‘Hlalani Ezwini Lami’
“Uma nihlala ezwini lami, ningabafundi bami ngempela.”—JOHANE 8:31.
1. (a) Lapho uJesu ephindela ezulwini, washiyani emhlabeni? (b) Imiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo?
LAPHO uJesu Kristu, uMsunguli wobuKristu, ephindela ezulwini, akazange ashiye izincwadi ayezibhalile, izakhiwo zokumkhumbula ayezakhile, noma ingcebo ayezibuthele yona lapha emhlabeni. Akushiya kwakungabafundi kanye nezimfuneko eziqondile zokuba umfundi. Empeleni, eVangelini likaJohane, sithola ukuthi uJesu washo izinto ezintathu ezibalulekile ezifuneka nakanjani kunoma ubani ofuna ukuba umlandeli wakhe. Ziyini lezi zimfuneko? Singahlangabezana kanjani nazo? Futhi singaqiniseka kanjani ukuthi ngabanye bethu siyafaneleka njengabafundi bakaKristu namuhla?a
2. Iyiphi imfuneko ebalulekile yokuba umfundi, elotshwe eVangelini likaJohane?
2 Kusasele izinyanga ezingaba isithupha ngaphambi kokuba afe, uJesu waya eJerusalema wafike washumayela ezixukwini ezazihlangene lapho ukuzogubha uMkhosi Wamadokodo owawuthatha isonto lonke. Ngenxa yalokho, phakathi nomkhosi, “abaningi kuleso sixuku baba nokholo kuye.” UJesu waqhubeka eshumayela, kwaze kwathi ngosuku lokugcina lomkhosi, baphinda “abaningi baba nokholo kuye.” (Johane 7:10, 14, 31, 37; 8:30) Ngaleso sikhathi, uJesu wakhuluma nalaba ababesanda kukholwa washo imfuneko ebalulekile yokuba umfundi, njengoba ilotshwe umphostoli uJohane: “Uma nihlala ezwini lami, ningabafundi bami ngempela.”—Johane 8:31.
3. Iyiphi imfanelo edingekayo ukuze umuntu ‘ahlale ezwini likaJesu’?
3 Ngalawo mazwi, uJesu wayengasikiseli ukuthi ababesanda kukholwa babentula ukholo. Kunalokho, wayeveza ukuthi babenethuba lokuba abafundi bakhe bangempela—uma nje babehlala ezwini lakhe, babonise ukukhuthazela. Babelamukele izwi lakhe, kodwa manje kwakudingeka baqhubeke bekulo. (Johane 4:34; Hebheru 3:14) Yebo, uJesu wayebheka ukukhuthazela njengemfanelo ebalulekile kubalandeli bakhe kangangokuthi engxoxweni yakhe yokugcina nabaphostoli bakhe, eseVangelini likaJohane, uJesu wakhuthaza kabili wathi: “Qhubeka ungilandela.” (Johane 21:19, 22) AmaKristu amaningi okuqala enza lokho kanye. (2 Johane 4) Yini eyawasiza akhuthazela?
4. Yini eyénza amaKristu okuqala akwazi ukukhuthazela?
4 Umphostoli uJohane, owayengumfundi othembekile kaKristu iminyaka engaba ngu-70, wakhuluma ngesici esibalulekile. Wancoma amaKristu athembekile wathi: “Ninamandla futhi izwi likaNkulunkulu lihlala kini futhi nimnqobile omubi.” Labo bafundi bakaKristu babekhuthazele, noma bahlala ezwini likaNkulunkulu, ngoba izwi likaNkulunkulu lalihleli kubo. Babelazisa ngokusuka enhliziyweni. (1 Johane 2:14, 24) Ngokufanayo nanamuhla, ukuze ‘sikhuthazele kuze kube sekupheleni,’ kudingeka siqiniseke ukuthi izwi likaNkulunkulu lihlala kithi. (Mathewu 24:13) Singakwenza kanjani lokho? Umfanekiso owaxoxwa uJesu unikeza impendulo.
‘Ukuzwa Izwi’
5. (a) Iziphi izinhlobo ezihlukahlukene zenhlabathi ezishiwo uJesu komunye wemifanekiso yakhe? (b) Imbewu nenhlabathi yomfanekiso kaJesu kumelelani?
