Hlala Useduze NoJehova

“Ekukhulekeni niqinisele njalo.”—ROMA 12:12.

1. Iyini intando kaJehova ngokuphathelene nomthandazo, futhi yisiphi isikhuthazo umphostoli uPawulu asinikeza ngokuthandaza?

UJEHOVA ‘unguNkulunkulu onikeza ithemba’ kubo bonke abantu bakhe abathembekile. ‘NjengoMuzwi wemikhuleko,’ uyakulalela ukucela kwabo usizo lokuba bathole ithemba elijabulisayo alibeke phambi kwabo. (Roma 15:13, qhathanisa neNW; IHubo 65:2) Futhi ngeZwi lakhe, iBhayibheli, ukhuthaza zonke izinceku zakhe ukuba zize kuye nganoma isiphi isikhathi ezithanda ngaso. Uhlala ekulungele ukusiza, efisa ukwamukela izinkathazo zazo ezingaphakathi. Eqinisweni, uzikhuthaza ukuba ‘ekukhulekeni ziqinisele njalo’ nokuba ‘zikhuleke zingaphezi.’a (Roma 12:12; 1 Thesalonika 5:17) Kuyintando kaJehova ukuba wonke amaKristu akhulume naye njalo ngomthandazo, ethulula izinhliziyo zawo kuye futhi lokho ekwenza ngegama leNdodana yakhe ethandekayo, uJesu Kristu.—Johane 14:6, 13, 14.

2, 3. (a) Kungani uNkulunkulu asinxusa ukuba ‘ekukhulekeni siqinisele njalo’? (b) Yisiphi isiqinisekiso esinaso sokuthi uNkulunkulu ufuna ukuba sithandaze?

² Kungani uNkulunkulu esinikeza lokhu kunxusa? Ngoba ukucindezela nemithwalo yemfanelo yokuphila kungasicindezela kakhulu size sikhohlwe ukuthandaza. Noma izinkinga zingasiqeda amandla futhi zisenze ukuba siyeke ukuthokoza ethembeni futhi siyeke ukuthandaza. Ngenxa yalezizinto, sidinga izikhumbuzo ezisikhuthaza ukuba sithandaze futhi sisondele kakhulu emthonjeni wosizo nenduduzo, uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu.

³ Umfundi uJakobe wabhala: “Sondelani kuNkulunkulu, khona uyakusondela kinina.” (Jakobe 4:8) Yebo, uNkulunkulu akaphakeme kakhulu futhi akakude kakhulu ukuba asizwe lapho sikhuluma naye, naphezu kwesimo sethu sobuntu sokungapheleli. (IzEnzo 17:27) Ngaphezu kwalokho, akayena onganaki nongenandaba. Umhubi uthi: “Amehlo kaJehova akubo abalungileyo; izindlebe zakhe zikukho ukukhala kwabo.”—IHubo 34:15; 1 Petru 3:12.

4. Ukuwunaka kukaJehova umthandazo kungafanekiswa kanjani?

⁴ UJehova usimema ukuba sithandaze. Lokhu singase sikufanise nombuthano lapho abantu abaningi bendawonye bexoxa. Nawe ukhona, ulalele abanye bexoxa. Okwenzayo wena ukuba yisibukeli. Kusenjalo, othile uphendukela kuwe, abize igama lakho, futhi abhekise amazwi akhe kuwe. Lokhu kuthumba ukunakekela kwakho ngendlela ekhethekile. Ngokufanayo, uNkulunkulu uhlala ebanakile abantu bakhe, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bakuphi. (2 IziKronike 16:9; IzAga 15:3) Ngakho uyawezwa amazwi ethu, ebuka, ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, ukuze asivikele futhi abonise isithakazelo kithina. Nokho, lapho sibiza igama likaNkulunkulu ngomthandazo ukunakekela kwakhe kuyathumbeka, futhi manje ugxila kithina ngendlela eqondile. Ngamandla akhe, uJehova angathola futhi aqonde ngisho nezicelo zomuntu ezingashiwongo ezisezingxenyeni ezifihlakele zenhliziyo yakhe nengqondo. UNkulunkulu usiqinisekisa ukuthi uyosondela kubo bonke labo ababiza egameni lakhe ngobuqotho futhi abafuna ukuhlala beseduze naye.—IHubo 145:18.

