Lomelele Kangakanani Ukholo Lwakho?
“Nimi ngokholo lwenu.”—2 KORINTE 1:24.
1, 2. Kutheni simele sibe nokholo, yaye sinokulomeleza njani?
ABAKHONZI bakaYehova bayazi ukuba bamele babe nokholo. Eneneni, “ngaphandle kokholo akunakwenzeka ukumkholisa kakuhle . . . uThixo.” (Hebhere 11:6) Ngoko ke, ngobulumko sithandazela umoya oyingcwele nokholo, oluyinxalenye yesiqhamo somoya esiyimfuneko. (Luka 11:13; Galati 5:22, 23) Ukuxelisa ukholo lwamanye amakholwa nako kunokulomeleza olu phawu kuthi.—2 Timoti 1:5; Hebhere 13:7.
2 Ukholo lwethu luya komelela ngakumbi ukuba siyazingisa ekuhambeni ngekhondo elimiselwe onke amaKristu eLizwini likaThixo. Ukufunda iBhayibhile imihla ngemihla nokuzifundisisa ngenkuthalo iZibhalo ngoncedo lweempapasho ezivela ‘kwigosa elithembekileyo’ kuya kusenza sibe nokholo olungakumbi. (Luka 12:42-44; Yoshuwa 1:7, 8) Ngokubakho kwethu rhoqo kwiintlanganiso zamaKristu, kwiindibano ezincinane nezinkulu, siyakhuthazwa lukholo lwabanye. (Roma 1:11, 12; Hebhere 10:24, 25) Yaye ukholo lwethu luyomelezwa xa sithetha nabanye kubulungiseleli.—INdumiso 145:10-13; Roma 10:11-15.
3. Ngokuphathelele ukholo, luluphi uncedo esilufumana kubadala abangamaKristu abanothando?
3 Ngokunikela isiluleko nokhuthazo olusekelwe eZibhalweni, abadala abangamaKristu abanothando bayasinceda ukuze sakhe ukholo lwethu. Banesimo sengqondo esinjengeso awayenaso umpostile uPawulos, owathi kwabaseKorinte: “Singabasebenzi abangamadlelane ukuze nibe novuyo, kuba nimi ngokholo lwenu.” (2 Korinte 1:23, 24) Enye inguqulelo ifundeka ngolu hlobo: “Sisebenza kunye nani ukuze sinivuyise, kuba ukholo lwenu lomelele.” (Contemporary English Version) Amalungisa aphila ngokholo. Kakade ke, akakho umntu onokusenza sibe nokholo okanye asenze sigcine ingqibelelo ngokunyaniseka. Ngenxa yoko, ‘simele sithwale umthwalo wethu.’—Galati 3:11; 6:5.
4. Inokusinceda njani ingxelo yeZibhalo yabakhonzi bakaThixo abathembekileyo ukuze someleze ukholo lwethu?
4 IZibhalo zineengxelo ezininzi zabo ababenokholo. Mhlawumbi siqhelene nezinto ezininzi nezibalaseleyo abazenzayo, kodwa kuthekani ngokholo ababelubonakalisa imihla ngemihla, mhlawumbi kangangexesha elide? Ukuqwalasela indlela abaye balubonakalisa ngayo olu phawu kwiimeko ezifana nezethu kunokusinceda someleze ukholo lwethu.
