August

Nanzelela imicijo emibili esevesini ephezulu. Owokuqala, abantu abalungileyo labo behlelwa zinhlupho. Owesibili, uJehova uyasincedisa nxa sisehlelwa zinhlupho. Usincedisa njani? Ngokusifundisa ukuthi sibone izinto zinjengoba nje zinjalo. Siyakwazi sibili ukuthi ukukhonza uJehova kwenza sithokoze kodwa kasithembisi ukuthi impilo izahlala itshelela. (Isaya. 66:14) UJehova usikhuthaza ukuthi sicabange ngempilo enhle futhi engapheliyo asithembise yona emhlabeni omutsha. (2 Khor. 4:​16-18) Kodwa okwakhathesi usikhuthaza ukuthi siqhubeke simkhonza sithembekile. (Izili. 3:​22-24) Sifundani ezincekwini zikaJehova ezithembekileyo okukhulunywa ngazo eBhayibhilini lezakhathesi? Impilo ingaphonguthi phendu. Kodwa nxa simthemba uJehova kasoze asilahlise.—Hubo. 55:22. w23.04 14-15 ¶3-4

Ake sixoxeni ngoJosefa loMariya. Baqhubeka belalela iziphathamandla lanxa kwakunzima ukwenza njalo. (Luk. 2:​1-6) UMariya wathi ezithwele, isisu sakhe sesingaba lenyanga ezingu-9, uhulumende wafaka umthetho owawunzima kubo. U-Augustus owayengumbusi weRoma ngalesosikhathi wathi bonke abantu baye emadolobheni akibo bayebhalisa. UJosefa loMariya kwasekumele baye eBhethilehema, umango ongaba ngamakhilomitha angu-150 bedabula emaqaqeni. Uhambo lolo lwaluzakuba nzima ikakhulu kuMariya. Kungenzakala babekhathazekile ngempilakahle kaMariya leyomntwana owayesesiswini. Babezakwenzani nxa uMariya angaqalisa ukuhelelwa besemangweni? Njengoba umntwana lowo wayezakuba nguMesiya esikhathini esizayo, lokho kwakungaba yisizatho esizwakalayo yini esokuthi bangawulaleli umthetho weziphathamandla? UJosefa loMariya abazange bavume ukuthi izizatho lezi zibenze bangalaleli umthetho owawusufakiwe. Balalela futhi uJehova wababusisa. UMariya wafika kuhle eBhethilehema, wabeletha kuhle njalo umntwana wayeziphilele. Abakwenzayo kwancedisa lokuthi kugcwaliseke isiphrofetho esiseBhayibhilini.—Mik. 5:2. w23.10 8 ¶9; 9 ¶11-12

Ungenzani nxa usesaba ukuphendula emihlanganweni yebandla? Okunye okungakunceda yikulungiselela okuzwayo. (Zaga. 21:5) Nxa uyazi futhi uyizwisisa indaba okukhulunywa ngayo kuba lula ukuthi uphendule. Zama lokuthi izimpendulo zakho zibe mfitshane. (Zaga. 15:23; 17:27) Nxa impendulo yakho imfitshane awusoze wesabe kakhulu. Nxa impendulo yakho imfitshane futhi usebenzisa amazwi akho kuzakhanya ukuthi ulungiselele okuzwayo lokuthi uyayizwisisa indaba okuxoxwa ngayo. Ungenzani nxa kuyikuthi usuzame wonke amacebo lawa esesixoxe ngawo kodwa ulokhe usesaba ukuphendula? Hlala ukhumbula ukuthi uJehova uyakuqakathekisa konke okwenzayo. (Luk. 21:​1-4) Kakhangelelanga ukuthi wenze okungaphezu kwamandla akho. (Flp. 4:5) Wena cabanga ngalokho ongenelisa ukukwenza, ubusuhlela ukuthi uzakwenza njani futhi ucele ukuthi uJehova akuncedise ungakhulelwa luvalo. Mhlawumbe ungaqalisa ngokuphendula kanye kuphela emhlanganweni ngamunye. w23.04 21 ¶6-8

Umphostoli uPhawuli wafanisa amaKhristu lamasotsha agqoke izigqoko zawo zempi futhi aselungele ukulwa. Amasotsha akhangelelwe ukuthi ahlale elungele ukulwa loba nini. Lathi sinjengamasotsha. Sitshengisa ukuthi silulungele usuku lukaJehova ngokugqoka isivikelo sesifuba esilukholo lothando kanye lokugqoka ingwane okutsho ithemba. Isivikelo sesifuba sasivikela inhliziyo yesotsha. Ukholo lothando lakho kuvikela inhliziyo zethu. Kuyasinceda ukuthi siqhubeke sikhonza uNkulunkulu futhi silandele uJesu. Ukholo lwenza siqiniseke ukuthi uJehova uzasipha umvuzo nxa siqhubeka simdinga ngenhliziyo yonke. (Heb. 11:6) Lanxa singaba phakathi kobunzima, ukholo luyasinceda ukuthi siqhubeke siqotho kuMkhokheli wethu uJesu. Okunye okungenza sibe lokholo olungasinceda ukuthi simelane lobunzima yikubala ngezindaba zabantu bakaNkulunkulu abaqhubeka beqotho lanxa babehlukuluzwa kumbe beswela. Kanti njalo nxa sifuna ukubalekela isilingo sokuthanda imali lezinye izinto zomhlaba lo, singalingisela labo abadela ezinye izinto ukuze baqakathekise izinto eziphathelane loMbuso ukwedlula loba yini ezimpilweni zabo. w23.06 10 ¶8-9

