1-3. Ziziphi izibakala ezenza ukuba ukufa kukaYesu kungafani nako nakuphi na okunye okwakha kwenzeka embalini?

NGOMHLA wentwasahlobo malunga nama-2 000 eminyaka eyadlulayo, indoda emsulwa yasiwa ematyaleni, yagwetyelwa ulwaphulo-mthetho engazange ilwenze, yaza yathuthunjiswa yada yafa. Inkohlakalo nokungabikho kokusesikweni okunjalo kwakungaqali ukwenzeka ngeso sihlandlo, yaye ngelishwa, kwakungagqibelisi. Ukanti, oko kufa kwakungafani nokufa okuqhelekileyo.

² Njengoko loo ndoda yayingcungcutheka ebudeni beeyure zokugqibela, ukubaluleka kweso siganeko kwangqinwa nalizulu. Nangona kwakusemini emaqanda, kwabakho ubumnyama bequbuliso kwelo lizwe. Njengoko omnye umbhali-mbali esitsho, “ilanga lacima.” (Luka 23:44, 45) Emva koko, kwathi xa yayiphefumla okokugqibela le ndoda, yathetha amazwi angasokuze alibaleke athi: “Kufeziwe!” Eneneni, ngokuncama ubomi bayo, yafeza into emangalisa ngokwenene. Umbingelelo wayo wawusesona senzo sikhulu sothando esingazange senziwa nanguwuphi na omnye umntu.—Yohane 15:13; 19:30.

³ Kakade ke, loo ndoda nguYesu Kristu. Ukubandezeleka nokufa kwakhe ngaloo mhla kaNisan 14, 33 C.E. kwaziwa ngokubanzi. Noko ke, kukho inkalo ebalulekileyo ngokufuthi ebityeshelwa. Nangona uYesu wabandezeleka kakhulu, ukho omnye owabandezeleka nangakumbi. Enyanisweni, mntu uthile wenza umbingelelo omkhulu nangakumbi ngaloo mini—umntu owabonakalisa olona thando lukhulu ngendlela engazange yabonwa ngaphambili kwindalo iphela. Luluphi olo thando? Impendulo yalo mbuzo isisa kowona mbandela ubaluleke kakhulu: Uthando lukaYehova.

Ukubonakaliswa Kolona Thando Lukhulu

4. Ijoni laseRoma labona njani ukuba uYesu wayengengomntu uqhelekileyo, yaye elo joni lagqiba ngelithini?

⁴ Umthetheli-khulu waseRoma owayeququzelela ukubulawa kukaYesu wakhwankqiswa bubumnyama nayinyikima enkulu eyabakho emva kokufa kukaYesu. Wathi: “Ngokuqinisekileyo lo ibinguNyana kaThixo.” (Mateyu 27:54) Ngokucacileyo, uYesu wayengengomntu uqhelekileyo. Elo joni laliququzelele ukubulawa kokuphela koNyana ozelweyo kaThixo Osenyangweni! Kanye kanye wayexabiseke kangakanani lo Nyana kuYise?

5. Bunokuzekeliswa njani ubude bexesha elininzi uYehova awalichitha kunye noNyana wakhe ezulwini?

⁵ IBhayibhile ithi uYesu ‘ulizibulo kwindalo yonke.’ (Kolose 1:15) Khawucinge nje—uNyana kaYehova wayekho ngaphambi kokudalwa kwendalo iphela. Ngoko, lithuba elingakanani uYise noNyana bephila kunye? Ezinye izazinzulu ziqikelela ukuba indalo iphela ineminyaka eli-13 lamawaka ezigidi ikho. Ngaba unako nje ukulithelekelela ixesha elininzi kangako? Ukunceda abantu ukuba babuqonde ubudala bendalo iphela njengoko buqikelelwa zizazinzulu, elinye iziko elinezixhobo zokujonga iinkwenkwezi likrwele umgca oziimitha ezili-110 ubude wokulinganisa ixesha. Njengoko iindwendwe zigqitha ngakuwo loo mgca, nyathelo ngalinye ezilithabathayo lilingana neminyaka ezizigidi ezingama-75 yobomi bendalo iphela. Ekupheleni kwaloo mgca wokulinganisa ixesha, kukho umkrwelo omncinane olingana nonwele lomntu, omela yonke imbali yokuphila kwabantu! Ukanti, kwanokuba olo qikelelo beluchanile, uwonke nje loo mgca wokulinganisa ixesha ubungayi kulingana nexesha lokuphila koNyana kaYehova! Wayesenza ntoni ebudeni balo lonke elo xesha?

6. (a) Wayesenza ntoni uNyana kaYehova ngexesha langaphambi kokuphila kwakhe njengomntu? (b) Luhlobo olunjani lothando olukhoyo phakathi kukaYehova noNyana wakhe?

⁶ Ngovuyo uNyana wayekhonza “njengomsebénzi onobuchule” kaYise. (IMizekeliso 8:30) IBhayibhile ithi: “Ngaphandle [koNyana] akubangakho nanye into.” (Yohane 1:3) Ngoko uYehova noNyana wakhe babesebenza kunye ekwenzeni zonke ezinye izinto. Babenexesha elivuyisa nelichulumancisa ngokwenene! Abaninzi baya kuvuma ukuba uthando oluphakathi komzali nomntwana luqine ngokumangalisayo. Yaye uthando “lungumxokelelwane ogqibeleleyo womanyano.” (Kolose 3:14) Ngubani ke kuthi obenako ukulinganisa ukomelela kothando obelukho kangangexesha elide kangako? Ngokucacileyo, uYehova uThixo noNyana wakhe bamanyaniswe luthando olomelele ngendlela engazange ibonwe ngaphambili.

7. Xa uYesu wabhaptizwayo, uYehova wayivakalisa njani indlela avakalelwa ngayo ngoNyana wakhe?

⁷ Sekunjalo, uYise wamthumela emhlabeni uNyana wakhe ukuba azalwe njengosana olungumntu. Oko kwathetha ukuba kangangamashumi eminyaka, uYehova wayemele aluncame olo lwalamano lusenyongweni kunye noNyana wakhe othandekayo ezulwini. Ngolangazelelo olukhulu, wamjonga esezulwini njengoko uYesu wayekhula esiba yindoda efezekileyo. Xa wayemalunga nama-30 eminyaka ubudala, uYesu wabhaptizwa. Akukho mfuneko yokuba siyithelekelele indlela awavakalelwa ngayo uYehova ngaye. UYise wathetha esezulwini wathi: “Lo nguNyana wam, oyintanda, endikholisiweyo nguye.” (Mateyu 3:17) Ekubeni uYesu wenza konke oko kwakuprofetiwe ngaye, konke oko wayecelwe ukuba akwenze, umele ukuba uYise wavuya ngokwenene!—Yohane 5:36; 17:4.

8, 9. (a) Yiyiphi imeko awafakwa kuyo uYesu ngoNisan 14, 33 C.E., yaye wachaphazeleka njani uYise wasemazulwini? (b) Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova avumele ukuba uNyana wakhe abandezeleke aze afe?

⁸ Kodwa, wavakalelwa njani uYehova ngoNisan 14, 33 C.E.? Wavakalelwa njani njengoko uYesu wayengcatshwa waza wabanjwa lihlokondiba labantu ngobusuku? Kuthekani ngexesha uYesu eshiywa ngabahlobo bakhe waza wamangalelwa ngokungekho mthethweni? Uthini ngexesha egculelwa, etshicelwa, ebethwa nangamanqindi? Wavakalelwa njani njengoko wayetywatyushwa, umqolo wakhe uzaliswa yimivumbo? Uthini ngexesha lokubethelelwa kwakhe izandla neenyawo esibondeni somthi aze ashiywe ejinga apho egculelwa ngabantu? Wavakalelwa njani uYise njengoko uNyana wakhe oyintanda wayekhala engcungcutheka ziintlungu? Wavakalelwa njani uYehova njengoko uYesu wayephefumla okokugqibela, waza okokuqala ngqa ezimbalini, akabikho lo Nyana Wakhe amthandayo?—Mateyu 26:14-16, 46, 47, 56, 59, 67; 27:38-44, 46; Yohane 19:1.

⁹ Sisuke saphelelwa ngamazwi. Ekubeni uYehova eneemvakalelo, intlungu awaba kuyo ekufeni koNyana wakhe ayichazeki ngamazwi. Into nje esinokukwazi ukuyichaza sisizathu sokuba uYehova akuvumele oko ukuba kwenzeke. Kwakutheni ukuze uYise azivumele angcungcuthekiswe yintlungu engako? UYehova utyhila into emangalisayo kuthi kuYohane 3:16—indinyana yeBhayibhile ebaluleke kangangokuba iye yabizwa ngokuba yingxelo yeVangeli efinyeziweyo. Ithi: “UThixo walithanda ihlabathi kangangokuba wanikela ngoNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo ukuze wonk’ ubani obonisa ukholo kuye angatshabalali kodwa abe nobomi obungunaphakade.” Ngoko siso eso isizathu sikaYehova: uthando. Isipho sikaYehova—ukuthumela kwakhe uNyana wakhe ukuba abandezeleke aze asifele—yayikukubonakaliswa kolona thando lukhulu.

Ukuchazwa Kothando LukaThixo

10. Yintoni efunekayo ebantwini, yaye kwenzeke ntoni kwintsingiselo yegama elithi “uthando”?

¹⁰ Lithetha ukuthini eli gama lithi “uthando”? Uthando luye lwachazwa njengeyona nto ifuneka kakhulu ebantwini. Ukususela ekuzalweni kuse ekufeni, abantu bafuna uthando, baziyolisa ngalo, bade babandezeleke baze bafe xa lungekho. Kodwa ke, iyamangalisa into yokuba kunzima ukuluchaza. Kakade abantu bathetha kakhulu ngothando. Kukho uthotho lweencwadi, iingoma nemibongo ethetha ngalo. Imiphumo yazo ayisoloko iyenza icace intsingiselo yothando. Eneneni, ngangendlela elisetyenziswe ngokugqithisele ngayo eli gama, seyide yalahleka neyona ntsingiselo yalo yokwenene.

11, 12. (a) Sinokufunda phi lukhulu ngothando, yaye ngoba? (b) Ziziphi iindidi zothando ezazichazwa ngolwimi lwesiGrike lwamandulo, yaye liliphi igama elithetha “uthando” elisetyenziswa ngokufuthi kwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike? (Bona kwanombhalo osemazantsi.) (c) Igama elithi a·gaʹpe lichaza ntoni?

¹¹ Noko ke, iBhayibhile inemfundiso ecacileyo ngothando. IExpository Dictionary of New Testament Words kaVine ithi: “Uthando lunokwaziwa kuphela ngezenzo zalo.” Ingxelo yeBhayibhile engezenzo zikaYehova isifundisa lukhulu ngothando lwakhe—uthando lokungazingci analo ngezidalwa zakhe. Ngokomzekelo, yintoni ebinokulutyhila ngakumbi olu phawu kunesenzo esibalaseleyo sikaYehova sothando esichazwe ngaphambili? Kwizahluko ezilandelayo, siza kubona eminye imizekelo emininzi yezenzo zothando zikaYehova. Ukongezelela, sinokucacelwa ngakumbi ngokuhlolisisa amagama antlandlolo aguqulelwe ngokuthi “uthando” asetyenzisiweyo eBhayibhileni. Kulwimi lwesiGrike lwamandulo, kwakukho amagama amane awayethetha “uthando.”a Kula magama, elona lisetyenziswe ngokufuthi kwiZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike lelithi a·gaʹpe. Esinye isichazi-magama seBhayibhile silibiza ngokuthi “lelona gama linamandla linokuthelekelelwa lokuchaza uthando.” Ngoba?

¹² Igama elithi a·gaʹpe libhekisela kuthando olulawulwa ngumgaqo. Ngoko lungaphezu kokuba neemvakalelo nje ezithile ngomnye umntu. Luthando olubanzi ngakumbi, lunolwazelelo ngakumbi yaye luneziseko eziqinileyo. Ngaphezu koko, uthando oluchazwa ngokuthi a·gaʹpe luthando lokungazingci ngokupheleleyo. Ngokomzekelo, khawuphinde ujonge uYohane 3:16. Liliphi “ihlabathi” uThixo awalithanda kangangokuba wada wanikela ngoNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo? Lihlabathi loluntu olwalufuna intlawulelo. Luquka abantu abaninzi abazimiseleyo ekhondweni lesono. Ngaba uYehova uthanda mntu ngamnye njengomhlobo wakhe okhethekileyo, ngendlela awayethanda ngayo uAbraham othembekileyo? (Yakobi 2:23) Akunjalo, kodwa ngothando uYehova ubonisa ububele kubo bonke abantu, ade axolele ukulahlekelwa kakhulu. Ufuna ukuba bonke baguquke baze batshintshe iindlela zabo. (2 Petros 3:9) Abaninzi benjenjalo. Ubamkela ngovuyo abanjalo njengabahlobo bakhe.

13, 14. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba ngokufuthi igama elithi a·gaʹpe liquka umsa wothando?

¹³ Noko ke, abanye banengcamango ephosakeleyo ngegama elithi a·gaʹpe. Bacinga ukuba libhekisela kuhlobo lothando olungenabubele, noluphelela nje engqondweni. Inyaniso ikukuba ngokufuthi igama elithi a·gaʹpe liquka umsa wothando olufudumeleyo. Ngokomzekelo, xa uYesu wathi, “uBawo uyamthanda uNyana,” wasebenzisa igama elithi a·gaʹpe. Ngaba olo thando alunawo umsa? Phawula ukuba uYesu waphinda wathi, “uYise unomsa kuNyana,” esebenzisa igama elithi phi·leʹo. (Yohane 3:35; 5:20) Ngokufuthi uthando lukaYehova luquka umsa wothando. Noko ke, uthando lwakhe aluze lulawulwe nje ziimvakalelo. Lusoloko lukhokelwa yimigaqo yakhe yobulumko neyokusesikweni.

¹⁴ Njengoko sibonile, zonke iimpawu zikaYehova zibalasele, zigqibelele, yaye zinomtsalane. Kodwa uthando lolona lunomtsalane kunazo zonke. Ayikho into esitsalela ngamandla njengalo kuYehova. Okuvuyisayo kukuba, uthando lukwalolona phawu lwakhe lubalasele kakhulu. Sikwazi njani oko?

“UThixo Uluthando”

15. Yiyiphi ingxelo eyinikelayo iBhayibhile ngokuphathelele uphawu lukaYehova lothando, yaye olu phawu lubalasele ngayiphi indlela? (Bona kwanombhalo osemazantsi.)

¹⁵ IBhayibhile ithetha okuthile ngothando engakuthethiyo ngezinye iimpawu eziyintloko zikaYehova. IZibhalo azitsho ukuba uThixo ungamandla okanye uThixo ukokusesikweni okanye kwanokuba uThixo ububulumko. Unazo ezo mpawu, ungumthombo wazo ngokupheleleyo, yaye ubalasele kuzo zontathu. Noko ke, ngokuphathelele uphawu lwesine, kuthethwa into enzulu gqitha xa kusithiwa: “UThixo uluthando.”b (1 Yohane 4:8) Kuthetha ukuthini oko?

16-18. (a) Kutheni iBhayibhile isithi “uThixo uluthando”? (b) Kuzo zonke izidalwa ezisemhlabeni, kutheni umntu elufanekisela kakuhle nje uphawu lukaYehova lothando?

¹⁶ Ukuthi “uThixo uluthando” asikokulinganisa nje kuphela, njengokuthi, “uThixo ulingana nothando.” Ngokuqhelekileyo, asinakukwazi ukuyigqwetha loo ngxelo sithi “uthando lunguThixo.” UYehova ungaphezulu lee kokuba luphawu nje lothando. Ungumntu oneemvakalelo nezinye iimpawu ukongezelela kolo lothando. Kodwa, uthando lolona phawu lubalasele kakhulu lukaYehova. Ngoko enye incwadi ithi ngale ndinyana: “Uhlobo alulo uThixo okanye ubuntu bakhe buluthando.” Ngokuqhelekileyo, singakuzekelisa ngolu hlobo oku: Amandla kaYehova amenza akwazi ukwenza izinto. Ukuba sesikweni kwakhe nobulumko bakhe balathisa indlela enza ngayo izinto. Kodwa uthando lukaYehova lumshukumisela ekwenzeni okuthile. Yaye usoloko eqhutywa luthando ekusebenziseni kwakhe zonke ezinye iimpawu zakhe.

¹⁷ Kudla ngokuthiwa uYehova uluthando lumntwisiwe. Ngoko, ukuba sifuna ukufunda ngothando olunomgaqo, simele sifunde ngoYehova. Kakade ke, sisenokulubona nasebantwini olu phawu luhle. Kodwa balufumana njani? Ngexesha lokudala kwakhe, uYehova wathetha la mazwi, ngokucacileyo kuNyana wakhe, wathi: “Masenze umntu ngokomfanekiso wethu, ngokufana nathi.” (Genesis 1:26) Kuzo zonke izidalwa ezikulo mhlaba, ngamadoda namabhinqa kuphela anokukhetha ukubonisa uthando, ngaloo ndlela exelisa uYise osemazulwini. Khumbula ukuba uYehova wasebenzisa izidalwa ezahlukahlukeneyo ukufanekisela iimpawu zakhe eziyintloko. Kodwa, uYehova wakhetha esona sidalwa sakhe siphakamileyo sasemhlabeni, esingumntu, ukufanekisela olona phawu Lwakhe lubalaseleyo, uthando.—Hezekile 1:10.

¹⁸ Xa sibonisa uthando ngokungazingci, nangokomgaqo, sibonakalisa olona phawu lubalaseleyo lukaYehova. Kunjengokuba kanye umpostile uYohane wabhala: “Thina ke, sinalo uthando, kuba wasithanda kuqala.” (1 Yohane 4:19) Kodwa uYehova usithande kuqala ngaziphi iindlela?

UYehova Wathabatha Inyathelo Kuqala

19. Kutheni kunokuthiwa uthando lwaba nendima eyintloko ekudaleni kukaYehova?

¹⁹ Uthando aluyonto intsha. Ngapha koko, yintoni eyashukumisela uYehova ukuba aqalise ukudala? Asikukuba wayenesithukuthezi yaye efuna ukuba nobudlelane. UYehova uphelele yaye akaswelanga nto. Kodwa luthando lwakhe, oluluphawu lwakhe olusebenzayo, olwamshukumisela ekubeni afune ukwabelana ngoyolo lobomi kunye nezidalwa ezikrelekrele ezinokusixabisa isipho esinjalo. “Isiqalo sendalo kaThixo” sasinguNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo. (ISityhilelo 3:14) Emva koko uYehova wamsebenzisa lo Msebénzi Unobuchule ekwenzeni zonke ezinye izinto, ukuqalela kwiingelosi. (Yobhi 38:4, 7; Kolose 1:16) Njengoko zisikelelwe ngokunikwa inkululeko, ubukrelekrele neemvakalelo, ezi zidalwa zomeleleyo zomoya zaba nethuba lokuzakhela ulwalamano lothando—phakathi kwazo, yaye phezu kwako konke, noYehova uThixo. (2 Korinte 3:17) Ngaloo ndlela, zathanda kuba zona zathandwa kuqala.

20, 21. Bubuphi ubungqina ababenabo uAdam noEva bokuba uYehova wayebathanda, kodwa basabela njani?

²⁰ Kwaba njalo nangoluntu. Kwasekuqaleni, uAdam noEva babegutyungelwe ngothando. Naphi na apho babejonga khona kwikhaya labo lase-Eden eliyiParadesi, babenokubona ubungqina bothando lukaYise ngabo. Phawula oko ikutshoyo iBhayibhile: “UYehova uThixo watyala umyezo e-Eden, ngasempuma, waza wambeka khona umntu abembumbile.” (Genesis 2:8) Ngaba wakha waba semyezweni okanye epakini entle ngokwenene? Yintoni owayithanda kakhulu? Ngaba yayikukugqatsa kwelanga kobo bukhazikhazi bamagqabi? Ngaba yayikukuqaqamba kwemibalabala yeentyatyambo? Ngaba yayikukunkcenkceza komlanjana, ukuntyiloza kweentaka nentsholo yezinambuzane? Kuthekani ngobuqholo bevumba lemithi, iziqhamo neentyatyambo? Noko ke, ayikho ipaki namhlanje enokuthelekiswa naleyo yase-Eden. Ngoba?

²¹ Loo myezo watyalwa nguYehova ngokwakhe! Umele ukuba wawuthandeka ngendlela engathethekiyo. Kuwo kwakuyokozela yonke imithi yeziqhamo ezihle nezinencasa. Loo myezo wawunamanzi awaneleyo, wawuphangalele, yaye unyakazela iintlobo-ntlobo zezilwanyana ezibangel’ umdla. UAdam noEva babenayo yonke into efunekayo ukuze bonwabe ebomini, kuquka umsebenzi owanelisayo nolwalamano olugqibeleleyo. UYehova wabathanda kuqala, yaye babenesizathu esihle sokusabela ngendlela efanayo. Kodwa abazange benjenjalo. Kunokuba bamthobele ngothando uYise osemazulwini, bamvukela ngokuzingca.—Genesis, isahluko 2.

22. Indlela awasabela ngayo uYehova kwimvukelo yase-Eden yangqina njani ukuba uthando lwakhe lunyanisekile?

²² Hayi indlela amele ukuba waba buhlungu ngayo uYehova! Kodwa ngaba loo mvukelo yalutshitshisa uthando lwakhe? Akunjalo! “Ububele bakhe bothando [okanye “uthando lwakhe olunyanisekileyo,” umbhalo osemazantsi we-NW eneembekiselo] bukho ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo.” (INdumiso 136:1) Ngenxa yoko, ngoko nangoko wenza amalungiselelo othando okuhlawulela nabaphi na ababenotyekelo olulungileyo kwinzala ka-Adam noEva. Njengoko sibonile, loo malungiselelo ayequka idini lentlawulelo loNyana wakhe oyintanda, nto leyo eyaba yilahleko enkulu kakhulu kuYise.—1 Yohane 4:10.