Ukusabela Ngokuvumelana Nenjongo KaNkulunkulu

5. (a) Iseluleko ‘sokuqinisela emthandazweni’ sibonisani ngokuphathelene nemithandazo yethu? (b) UNkulunkulu uyiphendula kanjani imithandazo?

⁵ Iseluleko sokuba siqinisele emthandazweni sibonisa ukuthi ngezinye izikhathi uJehova angase avumele ukuba siqhubeke sithandaza ngento ethile okwesikhathi esithile ngaphambi kokuba sibone ukusabela kwakhe. Singase sithambekele ngisho nasekukhathaleni ukucela kuNkulunkulu ukuba asenzele umusa noma asibonise umusa wothando ongase ubonakale udingeka kakhulu kodwa owephuzayo ukufika. Ngakho, uJehova uNkulunkulu usinxusa ukuba singavumeli ukunqotshwa yinoma yikuphi ukuthambekela okunjalo kodwa siqhubeke sithandaza. Kufanele siqhubeke sinxusa yena ngezinkathazo zethu, siqiniseka ukuthi uyawuhlonipha umthandazo wethu futhi uyokwanelisa izidingo zethu ezingokoqobo, hhayi nje lokho okungenzeka siye sakucabanga. UJehova uNkulunkulu ngokungangabazeki ulinganisela izicelo zethu ngokuvumelana nenjongo yakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, abanye bangase bathintwe yizicelo zethu. Lendaba singayifanisa naleyo kababa onendodana emcela ibhayisekili. Ubaba uyazi ukuthi uma ethengela leyondodana ibhayisekili, enye indodana yakhe nayo izolifuna. Njengoba lena enye indodana kungenzeka ukuthi isencane ukuba ingathola ibhayisekili, ubaba angase anqume ukuba angathengi nelilodwa okwalesosikhathi. Ngendlela efanayo, ecabangela injongo yakhe nokuhlela izinto ngokwesikhathi, uBaba wethu wasezulwini unquma lokho okungcono kakhulu kithina nakwabanye.—IHubo 84:8, 11; qhathanisa noHabakuki 2:3.

6. Yimuphi umfanekiso uJesu awunikeza ngokuphathelene nomthandazo, futhi ukuqinisela emthandazweni kubonisani?

⁶ Ungophawulekayo umfanekiso uJesu awunikeza ngokuphathelene nesidingo sokuba abafundi bakhe ‘bakhuleke njalo, bangadangali.’ Umfelokazi, owayengabutholi ubulungisa, waqinisela esicelweni sakhe kumahluleli ongumuntu waze wabuthola ekugcineni ubulungisa. UJesu wenezela: “UNkulunkulu kayikubezwela yini abakhethiweyo bakhe?” (Luka 18:1-7) Ukuqinisela emthandazweni kubonisa ukholo lwethu, ukuthembela kwethu kuJehova, ukuzimisela kwethu ukuhlala siseduze naye futhi sinxuse kuye, umphumela siwushiyele kuye.—Heberu 11:6.

