhonzayo ngenxa yezinto ezidanisayo abazibona zisenzakala lamuhla. Laba, sibemukela ngazo zombili emihlanganweni yethu. Izihloko eziphuma kumamagazini ethu ezithi, “IBhayibhili Liyakuntshintsha Ukuphila” zisinika izibonelo ezinengi ezinhle.

UKUSEBENZA LOMNGANE WETHU OBEDLULA BONKE

16. Singakwenza njani ukuthi singabi ngabangane bakaJehova kuphela, kodwa siphinde sibe ‘yizisebenzi kanye laye’?

16 Abantu abasebenza ndawonye bajayele ukuba ngabangane abakhulu. Bonke abazinikele kuJehova balesibusiso sokuba ngabangane bakhe baphinde babe ‘yizisebenzi kanye laye.’ (Bala u-1 Khorinte 3:⁠9.) Kuliqiniso ukuthi nxa sitshumayela njalo sisenza umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi, siqhubeka sizwisisa kakhulu izimpawu ezinhle zobuntu bukaBaba wethu osezulwini. Siyakubona ukuthi umoya wakhe ongcwele usincedisa njani ukuthi siphumelele emsebenzini wokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle esiwuphiweyo.

17. Ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu esiluthola emihlanganweni emikhulu lusitshengisa njani ukuthi uJehova nguMngane wethu?

17 Nxa sisebenza gadalala emsebenzini wokwenza abafundi, sisondela kakhulu kuJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, sibona indlela uJehova avimbela ngayo abaphikisi ukuthi bangaphambanisi umsebenzi wethu. Cabanga ngokwenzakala eminyakeni emilutshwana eyadlulayo. Kuyakhanya ukuthi uJehova uyasikhokhela. Kanti njalo luyamangalisa kakhulu ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu esiluthola zikhathi zonke. Imihlangano emikhulu esiba layo itshengisa ukuthi uBaba wethu osithandayo uyazizwisisa izinhlupho zethu kanye lezinswelo zethu. Enye imuli yabhala incwadi ibonga umhlangano omkhulu othile yathi: “Uhlelo lolu lwazithinta kakhulu izinhliziyo zethu. Sakubona sibili ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda sonke njalo ufuna siphumelele.” Abanye abatshadileyo abahlala eGermany ababengene umhlangano oqakathekileyo e-Ireland babhala incwadi bebonga ngothando abalutshengiswayo bekhonale basebesithi: “Kodwa esibabonga kakhulu nguJehova leNkosi ayibekileyo, uJesu Khristu. Basinxuse ukuthi lathi sibe semulini yesizwe esimanyeneyo sibili. Asiphongukhuluma ngokumanyana nje, kodwa sikukholisa nsukuzonke. Esakubonayo emhlanganweni oqakathekileyo eDublin kuzahlala kusikhumbuza ngesibusiso esiligugu esilaso sokukhonza uNkulunkulu wethu omkhulu sindawonye.”

ABANGANE BAHLALA BEKHULUMISANA

18. Kuyini esingazibuza khona mayelana lendlela esikhulumisana ngayo loJehova?

18 Abangane bazwanana kakhulu nxa behlala bexoxa. Izindlela zokukhulumisana ku-Internet kanye lemibiko yabomakhalekhulwini kumbe eminye imitshina yakulezinsuku sekujayelekile. Kodwa nxa sizikhangele thina, siyibona njani indlela esikhulumisana ngayo loMngane wethu obedlula bonke, uJehova? Kuliqiniso ukuthi yena ‘uyawuzwa umthandazo.’ (Hubo. 65:⁠2) Kodwa kukangaki lapho esizinika khona isikhathi sokukhuluma laye?

19. Kuyini okungasinceda nxa kunzima ukuthi sikhuphe okusezinhliziyweni zethu sikutshele uBaba wethu osezulwini?

19 Kunzima kwezinye izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ukuthi zikhuphe okusezinhliziyweni zazo, zitsho ezikuzwayo ngaphakathi. Kodwa-ke, yikho uJehova afuna sikwenze nxa sithandaza. (Hubo. 119:145; IZili. 3:​41) Lanxa kungabanzima ukuchaza lokho okusezinhliziyweni zethu, kulokuthile okungasincedisa. UPhawuli wabhalela amaKhristu aseRoma wathi: ‘Kasikwazi okumele sikukhulekele, kodwa umoya uqobo uyasincengela ububula okungeke kuchazwe ngamazwi. Njalo yenalowo ohlola izinhliziyo zethu uyayazi ingqondo yomoya ngoba umoya uyabancengela abangcwele ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu.’ (Rom. 8:​26, 27) Okuzasinceda ukuthi sitshele uJehova okungaphakathi kwethu yikucabangisisa ngamazwi alotshwe emabhukwini eBhayibhili, anjengoJobe, amaHubo kanye leZaga.

20, 21. Amazwi kaPhawuli kuFiliphi 4:​6, 7 asiduduza njani?

20 Nxa sesisebunzimeni kumele sisebenzise iseluleko uPhawuli asitshela abaseFiliphi esithi: “Lingakhathazeki ngalutho, kodwa ezintweni zonke, ngokukhuthazela langokuncenga, ngokubonga, bekani izicelo zenu kuNkulunkulu.” Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ukukhuluma sikhululekile loMngane wethu obedlula bonke kuzasiduduza futhi kusiqinise ngoba uPhawuli uqhubeka esithi: “Ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu okudlula ukuqedisisa konke, kuzalinda izinhliziyo zenu lezingqondo zenu kuKhristu uJesu.” (Flp. 4:​6, 7) Asihlaleni sikuqakathekisa kakhulu “ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu” okumangalisayo njalo okulinda izinhliziyo zethu lezingqondo zethu.

21 Umthandazo uyasinceda ukuthi sibe ngabangane bakaJehova. Yikho-ke kasihlaleni ‘sikhuleka kokuphela.’ (1 Thes. 5:​17) Kungaba kuhle nxa isifundo lesi singaqinisa ubuhlobo bethu obuligugu loNkulunkulu njalo senze ukuthi sizimisele ukuphila ngezimiso zikaNkulunkulu ezilungileyo. Kanti njalo asizinikeni isikhathi sokucabangisisa ngezibusiso esizitholayo ngenxa yokuthi uJehova unguBaba wethu, unguNkulunkulu wethu futhi unguMngane wethu.