23. Sisiphi esinye sezizathu zokuba uYehova ‘enguThixo onoyolo,’ yaye nguwuphi umbuzo obalulekileyo oza kuxutyushwa kwisahluko esilandelayo?

²³ Ewe, kwasekuqaleni uYehova uye wathabatha amanyathelo kuqala okubonisa uthando eluntwini. Ngeendlela ezingenakubalwa, “wasithanda kuqala.” Uthando lubangela imvisiswano novuyo, ngoko akumangalisi ukuba uYehova achazwe ‘njengoThixo onoyolo.’ (1 Timoti 1:11) Kodwa kuvela umbuzo obalulekileyo. Ngaba ngokwenene uYehova uthanda umntu ngamnye? Oku kuza kuxutyushwa kwisahluko esilandelayo.

1. Yiyiphi imvakalelo edimazayo abanayo abantu abaninzi, kuquka namanye amaKristu okwenyaniso?

NGABA uYehova uThixo uyakuthanda wena ngokobuqu? Bambi bayavuma ukuba uThixo uyaluthanda uluntu ngokubanzi, njengoko uYohane 3:16 esitsho. Kodwa enyanisweni bavakalelwa kukuba: ‘UThixo akanakundithanda mna ubuqu.’ KwanamaKristu okwenyaniso asenokuba nawo amathandabuzo anjalo ngamathuba athile. Idimazekile, enye indoda yathi: “Ndikufumanisa kunzima ukukholelwa ukuba uThixo undikhathalele.” Ngaba nawe ukhe ube namathandabuzo anjalo maxa wambi?

2, 3. Ngubani ofuna sikholelwe ukuba asinto yanto okanye asithandeki emehlweni kaYehova, yaye sinokuyitshitshisa njani ingcamango enjalo?

² USathana ulangazelela ukusenza sikholelwe ukuba uYehova uThixo akasithandi yaye akasixabisi. Liyinyaniso elokuba, uSathana udla ngokubalukuhla abantu ngokubafaka impakamo nokuzidla. (2 Korinte 11:3) Kodwa uyakuvuyela ukubenza bazive bengento yanto abo babonakala bezizisulu. (Yohane 7:47-49; 8:13, 44) Ulisebenzisa kakhulu elo qhinga kule “mihla yokugqibela” yamanqam. Abantu abaninzi namhlanje bakhulele kwiintsapho ezingenawo “umsa wemvelo.” Abanye bajikelezwe ngabantu abandlongondlongo, abazingcayo nabaneentloko ezilukhuni. (2 Timoti 3:1-5) Abantu abaye bangamaxhoba empatho-mbi, ubuhlanga, okanye intiyo kangangeminyaka emininzi, basenokuvakalelwa kukuba abanto yanto okanye abathandeki.

³ Ukuba nawe uvakalelwa ngaloo ndlela, musa ukuphelelwa lithemba. Abaninzi bethu bakhe bazigxeke ngokungeyomfuneko ngamathub’ athile. Kodwa khumbula ukuba, iLizwi likaThixo lenzelwe ukuba ‘lilungelelanise izinto’ nokuba ‘libhukuqe izinto ezinqatyisiweyo.’ (2 Timoti 3:16; 2 Korinte 10:4) IBhayibhile ithi: “Siya kuziqinisekisa iintliziyo zethu phambi kwakhe ngokubhekisele kuko nakuphi na oko iintliziyo zethu ezisenokusigwebela isohlwayo kuko, ngenxa yokuba uThixo mkhulu kuneentliziyo zethu yaye uyazazi zonke izinto.” (1 Yohane 3:19, 20) Makhe sihlolisise iindlela ezine iZibhalo ezisinceda ngazo ukuba ‘siqinisekise iintliziyo zethu’ ngothando lukaYehova.

UYehova Ukuxabisile

4, 5. Umzekelo kaYesu woongqatyana ubonisa njani ukuba sixabisekile emehlweni kaYehova?

⁴ Okokuqala nje, iBhayibhile ifundisa ngokungqalileyo ukuba uThixo uxabisa ngamnye wabakhonzi bakhe. Ngokomzekelo, uYesu wathi: “Ngaba oongqatyana ababini abathengiswa ngengqekembe exabiso lincinane na? Kanti akukho namnye kubo oya kuwela emhlabeni ngaphandle kolwazi lukaYihlo. Nina ke, kwaneenwele ezi zentloko yenu zibaliwe zonke. Ngoko ke musani ukoyika: Nixabiseke ngaphezu koongqatyana abaninzi.” (Mateyu 10:29-31) Khawucinge nje ngoko kwakuthethwa ngaloo mazwi kwabo babephulaphule uYesu ngenkulungwane yokuqala.

⁵ Sisenokuzibuza isizathu sokuba umntu athenge ungqatyana. Kaloku, ngomhla kaYesu ungqatyana wayeyeyona ntaka ityiwayo yayithengiswa ngexabiso eliphantsi. Phawula ukuba ngengqekembe nje enye yexabiso elincinane, wawunokuthenga oongqatyana ababini. Kodwa kamva uYesu wathi ukuba umntu wayethenga ngeengqekembe ezimbini, wayefumana, kungekhona oongqatyana abane, kodwa abahlanu. Le ntaka elibhaso wawuyiphiwa nje ngokungathi ayinaxabiso kwaphela. Kubonakala ukuba aba ngqatyana babengenaxabiso emehlweni abantu, kodwa yena uMdali wayebagqala njani? UYesu wathi: “Akukho namnye kubo [kuquka nalo olibhaso] olibalekayo phambi koThixo.” (Luka 12:6, 7) Imele ukuba noko ngoku iya isikhanyela eyona ngongoma kaYesu. Ukuba uYehova umxabise ngaloo ndlela ungqatyana omnye, makube ke uxabiseke kangakanani yena umntu! Njengoko uYesu etshilo, uYehova wazi zonke iinkcukacha ngathi. Kwaneenwele ezi zentloko yethu zibaliwe!

6. Kutheni sinokuqiniseka ukuba uYesu wayengazibaxi izinto xa wayethetha ngokubalwa kweenwele zentloko yethu?

⁶ Ngaba neenwele zethu zibaliwe? Bambi basenokucinga ukuba noko uYesu wayezibaxa izinto apha. Kodwa ke, khawucinge nje ngethemba lovuko. Hayi indlela amele ukuba usazi ngokucokiseke ngayo uYehova ukuze akwazi ukuphinda asidale! Usixabise kakhulu kangangokuba ukhumbula zonke iinkcukacha, kuquka imizila yethu yemfuza kwanayo yonke inkumbulo namava esiye sawazuza ebudeni bayo yonke iminyaka.a Ngoko ukubala iinwele zethu—ngokuqhelekileyo eziba li-100 000 kwintloko nganye—kuyinto elula oko.

Yintoni UYehova Ayibonayo Kuthi?

7, 8. (a) Ziziphi iimpawu uYehova akuvuyelayo ukuzibona njengoko ehlola iintliziyo zabantu? (b) Yiyiphi eminye yemisebenzi esiyenzayo ayixabisayo uYehova?

⁷ Okwesibini, iBhayibhile isifundisa oko uYehova akuxabisayo kubakhonzi bakhe. Ngokuphandle nje, uyakholiswa ziimpawu zethu ezintle nangumzamo esiwenzayo. UKumkani uDavide wathi kunyana wakhe uSolomon: “UYehova uyazigocagoca zonke iintliziyo, akuqonde konke ukutyekela kweengcamango.” (1 Kronike 28:9) Njengoko uThixo ehlola iintliziyo zamawaka ezigidi zabantu kweli hlabathi lizaliswe lugonyamelo nentiyo, hayi indlela amele ukuba uvuya ngayo xa ebona intliziyo ethanda uxolo, inyaniso nobulungisa! Yintoni eyenzekayo xa uThixo ebona intliziyo emthandayo, efuna ukufunda okungakumbi ngaye nokwabelana nabanye ngolo lwazi? UYehova usixelela ukuba uyabaphawula abo baxelela abanye ngaye. Ude ‘wanencwadi yokukhumbuza yabo bonke abo bamoyikayo uYehova nabo bacinga ngegama lakhe.’ (Malaki 3:16) Iimpawu ezinjalo zixabisekile kuye.

⁸ Yiyiphi eminye yemisebenzi emihle ayixabisayo uYehova? Ngokuqinisekileyo yimigudu yethu yokuxelisa uNyana wakhe, uYesu Kristu. (1 Petros 2:21) Omnye umsebenzi obalulekileyo awuxabisayo uThixo ngowokusasaza iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani bakhe. KwabaseRoma 10:15, sifunda oku: “Hayi indlela ezibukeka ngayo iinyawo zabo bavakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo zezinto ezilungileyo!” Ngokuqhelekileyo asidli ngakucinga ngeenyawo zethu ‘njengezibukekayo,’ okanye ezintle. Kodwa apha zifanekisela imigudu yabakhonzi bakaYehova yokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo. Yonke imigudu enjalo mihle yaye ixabisekile emehlweni akhe.—Mateyu 24:14; 28:19, 20.

9, 10. (a) Kutheni sinokuqiniseka ukuba uYehova uyakuxabisa ukunyamezela kwethu imiqobo eyahlukahlukeneyo? (b) Yiyiphi imbono egwenxa uYehova angenayo ngabakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo?

⁹ Kwakhona uYehova uyakuxabisa ukunyamezela kwethu. (Mateyu 24:13) Khumbula ukuba, uSathana ufuna ukuba umnikele umva uYehova. Suku ngalunye ohlala ngalo unyanisekile kuYehova umenza akwazi ukuluphendula ungcikivo lukaSathana. (IMizekeliso 27:11) Maxa wambi ukunyamezela akukho lula. Mihla le sijamelana nezilingo ezinjengempilo enkenenkene, iingxaki zemali, ukudandatheka, neminye imiqobo. Kwanokulinda ithuba elide kusenokudimaza. (IMizekeliso 13:12) Ukunyamezela phezu kwalo nje ucelomngeni olunjalo kuxabiseke nangakumbi kuYehova. Kungako nje uKumkani uDavide wacela uYehova ukuba agcine iinyembezi zakhe “kwintsuba” yakhe, waza ngentembelo wongezelela wathi: “Ngaba azikho encwadini yakho?” (INdumiso 56:8) Ewe, uYehova uyazixabisa yaye uyazikhumbula zonke iinyembezi nokubandezeleka esikunyamezelayo ngoxa sihlala sinyanisekile kuye. Nako oko kuxabisekile emehlweni akhe.

¹⁰ Noko ke, intliziyo enenkohliso isenokubuphikisa ubungqina obunjalo bokuba sixabisekile emehlweni kaThixo. Isenokusiqiqisa ngelithi: ‘Kodwa baninzi abanye abaqhuba kakuhle kunam. Hayi indlela amele ukuba uziva edane ngayo uYehova xa endithelekisa nabo!’ UYehova akasithelekisi nabanye; yaye akakho ngqongqo engekho nangqwabalala. (Galati 6:4) Uzigocagoca ngolwazelelelo iintliziyo zethu, yaye uyakuxabisa nakuphi na ukulunga akubonayo kuzo—nokuba kuncinane kangakanani na.

UYehova Wahlukanisa Okulungileyo Kokubi

11. Yintoni esinokuyifunda ngoYehova kwindlela awayisingatha ngayo imeko ka-Abhiya?

¹¹ Okwesithathu, njengoko uYehova esigocagoca, ngenyameko uyahlukanisa, ekhangela oko kulungileyo sikwenzayo. Ngokomzekelo, xa uYehova wagqiba kwelokuba wonke umnombo owexukileyo kaKumkani uYerobhoham ubulawe, wayalela ukuba omnye woonyana baloo kumkani, uAbhiya, angcwatywe ngokundilisekileyo. Ngoba? “Kuba kuye kufunyenwe okuthile okulungileyo kuYehova uThixo kaSirayeli.” (1 Kumkani 14:1, 10-13) Enyanisweni, uYehova wayigocagoca intliziyo yaloo mfana waza wafumana “okuthile okulungileyo” kuyo. Nokuba kwakukuncinane okanye kungabalulekanga kangakanani oko kulungileyo, uYehova wakubona kufanelekile ukukuphawula eLizwini lakhe. Wada wakuvuza ngokuthi alenzele inceba ngomlinganiselo ofanelekileyo elo lungu linye lendlu yabawexuki.

12, 13. (a) Imeko kaKumkani uYehoshafati ibonisa njani ukuba uYehova ukhangela okulungileyo kuthi kwanaxa sisona? (b) Ngokuphathelele imisebenzi neempawu zethu ezintle, uYehova unguMzali onothando ngayiphi indlela?

¹² Omnye umzekelo omhle nangakumbi ngophathelele uKumkani olungileyo uYehoshafati. Xa lo kumkani wenza isenzo sobudenge, umprofeti kaYehova wathi kuye: “Ngenxa yesi senzo umcaphukisile uYehova.” Hayi indlela amele ukuba amothusa ngayo loo mazwi! Kodwa isigidimi sikaYehova asizange siphelele apho. Saqhubeka sisithi: “Noko ke, kukho izinto ezilungileyo ezifunyenweyo kuwe.” (2 Kronike 19:1-3) Ngoko ingqumbo kaYehova yobulungisa ayizange imenze angakuboni ukulunga kuYehoshafati. Hayi indlela okwahluke ngayo oko kubantu abangafezekanga! Xa sicatshukisiwe ngabanye abantu, sisenokungakuboni ukulunga kwabo. Naxa sisona, ukuphoxeka, ukudana nokuziva sinetyala kusenokusenza singakuboni ukulunga kwethu. Noko ke, khumbula ukuba, ukuba siyaguquka ezonweni zethu size sizabalazele ukuba singaphindi sizenze, uYehova uyasixolela.

¹³ Njengoko uYehova ekugocagoca, uyazityeshela izono ezinjalo, kanye ngendlela umhloli wegolide awatyeshela ngayo amatye angenaxabiso. Kuthekani ngeempawu nemisebenzi yakho emihle? Kwekhu, “bubuncwane” abugcinayo ke obo! Ngaba wakha wayiphawula indlela abazali abanothando abayixabisa ngayo imizobo yabantwana babo okanye imisebenzi yabo yesikolo, maxa wambi emva kweminyaka nabantwana sebayilibala kudala? UYehova ungoyena Mzali unothando. Logama nje sihlala sithembekile kuye, akaze ayilibale imisebenzi neempawu zethu ezintle. Enyanisweni, ukugqala njengentswela-bulungisa ukuzilibala, yaye akanayo intswela-bulungisa. (Hebhere 6:10) Kwakhona usigocagoca nangenye indlela.

14, 15. (a) Kutheni ukungafezeki kwethu kungaze kumenze uYehova angakuboni ukulunga okukuthi? Zekelisa. (b) Yintoni aza kuyenza uYehova ngokulunga akubonayo kuthi, yaye ubagqala njani abantu bakhe abathembekileyo?

¹⁴ UYehova ukhangela ngaphaya kokungafezeki kwethu aze abone oko sinamandla okukufeza. Oku singakuzekelisa ngolu hlobo: Abantu abakuthandayo ukuzoba benza umzamo omkhulu wokulungisa imizobo eyonakeleyo. Ngokomzekelo, xa kwiNdlu Yemizobo yaseLondon, eNgilani, umntu othile wadubula ngompu waza wonakalisa umzobo kaLeonardo da Vinci owawuxabisa malunga nama-30 ezigidi zeedola, akukho namnye owacebisa ukuba ekubeni ngoku lo mzobo wonakalisiwe, ufanele ulahlwe. Ngoko nangoko kwaqaliswa ukulungisa loo mzobo omalunga nama-500 eminyaka ubudala. Ngoba? Ngenxa yokuba wawuxabisekile emehlweni abo bathanda imizobo. Ngaba ke wena akuxabisekanga ngakumbi na kunomzobo owenziwe ngetshokwe nangomsizi? Ngokuqinisekileyo uxabisekile emehlweni kaThixo—nokuba wonakaliswe kangakanani na kukungafezeki okuzuze ilifa. (INdumiso 72:12-14) UYehova uThixo, uMdali oligcisa wabantu, uza kubabuyisela emfezekweni bonke abo bayamkelayo inyameko yakhe yothando.—IZenzo 3:21; Roma 8:20-22.

¹⁵ Ewe, uYehova uyakubona ukulunga kuthi nakuba thina sisenokungakuboni. Yaye njengoko simkhonza, uya kukuhlakulela kukhule oko kulunga side sifezeke ekugqibeleni. Kungakhathaliseki ukuba ihlabathi likaSathana lisiphethe njani na, uYehova ubaxabisile abakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo njengabanqwenelekayo, okanye abaxabisekileyo.—Hagayi 2:7.

UYehova Uyalubonakalisa Uthando Lwakhe

16. Bubuphi obona bungqina bukhulu bokusithanda kukaYehova, yaye sinokwazi njani ukuba esi sipho senzelwe thina ngokobuqu?

¹⁶ Okwesine, uYehova ulubonakalisa ngamandla uthando lwakhe ngathi. Ngokuqinisekileyo, idini lentlawulelo likaKristu liyeyona mpendulo inamandla kubuxoki bukaSathana bokuba asinto yanto okanye asithandeki. Masingaze silibale ukuba ukufa kabuhlungu kukaYesu kwisibonda sentuthumbo nentlungu enkulu ngakumbi eyanyamezelwa nguYehova njengoko wayebukele uNyana wakhe othandekayo esifa, oko kububungqina bokusithanda kwabo. Noko ke, ilusizi into yokuba abantu abaninzi bekufumanisa kunzima ukukholelwa ukuba esi sipho senzelwe bona ngokobuqu. Bavakalelwa kukuba abasifanelanga. Kodwa ke, khumbula ukuba umpostile uPawulos wayebatshutshisa abalandeli bakaKristu. Ukanti, wabhala wathi: ‘UNyana kaThixo wandithanda waza wazinikela ngenxa yam.’—Galati 1:13; 2:20.

17. UYehova usitsalela njani kuye nakuNyana wakhe?

¹⁷ UYehova ukungqina ukusithanda kwakhe ngokuthi ancede ngamnye wethu ukuba angenelwe kwidini likaKristu. UYesu wathi: “Akukho mntu unako ukuza kum ngaphandle kokuba uBawo, owandithumayo, amtsale.” (Yohane 6:44) Ewe, nguYehova ngokwakhe ositsalela kuNyana wakhe nakwithemba lobomi obungunaphakade. Ukwenza njani oko? Ngomsebenzi wokushumayela, ofikelela kuye ngamnye wethu, nangomoya wakhe oyingcwele, awusebenzisayo uYehova ukusinceda ukuba siziqonde yaye sizisebenzise iinyaniso zokomoya phezu kwazo nje iintsilelo nokungafezeki kwethu. Ngoko uYehova unokuthetha ngathi amazwi afanayo nalawo wawathethayo ngoSirayeli esithi: “Ndikuthandile ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo. Kungenxa yoko le nto ndikutsalile ngobubele bothando.”—Yeremiya 31:3.

18, 19. (a) Yiyiphi indlela uYehova akubonisa ngokunzulu ngayo ukusithanda kwakhe, yaye yintoni ebonisa ukuba ulinyamekela ngokwakhe eli lungiselelo? (b) ILizwi likaThixo lisiqinisekisa njani ukuba uYehova ungumphulaphuli onovelwano?

¹⁸ Mhlawumbi lilungelo lomthandazo elenza ukuba uthando lukaYehova lusichaphazele ngokunzulu. IBhayibhile imema ngamnye wethu ukuba ‘athandaze ngokungapheziyo’ kuThixo. (1 Tesalonika 5:17) Uyaphulaphula. Ude abizwe ngokuba ‘nguMphulaphuli wemithandazo.’ (INdumiso 65:2) Eli lungelo akalinikanga nabani na ongomnye, kwanoNyana wakhe uqobo. Khawufan’ ucinge: UMdali wendalo iphela usibongoza ukuba sithandaze kuye, ngokukhululekileyo. Yaye uluhlobo olunjani lomphulaphuli? Ngaba ungumphulaphuli ongenabubele, ongenazimvakalelo, nongakhathaliyo? Akunjalo konke konke.

¹⁹ UYehova unovelwano. Luyintoni uvelwano? Omnye umKristu okhulileyo othembekileyo wathi: “Uvelwano yintlungu yakho entliziyweni yam.” Ngaba ngokwenene uYehova uyavakalelwa yintlungu yethu? Sifunda oku ngokuphathelele ukubandezeleka kwabantu bakhe amaSirayeli: “Ebudeni bokubandezeleka kwabo konke wabandezeleka.” (Isaya 63:9) UYehova akazange aphelele nje ngokukubona ukubandezeleka kwabo; waba novelwano ngabantu bakhe. Indlela awavakalelwa ngokunzulu ngayo izekeliswe ngamazwi kaYehova uqobo kubakhonzi bakhe, esithi: “Ochukumisa nina uchukumisa ukhozo lweliso lam.”b (Zekariya 2:8) Hayi indlela okumele ukuba kubuhlungu ngayo oko! Ewe, uYehova unovelwano ngathi. Xa sisentlungwini, naye uba buhlungu.

20. Yiyiphi ingcamango engalungelelananga esimele siyiphephe ukuze sithobele isiluleko esifumaneka kwabaseRoma 12:3?

²⁰ Akakho umKristu ovuthiweyo onokubusebenzisa ubungqina obunjalo bokusithanda nokusixabisa kukaThixo njengesizathu sokuba nekratshi okanye impakamo. Umpostile uPawulos wabhala wathi: “Ngobubele obungasifanelanga endabunikwayo ndixelela wonk’ ubani apho phakathi kwenu ukuba angazicingeli ngaphezu koko amelwe kukuzicingela ngako; kodwa makacinge khon’ ukuze abe nengqondo ephilileyo, ngamnye njengoko uThixo amabele umlinganiselo wokholo.” (Roma 12:3) Enye inguqulelo ithi apha: “Ndithi kuye ngamnye wenu makangazigqali ngaphezu koko akuko ngokwenene, kodwa makazigqale ngomlinganiselo ofanelekileyo.” (A Translation in the Language of the People, by Charles B. Williams) Ngoko ngoxa sinandipha ngokupheleleyo uthando lukaBawo wethu osemazulwini, masibe nengqondo ephilileyo size sikhumbule ukuba asilufanelanga uthando lukaThixo.—Luka 17:10.