5 UJesu waxoxa ngomfanekiso womhlwanyeli ohlwanyela imbewu, oseVangelini likaMathewu, uMarku noLuka. (Mathewu 13:1-9, 18-23; Marku 4:1-9, 14-20; Luka 8:4-8, 11-15) Njengoba ufunda lokhu kulandisa, uzophawula ukuthi isici esiyinhloko salo mfanekiso ukuthi uhlobo olufanayo lwembewu luwela ezinhlotsheni ezihlukahlukene zenhlabathi, kube nemiphumela engafani. Inhlabathi yokuqala iqinile, eyesibili ayijulile, kanti eyesithathu igcwele ameva. Eyesine, ngokuhlukile kulezi ezintathu, ‘ikahle’ futhi ‘inhle.’ Ngokwencazelo kaJesu, imbewu iyisigijimi soMbuso esitholakala eZwini likaNkulunkulu, futhi inhlabathi imelela abantu abanezimo ezihlukahlukene zenhliziyo. Nakuba abantu abafanekiselwa izinhlobo ezihlukahlukene zenhlabathi befana ngezinto ezithile, labo abafanekiselwa inhlabathi ekahle banesici esibenza bahluke kwabanye.
6. (a) Uhlobo lwesine lwenhlabathi emfanekisweni kaJesu luhluke kanjani kwezinye ezintathu, futhi lokho kusho ukuthini? (b) Yini ebalulekile ekuboniseni ukukhuthazela njengabafundi bakaKristu?
6 Ukulandisa okukuLuka 8:12-15 kubonisa ukuthi kuzo zonke izimo ezine, abantu ‘bayalizwa izwi.’ Nokho, labo ‘abanenhliziyo enhle’ benza okungaphezu ‘kokulizwa izwi.’ ‘Bayaligcina futhi bathele izithelo ngokukhuthazela.’ Inhlabathi ekahle, njengoba ithambile futhi ijulile, ivumela izimpande zembewu ukuba zijule, ngenxa yalokho imbewu ihlume futhi ithele izithelo. (Luka 8:8) Ngokufanayo, labo abanenhliziyo enhle bayaliqonda, balazise futhi baligxilise kubo izwi likaNkulunkulu. (Roma 10:10; 2 Thimothewu 2:7) Izwi likaNkulunkulu lihlala kubo. Ngenxa yalokho, bathela izithelo ngokukhuthazela. Ngakho, ukulazisa ngokujulile nangokusuka enhliziyweni iZwi likaNkulunkulu kubalulekile ekuboniseni ukukhuthazela njengabafundi bakaKristu. (1 Thimothewu 4:15) Nokho, singakuhlakulela kanjani ukwazisa okunjalo okusuka enhliziyweni ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu?
Isimo Senhliziyo Nokuzindla Ngokunenjongo
7. Isiphi isenzo esihlotshaniswa eduze nenhliziyo enhle?
7 Phawula ukuthi yisiphi isenzo iBhayibheli elisihlobanisa ngokuphindaphindiwe nenhliziyo enhle. “Inhliziyo yolungileyo iyazindla ukuze iphendule.” (IzAga 15:28) “Amazwi omlomo wami nokuzindla kwenhliziyo yami makujabulise phambi kwakho, Jehova.” (IHubo 19:14) “[Ukuzindla] kwenhliziyo yami kuzoba yizinto zokuqonda.”—IHubo 49:3.
8. (a) Lapho sifunda iBhayibheli, yini okufanele siyigweme kodwa yini okufanele siyenze? (b) Yiziphi izinzuzo esizithola ngokuzindla ngomthandazo ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu? (Hlanganisa nebhokisi elithi “Nimi Niqinile Eqinisweni.”)
8 Njengalaba balobi beBhayibheli, nathi kudingeka sizindle ngokwazisa nangomthandazo ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu nezenzo zakhe. Lapho sifunda iBhayibheli noma izincwadi ezisekelwe kulo, akufanele senze njengezivakashi ezijahile ezisuka kwenye indawo enhle ziphuthume kwenye, zithwebula konke kodwa zingaboni lutho olutheni. Kunalokho, lapho sitadisha iBhayibheli, sifuna ukuzinika isikhathi sokuma, njengokungathi sijabulela indawo enhle.b Njengoba sizindla buthule ngalokho esikufundayo, izwi likaNkulunkulu lithinta inhliziyo yethu. Lithinta imizwelo yethu lilolonge ukucabanga kwethu. Lisishukumisela futhi ukuba sitshele uNkulunkulu imicabango yethu ejulile ngomthandazo. Ngenxa yalokho, sisondelana nakakhulu noJehova, futhi uthando lwethu ngoNkulunkulu lusishukumisele ukuba siqhubeke silandela uJesu ngisho nasezimweni ezinzima. (Mathewu 10:22) Kusobala ukuthi ukuzindla ngalokho uNkulunkulu akushoyo kubalulekile ukuze sihlale sithembekile kuze kube sekupheleni.—Luka 21:19.