Umuntu ozibambayo kaphongulandela lokho azwa kusithi akwenze. Ukuzibamba kuyasinceda ukuthi senze lokho esiyabe sikuhlelile ikakhulu nxa kunzima ukuthi sikwenze kumbe nxa sisizwa kungatsho. Khumbula ukuthi ukuzibamba yisithelo somoya, yikho kuyabe kumele sicele uJehova asinike umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze usincedise sibe ngabantu abazibambayo. (Luk. 11:13; Gal. 5:​22, 23) Ungameleli ukuthi zonke izinto zilunge. Emhlabeni lo akusoze kube lesikhathi lapho zonke izinto eziyabe zihamba kuhle. Singamelela ukuthi zonke izinto zitshelele, asisoze siphumelele ukwenza lokho esiyabe sikuhlelile. Okunye okungasiqeda amandla yikuthi siyabe sibona angani lokho esifuna ukukwenza yinto enkulu kakhulu. Nxa kuyikuthi lawe yilo uhlupho olalo, zama ukwenza lokho okuhlelileyo kancane kancane. Nxa kuyikuthi ufuna ukuba lobuntu obuthile obuhle, qala ngokwenza izinto ezincane. Nxa uhlele ukubala iBhayibhili uliqede ungaqalisa ngamavesi amalutshwana. w23.05 29 ¶11-13

Ezinsukwini lezi zokucina uJehova usebenzise inhlanganiso yakhe ukuthi asinike ukudla okuqinisa ukholo ukuze siqhubeke sihamba ‘eNdleleni le yobuNgcwele.’ (Isaya. 35:8; 48:17; 60:17) Nxa umuntu evuma ukuthi siqalise ukufunda laye iBhayibhili kuyabe kungathi usengena ‘eNdleleni yobuNgcwele.’ Abanye bahamba umango omfitshane besebephuma endleleni le. Abanye bazimisele ukuqhubeka behamba ngayo baze bayefika lapho eya khona. Iya ngaphi vele indlela le? Labo abalethemba lokuyaphila ezulwini, indlela le ibasa ‘epharadayisi likaNkulunkulu’ elisezulwini. (Isam. 2:7) Labo abalethemba lokuphila emhlabeni bazaqhubeka behamba endleleni le isono esilaso size siqedwe ekupheleni kweminyaka engu-1 000 yokubusa kukaJesu Khristu. Nxa kuyikuthi usuphakathi kwayo indlela le siyakukhuthaza ukuthi ungakhangeli izinto owazitshiya emuva. Qhubeka uhamba ngendlela le uze uyefika emhlabeni omutsha! w23.05 17 ¶15; 19 ¶16-18

Nxa ungacabangisisa ngazo zonke izinto ezinhle uJehova akwenzele zona uzafisa ukuzinikela kuye. (Hubo. 116:​12-14) IBhayibhili lithi uJehova nguye osipha “zonke izipho ezinhle lazo zonke izipho ezipheleleyo.” (Jak. 1:17) Isipho esikhulu kulazo zonke asiphe sona ngumhlatshelo weNdodana yakhe uJesu. Cabanga ngokuthi siligugu kangakanani isipho leso. Inhlawulo yiyo eyenza ukuthi wenelise ukuba ngumngane kaJehova lokuthi ube lethemba lokuphila kuze kube nini lanini. (1 Joh. 4:​9, 10) Ukuzinikela kuJehova yindlela eqakatheke kakhulu yokutshengisa ukuthi uyabonga ngothando olukhulu akutshengise lona kanye langazo zonke izibusiso uJehova akuphe zona.—Dute. 16:17; 2 Khor. 5:15. w24.03 5 ¶8

Emhlabeni lo abantu abanengi abaziphathanga. Nxa sibona lokho abakwenzayo sizwa ngendlela uLothi ayezizwa ngayo. ‘Wayekhathazeke kakhulu ngokuxhwala kwabantu ababengelamthetho’ ngoba wayekwazi ukuthi uyise osezulwini uyabazonda kakhulu abantu abaziphatha kubi. (2 Phet. 2:​7, 8) ULothi kazange alingisele abantu ababeziphatha kubi ayephila labo ngenxa yokuthi wayemthanda uNkulunkulu futhi emesaba. Lathi lamuhla siphila labantu abangelandaba lokuthi uJehova uthi siziphathe njani. Kodwa singaqhubeka simsulwa nxa singahlala simthanda uNkulunkulu futhi simesaba. UJehova uyasincedisa ukuthi senze njalo futhi asikhuthaze esebenzisa ibhuku leZaga. Wonke amaKhristu, amadoda labesifazana, abadala labatsha, bangancedakala kakhulu nxa bangahlola iseluleko esisebhukwini leli. Nxa sisesaba uJehova kumele sinanzelele ukuthi asibi ngabangane babantu abenza okubi. w23.06 20 ¶1-2; 21 ¶5

