“UThixo Uluthando”

“Lowo ungenaluthando akamazi uThixo, kuba uThixo uluthando.”—1 YOHANE 4:8.

1-3. (a) Ithini iBhayibhile ngophawu lukaYehova oluluthando, yaye kutheni olu phawu lubalasele nje? (b) Kutheni iBhayibhile isithi “uThixo uluthando”?

ZONKE iimpawu zikaYehova zibalasele, zigqibelele, yaye zinomtsalane. Kodwa olona phawu lukaYehova luthandeka kunazo zonke luthando. Ayikho enye into esitsalela ngamandla kuYehova njengothando lwakhe. Okuvuyisayo kukuba, uthando lukwalolona phawu lwakhe lubalasele kakhulu. Sikwazi njani oko?

² IBhayibhile ithetha okuthile ngothando engakuthethiyo ngezinye iimpawu eziyintloko zikaYehova. IZibhalo azitsho ukuba uThixo ungamandla okanye uThixo ukokusesikweni okanye kwanokuba uThixo ububulumko. Unazo ezo mpawu yaye ungumthombo wazo zontathu. Noko ke, eyoku-1 kaYohane 4:8 iveza inkalo enzulu gqitha ngokuphathelele uthando, isithi: “UThixo uluthando.” Ewe, uthando lolona phawu lubalaseleyo lukaYehova. Luyeyona nto ingundoqo kuye. Singakuzekelisa ngolu hlobo oku: Ngamandla akhe uYehova wenza izinto. Ukuba sesikweni kwakhe nobulumko bakhe balathisa indlela enza ngayo izinto. Kodwa lona uthando lukaYehova lumshukumisela ekwenzeni okuthile. Yaye usoloko eqhutywa luthando ekusebenziseni kwakhe ezinye iimpawu zakhe.

³ Kudla ngokuthiwa uYehova uluthando lumntwisiwe. Ngoko, ukuba sifuna ukufunda ngothando, simele sifunde ngoYehova. Makhe sihlolisise ezinye zeenkalo zothando lukaYehova olungenakuthelekiswa nanto.

Esona Senzo Sikhulu Sothando

4, 5. (a) Sisiphi esona senzo sikhulu sothando kwezakha zenziwa embalini? (b) Kutheni sinokuthi uYehova noNyana wakhe bamanyaniswe luthando olomelele ngendlela engazange ibonwe ngaphambili?

⁴ UYehova ulubonise ngeendlela ezininzi uthando lwakhe, kodwa ikho eyona ibalasele kunazo zonke. Yiyiphi leyo? Kukuthumela kwakhe uNyana wakhe ukuba asifele. Sinokutsho ngokuchanileyo ukuba esi sesona senzo sikhulu sothando sakhe senziwa embalini. Kutheni sisitsho nje?

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. Ukanti, kwanokuba olo qikelelo luchanile, elo xesha belingayi kulingana nexesha lokuphila koNyana kaYehova olizibulo! Ebesenza ntoni ebudeni balo lonke elo xesha? Ngovuyo lo Nyana wayekhonza “njengomsebénzi onobuchule” kaYise. (IMizekeliso 8:30; Yohane 1:3) UYehova noNyana wakhe babesebenza kunye ekwenzeni zonke ezinye izinto. Babenexesha elichulumancisa nelivuyisa ngokwenene! Ngubani ke kuthi onako ukubuqonda ubunzulu bolwalamano obelukho phakathi kwabo ebudeni belo xesha lide kangako? Ngokucacileyo, uYehova uThixo noNyana wakhe bamanyaniswe luthando olomelele ngendlela engazange ibonwe ngaphambili.