Izibonelo Zokuhlala Siseduze NoJehova

7. Singalulingisa kanjani ukholo luka-Abela ekuhlaleni siseduze noJehova?

⁷ IBhayibheli linokulandisa okuningi kwemithandazo eyashiwo yizinceku zikaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kulandisa “kwalotshelwa ukufundiswa kwethu, ukuze ngokubekezela nangenduduzo yemibhalo sibe-nethemba.” (Roma 15:4) Ithemba lethu liqiniswa ukuba sicabangele izibonelo ezithile zalabo abahlala beseduze noJehova. UAbela wanikela ngomhlatshelo owamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu, futhi nakuba ungekho umthandazo obikiwe, ngokungangabazeki wanxusa uJehova ngomthandazo ukuba umnikelo wakhe wamukeleke. AmaHeberu 11:4 athi: “Ngokukholwa uAbela wanikela kuNkulunkulu ngomhlatshelo omuhle kunoKayini, athola ngakho ubufakazi bokuthi ulungile.” UAbela wayazi ngesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu esikuGenesise 3:15, kodwa uma kuqhathaniswa nalokho esikwaziyo manje, wayazi okuncane kakhulu. Nokho, uAbela wenza ngokuvumelana nalololwazi ayenalo. Ngakho namuhla, abanye balabo abasanda kuthakazela eqinisweni likaNkulunkulu abakabinalo ulwazi oluningi, kodwa bayathandaza futhi balusebenzisa ngokugcwele ulwazi abanalo, njengoba kwenza uAbela. Yebo, benza izinto ngokholo.

8. Kungani singaqiniseka ngokuthi uAbrahama wahlala eseduze noJehova, futhi yimuphi umbuzo okufanele sizibuze wona?

⁸ Enye inceku ethembekile kaNkulunkulu kwakunguAbrahama, “uyise wabo bonke abakholwayo.” (Roma 4:11) Namuhla, kunanini ngaphambili, sidinga ukholo oluqinile, futhi kudingeka sithandaze ngokholo, njengoba kwenza uAbrahama. UGenesise 12:8 uthi wamakhela ialtare ‘uJehova, wakhuleka egameni likaJehova.’ UAbrahama wayelazi igama likaNkulunkulu futhi walisebenzisa lapho ethandaza. Ngokuphindaphindiwe wayeqinisela ngobuqotho emthandazweni, ebiza “egameni likaJehova uNkulunkulu ongunaphakade.” (Genesise 13:4; 21:33) UAbrahama wayebiza igama likaNkulunkulu ngokholo lolo aziwa ngalo. (Heberu 11:17-19) Umthandazo wasiza uAbrahama ukuba aqhubeke ethokoza kakhulu ethembeni loMbuso. Ingabe siyasilandela isibonelo sika-Abrahama sokuqinisela emthandazweni?

9. (a) Kungani imithandazo kaDavide izuzisa kakhulu kubantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla? (b) Yini engaba umphumela wokuthandaza kwethu njengoba kwenza uDavide ukuze ahlale eseduze noJehova?

⁹ UDavide wayengovelele ekuqiniseleni emthandazweni, futhi amahubo akhe abonisa lokho imithandazo okufanele ibe yikho. Ngokwesibonelo, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zingazithandazela ngokufanelekile izinto ezinjengokusindiswa noma ukukhululwa (3:7, 8; 60:5), isiqondiso (25:4, 5), isivikelo (17:8), ukuthethelelwa kwezono (25:7, 11, 18), kanye nenhliziyo ehlanzekile (51:10). Lapho uDavide ezizwa ecindezelekile, wathandaza: “Thokozisa umphefumulo wenceku yakho.” (86:4) Singakuthandazela ngendlela efanayo ukuba sijabule enhliziyweni, sazi ukuthi uJehova ufuna ukuba sithokoze ethembeni lethu. UDavide wahlala eseduze noJehova futhi wathandaza: “Umphefumulo wami ubambelele kuwe; esokunene sakho siyangiphasa.” (63:8) Ingabe siyohlala siseduze noJehova, njengoba kwenza uDavide? Uma kunjalo, nathi uyosisekela.

10. Yimiphi imicabango engalungile umhubi uAsafa aba nayo ngesinye isikhathi, kodwa yini ayiqaphela?

¹⁰ Ukuze sihlale siseduze noJehova, kudingeka sigweme ukuba nomona ngababi ngenxa yokuphila kwabo kokungabi nandaba nokokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo. Umhubi uAsafa ngesinye isikhathi waba nomuzwa wokuthi kwakungabalulekile ukukhonza uJehova, ngoba ababi “bazinza njalo.” Nakuba kunjalo, waqonda ukuthi ukucabanga kwakhe kwakungalungile nokuthi ababi ‘basezindaweni ezibushelezi.’ Waqaphela ukuthi ayikho into eyayingcono kunokuhlala useduze noJehova, futhi wakhuluma noNkulunkulu ngalendlela: “Mina ngiyakube ngikuwe njalo; ungibambile ngesandla sami sokunene. Ngokuba bheka, abakude nawe bayakubhubha; . . . Kepha mina kungilungele ukusondela kuNkulunkulu; ngenzile iNkosi uJehova ibe-yisiphephelo sami, ukuze ngishumayele zonke izenzo zakho.” (IHubo 73:12, 13, 18, 23, 27, 28) Esikhundleni sokuba nomona ngokuphila kwababi kokungabi nandaba, abantu abangenalo ithemba, masilingise uAsafa ekuhlaleni siseduze noJehova.