Mhlawumbe uthwaliswe nzima ngabemuli yakho kumbe watshiya ezinye izinto ukuze wenze imisebenzi yoMbuso. (Mat. 6:33) Nxa kunjalo, qiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyakubona konke omenzele khona. (Heb. 6:10) Kumele ukuthi okwakhulunywa nguJesu usuke wakubona kusenzakala empilweni yakho. Wathi: “Kakho otshiye indlu kumbe abafowabo kumbe odadewabo kumbe unina kumbe uyise kumbe abantwana kumbe amasimu ngenxa yami langenxa yezindaba ezinhle, ongasoze athole sekuphindwe ka-100 ngalesisikhathi—izindlu, abafowabo, odadewabo, onina, abantwana lamasimu kanye lokuhlukuluzwa, aphinde athole lokuphila okungapheliyo esikhathini esizayo.” (Mak. 10:​29, 30) Izibusiso osuzitholile zingcono kakhulu ukwedlula loba yini ongabe wayitshiya.—Hubo. 37:4. w24.03 9 ¶5

AmaKhristu eJudiya ake ahlaselwa yindlala enkulu. Abazalwane bebandla le-Antiyokhi “bazimisela ukuthi ngamunye wabo anikele okusemandleni akhe ukuze kuthunyelwe okokuncedisa abazalwane abahlala eJudiya.” (Imiseb. 11:​27-30) Lanxa amaKhristu ayehlaselwe yindlala ayehlala khatshana, amaKhristu e-Antiyokhi ayezimisele ukuwancedisa. (1 Joh. 3:​17, 18) Lathi kumele sitshengise ukuthi silozwelo nxa singezwa ukuthi abafowethu labodadewethu sebehlelwe ngumonakalo. Akumelanga siphuze ukubancedisa. Mhlawumbe singabuza abadala ukuthi singancedisa njani. Okunye esingakwenza yikunikela emsebenzini womhlaba wonke kumbe ukubathandazela. Kanti njalo kungadingakala ukuthi kuncediswe abafowethu labodadewethu ukuthi bathole izinto zokuziphilisa. Nxa iNkosi yethu uKhristu uJesu isizokwahlulela, kwangathi ingasithola sitshengisa ukuthi silozwelo ibisisinxusa ukuthi ‘sidle ilifa loMbuso.’—Mat. 25:​34-40. w23.07 4 ¶9-10; 6 ¶12

UJesu wayelingisela uJehova ngokuba ngumuntu ozwisisayo. Wathunywa emhlabeni ukuthi azotshumayeza ‘izimvu ezilahlekileyo zesizwe sako-Israyeli.’ Kodwa ngesikhathi esenza umsebenzi lo watshengisa ukuthi wayezwisisa. Ngelinye ilanga omunye owesifazana owayengasuye um-Israyeli wamncenga ukuthi asilise indodakazi yakhe ‘eyayiledimoni eliyihlukuluzayo.’ UJesu wamzwela owesifazana lo wasesilisa indodakazi yakhe. (Mat. 15:​21-28) Kanti njalo uJesu wathi esanda kuqalisa inkonzo yakhe wathi: ‘Loba ngubani ongiphikayo lami ngizamphika.’ (Mat. 10:33) Kodwa wamphika yini uPhetro owamphika kwaze kwaba kathathu? Hatshi. UJesu wabona ukuthi uPhetro wayephendukile lokuthi wayeyindoda elokholo. UJesu wathi esevusiwe wabonakala kuPhetro njalo kumele ukuthi wamqinisekisa ukuthi wayesemthethelele lokuthi wayemthanda. (Luk. 24:​33, 34) Bobabili uJehova uNkulunkulu loJesu Khristu bayazwisisa. Thina-ke? UJehova ukhangelele ukuthi lathi sibe ngabantu abazwisisayo. w23.07 21 ¶6-7

Kuyini okungasinceda siqinisekise abathandabuzayo ukuthi isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sepharadayisi sizagcwaliseka? Okokuqala, uJehova nguye osithembisayo. Ibhuku leSambulo lithi: “Lowo owayehlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi wathi: ‘Khangela! Ngenza izinto zonke zibe zintsha.’” UJehova ulenhlakanipho lamandla kanye lesifiso sokwenza lokho akuthembisileyo. Okwesibili, uJehova uyakwazi ukuthi lokho akuthembisileyo kuzagcwaliseka loba sekutheni. Kuye kufanana lokuthi sekugcwalisekile. Yikho esithi: “Amazwi la athembekile futhi aliqiniso,” aphinde athi: “Sekwenzakele!” Okwesithathu, uJehova engaqalisa into kameli endleleni, uyayenza ayiqede njengoba esithi: “Mina ngingu-Alfa lo-Omega.” (Isam. 21:6) UJehova uzatshengisa ukuthi uSathane ungusomangase lokuthi uSathane ngeke enelise ukumvimba ukuthi agcwalise akuhlosileyo. Yikho nxa umuntu angathi, “Angiboni ukuthi lokhu kungenzakala,” mbalele iSambulo 21:​5, 6. Mtshengise njalo umchasisele amazwi kaJehova ayisiginetsha asiqinisekisa ukuthi lokho kuzakwenzakala.—Isaya. 65:16. w23.11 7 ¶18-19