21. Bubuphi ubuxoki bukaSathana esimele siqhubeke sibugatya, yaye yiyiphi inyaniso yobuthixo esimele siqhubeke siyibethelela ezintliziyweni zethu?

²¹ Ngamnye wethu makenze konke okusemandleni akhe ukugatya bonke ubuxoki bukaSathana, kuquka ubuxoki bokuba asinto yanto okanye asithandeki. Ukuba amava akho ebomini akwenza uzigqale njengomntu owonakele kakhulu ukuba ungafanelwa luthando olunzulu lukaThixo, okanye uyigqale imisebenzi yakho elungileyo imincinane kakhulu kangangokuba amehlo akhe agocagocayo angabi nakuyiphawula, okanye izono zakho uzigqale zizikhulu kangangokuba nokufa koNyana wakhe oxabisekileyo kungabi nakuzigubungela, ngoko uye wafundiswa ubuxoki. Bugatye ubuxoki obunjalo ngentliziyo yakho yonke! Masiqhubeke siyibethelela ezintliziyweni zethu inyaniso echazwe emazwini aphefumlelweyo kaPawulos, athi: “Ndeyisekile kukuba nakufa nabomi nazingelosi narhulumente nazinto zilapha ngoku nazinto zizayo namandla nakuphakama nabunzulu naso nasiphi na esinye isidalwa aziyi kuba nako ukusahlula eluthandweni lukaThixo olukuye uKristu Yesu iNkosi yethu.”—Roma 8:38, 39.

1, 2. (a) Ngokwemvelo unina usabela njani xa usana lwakhe lukhala? (b) Yiyiphi imvakalelo enamandla ngakumbi kunemfesane kanina?

KUKHALA usana ezinzulwini zobusuku. Ngoko nangoko, unina uyavuka. Akasalali buthongo njengakuqala—ukususela oko usana lwakhe luzelwe. Uye wafunda ukwahlukanisa iindlela ezahlukeneyo olukhala ngazo usana lwakhe. Ngoko, ngokufuthi uyakwazi ukuqonda xa usana lwakhe lulambile, xa lufuna ukuphathwa, okanye lufuna ukutshintshwa. Kodwa singakhathaliseki isizathu sokukhala kosana, unina usoloko enikela ingqalelo. Uthando lwakhe alumvumeli ukuba azibethe ngoyaba iintswelo zomntwana wakhe.

² Imfesane unina anayo ngomntwana wakhe yenye yezona mvakalelo zothando zibalaseleyo ebantwini. Noko ke, kukho enye imvakalelo enamandla lee kunaleyo—imfesane yothando yoThixo wethu, uYehova. Ukuhlolisisa olu phawu luthandekayo kunokusinceda sisondele ngakumbi kuYehova. Ngoko makhe sihlolisise oko ikuko imfesane nendlela uThixo wethu ayibonakalisa ngayo.

Yintoni Imfesane?

3. Iyintoni intsingiselo yesenzi sesiHebhere esiguqulelwe ngokuthi ‘ukubonisa inceba’ okanye ‘ukuba nosizi’?

³ IBhayibhile iyinxulumanisa imfesane kunye nenceba. Amagama aliqela esiHebhere nawesiGrike adlulisela ingcamango yemfesane yothando. Ngokomzekelo, khawucinge nje ngesenzi sesiHebhere esithi ra·chamʹ, esidla ngokuguqulelwa ngokuthi ‘ukubonisa inceba’ okanye ‘ukuba nosizi.’ Enye incwadi ithi isenzi esithi ra·chamʹ “sidlulisela ingcamango yemfesane enzulu neyothando, njengaleyo siba nayo xa sibona ukuba buthathaka okanye ukubandezeleka kwabo sibathandayo okanye abafuna uncedo lwethu.” Eli gama lesiHebhere, uYehova alisebenzisa ukubhekisela kuye uqobo, lihlobene negama elithetha “isibeleko” yaye linokuchazwa ngokuthi “imfesane kamama.”a—Eksodus 33:19; Yeremiya 33:26.

4, 5. IBhayibhile izisebenzisa njani iimvakalelo umama anazo ngosana lwakhe ukusifundisa ngemfesane kaYehova?

⁴ IBhayibhile isebenzisa iimvakalelo unina anazo ngosana lwakhe ukusifundisa ngentsingiselo yemfesane kaYehova. KuIsaya 49:15, sifunda oku: “Umfazi angalulibala yini na usana lwakhe, ukuba angabi namfesane [ra·chamʹ] kunyana wesizalo sakhe? Nokuba oonina abo bathe balibala, andiyi kukulibala mna.” (IBhayibhile yesiXhosa) Loo nkcazelo ichukumisayo igxininisa ubunzulu bemfesane kaYehova ngabantu bakhe. Njani?

⁵ Kunzima ukucinga ukuba umama angalibala ukondla nokunyamekela usana lwakhe. Ngapha koko, usana alunakuzenzela nto; ubusuku nemini lufuna ingqalelo nothando lukanina. Noko ke, okubuhlungu kukuba akuyonto inqabileyo ukuva ngokutyeshela koomama iintsana zabo, ingakumbi kule “mihla yokugqibela” ephawuleka ngokungabikho ‘komsa wemvelo.’ (2 Timoti 3:1, 3) Ukanti, uYehova uthi, “Andiyi kukulibala mna.” Imfesane yothando uYehova anayo ngabakhonzi bakhe ayinakuze iphele. Inkulu lee nakuneyona mvakalelo inzulu yothando lwemvelo esinokuyithelekelela—imfesane umama aba nayo ngokwemvelo ngosana lwakhe. Ngoko ke ayimangalisi into yokuba omnye umhlalutyi wathi ngoIsaya 49:15: “Le yenye yezona nkcazelo zinamandla, ukuba asiyiyo eyona nkcazelo inamandla yothando lukaThixo kwiTestamente Endala.”

6. Abantu abaninzi abangafezekanga baye bayigqala ngayiphi indlela imfesane yothando, kodwa yintoni asiqinisekisa ngayo uYehova?

⁶ Ngaba imfesane yothando iluphawu lobuthathaka? Abantu abaninzi abangafezekanga bacinga njalo. Ngokomzekelo, isithandi sobulumko esingumRoma uSeneca, owayephila ngexesha likaYesu nowayesisilumko esiphambili saseRoma, wafundisa ukuba “usizi lububuthathaka bengqondo.” USeneca wayebalaselisa ubuStoyike, obuyintanda-bulumko egxininisa ukungabi nazimvakalelo. Umntu osisilumko usenokubanceda abo babandezelekileyo, watsho njalo uSeneca, kodwa akamele azivumele ukuba abe nosizi, kuba imvakalelo elolo hlobo yayiya kumenza aphulukane nokuzola. Loo mbono yokuzingca yayimenza ubani angabi namfesane. Kodwa yena uYehova akanjalo konke konke! ELizwini lakhe, uYehova usiqinisekisa ukuba “unomsa omkhulu nemfesane.” (Yakobi 5:11, umbhalo osemazantsi we-NW eneembekiselo) Njengoko siza kubona, imfesane asibobuthathaka kodwa luphawu olunamandla nolubalulekileyo. Makhe sihlolisise indlela uYehova, njengomzali onothando, ayibonakalisa ngayo.

Xa UYehova Wabonisa Imfesane Kuhlanga Oluthile

7, 8. AmaSirayeli abandezeleka ngayiphi indlela kwiYiputa yamandulo, yaye wasabela njani uYehova ekubandezelekeni kwawo?

⁷ Imfesane kaYehova ibonakala ngokucacileyo kwindlela awasebenzisana ngayo nohlanga lukaSirayeli. Ekupheleni kwenkulungwane ye-16 B.C.E., izigidi zamaSirayeli zazingamakhoboka eYiputa, apho zazicinezeleka khona ngokuqatha. AmaYiputa “abenza bakrakra ubomi babo ngokubatsalisa nzima ebukhobokeni, besenza udaka lodongwe nezitena.” (Eksodus 1:11, 14) Ebandezelekile, amaSirayeli ambongoza uYehova ukuba awancede. Wasabela njani uThixo wemfesane yothando?

⁸ Intliziyo kaYehova yachukumiseka. Wathi: “Ngokungathandabuzekiyo ndiyibonile inkxwaleko yabantu bam abaseYiputa, yaye ndisivile isikhalo sabo ngenxa yabo babaqweqwedisayo emsebenzini; kuba ndiyazi kakuhle intlungu yabo.” (Eksodus 3:7) UYehova wayengenakukubona ukubandezeleka kwabantu bakhe okanye akuve ukukhala kwabo aze angavakalelwa. Njengoko sibonile kwiSahluko 24 sale ncwadi, uYehova unguThixo onovelwano. Yaye uvelwano—olubangelwa kukuyiqonda intlungu yabanye—luhlobene nemfesane. Kodwa uYehova akazange nje aphelele ngokuba novelwano ngabantu bakhe; kodwa washukunyiselwa ekubeni enze okuthile. UIsaya 63:9 uthi: “Ngothando lwakhe nangemfesane yakhe wabahlawulela.” “Ngesandla esomeleleyo,” uYehova wawahlangula amaSirayeli eYiputa. (Duteronomi 4:34) Emva koko wawanika ukutya ngokungummangaliso waza wawasa kwilizwe lawo elichumileyo.

9, 10. (a) Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova awahlangule ngokuphindaphindiweyo amaSirayeli emva kokuba ezinzile kwiLizwe Lesithembiso? (b) Ngemihla kaYifeta, uYehova wawahlangula kwiyiphi ingcinezelo amaSirayeli, yaye yintoni eyamshukumisela ukuba enjenjalo?

⁹ Imfesane kaYehova ayizange iphelele apho. Akuba ezinzile kwiLizwe Lesithembiso, uSirayeli wawela ngokuphindaphindiweyo kwihambo yokungathembeki waza ngenxa yoko wabandezeleka. Noko ke, aba bantu babebuyela ezingqondweni baze bacele uncedo kuYehova. Wabahlangula ngokuphindaphindiweyo. Ngoba? “Ngenxa yokuba waba nemfesane ngabantu bakhe.”—2 Kronike 36:15; ABagwebi 2:11-16.

¹⁰ Khawucinge nje ngoko kwenzekayo ngemihla kaYifeta. Ekubeni amaSirayeli aphethukela ekukhonzeni oothixo bobuxoki, uYehova wawayekela ukuba aphathwe gadalala ngama-Amoni kangangeminyaka eli-18. Ekugqibeleni, amaSirayeli aguquka. IBhayibhile isixelela oku: “Babashenxisa oothixo basemzini phakathi kwabo baza bakhonza uYehova, kangangokuba umphefumlo wakhe awuzange ukwazi ukunyamezela ngenxa yenkathazo kaSirayeli.”b (ABagwebi 10:6-16) Bakuba abantu bakhe bebonise inguquko yokwenene, uYehova akazange akunyamezele ukubabona bebandezeleka. Ngoko uThixo onemfesane yothando wanika uYifeta amandla okuwahlangula amaSirayeli ezandleni zeentshaba zawo.—ABagwebi 11:30-33.

11. Kwindlela uYehova awasebenzisana ngayo namaSirayeli, yintoni esiyifundayo ngemfesane?

¹¹ Indlela uYehova awasebenzisana ngayo nohlanga lukaSirayeli isifundisa ntoni ngemfesane yothando? Phakathi kwezinye izinto, siyabona ukuba imfesane yothando uYehova anayo ayibangelwa luvelwano nje kuphela ngenxa yokubona iinkxwaleko zabantu. Khumbula umzekelo kamama oqhutywa yimfesane ukuba enze okuthile xa usana lwakhe lulila. Ngokufanayo, uYehova akakubethi ngoyaba ukukhala kwabantu bakhe. Imfesane yakhe yothando imenza ukuba abahlangule ekubandezelekeni kwabo. Ukongezelela koko, indlela uYehova awasebenzisana ngayo namaSirayeli isifundisa ukuba imfesane ayibubo kwaphela ubuthathaka, kuba olu phawu lothando lwamshukumisela ukuba athabathe inyathelo elinamandla nelingqongqo ukuze ahlangule abantu bakhe. Kodwa ngaba uYehova ubonisa imfesane kuphela kubakhonzi bakhe njengeqela?

Ukuba Nemfesane KukaYehova Kumntu Ngamnye

12. UMthetho wakubonisa njani ukuba nemfesane kukaYehova kumntu ngamnye?

¹² UMthetho uThixo awawunika uhlanga lukaSirayeli wabonisa ukuba nemfesane kwakhe kumntu ngamnye. Ngokomzekelo, khawucinge nje ngokuxhalabela kwakhe abo bahlwempuzekileyo. UYehova wayesazi ukuba kwakunokuvela iimeko ezingalindelekanga ezazinokumshiya umSirayeli ehlwempuzekile. Babemele baphathwe njani abo bahlwempuzekileyo? UYehova wawayalela ngokungqongqo amaSirayeli esithi: “Uze ungayenzi lukhuni intliziyo yakho okanye ube ligqolo ngakumzalwana wakho ohlwempuzekileyo. Ufanele umnike, yaye ingavimbi intliziyo yakho ekumnikeni kwakho, ngokuba ngenxa yoko wokusikelela uYehova uThixo wakho kuko konke okwenzayo.” (Duteronomi 15:7, 10) Ngokubhekele phaya uYehova wayalela ukuba amaSirayeli angavuni ekupheleni kwentsimi yawo okanye abhikice. Ngabahlelelekileyo ababefanele babhikice. (Levitikus 23:22; Rute 2:2-7) Xa uhlanga lwaluwuthobela lo mmiselo wokunyamekela abo bahlwempuzekileyo phakathi kwabo, kwakungekho mfuneko yokuba amaSirayeli asweleyo angqibe efuna ukutya. Ngaba oko kwakungabonisi imfesane kaYehova yothando?

13, 14. (a) Amazwi kaDavide asiqinisekisa njani ukuba uYehova unenkxalabo enzulu ngaye ngamnye wethu? (b) Sinokuzekeliswa njani isibakala sokuba uYehova usondele kwabo “baphuke intliziyo” okanye “bamoya utyumkileyo”?

¹³ Nanamhlanje, uThixo wethu onothando unenkxalabo enzulu ngaye ngamnye wethu. Sinokuqiniseka ukuba ukuqonda kakuhle nakuphi na ukubandezeleka kwethu. Umdumisi uDavide wabhala wathi: “Amehlo kaYehova akumalungisa, neendlebe zakhe zibhekiswe ekukhaleleni kwawo uncedo. UYehova usondele kwabo baphuke intliziyo; yaye abo bamoya utyumkileyo uyabasindisa.” (INdumiso 34:15, 18) Ngokuphathelele abo bachazwa ngala mazwi, omnye umhlalutyi weBhayibhile wathi: “Ngabo basentlungwini naselusizini, oko kukuthi, abaziva bephantsi ngenxa yesono nabavakalelwa kukuba abanto yanto.” Abo banjalo basenokuvakalelwa kukuba uYehova ukude kubo yaye ababalulekanga ukuba angade azikhathaze ngabo. Kodwa akunjalo. Amazwi kaDavide ayasiqinisekisa ukuba uYehova akabatyesheli abo “bavakalelwa kukuba abanto yanto.” UThixo wethu onemfesane uyazi ukuba ngamaxesha anjalo, simfuna ngakumbi kunangaphambili, yaye usondele kuthi.

¹⁴ Khawucinge nje ngala mava alandelayo. Umama othile waseUnited States wabalekisela unyana wakhe oneminyaka emibini ubudala esibhedlele ngenxa yokuba wayephethwe sisifo esibangela ukhohlokhohlo olubi. Emva kokuyixilonga le nkwenkwana, ugqirha wachazela unina ukuba kwakuza kufuneka bayilalise apho esibhedlele. Walala phi lo mama ngobo busuku? Wayehleli esitulweni apho esibhedlele, ecaleni kwebhedi yonyana wakhe! Inkwenkwana yakhe yayigula, ngoko wayefuna ukuba secaleni kwayo. Ngokuqinisekileyo sinokulindela okungakumbi kunoko kuBawo wethu wasezulwini onothando! Ngapha koko, senziwe ngokomfanekiso wakhe. (Genesis 1:26) Amazwi achukumisayo akwiNdumiso 34:18 asixelela ukuba xa ‘saphuke intliziyo’ okanye ‘sinomoya otyumkileyo,’ uYehova, njengomzali onothando, “usondele”—ubonisa imfesane yaye ukulungele ukusinceda.

15. UYehova usinceda njani umntu ngamnye?

¹⁵ Noko ke, uYehova usinceda njani umntu ngamnye? Akasoloko emsusa unobangela wokubandezeleka kwethu. Kodwa uYehova wenze amalungiselelo amaninzi okunceda abo badanduluka kuye becela uncedo. ILizwi lakhe iBhayibhile linamacebiso aluncedo. Ebandleni, uYehova ulungiselele abaveleli abafanelekileyo bokomoya, abazabalazela ukubonisa imfesane njengaye ekuncedeni abo banqula kunye nabo. (Yakobi 5:14, 15) ‘NjengoMphulaphuli wemithandazo,’ ubanika “umoya oyingcwele abo bamcelayo.” (INdumiso 65:2; Luka 11:13) Loo moya unokusinika “amandla angaphaya koko kuqhelekileyo” ukuze sikwazi ukunyamezela de uBukumkani bukaThixo bushenxise zonke iingcinezelo. (2 Korinte 4:7) Ngaba asiwavuyeli na onke la malungiselelo? Masingalibali ukuba abonisa imfesane yothando kaYehova.

16. Nguwuphi owona mzekelo ubalaseleyo wemfesane kaYehova, yaye oko kumchaphazela njani ngamnye wethu?

¹⁶ Kambe ke, owona mzekelo ubalaseleyo wemfesane kaYehova kukunikela kwakhe ngaLowo ungoyena usenyongweni kuye ukuba abe yintlawulelo yethu. Elo lidini lothando uYehova awasenzela lona, yaye lasivulela indlela yosindiso. Khumbula ukuba, elo lungiselelo lentlawulelo lenzelwe thina ngokobuqu. Wayehlab’ emhloleni, uZekariya, uyise kaYohane uMbhaptizi, ngokuthi eli lungiselelo lalibonisa ‘imfesane yothando kaThixo wethu.’—Luka 1:78.

Xa UYehova Engayibonisi Imfesane

17-19. (a) IBhayibhile ibonisa njani ukuba imfesane kaYehova inesiphelo? (b) Yintoni eyabangela ukuba imfesane kaYehova ngabantu bakhe ifikelele esiphelweni?

¹⁷ Ngaba sifanele sigqibe kwelokuba imfesane yothando kaYehova ayinaso isiphelo? Akunjalo, kuba iBhayibhile ibonisa ngokucacileyo ukuba uYehova akayibonisi imfesane kwabo bazigatyayo iindlela zakhe zobulungisa. (Hebhere 10:28) Ukuze ubone isizathu sokuba enjenjalo, khumbula umzekelo wohlanga lukaSirayeli.

¹⁸ Nangona uYehova wawahlangula ngokuphindaphindiweyo amaSirayeli kwiintshaba zawo, ekugqibeleni imfesane yakhe yafikelela esiphelweni. Aba bantu banenkani babeqhelisela unqulo-zithixo, bada bazisa izithixo zabo ezilizothe kanye etempileni kaYehova! (Hezekile 5:11; 8:17, 18) Ngokubhekele phaya, sixelelwa oku: “Baqhubeka bebagculela abathunywa bakaThixo oyinyaniso bewadelela amazwi akhe bebenza intlekisa abaprofeti bakhe, de wafika umsindo kaYehova nxamnye nabantu bakhe, kwada akwabakho kuphiliswa.” (2 Kronike 36:16) AmaSirayeli afikelela kwinqanaba apho kwakungasekho sizathu sifanelekileyo sokubonisa imfesane kuwo, yaye aphembelela ingqumbo kaYehova yobulungisa. Waba yintoni umphumo woko?

¹⁹ UYehova akazange akwazi ukuqhubeka ebonisa imfesane kubantu bakhe. Wavakalisa oku: “Andiyi kubonisa mfesane, ndingabi nalo naluphi na usizi, yaye andiyi kuba nanceba ngokokude ndingabonakalisi.” (Yeremiya 13:14) Ngaloo ndlela, iYerusalem netempile yayo zatshatyalaliswa, yaye amaSirayeli athinjelwa eBhabhiloni. Hayi indlela ekulusizi ngayo xa abantu abanesono bevukela kangangokuba ide ifikelele esiphelweni imfesane kaThixo!—IZililo 2:21.

20, 21. (a) Yintoni eza kwenzeka xa imfesane kaThixo ifikelela esiphelweni ngomhla wethu? (b) Liliphi ilungiselelo likaYehova lemfesane ekuza kuxutyushwa ngalo kwisahluko esilandelayo?

²⁰ Kuthekani namhlanje? UYehova akatshintshanga. Ngenxa yemfesane, uye wathuma amaNgqina akhe ukuba ashumayele ‘iindaba ezilungileyo’ kuwo wonke umhlaba. (Mateyu 24:14) Xa abantu abantliziyo zilungileyo bezamkela, uYehova uyabanceda ukuba basiqonde isigidimi soBukumkani. (IZenzo 16:14) Kodwa lo msebenzi awuzukuqhubeka usenziwa ngonaphakade. Bekungayi kuba kukubonisa imfesane ngoYehova ukuvumela eli hlabathi lingendawo, nalo lonke usizi nokubandezeleka okukulo, ukuba ziqhubeke ngokungapheliyo. Xa imfesane kaThixo ifikelele esiphelweni, uYehova uza kuyigweba le nkqubo yezinto. Nako oko, kuya kube kusisenzo semfesane—imfesane ‘ngegama lakhe elingcwele’ nangabakhonzi bakhe abazinikeleyo. (Hezekile 36:20-23) UYehova uza kubuphelisa ubungendawo aze azise ihlabathi elitsha lobulungisa. Ngokuphathelele abangendawo, uYehova uthi: “Iliso lam aliyi kuba nosizi, ndingayi kubonisa nemfesane. Ngokuqinisekileyo ndiya kuzisa entlokweni yabo ngokwendlela yabo.”—Hezekile 9:10.