Ukholo Lusenza Sibe Nenkalipho
5. Bubuphi ubungqina beZibhalo obukhoyo bokuba ukholo luyasomeleza ukuze sishumayele ilizwi likaThixo ngenkalipho?
5 Ukholo luyasomeleza ukuze sishumayele ngelizwi likaThixo ngenkalipho. Ngenkalipho uEnoki waprofeta ngomgwebo kaThixo. Wathi: “Khangela! UYehova weza enamashumi amawaka akhe angcwele, ukuza kuphumeza umgwebo nxamnye nabo bonke, nokuza kubafumanisa benetyala bonke abangenabuthixo ngokuphathelele zonke izenzo zabo ezingezozabuthixo abazenzayo ngendlela engeyoyabuthixo, nangokuphathelele zonke izinto ezothusayo aboni abangenabuthixo abazithetha nxamnye naye.” (Yude 14, 15) Xa zeva amazwi anjalo, ngokuqinisekileyo iintshaba zikaEnoki ezazingamhloneli uThixo zazifuna ukumbulala. Sekunjalo, ngenkalipho wathetha enokholo, yaye uThixo “wamthabatha” ngokumlalisa ukufa, ngaloo ndlela ethintela ukuba ave iintlungu. (Genesis 5:24; Hebhere 11:5) Akwenzeki mimangaliso enjalo kuthi, kodwa uYehova uyayiphendula imithandazo yethu ukuze sikwazi ukushumayela ilizwi lakhe ngokholo nangenkalipho.—IZenzo 4:24-31.
6. Ukholo nenkalipho awayifumana kuThixo ezo zinto zamnceda njani uNowa?
6 Ngokholo uNowa “wakha umkhombe wokusindisa indlu yakhe.” (Hebhere 11:7; Genesis 6:13-22) Kwakhona uNowa ‘wayengumshumayeli wobulungisa’ owavakalisa ngenkalipho isilumkiso sikaThixo kubantu awayephila phakathi kwabo. (2 Petros 2:5) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba babehlekisa ngesigidimi sakhe esasingoMkhukula, kanye njengokuba abanye baye bahlekise xa sibonisa ubungqina obungokweZibhalo bokuba le nkqubo yezinto kungekudala iza kutshatyalaliswa. (2 Petros 3:3-12) Noko ke, njengoEnoki noNowa, sinokushumayela isigidimi esinjalo ngenxa yenkalipho esiyinikwe nguThixo.
Ukholo Lusenza Sibe Nomonde
7. UAbraham nabanye balubonakalisa njani ukholo nomonde?
7 Kufuneka sibe nokholo nomonde, ingakumbi njengoko silindele ukuphela kwale nkqubo ingendawo. Phakathi kwabo ‘baya kuthi ngokholo nangomonde bazidle ilifa izithembiso’ ngusolusapho owoyika uThixo uAbraham. (Hebhere 6:11, 12) Ngokholo wasishiya isixeko saseUre, nazo zonke izinto zayo ezintle, waza waba ngumphambukeli kwilizwe lasemzini awayelithenjiswe nguThixo. UIsake noYakobi babeziindlalifa zeso sithembiso. Noko ke, “bonke aba bafela elukholweni, nangona bengazange bayifumane inzaliseko yazo izithembiso.” Ngokholo “bazabalazela indawo elunge ngakumbi, oko kukuthi, leyo yasezulwini.” Ngenxa yoku, uThixo “ubalungiselele isixeko.” (Hebhere 11:8-16) Ewe, uAbraham, uIsake noYakobi—nabafazi babo abahlonel’ uThixo—ngomonde balindela uBukumkani bukaThixo basemazulwini, abaya kuvuselwa kubo kubomi basemhlabeni.
8. UAbraham, uIsake noYakobi babonakalisa umonde nokholo phantsi kwaziphi iimeko?
8 UAbraham, uIsake noYakobi abazange baphelelwe lukholo. Abazange balifumane iLizwe Lesithembiso, yaye abazange bazibone zonke iintlanga zizisikelela ngembewu ka-Abraham. (Genesis 15:5-7; 22:15-18) Nangona ‘isixeko esakhiwe nguThixo’ sasingasayi kubakho de kudlule amakhulu eminyaka, la madoda aqhubeka ebonakalisa ukholo nomonde kubo bonke ubomi bawo. Ngokuqinisekileyo nathi sifanele senjenjalo ekubeni ngoku uBukumkani bukaMesiya bulawula ezulwini.—INdumiso 42:5, 11; 43:5.