 6. Xa uYesu wabhaptizwayo, uYehova wayivakalisa njani indlela avakalelwa ngayo ngoNyana Wakhe?

⁶ Sekunjalo, uYehova wamthumela emhlabeni uNyana wakhe ukuba azalwe njengosana olungumntu. Oko kwathetha ukuba kangangamashumi eminyaka, uYehova wayemele aluncame olo lwalamano lusenyongweni wayenalo kunye noNyana wakhe othandekayo ezulwini. Ngolangazelelo olukhulu, wayekhangele esezulwini njengoko uYesu wayekhula esiba yindoda efezekileyo. Xa wayemalunga nama-30 eminyaka ubudala, uYesu wabhaptizwa. Ngeso sihlandlo uYise wathetha esezulwini wathi: “Lo nguNyana wam, oyintanda, endikholisiweyo nguye.” (Mateyu 3:17) Ekubeni uYesu wenza konke oko kwakuprofetiwe ngaye, nako konke oko wayecelwe ukuba akwenze, umele ukuba uYise wavuya ngokwenene!—Yohane 5:36; 17:4.

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

⁷ Kodwa, wavakalelwa njani uYehova ngoNisan 14, 33 C.E., njengoko uYesu wayengcatshwa waza wabanjwa lihlokondiba labantu abanomsindo? Kuthekani ngexesha uYesu egculelwa, etshicelwa, yaye ebethwa ngamanqindi? Wavakalelwa njani njengoko wayetywatyushwa, umqolo wakhe uzaliswe yimivumbo? Uthini ngexesha lokubethelelwa kwakhe izandla neenyawo esibondeni somthi waza washiywa ejinga apho egculelwa ngabantu? Wavakalelwa njani uYise njengoko uNyana wakhe oyintanda wayekhala engcungcutheka ziintlungu? Wavakalelwa njani uYehova njengoko uYesu wayephefumla okokugqibela, waza okokuqala ezimbalini, lo Nyana Wakhe amthandayo akabikho?—Mateyu 26:14-16, 46, 47, 56, 59, 67; 27:26, 38-44, 46; Yohane 19:1.

⁸ Ekubeni uYehova eneemvakalelo, intlungu amele ukuba waba kuyo ekufeni koNyana wakhe ayinakuchazeka. Into esinokukwazi ukuyichaza sisizathu sokukuvumela kukaYehova oko. Kwakutheni ukuze uYise azivumele angcungcuthekiswe yintlungu engako? UYehova utyhila into emangalisayo kuthi kuYohane 3:16—ndinyana leyo yeBhayibhile ebaluleke kangangokuba iye yabizwa ngokuba yingxelo yeVangeli efinyeziweyo. Ithi: “UThixo walithanda kakhulu ihlabathi kangangokuba wanikela ngoNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo, ukuze wonk’ ubani obonisa ukholo kuye angatshabalali kodwa abe nobomi obungunaphakade.” Ngoko siso eso isizathu sikaThixo: uthando. Alukho uthando olungaphezu kolo olwakha lwabonakaliswa.

Indlela UYehova Asiqinisekisa Ngayo Ngothando Lwakhe

 9. Yintoni uSathana afuna siyikholelwe ngokuphathelele indlela uYehova avakalelwa ngayo ngathi, kodwa yintoni asiqinisekisa ngayo uYehova?

⁹ Noko ke, kuphakama umbuzo obalulekileyo othi: Ngaba uThixo usithanda ngokobuqu? Bambi basenokuvuma ukuba uThixo uyaluthanda uluntu ngokubanzi, njengoko uYohane 3:16 esitsho. Kodwa enyanisweni bavakalelwa kukuba, ‘UThixo akanakundithanda mna.’ Eneneni uSathana uMtyholi ulangazelela ukusenza sikholelwe ukuba uYehova akasithandi yaye akasixabisi. Noko ke, enoba sivakalelwa kukuba asithandwa okanye asixabisekanga, uYehova uyasiqinisekisa ukuba mkhonzi ngamnye wakhe othembekileyo uxabisekile kuye.

10, 11. Umzekeliso kaYesu woongqatyana ubonisa njani ukuba sixabisekile emehlweni kaYehova?

¹⁰ Ngokomzekelo, phawula amazwi kaYesu akuMateyu 10:29-31. Ebonisa indlela abaxabiseke ngayo abafundi bakhe, 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.” Khawucinge nje ngoko kwakuthethwa ngaloo mazwi kwabo babephulaphule uYesu ngenkulungwane yokuqala.