²¹ De kube lelo xesha, uYehova ubonisa imfesane ebantwini, kuquka abo balindelwe yintshabalalo. Abantu abanesono abaguquka ngokunyanisekileyo banokungenelwa kwelinye lawona malungiselelo abalaseleyo kaYehova emfesane—ukuxolela. Kwisahluko esilandelayo, siza kuxubusha ngeminye yemizekelo emihle eseBhayibhileni ebonisa ukuxolela kukaYehova ngokupheleleyo.

1-3. (a) Yintoni eyayimkhathaza kakhulu umdumisi uDavide, yaye yathuthuzeleka njani intliziyo yakhe ekhathazekileyo? (b) Xa sisona, kunokusichaphazela njani oko, kodwa yintoni asiqinisekisa ngayo uYehova?

UMDUMISI uDavide wabhala wathi: “Iziphoso zam zidlule phezu kwentloko yam. Njengomthwalo onzima zinzima kakhulu kum. Ndisuke ndandindisholo yaye ndityumke ngomlinganiselo ogqithileyo.” (INdumiso 38:4, 8) UDavide wayekwazi ukukhathaza kwesazela esinetyala. Kodwa intliziyo yakhe ekhathazekileyo yathuthuzeleka. Wayeqonda ukuba nangona uYehova esithiyile isono, akamthiyanga umoni ukuba uguquka ngokunyanisekileyo aze aligatye ikhondo lakhe lesono. Enentembelo epheleleyo ekukulungeleni kukaYehova ukubonisa inceba kwabo baguqukayo, uDavide wathi: “Wena, Yehova, . . . ukulungele ukuxolela.”—INdumiso 86:5.

² Xa sisona, nathi sisenokukhathazwa sisazela. Le mvakalelo yokuzisola iluncedo. Inokusishukumisela ukuba sithabathe amanyathelo okulungisa iimpazamo zethu. Noko ke, kukho ingozi yokonganyelwa yimvakalelo yokuba netyala. Iintliziyo zethu zisenokusigweba ngelithi uYehova akayi kusixolela, nokuba sinokuguquka kangakanani na. Ukuba ‘sidliwa’ yimvakalelo yokuba netyala, uSathana usenokuzama ukusenza sinikezele, sivakalelwe kukuba uYehova usigqala njengabantu abangento, abangakufanelekelanga ukumkhonza.—2 Korinte 2:5-11.

³ Ngaba leyo yindlela uYehova avakalelwa ngayo ngokwenene? Unotshe! Ukuxolela kuyinxalenye yothando lukaYehova olukhulu. ELizwini lakhe, usiqinisekisa ukuba xa sibonakalisa inguquko yokwenene nesuka entliziyweni, ukulungele ukuxolela. (IMizekeliso 28:13) Ukuze siphephe ingcamango yokuba uYehova akanakuze asixolele, makhe sihlolisise isizathu nendlela axolela ngayo.

Isizathu Sokuba UYehova ‘Ekulungele Ukuxolela’

4. Yintoni ayikhumbulayo uYehova ngokubunjwa kwethu, yaye oku kuyichaphazela njani indlela asiphatha ngayo?

⁴ UYehova uyazazi iintsilelo zethu. INdumiso 103:14 ithi: “Yena uyakwazi ukuyilwa kwethu, ekhumbula ukuba siluthuli.” Akayilibali into yokuba sizizidalwa ezenziwe ngothuli, nezibuthathaka, ngenxa yokungafezeki. Ibinzana elithi “uyakwazi ukuyilwa kwethu” lisikhumbuza ukuba iBhayibhile imfanisa uYehova nombumbi ize thina isifanise nesitya asenzayo.a (Yeremiya 18:2-6) Lo Mbumbi Mkhulu usebenzisana nathi ngokobuthathaka bethu nangokwemeko yethu yesono nendlela esisabela okanye esisilela ngayo ukusabela kukhokelo lwakhe.

5. Incwadi yabaseRoma iwachaza njani amandla esono?

⁵ UYehova uyayiqonda indlela esinamandla ngayo isono. ILizwi lakhe lisichaza isono njengamandla amakhulu akhokelela umntu ekufeni. Kanye kanye makhulu kangakanani la mandla esono? Encwadini yabaseRoma, umpostile uPawulos ucacisa athi: ‘Siphantsi kwesono,’ njengoko amajoni esiba phantsi komphathi-mkhosi (Roma 3:9); isono siye “salawula” uluntu njengokumkani (Roma 5:21); “sihleli” kuthi (Roma 7:17, 20); “umthetho” waso uyaqhubeka usebenza kuthi, uzama ukulawula ikhondo lethu. (Roma 7:23, 25) Hayi indlela esinamandla ngayo isono kwinyama yethu engafezekanga!—Roma 7:21, 24.

6, 7. (a) UYehova ubagqala njani abo baguquka ngokusuka entliziyweni nabacela ukwenzelwa inceba? (b) Kutheni singafanele siyibange inceba kaThixo?

⁶ Ngenxa yoko, uYehova uyazi ukuba asinakukwazi ukumthobela ngokugqibeleleyo, nokuba sinokukulangazelela ngokunyaniseke kangakanani na ukwenjenjalo. Ngothando usiqinisekisa ukuba xa siguquka ngokusuka entliziyweni size simcele ukuba asenzele inceba, uya kusixolela. INdumiso 51:17 ithi: “Imibingelelo kuThixo ngumoya owaphukileyo; intliziyo eyaphukileyo netyumkileyo, Thixo, akuyi kuyidela.” UYehova akasayi kuze ayigatye intliziyo “eyaphukileyo netyumkileyo” ngenxa yokuzisola.

⁷ Noko ke, ngaba oku kuthetha ukuba sinokuyibanga inceba kaThixo, sone size sizingxengxezele ngelithi kakade singabantu abanesono? Ngokuqinisekileyo akunjalo! UYehova akaphenjelelwa ziimvakalelo kuphela. Inceba yakhe isikelwe umda. Akasayi kubaxolela abo baqhelisela isono ngabom, bengaguquki. (Hebhere 10:26) Kodwa ke, xa ebona intliziyo eguqukayo, ukulungele ukuxolela. Ngoku makhe sihlolisise amabinzana athile angqalileyo aseBhayibhileni achaza le nkalo imangalisayo yothando lukaYehova.

Uxolela Ngokupheleleyo Kangakanani UYehova?

8. Eneneni, yintoni ayenzayo uYehova xa exolela izono zethu, yaye oku kusinika yiphi intembelo?

⁸ UDavide owaguqukayo wathi: “Ekugqibeleni isono sam ndisivumile kuwe, nesiphoso sam andisigubungelanga. . . . Waza wena wasixolela isiphoso sezono zam.” (INdumiso 32:5) Igama elithi “wasixolela” liguqulelwe ngokusuka kwelesiHebhere elithetha “ukuphakamisa” okanye “ukuthwala.” Ukusetyenziswa kwalo apha kubonisa ukususa “ityala, isono nokunxaxha.” Eneneni, uYehova uye waziphakamisa izono zikaDavide, wazithwala wahamba nazo. Ngokungathandabuzekiyo oku kwayiphelisa imvakalelo kaDavide yokuziva enetyala. (INdumiso 32:3) Nathi sinokuba nentembelo epheleleyo kuThixo ozithwalayo izono zabo bacela ukuxolelwa nguye nabanokholo kwidini lentlawulelo likaYesu.—Mateyu 20:28.

9. UYehova uzishenxisa kude kangakanani kuthi izono zethu?

⁹ UDavide wasebenzisa elinye ibinzana elingqalileyo ukuchaza ukuxolela kukaYehova: “Njengokuba kude kwempumalanga entshonalanga, kunjalo ukukukhwelelisa kwakhe kude nathi ukunxaxha kwethu.” (INdumiso 103:12) Ikude kangakanani impumalanga ukusuka entshonalanga? Eneneni, impumalanga nentshonalanga zezona ncam ziqeleleneyo; azinakuze zidibane. Omnye umphengululi uthi eli binzana lithetha “into ekude ngokungathethekiyo; esingenakuyithelekelela.” La mazwi aphefumlelweyo kaDavide asixelela ukuba xa uYehova exolela, uzishenxisa kude kakhulu izono zethu ngomkhamo esingenakuwuthelekelela.

10. Xa uYehova exolela izono zethu, kutheni singafanele sivakalelwe kukuba siya kuhlala sinebala lezo zono ubomi bethu bonke?

¹⁰ Ngaba wakha wazama ukususa ibala elimdaka kwisambatho esinombala okhanyayo? Mhlawumbi nasemva kokuba uzame kangangoko unako, liye lasala libonakala elo bala. Kodwa ke phawula indlela uYehova akuchaza ngayo ukuxolela kwakhe: “Nangona izono zenu zingqombela, ziya kwenziwa mhlophe njengekhephu; nangona zibomvu njengelaphu elibomvu ngokungqombela, ziya kuba njengoboya.” (Isaya 1:18) Into ‘engqombela’ yinto enombala obomvu oqaqambileyo.b Umbala ‘obomvu ngokungqombela’ ngumbala odaywe watshona ngokunzulu eboyeni. (Nahum 2:3) Asinakuze sikwazi ngemizamo yethu ukulishenxisa ibala lesono. Kodwa uYehova unako ukuzicoca izono ezingqombela nezibomvu ngokungqombela, azenze zibe mhlophe njengekhephu okanye zibe njengoboya obungadaywanga. Xa uYehova exolela izono zethu, akukho mfuneko yokuvakalelwa kukuba siya kuhlala sinebala lezo zono ubomi bethu bonke.

11. UYehova uziphosa ngayiphi ingqiqo izono zethu emva kwakhe?

¹¹ Kwingoma echukumisayo yokubulela eyaqanjwa nguHezekiya emva kokusindiswa kwakhe kwisifo esibulalayo, wathi kuYehova: “Uziphose emva kwakho zonke izono zam.” (Isaya 38:17) Apha uYehova uchazwa njengothabatha izono zomenzi-bubi oguqukileyo aze aziphose emva Kwakhe ukuze angabi sazibona okanye aphinde anikele ingqalelo kuzo. Ngokutsho kwenye incwadi, eyona ngcamango yala mazwi inokuchazwa ngokuthi: “Uye wazisusa [izono zam] kwangathi zange zibekho.” Ngaba akukhuthazi oko?

12. Umprofeti uMika ubonisa njani ukuba xa uYehova exolela, uzishenxisa ngokupheleleyo izono zethu?

¹² Kwisithembiso sokubuyiselwa, umprofeti uMika wavakalisa intembelo yakhe yokuba uYehova wayeya kubaxolela abantu bakhe abaguqukayo, esithi: “Ngubani na onguThixo onjengawe, . . . odlulayo ekunxaxheni kwentsalela yelifa lakhe? . . . Kwaye uya kuziphosa ezinzulwini zolwandle zonke izono zabo.” (Mika 7:18, 19) Khawucinge nje ngoko kwakuthethwa ngaloo mazwi kwabo babephila ngamaxesha okubhalwa kweBhayibhile. Ngaba yayinokuphinda ifumaneke into ephoswe “ezinzulwini zolwandle”? Ngoko amazwi kaMika abonisa ukuba xa uYehova exolela, uzishenxisa ngokupheleleyo izono zethu.

13. Athetha ukuthini amazwi kaYesu athi “Sixolele amatyala ethu”?

¹³ UYesu wazekelisa ngomntu onetyala ukubonisa indlela axolela ngayo uYehova. UYesu wasibongoza ukuba sithandaze sithi: “Sixolele amatyala ethu.” (Mateyu 6:12) Ngoko uYesu wafanisa izono kunye namatyala. (Luka 11:4) Xa sisona, “siyamtyala” uYehova. Ngokuphathelele intsingiselo yesenzi sesiGrike esiguqulelwe ngokuthi “ukuxolela,” enye incwadi ithi: “Kukuncama, ukucima ityala, uze ungafuni ntlawulo yalo.” Lilonke ke, xa uYehova exolela, uyalicima ityala esinalo. Oko kumele kubathuthuzele aboni abaguqukayo. UYehova akasayi kuze afune intlawulo yetyala alicimileyo!—INdumiso 32:1, 2.

14. Ibinzana elithi “zicinywe izono zenu” lisinika wuphi umfanekiso-ngqondweni?

¹⁴ Ukuxolela kukaYehova kuchazwe ngokubhekele phaya kwiZenzo 3:19 ngokuthi: “Guqukani, ke ngoko, nijike khon’ ukuze zicinywe izono zenu.” Eli binzana lokugqibela liguqulelwe ngokusuka kwisenzi sesiGrike esithetha “ukusula, . . . ukutshitshisa okanye ukutshabalalisa.” Ngokutsho kwabanye abaphengululi, oku kusinika umfanekiso-ngqondweni wokucima umbhalo wesandla. Kwakunokwenzeka njani oku? I-inki eyayidla ngokusetyenziswa mandulo yayenziwe ngomxube wekharbhon, intlaka namanzi. Ngokukhawuleza emva kokusebenza nge-inki elolo hlobo, umntu wayenako ukuthabatha isponji esimanzi aze akucime oko ebekubhalile. Oku kusinika umfanekiso-ngqondweni omhle wenceba kaYehova. Xa exolela izono zethu, kunjengokungathi uthabatha isponji aze azicime.

15. Yintoni uYehova afuna siyazi ngaye?

¹⁵ Xa sicamngca ngale mizekelo, ngaba ayicaci na into yokuba uYehova ufuna sazi ukuba ukulungele ngokwenene ukusixolela izono zethu ukuba siguquka ngokunyanisekileyo? Akukho mfuneko yokuba noloyiko lokuba uya kusohlwaya ngenxa yezo zono kwixesha elizayo. Oku kuboniswa yenye inkalo etyhilwa yiBhayibhile ngokuphathelele inceba enkulu kaYehova: Xa exolela, uyalibala.

‘Isono Sabo Andiyi Kuba Sasikhumbula’

16, 17. Xa iBhayibhile isithi uYehova uyazilibala izono zethu, ithetha ukuthini, yaye kutheni uphendula ngaloo ndlela nje?

¹⁶ UYehova wabathembisa oku abo babesemnqophisweni omtsha: “Ndiya kusixolela isiphoso sabo, nesono sabo andiyi kuba sasikhumbula.” (Yeremiya 31:34) Ngaba oku kuthetha ukuba xa uYehova exolela akakwazi kuphinda azikhumbule izono? Akunjalo konke konke. IBhayibhile isixelela ngezono zabantu abaninzi awabaxolelayo uYehova, kuquka uDavide. (2 Samuweli 11:1-17; 12:13) Ngokucacileyo uYehova usazazi iziphoso abazenzayo. Ingxelo engezono zabo, kwanaleyo yokuguquka kwabo nokuxolelwa kwabo nguThixo, iye yagcinwa ukuze kungenelwe thina. (Roma 15:4) Ngoko ke, ithetha ukuthini iBhayibhile xa isithi uYehova ‘akazikhumbuli’ izono zabo abaxolelayo?

¹⁷ Isenzi sesiHebhere esiguqulelwa ngokuthi ‘ukukhumbula’ sithetha okungakumbi kunokubuyisela engqondweni into yexesha elidluleyo. IThe Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament ithi siquka “isenzo esongezelelekileyo sokuthabatha inyathelo elifanelekileyo.” Ngoko ngokwale ngqiqo, ‘ukukhumbula’ isono kuthetha ukuthabatha inyathelo nxamnye naboni. (Hoseya 9:9) Kodwa xa uThixo esithi ‘isono sabo andiyi kuba sasikhumbula,’ uyasiqinisekisa ukuba xa ebaxolele aboni abaguqukayo, akasayi kuthabatha inyathelo nxamnye nabo kwixesha elizayo ngenxa yezo zono. (Hezekile 18:21, 22) Ngoko ukuthi uYehova uyalibala kuthetha ukuba akaphindi azikhumbule izono zethu ngenjongo yokusimangalela okanye yokusohlwaya ngenxa yazo. Ngaba akuthuthuzeli ukwazi ukuba uThixo wethu uyaxolela aze alibale?

Kuthekani Ngemiphumo?

18. Kutheni ukuxolelwa kungathethi kuthi umoni oguqukayo akachatshazelwa yiyo yonke imiphumo yekhondo lakhe eliphosakeleyo?

¹⁸ Ngaba ukukulungela kukaYehova ukuxolela kuthetha ukuba umoni oguqukayo akachatshazelwa yiyo nayiphi na imiphumo yekhondo lakhe eliphosakeleyo? Akunjalo konke konke. Asinako ukona size singajamelani nemiphumo yoko. UPawulos wabhala wathi: “Loo nto ayihlwayelayo umntu, uya kuvuna kwayona.” (Galati 6:7) Sisenokujamelana nemiphumo ethile yezenzo zethu. Oku akuthethi kuthi emva kokuba esixolele, uYehova usizisela intlekele. Xa kuvela iinkathazo, umKristu akafanele avakalelwe kukuba, ‘Mhlawumbi uYehova uyandohlwaya ngenxa yezono zexesha elidluleyo.’ (Yakobi 1:13) Kwelinye icala, uYehova akasikhuseli kuyo yonke imiphumo yezenzo zethu eziphosakeleyo. Uqhawulo-mtshato, ukukhulelwa okungafunwayo, izifo ezidluliselwa ngeentlobano zesini, ukungathenjwa okanye ukungahlonelwa—zonke ezi zisenokuba yimiphumo ebuhlungu nengaphephekiyo yesono. Khumbula ukuba kwanasemva kokuba emxolele uDavide izono zakhe ngokuphathelele uBhatshebha noUriya, uYehova akazange amkhusele uDavide kwimiphumo eyintlekele eyalandelayo.—2 Samuweli 12:9-12.

19-21. (a) Umthetho obhalwe kwiLevitikus 6:1-7 wawumzuzisa njani lowo ulixhoba kunye nomoni? (b) Xa abanye besiva ubuhlungu ngenxa yezono zethu, uYehova uyakholiswa xa sisenza ntoni?

¹⁹ Izono zethu zisenokuba nemiphumo eyongezelelekileyo, ingakumbi ukuba kukho abanye abaye baviswa ubuhlungu zizenzo zethu. Ngokomzekelo, khawuqwalasele ingxelo ekwiLevitikus isahluko 6. Apha uMthetho kaMoses uthetha ngemeko yomntu owenze isono esinzulu ngokuphanga okanye athabathe ngobuqhetseba izinto zomnye umSirayeli. Wandula ke umoni alikhanyele eli tyala, ade afunge ngobuxoki. Aba bantu bayaphikisana. Kuthi ekuhambeni kwethuba, umoni lowo atyiwe sisazela aze asivume isono sakhe. Ukuze axolelwe nguThixo, ufanele enze izinto ezintathu ezingakumbi: ufanele abuyisele oko akuthabathileyo, ahlawule ixhoba lakhe iipesenti ezingama-20 zoko akubileyo, aze anikele ngenkunzi yegusha nangombingelelo wetyala. Wandula ke umthetho uthi: ‘Umbingeleli uya kumcamagushela phambi koYehova, aze axolelwe.’—Levitikus 6:1-7.

²⁰ Lo mthetho wawulilungiselelo lenceba likaThixo. Wawulizuzisa ixhoba, elalibuyiselwa izinto zalo lize ngokungathandabuzekiyo lizive likhululekile xa ekugqibeleni umoni esivuma isono sakhe. Kwangaxeshanye, lo mthetho wawumzuzisa nalowo wayeqhutywa sisazela ekugqibeleni ukuba alivume ityala lakhe aze asilungise isiphoso sakhe. Eneneni, ukuba wayesala ukwenjenjalo, wayengayi kuxolelwa nguThixo.

²¹ Nangona singekho phantsi koMthetho kaMoses, loo Mthetho usinceda ukuba siziqonde iingcinga zikaYehova, kuquka indlela akugqala ngayo ukuxolela. (Kolose 2:13, 14) Ukuba abanye baye beva ubuhlungu ngenxa yezono zethu, uThixo uyakholiswa xa sisenza oko sinokukwenza ukulungisa apho sone khona. (Mateyu 5:23, 24) Oku kusenokubandakanya ukusivuma isono sethu, side sicele uxolo kulowo simonileyo. Emva koko sinokumbongoza uYehova ngokusekelwe kwidini likaYesu size sinandiphe isiqinisekiso sokuba sixolelwe nguThixo.—Hebhere 10:21, 22.

22. Yintoni esenokulandelwa kukuxolela kukaYehova?

²² Njengaye nawuphi na umzali onothando, uYehova usenokusixolela aze asiqeqeshe ngomlinganiselo ofanelekileyo. (IMizekeliso 3:11, 12) UmKristu oguqukileyo usenokuphulukana nelungelo lakhe lenkonzo njengomdala, isicaka solungiselelo, okanye umshumayeli wexesha elizeleyo. Kusenokuba buhlungu kuye ukuphulukana okwethuba elithile naloo malungelo axabisekileyo kuye. Noko ke, olo qeqesho aluthethi kuthi uYehova akamxolelanga. Simele sikhumbule ukuba ingqeqesho kaYehova ibubungqina bokusithanda kwakhe. Ukuyamkela nokuyisebenzisa kuya kusizuzisa kakhulu.—Hebhere 12:5-11.

23. Kutheni singafanele sigqibe kwelokuba asifanelwanga yinceba kaYehova, yaye kutheni nathi sifanele simxelise ekubaxoleleni abanye?

²³ Hayi indlela ekukhuthaza ngayo ukwazi ukuba uThixo wethu “ukulungele ukuxolela”! Phezu kwazo nje iimpazamo esisenokuba siye sazenza, asifanele sigqibe kwelokuba asifanelwanga yinceba kaYehova. Ukuba siguquka ngokwenene, sithabathe amanyathelo okulungisa iziphoso zethu, size ngokunyanisekileyo sithandazele ukuxolelwa ngesizinzi segazi elaphalalayo likaYesu, sinokuba nentembelo ngokupheleleyo yokuba uYehova uya kusixolela. (1 Yohane 1:9) Nathi masixelise ukuxolela kwakhe ekusebenzisaneni kwethu nabanye. Ngapha koko, ukuba uYehova, ongenzi sono, unokusixolela ngothando, asifanele na thina bantu banesono sizame ngokusemandleni ethu ukuxolelana?