Ukholo Lusenza Sibe Nolona Sukelo Lubalulekileyo
9. Ukholo lunakuthanani nosukelo neenjongo esinazo?
9 Oosolusapho abathembekileyo abazange bayamkele indlela yokuphila ewohlokileyo yamaKanan, kuba babenosukelo neenjongo ezibalulekileyo. Ngokufanayo ukholo lusenza sibe nosukelo lwezinto zokomoya eziya kusenza sikwazi ukuxhathisa ukuzifanisa nehlabathi elisemandleni ongendawo, uSathana uMtyholi.—1 Yohane 2:15-17; 5:19.
10. Sazi njani ukuba uYosefu wazibekela usukelo olubalulekileyo kunodumo lwehlabathi?
10 Ngokhokelo lukaThixo, unyana kaYakobi uYosefu wayesebenza njengomphathi wokutya eYiputa, kodwa yayingelosukelo lwakhe ukuba abe ngumntu odumileyo kweli hlabathi. Enokholo lokuba izithembiso zikaYehova ziya kuzaliseka, uYosefu oneminyaka eli-110 ubudala wathi kubantakwabo: “Sele ndiza kufa; kodwa uThixo okunene uya kuyiphethulela kuni ingqalelo yakhe, yaye uya kuninyusa niphume kweli lizwe, anise ezweni awafunga ngalo kuAbraham, kuIsake nakuYakobi.” UYosefu wacela ukungcwatyelwa kwilizwe lesithembiso. Akuba efile, umzimba wakhe waqholwa waza wangcwatyelwa eYiputa. Kodwa xa amaSirayeli akhululwa kubukhoboka baseYiputa, umprofeti uMoses wayalela ukuba kuhanjwe namathambo kaYosefu ukuze aye kungcwatyelwa kwiLizwe Lesithembiso. (Genesis 50:22-26; Eksodus 13:19) Ukholo olufana nolukaYosefu lufanele lusenze sizibekele usukelo olubalulekileyo kunodumo lwehlabathi.—1 Korinte 7:29-31.
11. UMoses wabonakalisa ngayiphi indlela ukuba unosukelo lokomoya?
11 UMoses ‘wanyula ukuphathwa kabuhlungu kunye nabantu bakaThixo kunokuziyolisa ngesono okwexeshana’ njengelungu elisisifundiswa lentsapho yasebukhosini baseYiputa. (Hebhere 11:23-26; IZenzo 7:20-22) Oku kwamenza walahlekelwa sisikhundla esiphakamileyo sehlabathi mhlawumbi nokungcwatyelwa kumangcwaba ezihandiba zaseYiputa. Kodwa oko kwakuxabiseke kangakanani xa uthelekisa nelungelo lokuba ‘ngumntu kaThixo oyinyaniso,’ ngumlamleli womnqophiso woMthetho, umprofeti kaYehova, nombhali weBhayibhile? (Ezra 3:2) Ngaba unqwenela ukuba nesikhundla esiphakamileyo emsebenzini, okanye ngaba ukholo lukwenze wanosukelo olubalulekileyo lwezinto zokomoya?
Ukholo Lukhokelela Kubomi Obunenjongo
12. Ukholo lwabuchaphazela njani ubomi bukaRahabhi?
12 Ukholo alwenzi nje kuphela abantu babe nosukelo olubalulekileyo, kodwa lwenza ubomi babo bube nenjongo. URahabhi waseYeriko wayephila ubomi obungenanjongo xa wayelihenyukazi. Kanti oko kwatshintsha gqitha xa waqalisa ukubonakalisa ukholo! ‘Wavakaliswa elilungisa ngemisebenzi [yokholo], emva kokuba wabamkela ngomoya wokubuk’ iindwendwe abathunywa [abangamaSirayeli] waza wabakhupha ngandlela yimbi,’ ukuze bangabhaqwa ziintshaba zabo ezingamaKanan. (Yakobi 2:24-26) Eqonda ukuba uYehova unguThixo wokwenyaniso, kwakhona uRahabhi wabonakalisa ukholo ngokushiya ikhondo lakhe lokuphila njengonongogo. (Yoshuwa 2:9-11; Hebhere 11:30, 31) Watshata nomkhonzi kaYehova, kungekhona nomKanan ongakholwayo. (Duteronomi 7:3, 4; 1 Korinte 7:39) URahabhi waba nelungelo elikhulu lokuba ngukhokhokazi kaMesiya. (1 Kronike 2:3-15; Rute 4:20-22; Mateyu 1:5, 6) Njengabanye, bambi babo abaye bashiya ikhondo labo lobomi bokuziphatha okubi, uya kufumana omnye umvuzo—ukuvuselwa ebomini kumhlaba oyiparadesi.