11. Kungani uDaniyeli eyisibonelo esihle sokuhlala siseduze noJehova, futhi singamlingisa kanjani?

¹¹ UDaniyeli waqinisela ngokuzimisela emthandazweni, ngisho nalapho ebhekene nengozi yokufakwa emphandwini wezingonyama ngenxa yokungakunaki ukwenqabela okungokomthetho okuphathelene nomthandazo. Kodwa uJehova ‘wathuma ingelosi yakhe, yavimba imilomo yezingonyama,’ ekhulula uDaniyeli. (Daniyeli 6:7-10, 22, 27) UDaniyeli wabusiswa kakhulu ngokuqinisela kwakhe emthandazweni. Ingabe nathi siyaqinisela emthandazweni, ikakhulukazi lapho sibhekene nokuphikiswa ekushumayeleni kwethu ngoMbuso?

UJesu, Isibonelo Sethu

12. (a) Ekuqaleni kwenkonzo yakhe, yisiphi isibonelo uJesu asibeka ngokuphathelene nomthandazo, futhi lokhu kungawazuzisa kanjani amaKristu? (b) Umthandazo kaJesu oyisibonelo wembulani ngomthandazo?

¹² Kusukela khona kanye ekuqaleni kwenkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni, umlando ubonisa ukuthi uJesu wayethandaza. Isimo sakhe sengqondo sokuthandaza lapho ebhapathizwa sibabekela isibonelo esihle labo ababhapathizwa emanzini ezikhathini zanamuhla. (Luka 3:21, 22) Umuntu angathandazela ukuthola usizo lukaNkulunkulu ukuze afeze lokho okufanekiselwa ukubhapathizwa emanzini. UJesu futhi wasiza abanye ukuba baye kuJehova ngomthandazo. Ngesinye isikhathi uJesu esendaweni ethile ethandaza, omunye wabafundi bakhe wathi kuye kamuva: “Nkosi, sifundise ukukhuleka.” Khona-ke uJesu walandisa lokho ngokuvamile okwaziwa ngokuthi umthandazo oyisibonelo, onokulandelana kwezihloko okubonisa ukuthi igama likaNkulunkulu nenjongo kufanele kunikezwe indawo yokuqala. (Luka 11:1-4) Ngakho, emithandazweni yethu kudingeka sihlale sinombono ocacile futhi silinganisela, singazidebeseli ‘izinto ezibaluleke kakhulu.’ (Filipi 1:9, 10, qhathanisa neNW.) Yebo, kuba nezikhathi zesidingo esikhethekile noma lapho kudingeka ukuba kukhulunywe ngenkinga ethile. NjengoJesu, amaKristu angaya kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo afune amandla okufeza izabelo ezithile noma abhekane nezilingo ezithile noma izingozi. (Mathewu 26:36-44) Eqinisweni, imithandazo yomuntu siqu ingase ihlanganise cishe zonke izici zokuphila.

13. UJesu wakubonisa kanjani ukubaluleka kokuthandazela abanye?

¹³ Ngesibonelo sakhe esihle, uJesu wabonisa ukubaluleka kokuthandazela abanye. Wayazi ukuthi abafundi bakhe babeyozondwa futhi bashushiswe, njengoba nje kwenziwa kuye. (Johane 15:18-20; 1 Petru 5:9) Ngakho-ke, wanxusa uNkulunkulu ‘ukuba abalonde kokubi.’ (Johane 17:9, 11, 15, 20) Futhi njengoba ayelwazi uvivinyo olukhethekile uPetru ayezobhekana nalo, wamtshela: “Mina ngikunxusele ukuba ukukholwa kwakho kungapheli.” (Luka 22:32) Yeka indlela okuzuzisa ngayo uma nathi siphikelela ekuthandazeleni abafowethu, sicabanga ngabanye futhi hhayi nje ngezinkinga zethu siqu nezithakazelo!—Filipi 2:4; Kolose 1:9, 10.