1, 2. Kukhulu kangakanani ukulunga kukaThixo, yaye iBhayibhile ilugxininisa njani olu phawu?

BEHLELI phandle yaye begcakamele ilanga, abahlobo abakhulu banandipha isidlo kunye, behleka bencokola bevuyela ubuhle bemini. Qelele phayaa, umlimi ujonge emasimini akhe ezaliswe luvuyo njengoko ebona amafu edibana yaye kuqalisa nokuchaphaza. Kwenye indawo, indoda nomfazi wayo bazele luchulumanco njengoko bebona umntwana wabo eqalisa ukuqingqa.

² Enoba bayakwazi okanye abakwazi oko, bonke aba bantu bavuyiswa yinto enye—ukulunga kukaYehova uThixo. Amakholwa adla ngokuliphindaphinda ibinzana elithi “UThixo ulungile.” Kodwa yona iBhayibhile iligxininisa nangakumbi elo binzana. Ithi: “Hayi indlela okukhulu ngayo ukulunga kwakhe!” (Zekariya 9:17) Kodwa kubonakala ukuba bambalwa namhlanje abayaziyo intsingiselo yokwenene yaloo mazwi. Yintoni kanye kanye ebandakanywa kukulunga kukaYehova uThixo, yaye olu phawu lukaThixo lumchaphazela njani ngamnye wethu?

Inkalo Ebalaseleyo Yothando LukaThixo

3, 4. Kuyintoni ukulunga, yaye kutheni ukulunga kukaYehova kunokuchazwa ngeyona ndlela ifanelekileyo njengendlela yokubonakaliswa kothando lobuthixo?

³ Kwiilwimi ezininzi, igama elithi “ukulunga” ligama nje eliqhelekileyo. Noko ke, iBhayibhile ityhila ukuba ukulunga akulogama nje liqhelekileyo. Ngokuyintloko, libhekisela ekuthini tye nakwihambo egqibeleleyo. Ngoko, ngandlel’ ithile sinokuthi ukulunga kuyinxalenye yobuntu bukaYehova. Zonke iimpawu zakhe—kuquka amandla akhe, ukuba sesikweni kwakhe, nobulumko bakhe—zilungile ngokugqibeleleyo. Ukanti, ukulunga kusekwanokuchazwa ngeyona ndlela ifanelekileyo njengendlela yokubonakaliswa kothando lukaYehova. Ngoba?

⁴ Ukulunga kuluphawu olubonakaliswa ngezenzo. Umpostile uPawulos wabonisa ukuba ebantwini lunomtsalane nangaphezu kobulungisa. (Roma 5:7) Umntu olilungisa unokuthenjwa ukuba uya kuwuthobela ngokuthembekileyo umthetho, kodwa umntu olungileyo wenza okungakumbi. Uthabatha amanyathelo okufuna ukunceda abanye. Njengoko siza kubona, ngokuqinisekileyo uYehova ulungile ngaloo ngqiqo. Ngokucacileyo, oko kulunga kubangelwa luthando olukhulu lukaYehova.

5-7. Kwakutheni ukuze uYesu ale ukubizwa kuthiwe “Mfundisi Olungileyo,” yaye ngaloo ndlela yiyiphi inyaniso ebalulekileyo awayingqinayo?

⁵ Kwakhona ukulunga kukaYehova akunakulinganiswa nanto. Kungekudala ngaphambi kokufa kukaYesu, kweza ndoda ithile kuye yaza yambuza umbuzo, ibhekisela kuye ngokuthi “Mfundisi Olungileyo.” UYesu wayiphendula wathi: “Kutheni undibiza ngokuthi olungileyo? Akukho bani ulungileyo, ngaphandle komnye, uThixo.” (Marko 10:17, 18) Isenokuba iyakothusa noko le mpendulo. Kwakutheni ukuze uYesu ayilungise loo ndoda? Kanti uYesu wayengenguye na ‘uMfundisi Olungileyo’?

⁶ Ngokucacileyo, le ndoda yayiwasebenzisa amazwi athi “Mfundisi Olungileyo” kuba ifuna ukumzukisa. Ngokuthozama uYesu walujolisa kuBawo wakhe wasezulwini uzuko olunjalo, olunge ngomlinganiselo ophakamileyo. (IMizekeliso 11:2) Kodwa kwakhona uYesu wayengqina inyaniso ebalulekileyo. NguYehova kuphela ongumlinganiselo woko kulungileyo. Nguye kuphela onelungelo elipheleleyo lokumisela oko kulungileyo noko kubi. UAdam noEva, ngokutya kwabo ngemvukelo kumthi wokwazi okulungileyo nokubi, babefuna ukulithabathela kubo elo lungelo. Ngokungafaniyo nabo, ngokuthobekileyo uYesu ukushiyela kuYise ukumisela imilinganiselo.

⁷ Ngaphezu koko, uYesu wayesazi ukuba uYehova ungumthombo wako konke oko kulunge ngokwenene. UnguMniki waso “sonke isipho esilungileyo naso sonke isipho esigqibeleleyo.” (Yakobi 1:17) Makhe sihlolisise indlela ukulunga kukaYehova okubonakala ngayo kuphawu lwakhe lokuba nesisa.

Ubungqina Bokulunga Okukhulu KukaYehova

8. UYehova ukubonise njani ukulunga kulo lonke uluntu?

⁸ Wonk’ ubani okhe waphila uye wangenelwa kukulunga kukaYehova. INdumiso 145:9 ithi: “UYehova ulungile kubo bonke.” Yiyiphi eminye imizekelo yako konke ukulunga kwakhe? IBhayibhile ithi: “[Akazange] azishiye ngokwakhe ngaphandle kobungqina ngokuba wenza okulungileyo, eninika iimvula ezivela ezulwini namaxesha emveliso, ezizalisa iintliziyo zenu ngokutya nangokuchwayita.” (IZenzo 14:17) Ngaba wakha waziva uchwayitile xa unandipha isidlo esimnandi? Ukuba uYehova ebengathanga ngenxa yokulunga kwakhe wenza umhlaba namanzi awo ahlaziyayo “namaxesha emveliso” okuvelisa intabalala yokutya, bezingenakubakho izidlo. UYehova ukubonisa ukulunga okunjalo kungekuphela nje kwabo bamthandayo kodwa kuye wonk’ ubani. UYesu wathi: “[Ulenza] ilanga lakhe liphume kubantu abangendawo nabalungileyo nemvula [uyinisa] kubantu abangamalungisa nabangengomalungisa.”—Mateyu 5:45.

9. Iapile likubonisa njani ukulunga kukaYehova?

⁹ Abaninzi bazithabatha lula ezi ngenelo zesisa ezibangelwa kukusebenza kwelanga, imvula, namaxesha emveliso. Ngokomzekelo, khawucinge nje ngeapile. Lisisiqhamo esiqhelekileyo kuyo yonke imimandla yomhlaba enemozulu epholileyo. Ukanti, liyabukeka, linencasa, yaye linencindi ehlaziyayo nenezondlo. Ngaba ubusazi ukuba ehlabathini lonke kukho malunga neendidi ezingama-7 500 ezahlukahlukeneyo zama-apile, anombala obomvu nobugolide nomthubi noluhlaza, nanobukhulu obahlukahlukeneyo ukususela kobediliya ukusa kobembambusi? Ukuba unokubeka esandleni sakho imbewu encinane yeapile, ibonakala njengento engenamsebenzi. Kodwa kuyo kukhula omnye weyona mithi ithandekayo. (INgoma yazo iiNgoma 2:3) Rhoqo ngentwasahlobo imithi yama-apile iyatyatyamba; ize rhoqo ekwindla ivelise iziqhamo. Nyaka ngamnye—kangangeminyaka engama-75—ngokomlinganiselo umthi omnye wama-apile uvelisa iziqhamo ezinokuzalisa iibhokisi ezingama-20 ezinobunzima obuziikhilogram ezili-19 inye!

10, 11. Izivamvo zikubonisa njani ukulunga kukaThixo?

¹⁰ Ngenxa yokulunga kwakhe okungenasiphelo, uYehova uye wasinika umzimba ‘owenziwe ngokumangalisayo,’ onezivamvo ezenzelwe ukusinceda ukuba siyiqonde imisebenzi yakhe yaye siyinandiphe. (INdumiso 139:14) Khawucinge nje kwakhona ngala mibono echazwe ekuqaleni kwesi sahluko. Yintoni eyenza ukuba ezo zihlandlo zibukeke? Zizidlele ezitum-tum zomntwana owonwabileyo. Ukugxagxaza kwemvula emasimini. Imibalabala emihle yokutshona kwelanga. Iliso lomntu lenziwe lakwazi ukubona imibala eyahlukeneyo engaphezu kwama-300 000! Yaye isivamvo sethu sokuva sahlukanisa isandi selizwi elithandekayo, isandi somoya ovuthuza imithi, nokugigitheka kosana. Ngubani owenze ukuba sikwazi ukuyoliswa koko sikubukelayo noko sikuvayo? IBhayibhile ithi: “Indlebe evayo neliso elibonayo—uYehova uzenzile zombini.” (IMizekeliso 20:12) Kodwa sisakhankanye izivamvo ezimbini kuphela.

¹¹ Isivamvo sokujoja sibobunye ubungqina bokulunga kukaYehova. Impumlo yomntu iyakwazi ukwahlukanisa amavumba ahlukeneyo amalunga ne-10 000. Khawucinge nje ngamavumba ambalwa: ivumba lokutya okuthandayo, elezityalo, elamagqabi omileyo, nelomlilo ofudumeleyo. Yaye isivamvo sokuchukumisa sikwenza ukunandiphe ukubetha kwempepho epholileyo ebusweni bakho, ukwangiwa ngulowo umthandayo, nokuva ukuthamba kwesiqhamo esisesandleni sakho. Xa uluma into, kusebenza isivamvo sakho sokungcamla. Uyoliswa bubumnandi besiqhamo njengoko ungcamla iincindi zaso ezahlukahlukeneyo. Ewe, sinesizathu esihle sokudanduluka sithi ngoYehova: “Hayi ukuba kuninzi kokulunga kwakho, okugcinele abo bakoyikayo!” (INdumiso 31:19) Kodwa ke, uYehova ‘ubagcinele’ njani ukulunga abo banoloyiko lobuthixo?

Iingenelo Ezingunaphakade Zokulunga

12. Ngawaphi amalungiselelo kaYehova angawona abalulekileyo, yaye ngoba?

¹² UYesu wathi: “Kubhaliwe kwathiwa, ‘Akaphili ngasonka sodwa umntu, uphila ngamazwi onke aphuma emlonyeni kaYehova.’” (Mateyu 4:4) Eneneni, amalungiselelo kaYehova okomoya anokusizisela iingenelo ezingakumbi kunalawo okwenyama, kuba akhokelela kubomi obungunaphakade. KwiSahluko 8 sale ncwadi, siye saphawula ukuba uYehova usebenzise amandla akhe okubuyisela kule mihla yokugqibela ukuze azise iparadesi yokomoya. Eyona nto ibalasele ngayo loo paradesi yintabalala yokutya kokomoya.

13, 14. (a) Yintoni umprofeti uHezekile awayibonayo embonweni, yaye oko kunayiphi intsingiselo kuthi namhlanje? (b) Ngawaphi amalungiselelo okomoya anik’ ubomi uYehova awenzela abakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo?

¹³ Kwesinye seziprofeto ezikhulu zeBhayibhile ezingokubuyiselwa, umprofeti uHezekile waboniswa umbono wetempile ebuyiselweyo nezukisiweyo. Kuloo tempile kwakuqukuqela umsinga wamanzi, owawusiya usiba banzi yaye usiba nzulu ngakumbi nangakumbi de waba ‘ngumsinga omkhulu.’ Naphi na apho wawuqukuqela khona, loo mlambo wawuzisa iintsikelelo. Emacaleni awo kwakuchume imithi eyayivelisa ukudla neyayiphilisa. Yaye loo mlambo wada waphilisa noLwandle Olufileyo olwalumtyuba yaye kungekho nto iphilayo kulo! (Hezekile 47:1-12) Kodwa kwakuthetha ntoni konke oko?

¹⁴ Lo mbono wawuthetha ukuba uYehova wayeza kulibuyisela ilungiselelo lakhe lonqulo olunyulu, njengoko lwalufanekiselwa yitempile eyabonwa nguHezekile. Njengaloo mlambo wasembonweni, amalungiselelo kaThixo obomi ayeza kuqukuqelela ebantwini bakhe ngomlinganiselo omkhulu kakhulu. Ukususela ekubuyiselweni konqulo olunyulu ngowe-1919, uYehova uye wabasikelela abantu bakhe ngamalungiselelo anik’ ubomi. Njani? Kaloku iiBhayibhile, uncwadi lweBhayibhile, iintlanganiso, neendibano, ziye zonke zanceda ekudluliseleni iinyaniso ezibalulekileyo kwizigidi zabantu. Ngala malungiselelo uYehova uye wafundisa abantu ngelona lungiselelo libalulekileyo lobomi—idini lentlawulelo likaKristu, elibanika ukuma okucocekileyo phambi kukaYehova nethemba lobomi obungunaphakade bonke abo bamthanda ngokunyanisekileyo uThixo.a Ngoko ke, ebudeni bale mihla yokugqibela, ngoxa ihlabathi liye lathwaxwa yindlala yokomoya, abantu bakaYehova bona banandipha isidlo sokomoya.—Isaya 65:13.

15. Ukulunga kukaYehova kuza kuqukuqela ngayiphi ingqiqo kuluntu oluthembekileyo ebudeni boLawulo Lwewaka Leminyaka lukaKristu?

¹⁵ Kodwa umlambo wasembonweni kaHezekile awuyeki ukuqukuqela ekuphelisweni kwale nkqubo indala yezinto. Kunoko, uya kuqukuqela kakhulu nangakumbi ebudeni boLawulo Lwewaka Leminyaka lukaKristu. Ngoko, ngoBukumkani bukaMesiya, uYehova uza kulisebenzisa ngokupheleleyo ixabiso ledini likaYesu, aze ngokuthe ngcembe aluzise emfezekweni uluntu oluthembekileyo. Siya kwandula ke sikuvuyele kakhulu ukulunga kukaYehova!

Iinkalo Ezingakumbi Zokulunga KukaYehova

16. IBhayibhile ibonisa njani ukuba ukulunga kukaYehova kubandakanya ezinye iimpawu, yaye ziziphi ezinye zazo?

¹⁶ Ukulunga kukaYehova kubandakanya okungakumbi kunokuba nesisa. UThixo wathi kuMoses: “Ndiya kukudlulisa konke ukulunga kwam phambi kobuso bakho, ndivakalise igama likaYehova phambi kwakho.” Kamva ingxelo ithi: “UYehova wadlula phambi kobuso bakhe waza wavakalisa esithi: ‘UYehova, uYehova, uThixo onenceba nobabalo, ozeka kade umsindo, onobubele bothando obuninzi nenyaniso.’” (Eksodus 33:19; 34:6) Ngoko ukulunga kukaYehova kubandakanya iimpawu ezintle eziliqela. Makhe sihlolisise nje ezimbini zazo.

17. Luyintoni ubabalo, yaye uYehova ulubonakalise njani kubantu abangafezekanga?

¹⁷ ‘Ubabalo.’ Olu phawu lutyhila lukhulu ngendlela uYehova asebenzisana ngayo nezidalwa zakhe. Kunokuba abe ngqwabalala, abe ngqongqo, okanye akhohlakale, njengoko bedla ngokuba njalo abo banegunya phezu kwabanye, uYehova uyathantamisa yaye unobubele. Ngokomzekelo, uYehova wathi kuAbram: “Nceda, uphakamise amehlo akho kuloo ndawo ukuyo, uze ukhangele emntla nasemzantsi nasempuma nasentshona.” (Genesis 13:14) Iinguqulelo ezininzi ziyalishiya igama elithi “nceda.” Kodwa abaphengululi beBhayibhile baphawula ukuba kumbhalo wantlandlolo wesiHebhere kufakelwe ilungu legama eliguqula eli binzana lingabi ngumyalelo kodwa libe sisicelo sentlonelo. Ikho neminye imizekelo yoku. (Genesis 31:12; Hezekile 8:5) Khawuyithelekelele nje into yokuba, uMongami wendalo iphela athi “nceda” kubantu nje! Kweli hlabathi lingqwabalala, nelizaliswe lugonyamelo nobukrwada, akuhlaziyi na ukuphawula ukuba nobabalo kukaThixo wethu, uYehova?

18. UYehova ‘unenyaniso eninzi’ ngayiphi ingqiqo, yaye kutheni ekhuthaza nje loo mazwi?

¹⁸ ‘Unenyaniso eninzi.’ Ukunganyaniseki kuyinto yemihla ngemihla ehlabathini namhlanje. Kodwa iBhayibhile isikhumbuza isithi: “UThixo akamntu ukuba athethe ubuxoki.” (Numeri 23:19) Kangangokuba, uTito 1:2 uthi ‘uThixo akanakuxoka.’ Ulunge kakhulu ukuba angenza oko. Ngoko, izithembiso zikaYehova zithembeke ngokupheleleyo; amazwi akhe asoloko ezaliseka ngokuqinisekileyo. UYehova ude abizwe ngokuba ‘nguThixo wenyaniso.’ (INdumiso 31:5) Akaneli nje ngokukuphepha ukuthetha ubuxoki kodwa usasaza inyaniso eninzi. Akagogotyanga nto, yaye akangomntu weemfihlo; kunoko, uyabakhanyisela abakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo ngobulumko bakhe obuninzi.b Ude abafundise indlela yokuphila ngokuvisisana nenyaniso ayisasazayo ukuze ‘baqhubeke behamba enyanisweni.’ (3 Yohane 3) Ngokuqhelekileyo, ukulunga kukaYehova kufanele kumchaphazele njani ngamnye wethu?

‘Khazimla Ngenxa Yokulunga KukaYehova’

19, 20. (a) Wazama njani uSathana ukuphelisa intembelo kaEva ekulungeni kukaYehova, yaye waba yintoni umphumo? (b) Ukulunga kukaYehova kufanele ngokufanelekileyo kube nawuphi umphumo kuthi, yaye ngoba?

¹⁹ Xa uSathana wahenda uEva emyezweni wase-Eden, waqala ngokuyiphelisa ngokuchuliweyo intembelo yakhe ekulungeni kukaYehova. UYehova wayethe kuAdam: “Kuyo yonke imithi yomyezo ungadla wanele.” Kumawakawaka emithi eyayizalise loo myezo, mnye kuphela uYehova awabalela ukuba badle kuwo. Kodwa, phawula indlela uSathana awawubhekisa ngayo umbuzo wakhe wokuqala kuEva: “Utshilo ngokwenene na uThixo ukuba nize ningadli kuyo yonke imithi yomyezo?” (Genesis 2:9, 16; 3:1) USathana wawagqwetha amazwi kaYehova ukuze enze uEva acinge ukuba uYehova wayebabandeza into elungileyo. Ngelishwa, elo qhinga lasebenza. UEva, njengamadoda namabhinqa amaninzi emva kwakhe, waqalisa ukukuthandabuza ukulunga kukaThixo, owayemnike yonke into awayenayo.

²⁰ Siyabazi ubunzulu bentlungu nosizi olwabangelwa ngaloo mathandabuzo. Ngoko masithobele amazwi kaYeremiya 31:12 athi: “Ngokuqinisekileyo baya . . . [kukhazimla] ngenxa yokulunga kukaYehova.” Ngokwenene ukulunga kukaYehova kufanele kusenze sikhazimle luvuyo. Akukho mfuneko yokuba sizithandabuze iintshukumisa zikaThixo wethu, ozele kukulunga. Sinokuba nentembelo epheleleyo kuye, kuba ubanqwenelela okuhle kuphela abo bamthandayo.

21, 22. (a) Ziziphi ezinye iindlela onokuthanda ukubonisa ngazo uxabiso ngokulunga kukaYehova? (b) Luluphi uphawu esiza kuxubusha ngalo kwisahluko esilandelayo, yaye lwahluka njani kolo lokulunga?

²¹ Ngokubhekele phaya, sivuya kakhulu xa sifumana ithuba lokuthetha nabanye ngokulunga kukaThixo. Ngokuphathelele abantu bakaYehova, INdumiso 145:7 ithi: “Baya kumpompoza ngokukhankanywa kobuninzi bokulunga kwakho.” Suku ngalunye lokuphila kwethu, siyangenelwa ngandlel’ ithile ekulungeni kukaYehova. Kutheni ke singakwenzi uqheliselo nje suku ngalunye ukumbulela uYehova ngokulunga kwakhe, sikukhankanye ngokungqalileyo oko simbulela ngako? Ukucinga ngolo phawu, umbulela ngalo uYehova imihla ngemihla, nokuxelela abanye ngalo kuya kusinceda ukuba nathi simxelise uThixo wethu olungileyo. Yaye njengoko sifuna iindlela zokwenza okulungileyo, njengoko uYehova esenza, siya kusondela ngakumbi kuye. Umpostile uYohane owalupheleyo wabhala wathi: “Ntanda, yiba ngoxelisa, kungekhona okubi, kodwa okulungileyo. Lowo wenza okulungileyo uphuma kuThixo.”—3 Yohane 11.

²² Ukulunga kukaYehova kukwanxulunyaniswa nezinye iimpawu. Ngokomzekelo, uThixo ‘unobubele bothando obuninzi,’ okanye uthando olunyanisekileyo. (Eksodus 34:6) Olu phawu uYehova akalubonakalisi kubantu ngokubanzi njengokulunga, kodwa ulubonakalisa ngokukhethekileyo kubakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo. Kwisahluko esilandelayo, siza kufunda indlela akwenza ngayo oko.

1, 2. Kutheni kunokuthiwa uKumkani uDavide wayeqhelene nokunganyaniseki?