13. Ngokuphathelele uBhatshebha, uDavide wona njani, kodwa wabonakalisa siphi isimo sengqondo?
13 Emva kokuba eshiye ikhondo lakhe lesono, kuyabonakala ukuba uRahabhi wahlala ethembekile. Noko ke, bambi abaye bazahlulela kuThixo kangangexesha elide baye benza isono esinzulu. UKumkani uDavide wakrexeza noBhatshebha, waza wayalela ukuba umyeni wakhe abulawe edabini, waza wamthabatha njengomfazi wakhe. (2 Samuweli 11:1-27) Ezisola ngokunzulu, uDavide wathandaza kuYehova esithi: ‘Umoya wakho oyingcwele musa ukuwususa kum.’ UDavide akazange aphulukane nomoya kaThixo. Wayenokholo lokuba uYehova, ngenceba yakhe, wayengayi kuyicekisa “intliziyo eyaphukileyo netyumkileyo” ngenxa yesono. (INdumiso 51:11, 17; 103:10-14) Ngenxa yokholo ababenalo, uDavide noBhatshebha bavuzwa ngelungelo lokuba kumnombo kaMesiya.—1 Kronike 3:5; Mateyu 1:6, 16; Luka 3:23, 31.
Ukholo Olomelezwa Sisiqinisekiso
14. UGidiyon waqinisekiswa njani, yaye le ngxelo isenoluchaphazela njani ukholo lwethu?
14 Nangona sihamba ngokholo, maxa wambi sisenokufuna isiqinisekiso sokuba uThixo uya kusinceda. Kwakunjalo ngoMgwebi uGidiyon, omnye wabo “abathi ngokholo boyisa izikumkani kungquzulwano.” (Hebhere 11:32, 33) Xa amaMidiyan nemikhosi emanyene nawo ahlasela uSirayeli, uGidiyon wazaliswa ngumoya kaThixo. Efuna isiqinisekiso sokuba uYehova unaye, wacela ukwenza uvavanyo ngoboya awabubeka esandeni ubusuku bonke. Kuvavanyo lokuqala, buboya kuphela obaba nombethe, ngoxa umhlaba wawomile. Kuvavanyo lwesibini kwenzeka okwahlukileyo. Omelezwe zezi ziqinisekiso, uGidiyon osisilumko wabonakalisa ukholo waza wazoyisa iintshaba zamaSirayeli. (ABagwebi 6:33-40; 7:19-25) Ukuba sifuna isiqinisekiso xa sijamelene nokwenza isigqibo esithile, oko akuthethi ukuba asinalukholo. Eneneni sibonakalisa ukholo ngokufunda iBhayibhile neempapasho zamaKristu nangokuthandazela ulwalathiso lomoya oyingcwele xa sisenza izigqibo.—Roma 8:26, 27.
15. Ukucinga ngokholo olwabonakaliswa nguBharuki kunokusinceda njani?
15 Ukholo loMgwebi uBharuki lomelezwa ngesiqinisekiso esilukhuthazo. Umprofetikazi uDebhora wamkhuthaza ukuba athabathe inyathelo lokuqala ekukhululeni amaSirayeli kwingcinezelo kaKumkani uYabhin ongumKanan. Enokholo yaye eqinisekile ukuba uza kuxhaswa nguThixo, uBharuki wakhokela amadoda angama-10 000 awayengaxhobanga nakangako edabini, aza oyisa umkhosi omkhulu kakhulu kaYabhin owawukhokelwa nguSisera. Olo loyiso lwabhiyozelwa ngengoma emyoli kaDebhora noBharuki. (ABagwebi 4:1–5:31) UDebhora wakhuthaza uBharuki ukuba eme njengenkokeli enyulwe nguThixo yamaSirayeli, yaye wayengomnye wabakhonzi bakaYehova abathi ngokholo “baphanzisa imikhosi yabasemzini.” (Hebhere 11:33, 34) Xa sicinga ngendlela uThixo awamsikelela ngayo uBharuki ngokubonakalisa ukholo kusenokusenza sithabathe inyathelo elithile ukuba ngandlel’ ithile siyathandabuza ukusingatha isabelo esithile esilucelomngeni enkonzweni kaYehova.