¹¹ Ngomhla kaYesu ungqatyana wayeyeyona ntaka yayithengiswa ngexabiso eliphantsi kwezityiwayo. Ngengqekembe nje enye yexabiso elincinane, wawunokuthenga oongqatyana ababini. Kodwa kamva, njengoko kubhalwe kuLuka 12:6, 7, uYesu wathi, ukuba umntu wayethenga ngeengqekembe ezimbini, wayefumana, kungekhona oongqatyana abane, kodwa abahlanu. Le ntaka ilibhaso wayeyiphiwa nje ngokungathi ayinaxabiso kwaphela. Kubonakala ukuba aba ngqatyana babengaxabisekanga emehlweni abantu, kodwa yena uMdali wayebagqala njani? UYesu wathi: “Akukho namnye kubo [kuquka nalo ulibhaso] olibalekayo phambi koThixo.” Imele ukuba iyasikhanyela ngoku 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!

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

¹² Abanye basenokucinga ukuba noko uYesu wayezibaxa izinto apha. Kodwa ke, khawucinge nje ngovuko. 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. Ngoko ukubala iinwele zethu—ngokuqhelekileyo ezinokuba li-100 000 kwintloko nganye—kuyinto elula gqitha. Hayi indlela amazwi kaYesu asiqinisekisa ngokubalasele ngayo ukuba uYehova usinyamekela ngokobuqu!

13. Imeko kaKumkani uYehoshafati ibonisa njani ukuba uYehova ukhangela okulungileyo kuthi nangona singafezekanga?

¹³ IBhayibhile ityhila enye into esiqinisekisa ngothando lukaYehova. Ukhangela aze axabise oko kulungileyo sikwenzayo. Ngokomzekelo, cinga nje ngoKumkani 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 angaziboni “izinto ezilungileyo” ezazisenziwa nguYehoshafati. Ngaba akukhuthazi na ukwazi ukuba uThixo wethu ukhangela okulungileyo esikwenzayo nangona singafezekanga?

UThixo ‘Okulungeleyo Ukuxolela’

14. Xa sisona, kunokusichaphazela njani oko, kodwa sinokungenelwa njani ekuxoleleni kukaYehova?

¹⁴ Xa sisona, ukudana, ihlazo, nokuzisola kwethu kusenokusenza sicinge ukuba asisayi kuze siphinde sikufanelekele ukukhonza uYehova. Kodwa ke, khumbula ukuba uYehova “ukulungele ukuxolela.” (INdumiso 86:5) Ewe, ukuba siyaguquka ezonweni zethu size sizimisele ukuba asisayi kuphinda sizenze, siya kuxolelwa nguYehova. Makhe sihlolisise indlela iBhayibhile eyichaza ngayo le nkalo imangalisayo yothando lukaYehova.

15. UYehova uzishenxisa kude kangakanani kuthi izono zethu?

¹⁵ Umdumisi uDavide wasebenzisa 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 ndawo 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.

16. Xa uYehova esixolela izono zethu, kutheni sinokuqiniseka ukuba usigqala njengabacocekileyo emva koko?

¹⁶ 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 ngokuqaqambileyo.a Umbala ‘obomvu ngokungqombela’ ngumbala odaywe watshona ngokunzulu eboyeni. Asinakuze sikwazi ngemizamo yethu ukulishenxisa ibala lesono. Kodwa, uYehova unako ukuzicoca izono ezibomvu ngokungqombela, azenze zibe mhlophe njengekhephu okanye zibe njengoboya obungadaywanga. Ngoko xa uYehova esixolela izono zethu, akukho mfuneko yokuvakalelwa kukuba siya kuhlala sinebala lezo zono ubomi bethu bonke.

17. UYehova uziphosa ngayiphi ingqiqo izono zethu emva kwakhe?

¹⁷ 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?