UKUMKANI UDAVIDE wayeqhelene nokunganyaniseki. Ngaxa lithile ulawulo lwakhe lwagungqiswa ngamayelenqe awayewenzelwa ngamalungu ohlanga lwakhe. Ngaphezu koko, uDavide wangcatshwa ngabanye babo bekulindeleke ukuba babe ngawona maqabane akhe asondeleyo. Khawucinge nje ngoMikali, umfazi wokuqala kaDavide. Ekuqaleni, ‘wayemthanda uDavide,’ ngokungathandabuzekiyo emxhasa kwimisebenzi yakhe njengokumkani. Noko ke, kamva “wamdelela entliziyweni yakhe,” wada wamgqala uDavide ‘njengomnye wabantu abaziziphukuphuku.’—1 Samuweli 18:20; 2 Samuweli 6:16, 20.

² Kwandula ke kwabakho umcebisi kaDavide, uAhitofele. Icebiso lakhe lalixabisekile ngokungathi lilizwi elivela ngqo kuYehova. (2 Samuweli 16:23) Kodwa, ekuhambeni kwexesha lo mcebisi uthenjiweyo waba ngumngcatshi waza wabandakanyeka kwiyelenqe lemvukelo nxamnye noDavide. Yaye ngubani owayengumphembeleli welo yelenqe? NguAbhisalom, unyana kaDavide uqobo! Elo qili elalithanda ukusebenzisa amathuba ‘laziba iintliziyo zamadoda akwaSirayeli,’ lazimisa njengokumkani ovukelayo. Imvukelo ka-Abhisalom yayiqine kangangokuba uKumkani uDavide wanyanzeleka ukuba asabe ukuze asindise ubomi bakhe.—2 Samuweli 15:1-6, 12-17.

3. Yiyiphi intembelo awayenayo uDavide?

³ Ngaba akukho mntu owahlala enyanisekile kuDavide? Ebudeni babo bonke ubunzima awayekubo, uDavide wayesazi ukuba wayekho. Wayengubani? Akukho wumbi ngaphandle kukaYehova uThixo. UDavide wathi ngoYehova: “Kulowo unyanisekileyo uya kwenza ngokunyaniseka.” (2 Samuweli 22:26) Kuyintoni ukunyaniseka, yaye uYehova uwumisela njani owona mzekelo ubalaseleyo wolu phawu?

Kuyintoni Ukunyaniseka?

4, 5. (a) Kuyintoni ‘ukunyaniseka’? (b) Ukunyaniseka kwahluka njani kukuthembeka?

⁴ ‘Ukunyaniseka’ kusetyenziswe eZibhalweni zesiHebhere ukubhekisela ekubonakalisweni kobubele bothando ngokungapheliyo de injongo yokubonakaliswa kwabo ifezekiswe. Kubandakanya okungakumbi kunokuthembeka. Ngapha koko, umntu usenokuthembeka kuba nje enyanzelekile. Kanti kona ukunyaniseka kusekelwe eluthandweni.a Kwakhona, igama elithi “ukuthembeka” linokusetyenziswa nakwizinto ezingaphiliyo. Ngokomzekelo, umdumisi wayibiza inyanga “njengengqina elithembekileyo esibhakabhakeni” ngenxa yokuvela kwayo rhoqo ebusuku. (INdumiso 89:37) Kodwa inyanga ayinakuchazwa njengenyanisekileyo. Ngoba? Kuba ukunyaniseka kubhekisela ekubonakalisweni kothando—nto leyo ezingenakukwazi ukuyenza izinto ezingaphiliyo.

⁵ Ngokwengcamango yeZibhalo, ukunyaniseka kuhambisana nobubele. Lowo ukubonakalisayo sukuba enolwalamano oluthile nalowo akubonakalisa kuye. Ukunyaniseka okunjalo akubi yinto yamabona-ndenzile. Akuguquguquki ngenxa yeemeko njengamaza olwandle abhudlwa yimimoya. Kunoko, ukunyaniseka, okanye uthando olunyanisekileyo, luzinzile yaye lunamandla okumelana neyona miqobo inzima.

6. (a) Kunqabe kangakanani ukunyaniseka ebantwini, yaye oku kuboniswe njani eBhayibhileni? (b) Yiyiphi eyona ndlela ibalaseleyo yokufunda ngokunyaniseka, yaye ngoba?

⁶ Inyaniso ikukuba, ukunyaniseka okunjalo kunqabile namhlanje. Ngokufuthi, amaqabane asondeleleneyo “ayonakalisana.” Aya esanda amanani amaqabane omtshato ahlukanayo. (IMizekeliso 18:24; Malaki 2:14-16) Ngangendlela ezixhaphake ngayo izenzo zobuqhetseba singade sizive sesiphinda amazwi omprofeti uMika owathi: “Onyanisekileyo utshabalele emhlabeni.” (Mika 7:2) Nangona abantu besilela ngokufuthi ukubonisa ububele bothando, ukunyaniseka kuluphawu olubalaseleyo lukaYehova. Enyanisweni, eyona ndlela ibalaseleyo yokufunda ngokunyaniseka kukuhlolisisa indlela uYehova ayibonakalisa ngayo le nkalo yothando lwakhe.

Ukunyaniseka Okubalaseleyo KukaYehova

7, 8. Kunokutshiwo njani ukuba nguYehova kuphela onyanisekileyo?

⁷ IBhayibhile ithi ngoYehova: “Nguwe wedwa onyanisekileyo.” (ISityhilelo 15:4) Kwenzeka njani oko? Abazange na abantu kunye neengelosi bakhe babonise ukunyaniseka okukhulu ngamaxesha athile? (Yobhi 1:1; ISityhilelo 4:8) Yaye kuthekani ngoYesu Kristu? Akanguye na “onyanisekileyo” obalaseleyo kaThixo? (INdumiso 16:10) Ngoko, kunokutshiwo njani ukuba nguYehova kuphela onyanisekileyo?

⁸ Okokuqala, khumbula ukuba ukunyaniseka kuyinkalo yothando. Ekubeni ‘uThixo eluthando’—isimntwiso salo kanye olu phawu—ngubani onokubonakalisa ukunyaniseka ngokuphelele ngakumbi kunoYehova? (1 Yohane 4:8) Eneneni, iingelosi kunye nabantu zinokuzibonakalisa iimpawu zikaThixo, kodwa nguYehova kuphela onyaniseke ngomlinganiselo ogqithiseleyo. Njengoko ‘enguNyangelemihla,’ ububonakalise ububele bothando ithuba elide ngakumbi kunaso nasiphi na isidalwa sasemhlabeni okanye sasezulwini. (Daniyeli 7:9) Ngoko, uYehova ungumthombo wokunyaniseka. Ulubonakalisa olu phawu ngendlela olungenakuze lubonakaliswe ngayo siso nasiphi na isidalwa. Khawukhe uqwalasele imizekelo embalwa.

9. UYehova ‘unyaniseke njani kuyo yonke imisebenzi yakhe’?

⁹ UYehova “unyanisekile kuyo yonke imisebenzi yakhe.” (INdumiso 145:17) Ngayiphi indlela? INdumiso 136 inikela impendulo. Apho kucatshulwe izenzo zikaYehova eziliqela, kuquka ukuhlangulwa okuhlab’ umxhelo kwamaSirayeli kuLwandle Olubomvu. Okuphawulekayo kukuba, ndinyana nganye yale ndumiso igxininiswa ngebinzana elithi: “Kuba ububele bakhe bothando [okanye, ukunyaniseka kwakhe] bukho ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo.” Le ndumiso iqukiwe kwiMibuzo Onokucamngca Ngayo kwiphepha 289. Xa ufunda ezo ndinyana uya kuhlatyw’ umxhelo ziindlela ezininzi aye uYehova wabubonakalisa ngazo ububele bothando ebantwini bakhe. Ewe, uYehova ubonakalisa ukunyaniseka kubakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo ngokuthi azive izibongozo zabo zokucela uncedo nangokuthi athabathe amanyathelo ngexesha elimiselweyo. (INdumiso 34:6) Uthando olunyanisekileyo lukaYehova kubakhonzi bakhe alugungqi logama nje behlala benyanisekile kuye.

10. UYehova ukubonakalisa njani ukunyaniseka ngokuphathelele imilinganiselo yakhe?

¹⁰ Ukongezelela, uYehova ubonakalisa ukunyaniseka kubakhonzi bakhe ngokuthi anamathele kwimilinganiselo yakhe. Ngokungafaniyo nabantu abaguquguqukayo, abalawulwa ziingcamango naziimvakalelo, uYehova akaguquguquki kwiimbono zakhe ngoko kulungileyo nokubi. Ebudeni bamawaka eminyaka, imbono yakhe ngezinto ezinjengokusebenzelana nemimoya, unqulo-zithixo, nokubulala, ayitshintshanga. Esebenzisa umprofeti wakhe uIsaya, wathi: “Kwanasebudaleni bukabani isekwaNdim.” (Isaya 46:4) Ngoko, sinokuba nentembelo yokuba siya kungenelwa ngokulandela ulwalathiso olucacileyo lokuziphatha okuhle olufumaneka eLizwini likaThixo.—Isaya 48:17-19.

11. Nika imizekelo ebonisa ukuba uYehova uzigcina ngokuthembekileyo izithembiso zakhe.

¹¹ Kwakhona uYehova ubonisa ukunyaniseka ngokuthi anamathele elizwini lakhe. Xa exela okuthile kwangaphambili, kuyazaliseka. Ngoko uYehova wathi: “Ilizwi lam eliphuma emlonyeni wam . . . aliyi kubuyela kum ngaphandle kwemiphumo, kodwa ngokuqinisekileyo liya kukwenza oko ndiyoliswa kuko, likuphumelelise ngokuqinisekileyo oko ndilithumele kona.” (Isaya 55:11) Ngokunamathela ngokuthembekileyo elizwini lakhe, uYehova ubonisa ukunyaniseka ebantwini bakhe. Akabenzi balindele ngelize into angazi kuyizisa. UYehova umisela umzekelo ogqibeleleyo kule nkalo kangangokuba umkhonzi wakhe uYoshuwa wathi: “Akukho sithembiso sasilelayo kuzo zonke izithembiso ezilungileyo uYehova awayezenzile kwindlu kaSirayeli; zonke zaba yinyaniso.” (Yoshuwa 21:45) Ngoko, sinokuba nentembelo yokuba asisayi kuze sidaniswe kukusilela kukaYehova ukuphumeza izithembiso zakhe.—Isaya 49:23; Roma 5:5.

12, 13. Ububele bothando bukaYehova bukho “ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo” ngaziphi iindlela?

¹² Njengoko kuphawuliwe ngaphambili, iBhayibhile isixelela ukuba ububele bothando bukaYehova “bukho ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo.” (INdumiso 136:1) Kwenzeka njani oku? Okokuqala nje, uYehova uzixolela ngokusisigxina izono. Njengoko kuxutyushiwe kwiSahluko 26, uYehova akakhumbuli ubugwenxa bexesha elidlulileyo umntu abebuxolelwe. Ekubeni “bonke bonile baza basilela kuzuko lukaThixo,” ngamnye wethu ufanele abe nombulelo kuba ububele bothando bukaYehova bukho ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo.—Roma 3:23.

¹³ Kodwa ububele bothando bukaYehova bukho ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo nangenye ingqiqo. ILizwi lakhe lithi lowo ulilungisa “ngokuqinisekileyo uya kuba njengomthi otyalwe ngakwimisinga yamanzi, onika isiqhamo sawo ngexesha lawo nonamahlamvu angabuniyo, yaye konke akwenzayo kuya kuphumelela.” (INdumiso 1:3) Khawucinge nje ngomthi omkhulu onamagqabi angabuniyo! Ngoko nathi, ukuba siyoliswa ngokwenene liLizwi likaThixo, siya kuphila ubomi obude, nobunoxolo neziqhamo. Ngokunyanisekileyo uYehova uya kuqhubeka ebanika iintsikelelo ngonaphakade abakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo. Enyanisweni, kwihlabathi elitsha lobulungisa aza kulizisa uYehova, uluntu oluthobelayo luya kuyoliswa bububele bakhe bothando ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo.—ISityhilelo 21:3, 4.

UYehova “Akayi Kubashiya Abanyanisekileyo Bakhe”

14. UYehova ulubonisa njani uxabiso ngokunyaniseka kwabakhonzi bakhe?

¹⁴ UYehova uye wakubonakalisa ngokufuthi ukunyaniseka kwakhe. Ekubeni uYehova engaguquguquki ngokugqibeleleyo, akaze asilele ekuboniseni ukunyaniseka kubakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo. Umdumisi wabhala: “Ndakha ndangumfana, kungokunje ndimdala, kodwa andikaboni nabani na olilungisa eshiywe ngokupheleleyo, nenzala yakhe ifuna isonka. Kuba uYehova ngumthandi wokusesikweni, yaye akayi kubashiya abanyanisekileyo bakhe.” (INdumiso 37:25, 28) Enyanisweni, njengoMdali, uYehova ukufanelekele ukunqulwa sithi. (ISityhilelo 4:11) Sekunjalo, ngenxa yokuba enyanisekile, uYehova uyakuxabisa ukuthembeka kwethu.—Malaki 3:16, 17.

15. Chaza indlela ukusebenzisana kukaYehova noSirayeli okwakubalaselisa ngayo ukunyaniseka Kwakhe.

¹⁵ Ngobubele bakhe bothando, uYehova uye ngokuphindaphindiweyo wabanceda abantu bakhe xa bebandezelekile. Umdumisi uthi: “Uyayilinda imiphefumlo yabanyanisekileyo bakhe; uyabahlangula esandleni sabangendawo.” (INdumiso 97:10) Khawucinge nje ngendlela awayesebenzisana ngayo nohlanga lukaSirayeli. Emva kokuhlangulwa kwamaSirayeli ngokungummangaliso ukutyhubela uLwandle Olubomvu, amculela ingoma uYehova esithi: “Ubakhokele ngobubele bakho bothando [okanye, “ngothando lwakho olunyanisekileyo,” umbhalo osemazantsi we-NW] abantu bakho obahlanguleyo.” (Eksodus 15:13) Ngokuqinisekileyo oko kuhlangulwa kuLwandle Olubomvu kwakusisenzo sothando olunyanisekileyo lukaYehova. Ngoko ke uMoses wathi kumaSirayeli: “Akubanga ngenxa yobuninzi benu kunezizwana zonke le nto abonise umsa kuni uYehova waza waninyula, kuba nanimbalwa kunezizwana zonke. Kodwa kwaba ngenxa yokunithanda kukaYehova, nangenxa yokusigcina kwakhe isifungo awasifungela ookhokho benu, le nto anikhuphe ngesandla esomeleleyo uYehova, wanikhulula endlwini yamakhoboka, esandleni sikaFaro ukumkani waseYiputa.”—Duteronomi 7:7, 8.

16, 17. (a) Kukuphi ukungabi naluxabiso okothusayo awakubonisayo amaSirayeli, ukanti uYehova wayibonisa njani imfesane kuwo? (b) Inkoliso yamaSirayeli yabonisa njani ukuba ‘kwakungekho kuphiliswa’ kuwo, yaye oku kunikela siphi isilumkiso kuthi?

¹⁶ Kambe ke, njengohlanga amaSirayeli asilela ukubonisa uxabiso ngobubele bothando bukaYehova, kuba emva kokuhlangulwa kwawo ‘aqhubeka emona ngakumbi nangakumbi uYehova ngokuvukela Oyena Uphakamileyo.’ (INdumiso 78:17) Kangangeenkulungwane, avukela ngokuphindaphindiweyo, amshiya uYehova aza aphethukela koothixo bobuxoki nakuqheliselo lobuhedeni olungazange luwazisele nto ngaphandle kokuwangcolisa. Sekunjalo, uYehova akazange awaphule umnqophiso wakhe. Kunoko, ngomprofeti uYeremiya, uYehova wababongoza abantu bakhe wathi: “Buya, Sirayeli okreqileyo . . . Andiyi kubusanganisa ubuso bam kuni, kuba ndinyanisekile.” (Yeremiya 3:12) Noko ke, njengoko kuphawuliwe kwiSahluko 25, abona baninzi kumaSirayeli abazange baguquke. Kunoko, “baqhubeka bebagculela abathunywa bakaThixo oyinyaniso bewadelela amazwi akhe bebenza intlekisa abaprofeti bakhe.” Waba yintoni umphumo woko? Ekugqibeleni, “wafika umsindo kaYehova nxamnye nabantu bakhe, kwada akwabakho kuphiliswa.”—2 Kronike 36:15, 16.

¹⁷ Yintoni esiyifundayo koku? Sifunda ukuba ukunyaniseka kukaYehova akumenzi ukuba avumele uvula-zibhuqe okanye akhohliseke. Enyanisweni, uYehova ‘unobubele bothando obuninzi,’ yaye uyakuvuyela ukubonisa inceba xa kukho isizathu sokwenjenjalo. Kodwa kuthekani ukuba umenzi-bubi akaguquki? Kwimeko enjalo, uYehova unamathela kwimilinganiselo yakhe yobulungisa aze amgwebe ngokuqatha. Kanye njengoko watsho kuMoses, ‘uYehova akakhe amenze msulwa ofanelwe sisohlwayo.’—Eksodus 34:6, 7.

18, 19. (a) Ukohlwaya kukaYehova abangendawo kusiso njani isenzo sokunyaniseka? (b) UYehova uza kukubonisa njani ukunyaniseka kwakhe kubakhonzi bakhe abaye batshutshiswa ukusa kwinqanaba lokufa?

¹⁸ Ukubohlwaya kukaThixo abangendawo nako kusisenzo sokunyaniseka. Njani? Esinye isizathu sifumaneka encwadini yeSityhilelo kwimiyalelo uYehova awayinika iingelosi ezisixhenxe esithi: “Hambani nize niziphalaze izitya ezisixhenxe zomsindo kaThixo emhlabeni.” Xa ingelosi yesithathu iphalaza isitya sayo “emilanjeni nasemithonjeni yamanzi,” aba ligazi. Yandula ke ingelosi leyo ithi kuYehova: “Ulilungisa Wena ukhoyo nowayekho, Wena unyanisekileyo, ngokuba uye wagqiba ekuthini, njengoko beliphalazile igazi labangcwele nelabaprofeti, nabo ubanike igazi ukuba balisele. Kubafanele oko.”—ISityhilelo 16:1-6.

¹⁹ Phawula ukuba ekudluliseleni kwayo eso sigidimi somgwebo, le ngelosi yabhekisela kuYehova ngokuthi “Wena unyanisekileyo.” Ngoba? Ngenxa yokuba ngokutshabalalisa abangendawo, uYehova ubonisa ukunyaniseka kubakhonzi bakhe, abaninzi babo abaye batshutshiswa ukusa kwinqanaba lokufa. Ngokunyanisekileyo, uYehova uhlala ebakhumbula abo banjalo. Uyakulangazelela ukubabona kwakhona aba bathembekileyo, yaye iBhayibhile iqinisekisa ukuba unenjongo yokubavuza ngovuko. (Yobhi 14:14, 15) UYehova akabalibali abakhonzi bakhe abanyanisekileyo ngenxa nje yokuba bengasaphili. Kunoko, “bonke bayaphila kuye.” (Luka 20:37, 38) Injongo kaYehova yokubabuyisela ebomini abo abakhumbulayo ibubungqina bokunyaniseka kwakhe.

Uthando Olunyanisekileyo LukaYehova Luvula Indlela Yosindiso

20. Ngoobani “izitya zenceba,” yaye uYehova ukubonisa njani ukunyaniseka kuzo?

²⁰ Ukutyhubela imbali, uYehova uye wabonisa ukunyaniseka ngendlela ephawulekayo kubantu abathembekileyo. Eneneni, kangangamawaka eminyaka, uYehova uye “wazinyamezela ngokuzeka kade umsindo okukhulu izitya zengqumbo ezenziwe zafanelekela intshabalalo.” Ngoba? “Ukuze baziwe ubutyebi bozuko lwakhe kwizitya zenceba, azilungiselele kwangaphambili ngenxa yozuko.” (Roma 9:22, 23) Ezi “zitya zenceba” ngabo banotyekelo olufanelekileyo abathanjiswe ngomoya oyingcwele ukuba babe ziindlalifa kunye noKristu eBukumkanini bakhe. (Mateyu 19:28) Ngokuvula indlela yokusindiswa kwezi zitya zenceba, uYehova uye wahlala enyanisekile kuAbraham, lowo wenza kuye esi sithembiso somnqophiso: “Ngokuqinisekileyo ziya kuzisikelela ngembewu yakho zonke iintlanga zomhlaba kuba uliphulaphule ilizwi lam.”—Genesis 22:18.

21. (a) UYehova ukubonisa njani ukunyaniseka ‘kwisihlwele esikhulu’ esinethemba lokuphuma “embandezelweni enkulu”? (b) Yintoni ukunyaniseka kukaYehova okukushukumisela ukuba uyenze?

²¹ UYehova ubonisa ukunyaniseka okufanayo ‘nakwisihlwele esikhulu’ esinethemba lokuphuma “embandezelweni enkulu” nelokuphila ngonaphakade kumhlaba oyiparadesi. (ISityhilelo 7:9, 10, 14) Nangona abakhonzi bakhe bengafezekanga, ngokunyanisekileyo uYehova ubanika ithuba lokuphila ngonaphakade kumhlaba oyiparadesi. Ukwenza njani oko? Ngelungiselelo lentlawulelo—esona senzo sikhulu sokunyaniseka kukaYehova. (Yohane 3:16; Roma 5:8) Ukunyaniseka kukaYehova kuyabatsala abo baneentliziyo ezilambele ubulungisa. (Yeremiya 31:3) Ngaba akuziva usondele kuYehova ngenxa yokunyaniseka okunzulu akubonisileyo kuthi nasaza kukubonisa? Ekubeni sinomnqweno wokusondela kuThixo, ngamana singalwamkela uthando lwakhe ngokuthi sizimisele ngokuqinileyo ukumkhonza ngokunyanisekileyo.

1-3. (a) Yintoni eyashukumisela uYesu ekubeni afune ukufana noYise? (b) Ziziphi iinkalo zothando lukaYesu esiza kuzihlolisisa?