14. Sazi kanjani ukuthi uJesu wahlala eseduze kakhulu noJehova phakathi nenkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni, futhi singamlingisa kanjani?

¹⁴ Phakathi nenkonzo yakhe, uJesu waqinisela emthandazweni, ehlala eseduze kakhulu noJehova. (Heberu 5:7-10) Umphostoli uPetru, kuzEnzo 2:25-28, ucaphuna iHubo 16:8 futhi ulisebenzisa eNkosini uJesu Kristu: “UDavide uthi ngaye: Ngayibona iNkosi phambi kwami njalo, ngokuba ingakwesokunene sami, ukuze nginganyakaziswa.” Nathi singenza okufanayo. Singathandazela ukuba uNkulunkulu abe seduze nathi, futhi singabonisa ukuthembela kwethu kuJehova ngokuhlala njalo simbona ngamehlo ethu engqondo. (Qhathanisa neHubo 110:5; Isaya 41:10, 13.) Khona-ke siyogwema zonke izinhlobo zezinkathazo, ngoba uJehova uyosisekela, futhi ngeke sintengantenge.

15. (a) Kungokuphathelene nani kufanele singalokothi sihluleke ukuqinisela emthandazweni? (b) Yisiphi isixwayiso esinikezwayo ngokuphathelene nokubonga kwethu?

¹⁵ Kwangathi singelokothe sihluleke ukubonga uJehova ngabo bonke ubuhle bakhe kithi, yebo, ‘umusa omkhulu kakhulu kaNkulunkulu,’ ohlanganisa nesipho seNdodana yakhe njengomhlatshelo wesihlengo wezono zethu. (2 Korinte 9:14, 15; Marku 10:45; Johane 3:16; Roma 8:32; 1 Johane 4:9, 10) Ngempela, ngegama likaJesu, ‘masimbonge njalo uNkulunkulu uYise ngakho konke.’ (Efesu 5:19, 20; Kolose 4:2; 1 Thesalonika 5:18) Kumelwe siqaphele ukuba singakoni ukubonga kwethu ngalokho esinakho ngenxa yokuthi simatasa kakhulu ngalokho esingenakho noma ngezinkinga zethu zomuntu ziqu.

Ukuphonsa Imithwalo Yethu KuJehova

16. Lapho kunomthwalo othile osikhathazayo, yini okufanele siyenze?

¹⁶ Ukuqinisela emthandazweni kubonisa ukujula kokuzinikela kwethu. Uma sibiza egameni likaNkulunkulu, sizizwa sijabula ngisho nangaphambi kokuba sithole impendulo evela kuye. Uma kunomthwalo othile okhathaza izingqondo zethu, singahlala siseduze noJehova ngokulandela leseluleko: “Phonsa phezu kukaJehova umthwalo wakho, uzakukuphasa.” (IHubo 55:22) Ngokuphonsa yonke imithwalo yethu—ukukhathazeka, izinhlupheko, ukudumazeka, ukwesaba, nokunye—kuNkulunkulu, sinokholo oluphelele kuye, sithola ukuthula kwenhliziyo, “ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu okudlula ukuqonda konke.”—Filipi 4:4, 7; IHubo 68:19; Marku 11:24; 1 Petru 5:7.