UJehova wenza isithembiso lesi kuAbrahama ngesikhathi eleminyaka engu-75 futhi elokhu engelamntwana. U-Abrahama wasibona sigcwaliseka yini isithembiso lesi? Kazange abone konke okwakuphathelane laso kugcwaliseka. Kwathi sekudlule iminyaka engu-25 u-Abrahama echaphe umfula uYufrathe, uJehova wenza isimangaliso. U-Abrahama waba lendodana u-Isaka njalo kwathi sekudlule eminye iminyaka engu-60 kwazalwa abazukulu bakhe u-Esawu loJakhobe. (Heb. 6:15) Kodwa u-Abrahama kazange azibone izizukulwane zakhe zisiba yisizwe esikhulu futhi zithatha iLizwe Lesithembiso. Lanxa kunjalo indoda le eyayithembekile yaqhubeka ingumngane omkhulu kaJehova uMdali wayo. (Jak. 2:23) Nxa u-Abrahama esevusiwe uzathokoza kakhulu ukuzwa ukuthi izizwe zonke zabusiswa ngenxa yokholo lwakhe kanye lokubekezela kwakhe. (Gen. 22:18) Sifundani? Kungenzakala ukuthi lathi singaziboni zonke izithembiso zikaJehova zigcwaliseka khathesi. Kodwa nxa singabekezela njengo-Abrahama uJehova kasoze ayekele ukusibusisa khathesi njalo uzasibusisa kakhulu emhlabeni wakhe omutsha asithembise wona.—Mak. 10:​29, 30. w23.08 24 ¶14

INkosi u-Uziya yayithobekile isakhula. Yafunda “ukwesaba uNkulunkulu weqiniso.” Inkosi le yaphila iminyaka engu-68 futhi okweminyaka eminengi uJehova wayeyibusisa. (2 Imilan. 26:​1-4) U-Uziya wanqoba izitha ezinengi njalo wenza iJerusalema yavikeleka. (2 Imilan. 26:​6-15) Kumele ukuthi u-Uziya wathokoza kakhulu ebona indlela uNkulunkulu ayemncedisa ngayo. (Umtshu. 3:​12, 13) Njengoba u-Uziya wayeyinkosi, wayekujayele ukutshela abantu okokwenza. Mhlawumbe lokho kwamenza wacabanga ukuthi angenza loba yini ayifunayo. Ngelinye ilanga wacabanga ukwenza into amakhosi ayengavunyelwa ukuyenza. Wangena ethempelini likaJehova wazama ukutshisa impepha e-alithareni. (2 Imilan. 26:​16-18) UMphristi Omkhulu u-Azariya wazama ukumkhuza kodwa u-Uziya wazonda kakhulu. Kuyadanisa ukuthi u-Uziya kazange aqhubeke ethembekile njalo uJehova wamjezisa ngobulephero. (2 Imilan. 26:​19-21) Aluba waqhubeka ethobekile izinto zazizamhambela kuhle. w23.09 10 ¶9-10

Lanxa umphostoli uPhetro wayengumKhristu ogcotshiweyo wayelokhu ephambanisa. Wayekhona ngo-36 C.E. ngesikhathi uKhoneliya owayengowezizweni futhi engasokanga egcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele. Lokhu kwenza kwacaca ukuthi “uNkulunkulu kakhethi” lokuthi abantu bezinye izizwe basebengaba ngamaKhristu. (Imiseb. 10:​34, 44, 45) Ngemva kwalokho uPhetro wayesezidlela labezinye izizwe ekhululekile, into ayengeke ayenze kuqala. Lanxa kunjalo amanye amaKhristu ayengamaJuda ayesithi amaJuda labezinye izizwe akumelanga badle ndawonye. Abanye ababelombono lo bathi befika e-Antiyokhi, uPhetro wayekela ukudla labazalwane bezinye izizwe mhlawumbe esesaba ukukhuba amaKhristu angamaJuda. Umphostoli uPhawuli wathi ebona okwakusenziwa nguPhetro wamkhuza phambi kwabantu. (Gal. 2:​13, 14) UPhetro kazange abeke izikhali phansi lanxa wayeyenze iphutha leli. w23.09 22 ¶8

Nxa ungazihlola ubusubona ukuthi kulalapho okumele ulungisise khona, ungapheli amandla. “INkosi ilomusa” futhi izakuncedisa ukuthi uthuthuke. (1 Phet. 2:3) Umphostoli uPhetro wasiqinisekisa wathi: ‘UNkulunkulu yena ngokwakhe uzaqedisa ukuqeqetshwa kwenu. Uzaliqinisa.’ UPhetro wake wabona angathi akumfanelanga ukuthi abe seduze leNdodana kaNkulunkulu. (Luk. 5:8) Kodwa uJehova loJesu bamncedisa yikho waphikelela waqhubeka engumlandeli kaKhristu. Lokhu kwenza wathola isibusiso “sokungena eMbusweni waphakade weNkosi yethu loMsindisi wethu uJesu Khristu.” (2 Phet. 1:11) Nxa lawe ungaphikelela njengoPhetro njalo uvume ukuthi uJehova akuqeqetshe, uzathola umvuzo wokuphila okungapheliyo. Uzayithola sibili ‘insindiso yakho’ ngoba ‘yiyo inhloso yethu yokuba lokholo.’—1 Phet. 1:9. w23.09 31 ¶16-17