9. Singaqiniseka kanjani ukuthi izinhliziyo zethu zihlala zilamukela izwi likaNkulunkulu?
9 Umfanekiso kaJesu ubonisa nokuthi kunezithiyo ekukhuleni kwembewu, eyizwi likaNkulunkulu. Ngakho, ukuze siqhubeke singabafundi abathembekile, kuhle (1) siqaphele izithiyo ezimelelwa inhlabathi engeyinhle eshiwo emfanekisweni futhi (2) sithathe izinyathelo zokuzilungisa noma zokuzigwema. Ngaleyo ndlela, siyoqiniseka ukuthi izinhliziyo zethu zihlala ziyamukela imbewu yoMbuso futhi ziyaqhubeka zithela.
“Eceleni Kwendlela”—Ukuba Matasa Kakhulu
10. Chaza inhlabathi yokuqala emfanekisweni kaJesu, unikeze nencazelo yayo.
10 Inhlabathi yokuqala imbewu ewela kuyo ‘iseceleni kwendlela,’ lapho imbewu ‘inyathelwa’ khona. (Luka 8:5) Inhlabathi eseceleni kwendlela edabula ensimini igqingqwa ukuhamba kwabantu. (Marku 2:23) Ngokufanayo, labo abavumela ukuba matasa ngezinto zezwe kudle isikhathi namandla abo ngokungadingekile bangase bathole ukuthi abanaso isikhathi sokuhlakulela ukulazisa ngokusuka enhliziyweni izwi likaNkulunkulu. Bayalizwa, kodwa abazindli ngalo. Ngakho izinhliziyo zabo zihlala zingasabeli. Ngaphambi kokuba kwakheke uthando ngalo, ‘uDeveli uyafika alisuse izwi ezinhliziyweni zabo ukuze bangakholwa futhi basindiswe.’ (Luka 8:12) Kungagwenywa yini lokhu?
11. Singasivimbela kanjani isimo senhliziyo yethu ukuba singafani nenhlabathi eqinile?
11 Kuningi okungenziwa ukuvimbela ukuba inhliziyo ingabi njengenhlabathi engatheli eseceleni kwendlela. Inhlabathi egqingqekile neqinile ingathamba futhi ithele uma ilinywa bese indlela ehamba kuyo ichezukiswa. Ngokufanayo, ukwenza isikhathi sokutadisha nokuzindla ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu kungaphumela ekubeni inhliziyo ibe njengenhlabathi enhle, ethelayo. Isihluthulelo siwukuba singabi matasa kakhulu ngezinto zokuphila ezivamile. (Luka 12:13-15) Kunalokho, qiniseka ukuthi siba khona isikhathi sokuzindla “ngezinto ezibaluleke kakhulu” ekuphileni.—Filipi 1:9-11.
“Edwaleni”—Ukwesaba
12. Yini eyisizathu sangempela sokubuna kwembewu enhlabathini yesibili emfanekisweni kaJesu?
12 Lapho imbewu iwela enhlabathini yesibili, ayivele ihlale ngaphezulu, njengakweyokuqala. Iba nezimpande futhi ihlume. Kodwa lapho kuphuma ilanga, le mbewu esihlumile ishiswa ilanga ibune. Nokho, phawula lesi sici esibalulekile. Isizathu sangempela sokubuna kwembewu akukhona ukushisa. Ingani nesitshalo esiphuma enhlabathini enhle siyalithola ilanga, kodwa asibuni—empeleni siyachuma. Ukuphi umahluko? UJesu uyachaza ukuthi imbewu ebunayo ibuna “ngenxa yokungabi nenhlabathi ejulile” nangenxa “yokungabi namswakama.” (Mathewu 13:5, 6; Luka 8:6) ‘Idwala’ elingaphansi nje kwenhlabathi engaphezulu livimbela imbewu ukuba ingajulisi izimpande zayo ngokwanele ukuba ithole umswakama futhi igxile. Imbewu ibuna ngoba inhlabathi ingajulile.
13. Hlobo luni lwabantu abanjengenhlabathi engajulile, futhi siyini isizathu sangempela sokwenza kwabo ngendlela abenza ngayo?
13 Le ngxenye yomfanekiso ibhekisela kubantu ‘abamukela izwi ngenjabulo,’ bese bemlandela ngentshiseko uJesu “isikhathi esithile.” (Luka 8:13) Lapho bebhekana nelanga elihangulayo ‘eliwusizi noma ukushushiswa,’ besaba kangangokuthi baphelelwa injabulo namandla, bayeke ukulandela uKristu. (Mathewu 13:21) Nokho, isizathu sangempela sokwesaba kwabo akukhona ukuphikiswa. Ingani nezigidi zabafundi bakaKristu zikhuthazelela usizi oluhlukahlukene, kodwa ziyaqhubeka zithembekile. (2 Korinte 2:4; 7:5) Isizathu sangempela esenza abanye besabe futhi balishiye iqiniso ukuthi isimo esisadwala senhliziyo yabo sibenza bangazindli ngokujule ngokwanele ngezinto ezakhayo nezingokomoya. Ngenxa yalokho, ukwazisa ababa nakho ngoJehova nezwi lakhe kukha phezulu futhi kuncane kakhulu ukuba kungamelana nokuphikiswa. Umuntu angawuvimbela kanjani umphumela onjalo?