NGABA wakha wayibona inkwenkwana ezama ukufana noyise? Le nkwenkwana isenokulinganisa indlela uyise ahamba ngayo, athetha ngayo, okanye enza ngayo izinto. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, le nkwenkwana isenokude ilinganise nemilinganiselo kayise yokuziphatha neyokomoya. Ewe, uthando noxabiso analo unyana ngoyise onothando lushukumisela inkwenkwana ukuba ifune ukufana naye.

² Kuthekani ngolwalamano oluphakathi kukaYesu noYise wasemazulwini? UYesu wathi ngesinye isihlandlo: “Ndiyamthanda uBawo.” (Yohane 14:31) Akukho bani unokumthanda uYehova ngaphezu kwalo Nyana wakhe, owayekunye noYise ithuba elide ngaphambi kokubakho kwazo naziphi na ezinye izidalwa. Olo thando lwashukumisela lo Nyana ozinikeleyo ekubeni afune ukufana noYise.—Yohane 14:9.

³ Kwizahluko ezingaphambili zale ncwadi, sixubushe ngendlela uYesu awamxelisa ngokugqibelele ngayo uYehova ekusebenziseni kwakhe amandla, okusesikweni nobulumko. Kodwa, uYesu walubonakalisa njani uthando lukaYise? Makhe sihlolisise iinkalo ezintathu zothando lukaYesu—umoya wakhe wokuzincama, imfesane yakhe yothando, nokukulungela kwakhe ukuxolela.

“Akukho Bani Unothando Olukhulu Kunolu”

4. UYesu wawumisela njani owona mzekelo ubalaseleyo ebantwini wothando lokuzincama?

⁴ UYesu wamisela umzekelo obalaseleyo wothando lokuzincama. Ukuzincama kubandakanya ukubeka ngokungazingci iintswelo nezilangazelelo zabanye kuqala kunezakho. UYesu walubonisa njani uthando olunjalo? Yena ngokwakhe wachaza wathi: “Akukho bani unothando olukhulu kunolu, lokuba uthile anikezele umphefumlo wakhe ngenxa yabahlobo bakhe.” (Yohane 15:13) UYesu wabunikela ngokuzithandela ubomi bakhe obufezekileyo ngenxa yethu. Olo yayilolona thando lukhulu lwakha lwabonakaliswa nguye nawuphi na umntu. Kodwa uYesu wabonisa uthando lokuzincama nangezinye iindlela.

5. Kutheni ukushiya amazulu koNyana kaThixo okuphela kwamzeleyo kwakusisenzo sokuzincama sothando?

⁵ Ngethuba lokuphila kwakhe ngaphambi kokuba ngumntu, uNyana kaThixo okuphela kwamzeleyo wayenesigxina esibalaseleyo nesiphakamileyo emazulwini. Wayenolwalamano olusenyongweni kunye noYehova nenkitha yezidalwa zomoya. Phezu kwazo nje ezi ngenelo zobuqu, lo Nyana othandekayo “waziqongqotha waza wathabatha ubume bekhoboka, wafana nabantu.” (Filipi 2:7) Wavuma ngokuzithandela ukuphila phakathi kwabantu abanesono kwihlabathi ‘elisemandleni ongendawo.’ (1 Yohane 5:19) Ngaba yayingekokuzincama kothando na oko kwenziwa nguNyana kaThixo?

6, 7. (a) UYesu walubonisa ngaziphi iindlela uthando lokuzincama ebudeni bobulungiseleli bakhe basemhlabeni? (b) Nguwuphi umzekelo ochukumisayo wothando lokungazingci obhalwe kuYohane 19:25-27?

⁶ Kubo bonke ubulungiseleli bakhe basemhlabeni, uYesu wabonisa uthando lokuzincama ngeendlela ezahlukahlukeneyo. Wayengazingci ngokupheleleyo. Ngangendlela awayezinikele ngayo kubulungiseleli wada wancama nobomi obutofotofo obuqhelekileyo ebantwini. Wathi: “Iimpungutye zinemingxuma neentaka zezulu zineendlwana, kodwa yena uNyana womntu akanayo nendawo le yokufaka intloko.” (Mateyu 8:20) Njengoko wayengumchweli onobuchule, uYesu wayesenokuzipha ixesha lokuzakhela ikhaya elitofotofo okanye enze ifanitshala entle aze ayithengise ukuze abe nemali eninzi. Kodwa akazange asebenzise ubuchule bakhe ukuze azuze izinto eziphathekayo.

⁷ Umzekelo ochukumisa ngokwenene wothando lokuzincama lukaYesu ubhalwe kuYohane 19:25-27. Khawucinge nje indlela emele ukuba yayixakeke ngayo ingqondo nentliziyo kaYesu ngemva kwemini yokufa kwakhe. Njengoko wayengcungcutheka esibondeni, wayexhalabile ngabafundi bakhe, ngomsebenzi wokushumayela, yaye ingakumbi ngokugcina kwakhe ingqibelelo nendlela oko okwakuya kulichaphazela ngayo igama likaYise. Eneneni, lonke ikamva loluntu lalisemagxeni akhe! Ukanti, kwimizuzu ephambi kokufa kwakhe, uYesu wabonisa inkathalo ngonina, uMariya, ekucacileyo ukuba wayengumhlolokazi ngelo xesha. UYesu wacela umpostile uYohane ukuba amnyamekele uMariya njengonina, yaye emva koko loo mpostile wamhlalisa ekhayeni lakhe uMariya. Ngaloo ndlela uYesu wenza ilungiselelo lokuba unina anyanyekelwe ngokwenyama nangokomoya. Enjani yona ukuhlab’ umxhelo indlela awalubonakalisa ngayo uthando lokungazingci!

‘Waba Nosizi’

8. Iyintoni intsingiselo yegama lesiGrike elisetyenziswe eBhayibhileni ukuchaza imfesane kaYesu?

⁸ NjengoYise, uYesu wayenemfesane. IZibhalo zichaza ukuba uYesu wayebanceda abo babandezelekileyo ngenxa yokuba wayenovelwano ngabo. Ekuchazeni imfesane kaYesu, iBhayibhile isebenzisa igama lesiGrike eliguqulelwe ngokuthi ‘waba nosizi.’ Omnye umphengululi uthi: “Eli gama lichaza . . . imvakalelo enzulu umntu aba nayo. Lelona gama lesiGrike liyigxininisa ngamandla imvakalelo yokuba nemfesane.” Makhe sihlolisise iimeko ezimbalwa awathi kuzo uYesu wenza okuthile ngokuqhutywa yimfesane enzulu.

9, 10. (a) Ziziphi iimeko ezabangela ukuba uYesu nabapostile bakhe bafune indawo ezolileyo? (b) Xa isihlwele samphazamisa eza kuphumla, wasabela njani uYesu, yaye ngoba?

⁹ Washukunyiselwa ukuba anyamekele iintswelo zokomoya. Ingxelo ekuMarko 6:30-34 ibonisa into eyamshukumisa ngokuyintloko uYesu ukuba abe nosizi. Khawube nomfanekiso-ngqondweni wako oko. Abapostile babenemincili, kuba babesanda kugqiba ukhenketho olukhulu lokushumayela. Babuyela kuYesu baza ngochulumanco bamchazela konke abakubonileyo nabakuvileyo. Kodwa kwafika isihlwele esikhulu, engekafumani nethuba lokutya uYesu nabapostile bakhe. Njengoko wayesoloko eziphaphele iintswelo zabapostile bakhe, uYesu waphawula ukuba babediniwe. Wathi kubo: “Yizani, nedwa kwindawo engasese, niphumle kancinane.” Bakhwela isikhephe, bawelela ngaphesheya kommandla ongasentla woLwandle lwaseGalili kwindawo ezolileyo. Kodwa isihlwele sababona ukumka kwabo. Abanye beva ngokumka kwabo. Bonke babaleka banyukela ngaselunxwemeni besiya ngasemantla olwandle baza bafika kwelinye icala ngaphambi kwesikhephe eso!

¹⁰ Ngaba uYesu wacaphuka ngenxa yoku kuphazanyiswa kwakhe eziphumlele? Unotshe! Intliziyo yakhe yachukumiseka akuwabona loo mawakawaka ezihlwele, ethe xhonxosholo apho emlindile. UMarko wabhala wathi: “Wabona isihlwele esikhulu, kodwa wasisizela, ngenxa yokuba sasinjengezimvu ezingenamalusi. Yaye wasifundisa izinto ezininzi.” UYesu wayibona intswelo yaba bantu yokomoya. Babefana nezimvu ezibhadulayo, ezingenamalusi wakuzikhokela okanye wakuzikhusela. UYesu wayesazi ukuba abantu abaqhelekileyo babetyeshelwe ziinkokeli zonqulo ezingakhathaliyo, ezazifanele ukuba zibe ngabalusi abanenkathalo. (Yohane 7:47-49) Wabasizela aba bantu, ngoko waqalisa ukubafundisa “ngobukumkani bukaThixo.” (Luka 9:11) Phawula ukuba uYesu wabasizela aba bantu ngaphambi kokuba abone indlela ababeza kusabela ngayo koko wayeza kubafundisa kona. Ngamany’ amazwi, imfesane yakhe yothando, yayingabangelwa yindlela isihlwele esasabela ngayo emva kokusifundisa kwakhe, kunoko yiyo eyamshukumisela ekubeni asifundise.

11, 12. (a) Babejongwa njani abantu abaneqhenqa ngamaxesha okubhalwa kweBhayibhile, kodwa wasabela njani uYesu xa kweza kuye umntu “ozele liqhenqa”? (b) Umele ukuba wavakalelwa njani umntu oneqhenqa kukuchukunyiswa nguYesu, yaye amava omnye ugqirha akukhanyisa njani oku?

¹¹ Washukunyiselwa ukuba aphelise ukubandezeleka. Abantu ababeneziphene ezahlukahlukeneyo baphawula ukuba uYesu wayenemfesane, ngoko batsaleleka kuye. Oku kwabonakala ngokukhethekileyo xa uYesu wayelandelwa sisihlwele kwaza kweza kuye umntu “ozele liqhenqa.” (Luka 5:12) Ngamaxesha okubhalwa kweBhayibhile, abantu abaneqhenqa babehlaliswa bodwa ukuze kukhuselwe abanye ukuba bangasulelwa lilo. (Numeri 5:1-4) Noko ke, ekuhambeni kwexesha iinkokeli ezingoorabhi zavelisa imbono egabadeleyo ngeqhenqa zaza zanyanzelisa imithetho yazo engqongqo.a Kodwa, phawula indlela uYesu awasabela ngayo kuloo mntu wayeneqhenqa: “Kweza oneqhenqa kuye, embongoza ede waguqa ngedolo, esithi kuye: ‘Ukuba nje uyathanda, unako ukundenza ndihlambuluke.’ Ngako oko waba nosizi, waza wasolula isandla sakhe wamchukumisa, wathi kuye: ‘Ndiyathanda. Hlambuluka.’ Lathi shwaka ngoko nangoko iqhenqa kuye.” (Marko 1:40-42) UYesu wayesazi ukuba kwakungekho mthethweni kwaukuba loo mntu oneqhenqa abe lapho. Kodwa, kunokuba amgxothe, uYesu washukunyiselwa ukuba enze into engakholelekiyo. UYesu wamchukumisa!

¹² Ngaba unokuyithelekelela indlela awavakalelwa ngayo loo mntu uneqhenqa koko kuchukunyiswa? Ukuze kukukhanyele oku, khawucinge ngala mava alandelayo. UGqr. Paul Brand, oyingcali yesifo seqhenqa, ubalisa ngomntu oneqhenqa awamnyangayo eIndiya. Ebudeni bokumxilonga kwakhe, lo gqirha wabeka isandla sakhe egxalabeni laloo mntu uneqhenqa waza, etolikelwa, wachaza unyango loo mntu ekwakuza kufuneka elufumene. Ngoko nangoko, loo mntu oneqhenqa walila. Ugqirha wabuza: “Ngaba ndithethe into embi?” Itoliki yambuza loo mfana ngolwimi lwakhe yaza yaphendula yathi: “Hayi, gqirha. Uthi uliliswa yinto yokuba ubeke isandla sakho egxalabeni lakhe. Ngaphambi kokuza kwakhe apha akukho mntu wakha wamchukumisa kangangeminyaka emininzi.” Yena umntu oneqhenqa owaya kuYesu, ukuchukunyiswa kwakhe kwakunentsingiselo enkulu ngakumbi. Emva kokuchukunyiswa kanye, eso sifo sasimenza ikheswa sanyamalala!

13, 14. (a) Yintoni awadibana nayo uYesu kufuphi nesixeko saseNayin, yaye yintoni eyayenza le meko yaba lusizi ngokukhethekileyo? (b) Ukuba nemfesane kukaYesu kwamshukumisela ukuba enze ntoni ukunceda umhlolokazi waseNayin?

¹³ Washukunyiselwa ukuba aphelise iintlungu. UYesu wayeshukunyiswa ngokunzulu kukubona abanye besentlungwini. Ngokomzekelo, khawuqwalasele ingxelo ekuLuka 7:11-15. Oku kwenzeka ebudeni bobulungiseleli bukaYesu, xa wayesiya kwisixeko saseNayin esisemdeni waseGalili. Xa wayengasesangweni leso sixeko, uYesu wadibana nabantu besemngcwabeni. Babeselusizini ngokwenene. Umama ongumhlolokazi wayefelwe ngunyana wakhe okuphela kwakhe. Ngaphambili, kusenokuba wayesemngcwabeni wendoda yakhe. Ngoku ngunyana wakhe, ekusenokwenzeka ukuba kuphela kwakhe owayeyintonga yakhe esekhosi. Isihlwele esasikuloo mngcwabo sisenokuba sasisenza isijwili nesimbonono sikwacula neengoma ezilusizi. (Yeremiya 9:17, 18; Mateyu 9:23) Noko ke, uYesu wathi ntsho kulo mama osentlungwini, ngokungathandabuzekiyo owayehamba ecaleni kwabantu ababethwele isidumbu sonyana wakhe.

¹⁴ UYesu ‘wamsizela’ lo mama ofelweyo. Ngelizwi elithuthuzelayo, wathi kuye: “Musa ukulila.” Engaphozisanga maseko, waya kweso sidumbu, waza wasichukumisa. Abo babesithwele—yaye mhlawumbi naso sonke isihlwele—bema. Ngelizwi elinegunya, uYesu wathetha kweso sidumbu wathi: “Mfana, ndithi kuwe, Vuka!” Kwenzeka ntoni emva koko? “Wavuka umfi wahlala nkqo waza wathetha” ngokungathi ngumntu ovuka ebuthongweni obunzulu! Emva koko kulandela amazwi achukumisayo athi: “Wandula ke [uYesu] wamnikela kunina.”

15. (a) Iingxelo zeBhayibhile eziphathelele ukubasizela kukaYesu abantu zibonisa luphi unxibelelwano phakathi kwemfesane nesenzo? (b) Sinokumxelisa njani uYesu kule nkalo?

¹⁵ Yintoni esiyifundayo kwezi ngxelo? Kwimeko nganye, phawula unxibelelwano olukhoyo phakathi kwemfesane nesenzo. UYesu wayethi akubona ukubandezeleka kwabanye abe nosizi, yaye loo mfesane yayimshukumisela ekubeni enze okuthile. Sinokuwulandela njani umzekelo wakhe? NjengamaKristu, sinembopheleleko yokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo nokwenza abafundi. Ngokuyintloko, siqhutywa luthando ngoThixo. Noko ke, masikhumbule ukuba lo ikwangumsebenzi wokubonisa imfesane. Ukuba sinovelwano ngabantu njengoYesu, iintliziyo zethu ziya kusishukumisela ukuba senze okusemandleni ethu ukwabelana nabo ngeendaba ezilungileyo. (Mateyu 22:37-39) Kuthekani ngokubonisa imfesane kwabo sikholwa nabo ababandezelekileyo okanye abasentlungwini? Asinakuphilisa abantu ngokungummangaliso okanye sivuse abafileyo. Noko ke, sinako ukubonisa imfesane ngokuthabatha inyathelo lokuqala lokubonisa inkathalo okanye sincede ngokoqobo ngandlel’ ithile.—Efese 4:32.

“Bawo, Baxolele”

16. Kwabonakala njani ukukulungela kukaYesu ukuxolela kwanaxa wayekwisibonda sentuthumbo?

¹⁶ UYesu walufanekisela ngokugqibeleleyo uthando lukaYise nangenye indlela ebalulekileyo—‘wayekulungele ukuxolela.’ (INdumiso 86:5) Oku kwakucacile nangethuba wayekwisibonda sentuthumbo. Xa wayebulawa ngendlela elihlazo, egqojozwe izandla neenyawo ngezikhonkwane, yintoni uYesu awathetha ngayo? Ngaba wabongoza uYehova ukuba abohlwaye abo babembulala? Akunjalo, kunoko emazwini akhe okugqibela uYesu wathi: “Bawo, baxolele, kuba abakwazi oko bakwenzayo.”—Luka 23:34.b

17-19. UYesu wabonisa ngaziphi iindlela ukuba wayemxolele umpostile uPetros ngokumkhanyela kwakhe izihlandlo ezithathu?

¹⁷ Mhlawumbi umzekelo ochukumisa nangakumbi wokuxolela kukaYesu unokubonwa kwindlela awamphatha ngayo umpostile uPetros. Ayithandabuzeki into yokuba uPetros wayemthanda ngokwenene uYesu. NgoNisan 14, ubusuku bokugqibela bobomi bukaYesu, uPetros wathi kuye: “Nkosi, ndikulungele ukuya nawe kokubini entolongweni nasekufeni.” Kodwa, emva nje kweeyure ezimbalwa, uPetros wayikhanyela izihlandlo ezithathu kwainto yokuba uyamazi uYesu! IBhayibhile iyasixelela oko kwenzekayo njengoko uPetros wayemkhanyela okwesithathu: “INkosi yajika yajonga kuPetros.” Ezisola ngesi sono sinzulu, uPetros “waphuma phandle waza walila ngokukrakra.” Akuba uYesu efile kamva ngaloo mini, lo mpostile umele ukuba wazibuza, ‘Ngaba iNkosi yam indixolele?’—Luka 22:33, 61, 62.

¹⁸ Akuzange kube thuba lide ngaphambi kokuba uPetros afumane impendulo. UYesu wavuswa ngentsasa yangoNisan 16, yaye kubonakala ukuba kwangalo olo suku, wamtyelela ngokobuqu uPetros. (Luka 24:34; 1 Korinte 15:4-8) Kwakutheni ukuze uYesu anikele ingqalelo ekhetheke ngolo hlobo kumpostile owayemkhanyele ngokuphandle? Kusenokwenzeka ukuba uYesu wayefuna ukumqinisekisa uPetros oguqukileyo ukuba wayesathandwa yaye exatyiswa yiNkosi yakhe. Kodwa uYesu wenza okungakumbi ukuqinisekisa uPetros.

¹⁹ Emva kwethuba elithile kamva, uYesu wabonakala kubafundi bakhe kuLwandle lwaseGalili. Ngesi sihlandlo, uYesu wambuza kathathu uPetros (owayeyikhanyele izihlandlo ezithathu iNkosi yakhe) enoba wayemthanda kusini na. Emva kwesihlandlo sesithathu, uPetros waphendula wathi: “Nkosi, wena uyazazi zonke izinto; uyaqonda ukuba ndinomsa ngawe.” Enyanisweni, uYesu, okwaziyo ukubona oko kusentliziyweni, wayeqonda ngokupheleleyo ukuba uPetros wayemthanda yaye enomsa ngaye. Kodwa, uYesu wamnika ithuba uPetros lokulungqina ngokwakhe olo thando. Ngaphezu koko, uYesu wamyalela uPetros ukuba ‘ondle’ yaye ‘aluse amatakane akhe ezimvu.’ (Yohane 21:15-17) Ngaphambilana, uPetros wayenikwe isabelo sokushumayela. (Luka 5:10) Kodwa ngoku, ebonisa ukuba nentembelo epheleleyo kuye, uYesu wamnika imbopheleleko enkulu ngakumbi—ukuba anyamekele abo babeza kuba ngabalandeli bakaKristu. Kungabanga thuba lide emva koko, uYesu wamsebenzisa uPetros ukuba aphumeze indima ebalulekileyo yabafundi. (IZenzo 2:1-41) Hayi indlela amele ukuba wakhuthazeka ngayo uPetros kukwazi ukuba uYesu wayemxolele yaye wayesenentembelo kuye!

Ngaba ‘Uyalwazi Uthando LukaKristu’?

20, 21. ‘Sinokulwazi’ njani ngokupheleleyo ‘uthando lukaKristu’?

²⁰ Eneneni, iLizwi likaYehova liluchaza kakuhle gqitha uthando lukaKristu. Noko ke, sifanele sisabele njani kuthando lukaYesu? IBhayibhile isibongoza ukuba ‘silwazi uthando lukaKristu olugqwesa ulwazi.’ (Efese 3:19) Njengoko sibonile, iingxelo zeVangeli ezingobomi nobulungiseleli bukaYesu zisifundisa lukhulu ngothando lukaKristu. Kodwa, ‘ukulwazi ngokupheleleyo uthando lukaKristu’ kubandakanya okungakumbi kunokufunda oko iBhayibhile ikutshoyo ngaye.

²¹ Igama lesiGrike eliguqulelwe ngokuthi ‘ukwazi’ lithetha ukuyazi into “ngokuyiqhelisela nangokuba namava ayo ngokoqobo.” Xa sibonisa uthando ngendlela awenza ngayo uYesu—sizinikele ngokungazingciyo ngenxa yabanye, sizinyamekele ngemfesane iintswelo zabo, sibaxolele ngokusuka ezintliziyweni zethu—ngoko sinokuyiqonda ngokwenene indlela avakalelwa ngayo. Ngale ndlela, siya ‘kulwazi’ ngokusuka kumava obuqu ‘uthando lukaKristu olugqwesa ulwazi.’ Yaye masingaze silibale ukuba okukhona sisiba njengoKristu, kokukhona siya kusondela ngakumbi kulowo uYesu wayemxelisa ngokugqibeleleyo, uThixo wethu onothando, uYehova.

1-3. Uba yintoni umphumo xa sixelisa umzekelo kaYehova wokubonisa uthando?