Ithabanikeli lalileguma elilodwa. Le kwakuyindawo enkulu eyayigonjolozelwe, futhi kulapho abaphristi ababesenzela khona imisebenzi yabo. Egumeni leli kwakule-alithare lekhopha lapho okwakusenzelwa khona iminikelo yokutshiswa. Kwakuphinda kube lenditshi yekhopha eyayilamanzi lapho abaphristi ababegezela khona bengakaqalisi ukwenza imisebenzi yabo. (Eks. 30:​17-20; 40:​6-8) Lamuhla abafowabo bakaKhristu abagcotshiweyo abasesemhlabeni bakhonza bethembekile egumeni elingaphakathi lethempeli likaJehova. Inditshi yamanzi enkulu eyayisethabanikeli lasemathempelini ikhumbuza abagcotshiweyo lawo wonke amaKhristu ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuthi bahlale behlanzekile endleleni abaziphatha ngayo lasendleleni abakhonza ngayo. Manje “ixuku elikhulu” lona likhonza lingaphi? Umphostoli uJohane wabona ixuku leli ‘limi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi.’ Indawo elimi kuyo imela iguma elingaphandle elisemhlabeni lapho ixuku leli ‘elenzela khona [uNkulunkulu] inkonzo engcwele ethempelini lakhe emini lebusuku.’ (Isam. 7:​9, 13-15) Siyasibonga kakhulu isibusiso uJehova asinike sona sokuthi simkhonze ethempelini lakhe. w23.10 28 ¶15-16

UJehova usebenzisa abadala bebandla ukuze asinike amandla. (Isaya. 32:​1, 2) Yikho nxa ukhathazekile ungatshela abadala okukukhathazayo. Ungathikazi ukwamukela uncedo abazakupha lona. UJehova uyabasebenzisa ukuze akunike amandla. Izithembiso eziseBhayibhilini lazo zingakwenza ube lamandla. (Rom. 4:​3, 18, 19) Ithemba leli lenza sibe lamandla okumelana lezilingo, sitshumayele izindaba ezinhle futhi sincedise abafowethu labodadewethu. (1 Thes. 1:3) Ithemba leli yilo elaqinisa umphostoli uPhawuli. ‘Wayecindezelwa, eswela lokuthi enzeni, ehlukuluzwa futhi ewiselwa phansi.’ Ngezinye izikhathi impilo yakhe yayisengozini. (2 Khor. 4:​8-10) Okwenza uPhawuli waba lamandla yikucabangisisa ngethemba ayelalo. (2 Khor. 4:​16-18) UPhawuli wayecabangisisa ngethemba ayelalo lokuyaphila ezulwini kuze kube nini lanini. Ukucabangisisa ngethemba lelo kwakumenza azizwe ‘esiba mutsha nsuku zonke.’ w23.10 15-16 ¶14-17

Nxa uthandaza zibuze ukuthi lesi kungabe kuyiso yini isikhathi sokuthi uJehova aphendule umthandazo yakho. Singabona angani uJehova kumele aphangise ukuphendula imithandazo yethu. Kodwa iqiniso yikuthi uJehova nguye osaziyo isikhathi esingcono sokusiphendula. (Heb. 4:16) Nxa singayekela ukukuthola masinyane lokho ebesikuthandazele, singacabanga ukuthi uJehova kafuni ukusiphendula. Kodwa kungenzakala ukuthi yena uyabe ebona ukuthi ayisiso isikhathi esihle sokusiphendula. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngomzalwane osakhulayo owathandaza ecela ukuthi asile emkhuhlaneni wakhe. Kodwa kazange asile. Aluba uJehova wamelapha ngendlela eyisimangaliso, uSathane wayengamsola esithi umzalwane lo uqhubeke ekhonza uJehova ngoba esilisiwe. (Jobe. 1:​9-11; 2:4) UJehova usesibekile isikhathi lapho azaqeda khona yonke imikhuhlane. (Isaya. 33:24; Isam. 21:​3, 4) Nxa lesosikhathi singakafiki, akumelanga sikhangelele ukwelatshwa ngendlela eyisimangaliso. Ngakho umzalwane lo angathandaza kuJehova emcela ukuthi amnike amandla kanye lokuthula ukuze enelise ukubekezelela ubunzima bakhe njalo aqhubeke ekhonza uNkulunkulu ethembekile. w23.11 24 ¶13