Ukholo Lukhuthaza Uxolo
16. UAbraham wamisela wuphi umzekelo ekudaleni uxolo noLote?
16 Kanye njengokuba ukholo lusinceda siphumeze izabelo ezinzima enkonzweni kaThixo, lukwakhuthaza uxolo. UAbraham owayesaluphele wavumela umtshana wakhe owayengaphantsi kuye ngeminyaka uLote ukuba akhethe awona madlelo mahle xa abelusi babo baxabana kwaza kwafuneka ukuba bahlukaniswe. (Genesis 13:7-12) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba uAbraham wathandaza ngokholo ecela uThixo ukuba amncede ekucombululeni le ngxaki. Kunokuba abeke izilangazelelo zakhe kuqala, izinto wazilungisa ngoxolo. Ukuba asivisisani nomzalwana wethu ongumKristu, masithandaze sinokholo size ‘sifune uxolo,’ sicinga ngomzekelo ka-Abraham wolwazelelelo.—1 Petros 3:10-12.
17. Kutheni sinokuthi ukungavisisani okwakuphakathi kukaPawulos, uBharnabhas noMarko kwaconjululwa ngoxolo?
17 Khawucinge ngendlela ekunokusinceda ngayo ukusebenzisa imigaqo yamaKristu sinokholo ukuze sidale uxolo. Xa uPawulos wayeza kuqalisa uhambo lwakhe lwesibini lobuvangeli, uBharnabhas wavuma ukuba baphinde batyelele amabandla aseSipro naseAsia Minor. Noko ke, uBharnabhas wafuna ukuhamba nomza wakhe uMarko. UPawulos wala kuba uMarko wayebashiye ePamfiliya. Kwabakho “ukudubuleka kabukhali komsindo,” yaye oku kungavisisani kwabenza bohlukana. UBharnabhas wahamba noMarko baya eSipro, ukanti uPawulos wakhetha ukuhamba noSilas baza ‘bayityhutyha iSiriya neKilikiya, besomeleza amabandla.’ (IZenzo 15:36-41) Ekuhambeni kwexesha, elo thanda langcibeka, kuba uMarko wayekunye noPawulos eRoma, yaye lo mpostile wathetha kakuhle ngaye. (Kolose 4:10; Filemon 23, 24) Xa uPawulos wayelibanjwa eRoma malunga nowama-65 C.E., wathi kuTimoti: “Thabatha uMarko uze naye, kuba uyandinceda emsebenzini wobulungiseleli.” (2 Timoti 4:11) Kubonakala ukuba uPawulos waluthandazela enokholo ulwalamano lwakhe noBharnabhas noMarko, yaye oku kwaphumela ekubeni babe seluxolweni nto leyo evisisana ‘noxolo lukaThixo.’—Filipi 4:6, 7.
18. Kunokuba kwenzeka ntoni kwimeko kaWodiya noSintike?
18 Kakade ke, ngenxa yokungafezeki, “sonke siyakhubeka izihlandlo ezininzi.” (Yakobi 3:2) Kwavela iingxaki phakathi kwamabhinqa amabini angamaKristu, uPawulos awabhala esithi ngawo: “UWodiya ndiyambongoza noSintike ndiyambongoza ukuba bacinge nto-nye beseNkosini. . . . Hlala ubanceda aba bafazi abaye bazama kunye nam kwiindaba ezilungileyo.” (Filipi 4:1-3) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba la mabhinqa ahlonel’ uThixo ayicombulula ingxaki yawo ngoxolo ngokusebenzisa isiluleko esinjengeso sibhalwe kuMateyu 5:23, 24. Ukusebenzisa imigaqo yeZibhalo ngokholo kuya kuba luncedo ekudaleni uxolo namhlanje.