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

¹⁸ Xa uYehova wathembisa ukubabuyisela elizweni labo abantu bakhe abaguqukayo, umprofeti uMika wavakalisa intembelo yakhe yokuba wayeya kubaxolela, 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 kubantu ababephila ngamaxesha okubhalwa kweBhayibhile. Ngaba yayinokuphinda ifumaneke into ephoswe “ezinzulwini zolwandle”? Ngoko amazwi kaMika abonisa ukuba xa uYehova exolela, uzishenxisa ngokupheleleyo izono zethu.

‘Imfesane Yothando KaThixo Wethu’

19, 20. (a) Iyintoni intsingiselo yesenzi sesiHebhere esiguqulelwe ngokuthi ‘ukubonisa inceba’ okanye ‘ukuba nosizi’? (b) IBhayibhile izisebenzisa njani iimvakalelo umama anazo ngosana lwakhe ukusifundisa ngemfesane kaYehova?

¹⁹ Imfesane yenye inkalo yothando lukaYehova. Yintoni imfesane? IBhayibhile iyinxulumanisa imfesane kunye nenceba. Kukho amagama aliqela esiHebhere nawesiGrike abhekisela kwimfesane. Ngokomzekelo, isenzi sesiHebhere esithi ra·chamʹ sidla ngokuguqulelwa ngokuthi ‘ukubonisa inceba’ okanye ‘ukuba nosizi.’ Eli gama lesiHebhere, uYehova alisebenzisa ukubhekisela kuye uqobo, lihlobene negama elithetha “isibeleko” yaye linokuchazwa ngokuthi “imfesane kamama.”

²⁰ IBhayibhile isebenzisa iimvakalelo unina anazo ngosana lwakhe ukusifundisa ngemfesane kaYehova. UIsaya 49:15 uthi: “Umfazi angalulibala yini na usana lwakhe, ukuba angabi namfesane [ra·chamʹ] kunyana wesizalo sakhe? Nokuba oonina abo bathe balibala, andiyi kukulibala mna.” (IBhayibhile yesiXhosa) Kunzima ukucinga ukuba umama angalibala ukondla nokunyamekela usana lwakhe. Ngapha koko, usana alunakuzenzela nto; ubusuku nemini lufuna ingqalelo kanina. Noko ke, okubuhlungu kukuba akuyonto inqabileyo ukuva ngokutyeshela koomama iintsana zabo, ingakumbi kule “mihla yokugqibela.” (2 Timoti 3:1, 3) Ukanti, uYehova uthi, “Andiyi kukulibala mna.” Imfesane yothando uYehova anayo ngabakhonzi bakhe inkulu lee nakuneyona mvakalelo inzulu yothando lwemvelo esinokuyithelekelela—imfesane umama aba nayo ngokwemvelo ngosana lwakhe.

21, 22. AmaSirayeli abandezeleka ngayiphi indlela kwiYiputa yamandulo, yaye wasabela njani uYehova ekumbongozeni kwawo?

²¹ UYehova uyibonisa njani imfesane, njengomzali onothando? Olu phawu lubonakala ngokucacileyo kwindlela awasebenzisana ngayo noSirayeli wamandulo. Ekupheleni kwenkulungwane ye-16 B.C.E., izigidi zamaSirayeli zazingamakhoboka eYiputa, apho zazicinezeleka khona ngokuqatha. (Eksodus 1:11, 14) Ebandezelekile amaSirayeli ambongoza uYehova ukuba awancede. Wasabela njani uThixo onemfesane?

²² Intliziyo kaYehova yachukumiseka. Wathi: “Ndiyibonile inkxwaleko yabantu bam abaseYiputa, yaye ndisivile isikhalo sabo . . . ndiyazi kakuhle intlungu yabo.” (Eksodus 3:7) UYehova wayengenakukubona ukubandezeleka kwabantu bakhe okanye akuve ukukhala kwabo aze angavakalelwa. UYehova unguThixo onovelwano. Yaye uvelwano—olubangelwa kukuyiqonda intlungu yabanye—luhlobene nemfesane. Noko ke, uYehova akazange nje aphelele ekubeni novelwano ngabantu bakhe; kodwa washukunyiselwa ekubeni enze okuthile. UIsaya 63:9 uthi: “Ngothando lwakhe nangemfesane yakhe wabahlawulela.” “Ngesandla esomeleleyo,” wawahlangula amaSirayeli eYiputa. (Duteronomi 4:34) Emva koko wawanika ukutya ngokungummangaliso waza wawasa kwilizwe lawo elichumileyo.