“KUNOYOLO ngakumbi ukupha kunokwamkela.” (IZenzo 20:35) Loo mazwi kaYesu agxininisa le nyaniso ibalulekileyo: Uthando lokungazingci lunomvuzo. Nangona kukho uyolo olukhulu ekwamkeleni uthando, kukho uyolo olukhulu ngakumbi ekupheni, okanye ekuboniseni uthando kwabanye.

² Akukho bani ukwazi kakuhle oku kunoBawo wethu osemazulwini. Njengoko sibonile kwizahluko ezingaphambili zeli candelo, uYehova ungowona mzekelo ubalaseleyo wothando. Akukho bani ubonise uthando ngakumbi okanye kangangethuba elide kunaye. Ngoko, ayimangalisi into yokuba uYehova ebizwa ngokuba ‘nguThixo onoyolo.’—1 Timoti 1:11.

³ UThixo wethu onothando ufuna ukuba sizame ukumxelisa, ingakumbi kwinkalo yokubonisa uthando. Eyabase-Efese 5:1, 2 ithi: “Yibani ngabaxelisa uThixo, njengabantwana abaziintanda, nize niqhubeke nihamba eluthandweni.” Xa sixelisa umzekelo kaYehova wokubonisa uthando, sifumana uvuyo olukhulu lokupha. Kwakhona siba nolwaneliseko lokwazi ukuba siyamkholisa uYehova, kuba iLizwi lakhe lisibongoza ukuba ‘sithandane.’ (Roma 13:8) Kodwa kukho nezinye izizathu zokuba kufuneka ‘siqhubeke sihamba eluthandweni.’

Isizathu Sokuba Uthando Lubalulekile

4, 5. Kutheni kubalulekile ukuba sibonise uthando lokuzincama kwabo sikholwa nabo?

⁴ Kutheni kubalulekile nje ukuba sibonise uthando kwabo sikholwa nabo? Ngokufutshane nje, kungenxa yokuba uthando lusisiseko sobuKristu bokwenyaniso. Ngaphandle kothando asinakuba nomanyano olusenyongweni namaKristu esikhonza nawo, yaye okubaluleke nangakumbi kukuba, asinto yanto emehlweni kaYehova. Khawuqwalasele indlela iLizwi likaThixo elikugxininisa ngayo oku.

⁵ Ngobusuku bokugqibela bobomi bakhe basemhlabeni, uYesu wathi kubalandeli bakhe: “Ndininika umyalelo omtsha, wokuba nithandane; kanye njengoko ndinithandileyo mna, ukuba nani nithandane. Ngako oko bonke baya kwazi ukuba ningabafundi bam, ukuba ninothando phakathi kwenu.” (Yohane 13:34, 35) “Kanye njengoko ndinithandileyo mna”—ewe, siyalelwa ukuba sibonise uthando olufanayo nolo lwaboniswa nguYesu. KwiSahluko 29, siphawulile ukuba uYesu wamisela umzekelo obalaseleyo ekuboniseni uthando lokuzincama, ebeka iintswelo nezilangazelelo zabanye ngaphambi kwezakhe. Nathi simele sibonise uthando lokungazingci, yaye sifanele silubonise ngokucacileyo kangangokude lubonakale kwanakwabo bangaphandle kwebandla lobuKristu. Eneneni, uthando lokuzincama lobuzalwana luluphawu esibonwa ngalo njengabalandeli bokwenyaniso bakaKristu.

6, 7. (a) Sazi njani ukuba iLizwi likaYehova likubalaselisa kakhulu ukubaluleka kokubonisa uthando? (b) Amazwi kaPawulos abhalwe kweyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte 13:4-8 agxininisa yiphi inkalo yothando?

⁶ Kuthekani ukuba asinalo uthando? Umpostile uPawulos wathi: “Ukuba andinalo uthando, ndisuke ndaba yixina ehlokomayo okanye icangci elikhenkcezayo.” (1 Korinte 13:1) Icangci elikhenkcezayo liyangxola. Kuthekani ngexina ehlokomayo? Ezinye iinguqulelo zithi “inkcenkce engxolayo” okanye “inkcenkce ekhenkcezayo.” Hayi indlela efaneleke ngayo le mizekeliso! Umntu ongenaluthando ufana nesixhobo somculo esenza ingxolo ethukuthezelayo nebagxothayo abantu kunokuba ibe nomtsalane kubo. Unokulunandipha njani ke umntu onjalo ulwalamano olusenyongweni kunye nabanye? Kwakhona uPawulos wathi: ‘Ndingade ndibe nalo nokholo lokususa iintaba, kodwa ukuba andinalo uthando, ndiyinto engento.’ (1 Korinte 13:2) Khawufan’ ucinge nje ukuthi, umntu ongenalo uthando ‘uyinto engento,’ phezu kwayo nje nayiphi na imisebenzi asenokuyenza! Ngaba ayicacanga na into yokuba iLizwi likaYehova likubalaselisa kakhulu ukubaluleka kokubonisa uthando?

⁷ Noko ke, sinokulubonisa njani olu phawu ekusebenzisaneni kwethu nabanye? Ukuphendula oko, makhe sihlolisise amazwi kaPawulos afumaneka kweyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte 13:4-8. Eyona ngongoma iyintloko yezi ndinyana asilothando lukaThixo ngathi okanye uthando lwethu ngoThixo. Kunoko, uPawulos wayegxininisa indlela esifanele sibonise ngayo uthando omnye komnye. Wachaza oko lukuko uthando noko lungekuko.

Oko Lukuko Uthando

8. Ukuzeka kade umsindo kunokusinceda njani ekusebenzelaneni kwethu nabanye?

⁸ “Uthando luzeka kade umsindo.” Ukuzeka kade umsindo kuthetha ukunyamezelana ngomonde. (Kolose 3:13) Kutheni sifanele sibe nomonde? Kungenxa yokuba njengezidalwa ezingafezekanga ezikhonza ngaxhatha linye, sinokulindela ukuba maxa wambi abazalwana bethu abangamaKristu basenokusicaphukisa yaye nathi sisenokwenza okufanayo kubo. Kodwa umonde nonyamezelo lunokusinceda ukuba simelane nokukrwempana okungephi—ngaphandle kokuphazamisa uxolo lwebandla.

9. Ziziphi iindlela esinokubonisa ngazo ububele kwabanye?

⁹ “Uthando . . . lunobubele.” Ububele buboniswa ngezenzo zokunceda nangamazwi enkathalo. Uthando lusishukumisela ukuba sikhangele iindlela zokubonisa ububele, ingakumbi kwabo banentswelo enkulu. Ngokomzekelo, ubani othile okhulileyo esikholwa naye usenokuba lilolo yaye eswele ubani onokumtyelela aze amkhuthaze. Umama ongenaqabane okanye udade ohlala kwikhaya elahluleleneyo ngokonqulo usenokufuna uncedo. Ubani ogulayo otsala nzima usenokufuna ukuva amazwi obubele avela kumhlobo onyanisekileyo. (IMizekeliso 12:25; 17:17) Xa sithabatha amanyathelo okuqala okubonisa ububele obulolo hlobo, sibonisa ukuba uthando lwethu lolokwenene.—2 Korinte 8:8.

10. Uthando lusinceda njani sixhase size sithethe inyaniso, kwanaxa kungekho lula ukwenjenjalo?

¹⁰ “Uthando . . . luvuyisana nenyaniso.” Enye inguqulelo ithi: “Uthando . . . luma ngovuyo ngakwicala lenyaniso.” Uthando lusishukumisela ukuba sixhase inyaniso size ‘sithethe inyaniso omnye komnye.’ (Zekariya 8:16) Ngokomzekelo, ukuba ubani esimthandayo uye wabandakanyeka kwisono esinzulu, uthando ngoYehova—nangalowo unxaxhayo—luya kusinceda ukuba sinamathele kwimilinganiselo kaThixo kunokuzama ukubufihla, ukubuthethelela, okanye ukude sixoke ngobubi obo. Enyanisweni, kusenokuba nzima ukwenza oko. Kodwa ukuba simnqwenelela okuhle lowo simthandayo, siya kufuna ukuba afumane aze ancedwe yingqeqesho yothando kaThixo. (IMizekeliso 3:11, 12) NjengamaKristu anothando, sikwafuna “ukuziphatha ngokunyaniseka kwizinto zonke.”—Hebhere 13:18.

11. Ngenxa yokuba uthando “luthwala izinto zonke,” yintoni esifanele sizabalazele ukuyenza ngokuphathelele iintsilelo zabo sikholwa nabo?

¹¹ “Uthando . . . luthwala izinto zonke.” Elo binzana ngokoqobo lithetha ukuba “lugubungela izinto zonke.” (Kingdom Interlinear) Eyokuqala kaPetros 4:8 ithi: “Uthando lugubungela inkitha yezono.” Ewe, umKristu oqhutywa luthando akakulangazeleli ukubhenca ukungafezeki neentsilelo zabazalwana bakhe abangamaKristu. Kwiimeko ezininzi, iimpazamo neentsilelo zabo sikholwa nabo zincinane yaye zinokugutyungelwa ngothando.—IMizekeliso 10:12; 17:9.

12. Umpostile uPawulos wabonisa njani ukuba wayekholelwa ukuba uFilemon uneentshukumisa ezilungileyo, yaye yintoni esinokuyifunda kumzekelo kaPawulos?

¹² “Uthando . . . lukholelwa izinto zonke.” Inguqulelo kaMoffatt ithi uthando “lusoloko lukulangazelela ukukholelwa kokona kulungileyo.” Asibakrokreli ngokungafanelekanga abo sikholwa nabo, sizithandabuza zonke iintshukumisa zabo. Uthando lusinceda ‘sikholelwe ukuba baneentshukumisa ezilungileyo’ abazalwana bethu size ngaloo ndlela sibathembe.a Phawula umzekelo woku kwileta kaPawulos eya kuFilemon. UPawulos wabhala ukuze akhuthaze uFilemon ukuba alamkele ngobubele ikhoboka elabalekayo elinguOnesimo, owaba ngumKristu. Kunokuba amnyanzele uFilemon, uPawulos wambongoza ngothando. Wavakalisa intembelo yokuba uFilemon wayeya kwenza into elungileyo, esithi: “Ndeyisekile yintobelo yakho, yaye ndikubhalela ndisazi ukuba uya kwenza kwanangaphezu kwesicelo sam.” (Indinyana 21) Xa uthando lusishukumisela ukuba sibonise intembelo elolo hlobo kubazalwana bethu, oko kubashukumisela ukuba benze okona kulungileyo.

13. Sinokubonisa njani ukuba sinethemba lokuba abazalwana bethu baya kwenza okulungileyo?

¹³ “Uthando . . . luthemba izinto zonke.” Njengoko uthando lukholwa zizinto zonke, lukwathemba izinto zonke. Ngokuqhutywa luthando, sinethemba lokuba abazalwana bethu baya kwenza okulungileyo. Ngokomzekelo, ukuba umzalwana “uqutyulwe sisiphoso,” sinethemba lokuba uya kuyamkela imizamo yothando yokumlungisa. (Galati 6:1) Kwakhona sinethemba lokuba abo babuthathaka elukholweni baza kuphucula. Sibonakalisa ukuba nomonde kubo, sisenza okusemandleni ethu ukubanceda ukuba baqine elukholweni. (Roma 15:1; 1 Tesalonika 5:14) Kwanokuba lowo simthandayo uyanxaxha, asiphelelwa lithemba lokuba ngenye imini uya kubuyela ezingqondweni aze abuyele kuYehova, njengonyana wolahleko osemzekelisweni kaYesu.—Luka 15:17, 18.

14. Kunokuvavanywa ngaziphi iindlela ukunyamezela kwethu ngaphakathi ebandleni, yaye uthando luya kusinceda ukuba sisabele njani?

¹⁴ “Uthando . . . lunyamezela izinto zonke.” Ukunyamezela kusenza simelane ngokuqinileyo nokuphoxeka okanye ubunzima. Uvavanyo lonyamezelo lwethu aluveli ngaphandle kwebandla kuphela. Maxa wambi, sisenokuvavanywa ngaphakathi ebandleni. Ngenxa yokungafezeki, ngamathub’ athile abazalwana bethu basenokusidanisa. Amazwi omnye engacinganga asenokuzikhathaza iimvakalelo zethu. (IMizekeliso 12:18) Mhlawumbi umbandela othile webandla awusingathwanga ngendlela esicinga ukuba ubufanele ukusingathwa ngayo. Ihambo yomzalwana esimhlonelayo isenokusikhubekisa, yenze sizibuze ukuba, ‘Angayenza njani umKristu into elolo hlobo?’ Xa sijamelene neemeko ezilolo hlobo, ngaba siza kurhoxa ebandleni size siyeke ukukhonza uYehova? Asisayi kwenjenjalo ukuba sinothando! Ewe, uthando luyasithintela ukuba singamfanyekiswa ziintsilelo zomzalwana ngokokude singabi sabona nantoni na elungileyo kuye okanye ebandleni liphela. Uthando lusenza ukuba sihlale sithembekile kuThixo yaye silixhase ibandla kungakhathaliseki ukuba omnye umntu ongafezekanga uthini okanye wenza ntoni.—INdumiso 119:165.

Oko Lungekuko Uthando

15. Liyintoni ikhwele elingafanelekanga, yaye uthando lusinceda njani ukuba siyiphephe le mvakalelo yonzakalisayo?

¹⁵ “Uthando alunakhwele.” Ikhwele elingafanelekanga linokusenza sibamonele abanye ngenxa yoko banako—izinto zabo, amalungelo abo, nobuchule babo. Ikhwele elinjalo lelokuzingca, liyimvakalelo eyonzakalisayo, yaye ukuba alipheliswa, linokuluphazamisa uxolo lwebandla. Yintoni eya kusinceda ukuba siluxhathise utyekelo ‘lokukhweleta’? (Yakobi 4:5) Ngegama nje elinye, luthando. Olu phawu luxabisekileyo lunokusenza sivuyisane nabo banamalungelo athile ebomini esingenawo thina. (Roma 12:15) Uthando lusinceda ukuba singakhubeki xa omnye enconywa ngenxa yobuchule obuthile anabo okanye ngoko akufezileyo.

16. Ukuba sibathanda ngokwenene abazalwana bethu, kutheni siya kukuphepha nje ukuqhayisa ngoko sikufezayo enkonzweni kaYehova?

¹⁶ “Uthando . . . alugwagwisi, alukhukhumali.” Uthando luyasithintela ukuba singaqhayisi ngeziphiwo zethu okanye ngoko sikufezileyo. Ukuba sibathanda ngokwenene abazalwana bethu, singathini ukusoloko siqhayisa ngempumelelo esinayo kubulungiseleli okanye ngamalungelo esinawo ebandleni? Ukuqhayisa okunjalo kunokubadimaza abanye, kubenze bazive bephantsi. Uthando alusivumeli ukuba siqhayise ngoko uThixo asenza sikufeze enkonzweni yakhe. (1 Korinte 3:5-9) Ngapha koko, uthando “alukhukhumali,” okanye ngokutsho kwenye inguqulelo, “alunazingcamango ziphakamileyo zokuzicingela ukuba lubalulekile.” Uthando luyasithintela ukuba singaziphakamisi.—Roma 12:3.

17. Uthando lusishukumisela ukuba sibonise luphi ulwazelelelo kwabanye, yaye ke ngoko yihambo enjani esiya kuyiphepha?

¹⁷ “Uthando . . . aluziphathi ngokungandilisekanga.” Umntu oziphatha ngokungandilisekanga uziphatha ngendlela engafanelekanga okanye ecaphukisayo. Ikhondo elinjalo asililo elothando, kuba libonisa ukungazikhathaleli iimvakalelo nempilo-ntle yabanye. Ngokwahlukileyo koko, uthando lunobubele obusishukumisela ukuba sibe nolwazelelelo ngabanye. Uthando lukhuthaza ukuba nesimilo, ihambo yobuthixo, nokuhlonela abo sikholwa nabo. Ngoko, uthando aluyi kusivumela ukuba sibandakanyeke ‘kwihambo elihlazo’—eneneni, nakuphi na ukuziphatha okuya kubothusa okanye kubacaphukise abazalwana bethu abangamaKristu.—Efese 5:3, 4.

18. Kutheni umntu onothando enganyanzelisi ukuba yonke into yenziwe ngendlela yakhe?

¹⁸ “Uthando . . . alufuni ezalo izilangazelelo.” Enye inguqulelo ikubeka ngolu hlobo oku: “Uthando alunyanzelisi ezalo iimbono.” Umntu onothando akanyanzelisi ukuba yonke into yenziwe ngendlela yakhe, ngokungathi ezakhe iimbono zisoloko zichanile. Akabagagameli abanye, ebanyanzela ukuba batshintshe uluvo lwabo. Ukuba nenkani ngolo hlobo kubhenca ukuba nekratshi, yaye iBhayibhile ithi: “Ikratshi liphambi kokuwa.” (IMizekeliso 16:18) Ukuba sibathanda ngokwenene abazalwana bethu, siya kuzihlonela izimvo zabo, yaye ukuba kuyimfuneko, siya kukulungela ukuyekelela. Umoya wokuyekelela uyavisisana namazwi kaPawulos athi: “Ngamnye makafune, kungekhona ingenelo yakhe, kodwa eyomnye umntu.”—1 Korinte 10:24.

19. Uthando lusinceda ukuba sisabele njani xa abanye besicaphukisa?

¹⁹ “Uthando . . . alucaphuki. Alunanzondo.” Uthando alucatshukiswa msinya koko abanye bakuthethayo okanye bakwenzayo. Liyinyaniso elokuba, kuyinto engokwemvelo ukucaphuka xa abanye besicaphukisa. Kodwa kwanokuba sinesizathu esibambekayo sokuba nomsindo, uthando aluhlali lucaphukile. (Efese 4:26, 27) Asigcini ingxelo yamazwi okanye izenzo ezikhubekisayo, ngokungathi sizibhala encwadini ukuze zingalibaleki. Kunoko, uthando lusishukumisela ukuba sixelise uThixo wethu onothando. Njengoko sibonile kwiSahluko 26, uYehova uyaxolela xa kukho isizathu esibambekayo sokwenjenjalo. Xa esixolela, uyalibala, oko kukuthi, akasohlwayi kwixesha elizayo ngenxa yezo zono. Ngaba asinambulelo kusini na kuba uYehova engenanzondo?

20. Sifanele sisabele njani xa ubani esikholwa naye egaxeleka ebubini aze abandezeleke?

²⁰ “Uthando . . . alubi nemihlali ngentswela-bulungisa.” Enye inguqulelo ikubeka ngolu hlobo oku: “Uthando . . . aluvuyiswa zizono zabanye abantu.” Yona inguqulelo kaMoffatt ithi: “Uthando aluvuyi xa abanye bephambuka.” Uthando aluyoliswa yintswela-bulungisa, ngoko asikuqwabazeli iliso ukuziphatha okubi kwalo naluphi na uhlobo. Sisabela njani xa ubani esikholwa naye egaxeleka esonweni aze abandezeleke ngenxa yoko? Uthando alusayi kusivumela ukuba sivuye, ngokungathi sithi ‘Tshotsho! Uvune oko ebekuhlwayele!’ (IMizekeliso 17:5) Kodwa siyavuya xa umzalwana obewile ngokomoya ephakama kwakhona.

“Indlela Egqwesileyo”

21-23. (a) Wayethetha ukuthini uPawulos xa wathi “uthando aluze lutshitshe”? (b) Yintoni eza kuxutyushwa kwisahluko sokugqibela?

²¹ “Uthando aluze lutshitshe.” Wayethetha ukuthini uPawulos ngaloo mazwi? Njengoko umongo ubonisa, wayexubusha ngeziphiwo zomoya awayenazo amaKristu okuqala. Ezo ziphiwo zazingumqondiso wokuba uThixo wayekholisiwe lelo bandla lalisandul’ ukusekwa. Kodwa asingawo onke amaKristu awayekwazi ukuphilisa, ukuprofeta, okanye ukuthetha ngeelwimi. Noko ke, kwakungenamsebenzi oko, kuba ezo ziphiwo zokwenza imimangaliso zaziza kuphela kakade. Ukanti, ikho yona into eyayingasokuze iphele, nto leyo mKristu ngamnye awayenako ukuyihlakulela. Yayibalasele ngakumbi, ihlala ithuba elide ngakumbi, kunaso nasiphi na isiphiwo sokwenza imimangaliso. UPawulos wada wayibiza ngokuba ‘yindlela egqwesileyo.’ (1 Korinte 12:31) Yayiyintoni le “ndlela egqwesileyo”? Yayiyindlela yothando.

²² Eneneni, uthando lobuKristu awaluchazayo uPawulos “aluze lutshitshe,” oko kukuthi, alusayi kuze luphele. Kude kube ngoku, abalandeli bokwenyaniso bakaYesu basaphawulwa ngothando lwabo lokuzincama lobuzalwana. Ngaba asibuboni na ubungqina bothando olunjalo kumabandla abakhonzi bakaYehova emhlabeni wonke? Olo thando luya kuhlala lukho ngonaphakade, kuba uYehova ubathembisa ubomi obungunaphakade abakhonzi bakhe abathembekileyo. (INdumiso 37:9-11, 29) Ngamana singaqhubeka sisenza okusemandleni ethu ‘ukuqhubeka sihamba eluthandweni.’ Ngokwenjenjalo, siya kuba noyolo olungakumbi olubangelwa kukupha. Ngaphezu koko, sinokuqhubeka siphila—ewe, siqhubeke sibonisa uthando—ngonaphakade, sixelise uThixo wethu onothando, uYehova.

²³ Kwesi sahluko esiqukumbela icandelo elithetha ngothando, sixubushe ngeendlela esinokubonisa ngazo uthando omnye komnye. Kodwa ngenxa yeendlela ezininzi esingenelwa ngazo luthando lukaYehova—kuquka amandla, okusesikweni nobulumko bakhe—kuhle ukuzibuza ukuba, ‘Ndinokumbonisa njani uYehova ukuba ndimthanda ngokwenene?’ Loo mbuzo uza kuxutyushwa kwisahluko sethu sokugqibela.