USamsoni kazange akhalale, waqhubeka emkhonza uJehova lanxa wenza iphutha elikhulu. Wadinga indlela ayengenza ngayo umsebenzi wokulwa lamaFilisti ayewuphiwe nguNkulunkulu. (Abahlu. 16:​28-30) USamsoni wancenga uJehova wathi: ‘Ngicela ungisize ngiphindisele kumaFilisti.’ UNkulunkulu weqiniso wawuphendula umthandazo kaSamsoni wamnika amandla ayisimangaliso. Lokho kwenza uSamsoni wabulala amaFilisti amanengi kakhulu ukwedlula lawo ayeke wawabulala. USamsoni kazange ayekele ukuqhubeka ezama ukwenza intando kaJehova lanxa wayesebunzimeni ngenxa yalokho ayekwenzile. Lathi nxa singaphambanisa besesikhuzwa kumbe sithathelwe eminye imisebenzi yenkonzo ebesilayo akumelanga sikhalale kodwa kumele siqhubeke sisenza intando kaJehova. Kumele sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi uJehova laye kasikhalali. (Hubo. 103:​8, 9) Lanxa singaphambanisa, uJehova angasincedisa ukuthi siqhubeke sisenza intando yakhe njengoba nje wancedisa loSamsoni. w23.09 6 ¶15-16

Ukuqinisela kwenza “samukelwe nguNkulunkulu.” Kodwa lokho akutsho ukuthi uJehova uyajabula nxa esibona siphakathi kobunzima kumbe sisehlelwa yizilingo. UNkulunkulu wamukela wena ngokwakho. Nxa ungaqinisela uNkulunkulu uzathokoza ngawe. Lesi yisibusiso sibili! (Hubo. 5:12) Khumbula ukuthi u-Abrahama waqinisela ebunzimeni njalo uJehova wathokoza ngaye. UJehova wambona njengomngane wakhe futhi wathi ulungile. (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:​13, 22) Lathi kungenzakala kithi lokhu. UNkulunkulu kasamukeli ngenxa yemisebenzi yenkonzo esiyiphiwayo loba ukuthi senza imisebenzi enganani kodwa okwenza asamukele yindlela esiqinisela ngayo nxa siphakathi kobunzima. Sonke singaqinisela kungelani lokuthi singanani loba ukuthi kwenzakalani empilweni zethu kanye lokuthi kuyini esenelisa ukukwenza. Uphakathi kobunzima yini khathesi obudinga ukuthi uqhubeke uqinisela? Nxa kunjalo khumbula ukuthi uJehova uyathokoza ngawe. Ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyasamukela kwenza siqiniseke ukuthi lokho asithembisa khona kuzagcwaliseka loba sekutheni. w23.12 11 ¶13-14

Indoda engumKhristu kumele ifunde ukukhuluma kuhle labanye. Indoda ekhuluma kuhle labanye iyalalelisisa nxa bekhuluma, yamukele imibono yabo futhi izwisise lendlela abazizwa ngayo. (Zaga. 20:5) Iyenelisa ukuzwisisa indlela umuntu azizwa ngayo ngokunanzelela indlela akhuluma ngayo lesimo sobuso bakhe kanye lalokho akwenzayo. Okuzakunceda ukuthi ukufunde lokhu yikuzinika isikhathi sokutshona labantu. Ukuhlala ukhuluma labantu ngezempucuko kungenza kube nzima ukukhuluma labo likhangelene. Ngakho zinike isikhathi sokuxoxa labanye likhangelene. (2 Joh. 12) Kanti njalo indoda eqinileyo ekukhonzeni kumele yenelise ukuzinakekela lokondla imuli yayo. (1 Thim. 5:8) Kuqakathekile ukuthi ufundele umsebenzi ozakunceda empilweni. (Imiseb. 18:​2, 3; 20:34; Efe. 4:28) Sebenza nzima kuloba yiwuphi umsebenzi owenzayo futhi uzimisele ukuqeda konke okuqalisayo. Nxa ungenza njalo kuzakuba lula ukuthi uthole umsebenzi futhi uwugcine. w23.12 27 ¶12-13

Nxa iBhayibhili likhuluma ‘ngosuku lukaJehova’ liyabe lisitsho isikhathi azabhubhisa ngaso izitha zakhe asindise abantu bakhe. Langezinye izikhathi kudala, uJehova wayejezisa ezinye izizwe. (Isaya. 13:​1, 6; Hez. 13:5; Zef. 1:8) Esikhathini sethu “usuku lukaJehova” luzaqalisa ngokuhlaselwa kweBhabhiloni Enkulu luphele ngempi ye-Amagedoni. Kumele silungiselele khathesi ukuze sisinde ‘ngalolosuku.’ UJesu wasifundisa ukuthi silungiselele ‘ukuhlupheka okukhulu’ kodwa kaphelelanga lapho. Waphinda wathi ‘sihlale sizilungiselele.’ (Mat. 24:21; Luk. 12:40) Encwadini yokuqala umphostoli uPhawuli ayibhalela abaseThesalonika, wasebenzisa imizekeliso eminengi ukuze ancede amaKhristu ukuthi ahlale ekulungele ukufika kosuku lukaJehova olukhulu, lapho azakwahlulela khona abantu. UPhawuli wayekwazi ukuthi usuku lukaJehova lwalungasoze lufike ngalesosikhathi. (2 Thes. 2:​1-3) Lanxa kunjalo wakhuthaza abafowabo ukuthi balungiselele lolosuku angathi luyafika kusasa futhi lathi kumele sikusebenzise akutshoyo. w23.06 8 ¶1-2