23. (a) Amazwi omdumisi asiqinisekisa njani ukuba uYehova unenkxalabo enzulu ngaye ngamnye wethu? (b) UYehova usinceda ngaziphi iindlela?

²³ UYehova akayibonisi imfesane kubakhonzi bakhe njengeqela kuphela. UThixo wethu onothando unenkxalabo enzulu ngaye ngamnye wethu. Ukuqonda kakuhle nakuphi na ukubandezeleka kwethu. Umdumisi wathi: “Amehlo kaYehova akumalungisa, neendlebe zakhe zibhekiswe ekukhaleleni kwawo uncedo. UYehova usondele kwabo baphuke intliziyo; yaye abo bamoya utyumkileyo uyabasindisa.” (INdumiso 34:15, 18) UYehova umnceda njani ngamnye wethu? Akasoloko ezisusa izinto ezisibandezelayo. Kodwa wenze amalungiselelo amaninzi okunceda abo badanduluka kuye becela uncedo. ILizwi lakhe linamacebiso aluncedo. Ebandleni ulungiselele abaveleli abafanelekileyo bokomoya, abazabalazela ukubonisa imfesane njengaye ekuncedeni abanye. (Yakobi 5:14, 15) ‘NjengoMphulaphuli wemithandazo,’ uYehova ubanika “umoya oyingcwele abo bamcelayo.” (INdumiso 65:2; Luka 11:13) Onke la mabinzana abonisa ‘imfesane yothando kaThixo wethu.’—Luka 1:78.

24. Uza kusabela njani kuthando lukaYehova?

²⁴ Ngaba akuchulumancisi na ukucamngca ngothando lukaBawo wethu wasezulwini? Kwinqaku elandulelayo, siye sakhunjuzwa ukuba uYehova usebenzisa uthando ekuboniseni amandla akhe, ukuba sesikweni kwakhe, nobulumko bakhe ukuze kungenelwe thina. Yaye kweli nqaku, sibonile ukuba uYehova ulubonise ngendlela ebalaseleyo uthando lwakhe ngoluntu—nangomntu ngamnye. Ngoku, ngamnye wethu ufanele azibuze ukuba, ‘Ndiza kusabela njani kuthando lukaYehova?’ Ngamana ungasabela ngokuthi umthande ngentliziyo, ngengqondo, ngomphefumlo, nangamandla akho ephela. (Marko 12:29, 30) Ngamana ubomi bakho bemihla ngemihla bungabonisa umnqweno wakho osuk’ entliziyweni wokufuna ukusondela ngakumbi kuYehova. Yaye ngamana uYehova, uThixo oluthando, angasondela ngakumbi kuwe—ngonaphakade!—Yakobi 4:8.

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]

Ngaba Usakhumbula?

• Sazi njani ukuba uthando lulolona phawu lubalaseleyo lukaYehova?

• Kutheni kunokuthiwa ukuthumela kukaYehova uNyana wakhe ukuba asifele kusesona senzo sikhulu sothando ezimbalini?

• UYehova usiqinisekisa njani ukuba uthanda mntu ngamnye?

• IBhayibhile ikuchaza njani ngokucacileyo ukuxolela kukaYehova?

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 15]

“UThixo . . . wanikela ngoNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo”

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 16, 17]

“Nixabiseke ngaphezu koongqatyana abaninzi”

[Inkcazelo]

© J. Heidecker/VIREO

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 18]

Indlela umama avakalelwa ngayo ngosana lwakhe inokusifundisa ngemfesane kaYehova