Ukholo Lusenza Sinyamezele
19. Yiyiphi imeko elingayo engazange iluphelise ukholo lukaIsake noRebheka?
19 Ngokholo sinokunyamezela novavanyo. Mhlawumbi sikhathazekile kuba ilungu elibhaptiziweyo lentsapho yethu liye alamthobela uThixo ngokutshata nongakholwayo. (1 Korinte 7:39) UIsake noRebheka bakhathazeka kuba unyana wabo uEsawu watshata namabhinqa angamhloneliyo uThixo. Abafazi bakhe abangamaHeti “bawenza wakrakra umoya” wabo—kangangokuba uRebheka wathi: “Ndiyabenyanya ubomi bam ngenxa yezi ntombi zakwaHeti. Ukuba kwiintombi zeli lizwe, uYakobi uthe wathabatha umfazi ezintombini zakwaHeti, njengazo ezi, bungaba salunga ngantoni na ubomi kum?” (Genesis 26:34, 35; 27:46) Sekunjalo, le ngxaki ayizange imenze uIsake noRebheka baphelelwe lukholo. Ngamana singasoloko sinokholo olomeleleyo xa sijamelene neengxaki.
20. UNahomi noRute bamisela yiphi imizekelo yokholo?
20 Umhlolokazi owayesaluphele uNahomi wayengumYuda yaye wayesazi ukuba amabhinqa athile akwaYuda ayenokuzala oonyana ababeya kuba ngookhokho bakaMesiya. Noko ke, ngenxa yokuba oonyana bakhe bafa bengenabantwana yaye wayemdala gqitha ukuba angaphinda azale, eneneni ayembalwa gqitha amathuba okuba intsapho yakhe inganenxaxheba kumnombo kaMesiya. Sekunjalo, umolokazana wakhe owayengumhlolokazi uRute watshata noBhohazi owayesaluphele, waza wamzalela unyana, yaye waba ngukhokhokazi kaYesu, uMesiya! (Genesis 49:10, 33; Rute 1:3-5; 4:13-22; Mateyu 1:1, 5) Ukholo lukaNahomi noRute lwahlala luqinile ebudeni bovavanyo lwaza lwabazisela uvuyo. Nathi siya kuba novuyo olukhulu ukuba sihlala sinokholo xa sijamelene novavanyo.
21. Yintoni olusenzela yona ukholo, yaye thina sifanele sizimisele ukwenza ntoni?
21 Nangona singazi ukuba ngamnye wethu limphathele ntoni ikamva, ngokholo sinokujamelana nalo naluphi na ucelomngeni. Ukholo lusenza sibe nenkalipho nomonde. Lusenza sibe nolona sukelo lubalulekileyo nobomi obunenjongo. Ukholo lusenza sibe nolwalamano oluhle nabanye yaye sikwazi ukunyamezela uvavanyo. Ngoko ke ngamana ‘singaluhlobo olunokholo olugcina umphefumlo uphila.’ (Hebhere 10:39) Ngamandla kaThixo oluthando, uYehova, masiqhubeke sibonakalisa ukholo olomeleleyo nto leyo eya kumenza azukiswe.
Unokuphendula Uthini?
• Bubuphi ubungqina obungokweZibhalo bokuba ukholo lunokusenza sibe nenkalipho?
• Kutheni sinokuthi ukholo lusenza sibe nobomi obunenjongo?
• Ukholo lulukhuthaza njani uxolo?
• Bubuphi ubungqina obukhoyo bokuba ukholo lusenza sikwazi ukunyamezela uvavanyo?
[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 16]
Ukholo lwamenza uNowa noEnoki banenkalipho yokushumayela isigidimi sikaYehova
[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 17]
Ukholo olunjengolukaMoses lusenza sibe nosukelo lwezinto zokomoya
[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 18]
Ukuqinisekisa ukuba uThixo uya kubanceda kwalomeleza ukholo lukaBharuki, uDebhora noGidiyon