17. Singakuthola kanjani ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu?

¹⁷ Ingabe lokhu kuthula kukaNkulunkulu kuza ngokushesha? Nakuba singase sithole impumuzo ngokushesha, lokho uJesu akusho ngokuthandazela ukuthola umoya ongcwele kuyiqiniso futhi nalapha: “Qhubekani nicela, niyophiwa; qhubekani nifuna, niyothola; qhubekani ningqongqoza, niyovulelwa.” (Luka 11:9-13, NW) Njengoba umoya ongcwele uyindlela esiqeda ngayo ukukhathazeka, kudingeka siqinisele ekuceleni ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu nosizo lwakhe ngokuphathelene nezinto ezisicindezelayo. Singaqiniseka ukuthi ngokuqinisela emthandazweni, siyothola impumuzo esiyifisayo nokuthula kwenhliziyo.

18. Yini uJehova asenzela yona uma singakwazi lokho okumelwe sikuthandazele esimweni esithile?

¹⁸ Kodwa kuthiwani uma singakwazi ngokuqondile lokho okumelwe sikuthandazele? Ukububula kwethu kwangaphakathi ngokuvamile kuhlala kungaphinyiselwe ngoba asisiqondi ngokugcwele isimo sethu, noma asiqiniseki ngokuqondene nalokho okumelwe sikusho kuJehova. Kulapha lapho umoya ongcwele ungasimelela khona. UPawulu wabhala: “Asikwazi esingakucela ngokufaneleyo, kodwa uMoya uqobo usikhulumela ngokububula okungenakuphinyiselwa.” (Roma 8:26) Kanjani? EZwini likaNkulunkulu kuneziprofetho nemithandazo okuphefumlelwe okuhlobene nesimo sethu. Uvumela lezizinto ukuba zisikhulumele, ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso. Lezizinto uzamukela njengezinto ebesingazithandazela kuphela uma nje sikwazi lokho ezikushoyo esimweni sethu, futhi kanjalo azigcwalise.

Umthandazo Nethemba Kusazoqhubeka

19. Kungani umthandazo nethemba kuyoqhubeka kuze kube phakade?

¹⁹ Umthandazo oya kuBaba wethu wasezulwini uzoqhubeka kuze kube phakade, ikakhulukazi ngokuphathelene nokubonga ngezwe elisha nazo zonke izibusiso zalo. (Isaya 65:24; IsAmbulo 21:5) Sizoqhubeka futhi sithokoza ethembeni, ngoba ithemba ngandlela-thile liyohlala phakade. (Qhathanisa neyoku-1 Korinte 13:13.) Ukuthi yiziphi izinto ezintsha uJehova ayoziletha lapho esengasekho osukwini lokuphumula lweSabatha azimisela lona ngokuphathelene nomhlaba, asinakukucabanga ngisho nokukucabanga. (Genesise 2:2, 3) Kuze kube phakade, uyokwenzela abantu bakhe izimangaliso zothando, futhi ikusasa libaphathele izinto ezinhle eziyobangelwa ukwenza intando yakhe.

20. Kufanele kube yini ukuzimisela kwethu, futhi ngani?

²⁰ Njengoba sinalelithemba elivusa amadlingozi ngaphambi kwethu, kwangathi sonke singahlala siseduze noJehova ngokuqinisela emthandazweni. Kwangathi singelokothe siyeke ukubonga uBaba wethu wasezulwini ngazo zonke izibusiso asinike zona. Ngesikhathi esifanele amathemba ethu ayogcwaliseka ngokujabulisayo, ngisho nangalé kwalokho ebesikucabanga noma ebesikulindele, ngoba uJehova angakwazi “[u]kwenza okukhulu kakhulu kunakho konke esikucelayo nesikuqondayo.” (Efesu 3:20) Khona-ke, ngenxa yalokhu masinikeze lonke udumo nenkazimulo nokubonga kuze kube phakade kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, ‘uMuzwi wemikhuleko’!

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Ubungaphendula Kanjani?

◻ Kungani sidinga ukuqinisela emthandazweni?

◻ Yini esiyifundayo ezibonelweni zomthandazo zangaphambi kobuKristu?

◻ Yini isibonelo sikaJesu esisifundisa yona ngomthandazo?

◻ Singayiphonsa kanjani imithwalo yethu kuJehova futhi kube namuphi umphumela?

[Isithombe ekhasini 17]

UDaniyeli waqinisela emthandazweni naphezu kokusongelwa ngokuphonswa emphandwini wezingonyama