Ngo-1978 kwakhiwa isakhiwo eside kakhulu esilezitezi ezingu-60 eTokyo eJapan. Abantu babezibuza ukuthi isakhiwo leso asisoze siwe yini njengoba kwakujayele ukuba lokuzamazama komhlaba edolobheni leli. Sasingavikelwa njani? Omanjinela benza isakhiwo lesi saqina futhi basakha ngendlela yokuthi sasingasoze sidilike nxa singanyikinywa yikuzamazama komhlaba. AmaKhristu afanana lesakhiwo lesi. Njani? UmKhristu kumele akwazi lapho okumele ame aqine khona lalapho okumele avumelane lezimo khona. Kumele ame aqine anganyikinyeki nxa kusiza ezindabeni zokulalela imithetho kaJehova lezimiso zakhe. Kumele ‘azimisele ukulalela’ njalo angavumi ukwephula imithetho kaJehova. Kanti njalo kumele ‘azwisise’ kumbe avumelane lezimo nxa kumele enze njalo. (Jak. 3:17) Nxa umKhristu angakufunda lokhu kokubili kuzamnceda ukuthi angabi lukhuni lokuthi angaphonguyekelela izinto. w23.07 14 ¶1-2

UJesu kwakumele alwisane loSathane owayemlinga efuna enze isono. USathane waze watshela uJesu ukuthi angabi qotho kuNkulunkulu. (Mat. 4:​1-11) USathane wayezimisele ukuyenga uJesu ukuthi one ukuze engenelisi ukubhadala inhlawulo. Kulobunye ubunzima uJesu ahlangana labo ngesikhathi esenza inkonzo yakhe. Izitha zakhe zazimhlukuluza futhi zizama lokumbulala. (Luk. 4:​28, 29; 13:31) Kwakumele abekezelele abalandeli bakhe ababephambanisa. (Mak. 9:​33, 34) Ngesikhathi ethonisiswa, wahlukuluzwa njalo wahlekwa. Waphathwa ngendlela ebuhlungu kakhulu futhi wabulawa njengesigebenga. (Heb. 12:​1-3) Wathi esebulawa wathwala nzima yedwa, uJehova kazange amvikele. (Mat. 27:46) Kuyacaca ukuthi uJesu wahlangana lobunzima obunengi ukuze asihlawulele. Uzwa njani nxa ucabangisisa ngokuthi wayezimisele ukunikela ngempilo yakhe ngenxa yethu ukuze asihlenge? Kumele ukuthi uyathokoza kakhulu. w24.01 10-11 ¶7-9

Ukubekezela kuyasinceda ukuthi sihlalisane kuhle labanye. Kuyasinceda ukuthi silalelisise nxa abanye bekhuluma. (Jak. 1:19) Ukubekezela kwenza kube lokuthula. Kuyasinceda ukuthi singabambi inhlwa ngekhanda lokuthi singakhulumi amazwi azazwisa abanye ubuhlungu nxa kulento esikhathazayo. Nxa sibekezela asisoze siphangise ukuzonda nxa omunye umuntu angasizwisa ubuhlungu. Asisoze siphindisele kodwa ‘sizaqhubeka sibekezelelana futhi sithethelelana ngenhliziyo yonke.’ (Kol. 3:​12, 13) Ukubekezela kuzasinceda lokuthi sikhethe kuhle. Asisoze senze izinqumo ngamawala kodwa sizathatha isikhathi sichwayisisa ukuze sibone ukuthi yikuphi esingakukhetha. Ngokwesibonelo nxa sidinga umsebenzi singalingeka ukuthi sithathe owokuqala esiwutholileyo. Kodwa nxa singabantu ababekezelayo sizazinika isikhathi sokucabangisisa ngokuthi uzasinika yini isikhathi eseneleyo sokuba lezimuli zethu lesokwenza izinto eziphathelane lokukhonza. Nxa singabekezela sizakhetha kuhle. w23.08 22 ¶8-9

Nxa uhlala udaniswa yikulwisana lezifiso ezimbi ukucabanga ngesithembiso owasenza ngesikhathi uzinikela kuJehova kuzakunceda ukuthi uzimisele ukuqhubeka ulwisana lezilingo ohlangana lazo. Njani? Nxa uzinikela kuJehova uyabe uzidela. Lokhu kutsho ukuthi kawuqali ukulandela izifiso ezimbi kumbe ukwenza izinto ezingamthokozisiyo uJehova. (Mat. 16:24) Yikho nxa uhlangana lezilingo kawusoze utshone uzibuza ukuthi kumele wenzeni ngoba uyabe usuvele wazitshela ukuthi uzahlala uthembekile kuJehova. Uzazimisela ukumthokozisa kumnyama kubomvu njengoJobe. Lanxa wayephakathi kobunzima obukhulu, wazimisela ukuhlala ethembekile kuJehova waze wathi: “Ngizaze ngizifele ngilokhu ngiqotho!”—Jobe. 27:5. w24.03 9 ¶6-7

“UNkulunkulu wothando” ulathi! (2 Khor. 13:11) Ulendaba lomuntu ngamunye. Asithandabuzi ukuthi ‘uyasivikela ngoba ulothando oluqotho.’ (Hubo. 32:10) Nxa singahlala sicabangisisa ngezindlela asitshengisa ngazo ukuthi uyasithanda sizakubona ukuthi ulendaba lathi besesisondela kuye. Singakhululeka ukumtshela loba kuyini okusezinhliziyweni zethu, simtshele lokuthi siyaludinga kakhulu uthando lwakhe. Kanti njalo singamtshela konke okusihluphayo siqiniseka ukuthi uyasizwisisa lokuthi uzimisele ukusincedisa. (Hubo. 145:19) Nxa kuqanda siyasondela emlilweni ukuze sikhudumale, yikho lathi siyasondela kuJehova ukuze siluzwe uthando lwakhe. Lanxa uJehova enguNkulunkulu uSomandla uphinde aziwe ngokuthi ulothando. Ngakho woba kwazi ukuthi uJehova uyakuthanda. Kwangathi lathi singatshengisa ukuthi siyamthanda sithi: “Ngiyamthanda uJehova”!—Hubo. 116:1. w24.01 31 ¶19-20

UJesu wayengaphonguhamba etshela abantu ukuthi ibizo likaNkulunkulu nguJehova. Phela amaJuda ayewafundisa ayevele elazi ibizo likaNkulunkulu. Yikho uJesu wenza umsebenzi oqakathekileyo ‘wokuchasisela’ abantu ngoYise. (Joh. 1:​17, 18) Ngokwesibonelo, iMibhalo yesiHebheru iveza ukuthi uJehova ulesihawu lozwelo. (Eks. 34:​5-7) UJesu wakucacisa kuhle lokhu ngesikhathi elandisa umzekeliso wendodana yolahleko. Endabeni le ubaba wathi ebona indodana yakhe eyayisiphendukile ‘isesekhatshana,’ wayigijimela wafika wayigona waseyithethelela ngenhliziyo yonke. Lokhu kwenza sibone ngendlela ecacileyo ukuthi uJehova ulozwelo. (Luk. 15:​11-32) UJesu wancedisa abantu ukuthi bazwisise ukuthi uYise unjani sibili. w24.02 10 ¶8-9

UJehova uyabavuselela futhi abaduduze abantu nxa besebunzimeni. Thina singamlingisela njani uJehova ekubeni lozwelo lasekududuzeni abanye? Okunye okungasinceda yikuthi sizame ukuba lobuntu obuzakwenza kube lula ukuthi siduduze abanye. Yibuphi lobobuntu? Kuyini okuzasinceda ukuthi sihlale sithandana ukuze ‘siqhubeke siduduzana’ nsuku zonke? (1 Thes. 4:18) Kumele sizame ukuba ngabantu abalesisa kumbe abazwisisa indlela abanye abazizwa ngayo, abathanda abazalwane ngenhliziyo yonke futhi abalomusa. (Kol. 3:12; 1 Phet. 3:8) Kuzasinceda njani lokhu? Nxa singaba lozwelo lobunye ubuntu lobu, asisoze siyekele ukududuza abanye nxa besebunzimeni. UJesu wathi: “Umlomo ukhuluma okuphuphuma enhliziyweni. Umuntu omuhle ukhipha izinto emagugwini amahle awagcinileyo.” (Mat. 12:​34, 35) Ukududuza abafowethu labodadewethu nxa besebunzimeni yindlela eqakatheke kakhulu esitshengisa ngayo ukuthi siyabathanda. w23.11 10 ¶10-11

Nxa sifuna ukuzwisisa iziphrofetho eziseBhayibhilini kumele sicele ukuthi uJehova asincedise. Nanku umzekeliso ongasinceda sikuzwisise lokhu. Ake sithi uvakatshela endaweni ongayaziyo kodwa uhamba lomngane oyazi kuhle leyondawo. Umngane wakho uyakwazi lapho elikhona lokuthi yiphi indlela okumele lihambe ngayo. Kumele ukuthi uyathaba sibili ukuthi umngane wakho uvumile ukukuphelekezela. UJehova ufana lomngane lo, uyakwazi ukuthi sesingaphi kwesikhathi kanye lokuthi ikusasa lisiphatheleni. Ngakho ukuze sizwisise iziphrofetho eziseBhayibhilini kumele sizithobe sicele uJehova asincedise. (Dan. 2:28; 2 Phet. 1:​19, 20) Abazali abahle bafuna abantwababo babe lekusasa elihle. UJehova laye ufuna sibe lekusasa elihle. (Jer. 29:11) Lanxa kunjalo uJehova utshiyene labazali, yena uyenelisa ukutsho okuzakwenzakala kusasa futhi kwenzakale njengoba kunjalo. UJehova wathi iziphrofetho zibhalwe eLizwini lakhe ukuze sikwazi izinto eziqakathekileyo ezizakwenzakala esikhathini esizayo.—Isaya. 46:10. w23.08 8 ¶3-4