14. Iziphi izinyathelo okufanele umuntu azithathe ukuze avimbele ukuba inhliziyo yakhe ingabi njengenhlabathi engajulile?
14 Umuntu kudingeka aqiniseke ukuthi akukho zithiyo ezisadwala, njengokuthukuthela okugxilile, ubugovu obucashile, noma eminye imizwa enamandla kodwa efihlekile, okusenhliziyweni yakhe. Uma isithiyo esinjalo sesikhona kakade, amandla ezwi likaNkulunkulu angasisusa. (Jeremiya 23:29; Efesu 4:22; Hebheru 4:12) Ngemva kwalokho, ukuzindla ngomthandazo kuyothuthukisa “ukugxiliswa kwezwi” ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu. (Jakobe 1:21) Lokhu kuyomnika amandla okubhekana nezikhathi zokudumazeka kumnike nesibindi sokuhlala ethembekile naphezu kokulingwa.
“Emeveni”—Ukuhlukana Phakathi
15. (a) Kungani kudingeka siyinake ngokukhethekile inhlabathi yesithathu uJesu akhuluma ngayo? (b) Kugcina kwenzekeni enhlabathini yesithathu, futhi ngani?
15 Inhlabathi yesithathu, enameva, kudingeka siyinake ngokukhethekile ngoba ithi ayifane nenhlabathi enhle ngezindlela ezithile. Njengenhlabathi enhle, inhlabathi esemeveni iyayivumela imbewu ukuba imile izimpande futhi ihlume. Ekuqaleni, akubi namahluko ekukhuleni kwesitshalo esisha kulezi zinhlobo ezimbili zenhlabathi. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kuvela into egcina isiminyanisile isitshalo. Ngokungafani nenhlabathi enhle, lena igcwala ameva. Njengoba isitshalo esisesincane sikhula kule nhlabathi, sincintisana ‘nameva akhula kanye naso.’ Okwesikhashana lezi zinto ezimbili ziyabangisana zifuna umsoco, ukukhanya nendawo, kodwa ekugcineni ameva ayasimboza futhi ‘asiminyanise’ isitshalo.—Luka 8:7.
16. (a) Ibaphi abantu abafana nenhlabathi esemeveni? (b) Ngokokulandisa okuthathu kwamaVangeli, ameva amelelani?—Bheka umbhalo waphansi.
16 Hlobo luni lwabantu olufana nenhlabathi enameva? UJesu uyachaza: “Yilabo abaye bezwa, kodwa, ngokuthathwa izinkathazo nengcebo nezinjabulo zalokhu kuphila, baminyaniswa ngokuphelele futhi abaphelelisi lutho.” (Luka 8:14) Njengoba nje imbewu yomhlwanyeli nameva kukhula ngesikhathi esisodwa enhlabathini, abanye abantu bazama ukwamukela izwi likaNkulunkulu “nezinjabulo zalokhu kuphila” ngesikhathi esisodwa. Iqiniso lezwi likaNkulunkulu lihlwanyelwe ezinhliziyweni zabo, kodwa lincintisana neminye iminako efuna isikhathi sabo. Inhliziyo yabo engokomfanekiso ihlukene phakathi. (Luka 9:57-62) Lokhu kubenza bangaziniki isikhathi esanele sokuzindla ngezwi likaNkulunkulu ngomthandazo nangendlela enenjongo. Abaligxilisi ngokugcwele kubo izwi likaNkulunkulu futhi ngenxa yalokho abanakho ukwazisa okusuka enhliziyweni okudingekayo ukuze bakhuthazele. Kancane kancane, izithakazelo zabo ezingokomoya zimbozwa iminako engeyona engokomoya zize ‘ziminyaniswe ngokuphelele.’c Yeka isiphetho esidabukisayo ngalabo abangamthandi ngenhliziyo yonke uJehova!—Mathewu 6:24; 22:37.
17. Yini okudingeka siyikhethe ekuphileni ukuze singaminyaniswa ameva angokomfanekiso asemfanekisweni kaJesu?
17 Ngokwenza izinto ezingokomoya zize kuqala kunezingokwenyama, siyakugwema ukuminyaniswa izinhlungu nezinjabulo zaleli zwe. (Mathewu 6:31-33; Luka 21:34-36) Ukufunda iBhayibheli nokuzindla ngalokho esikufundayo akufanele neze kudebeselelwe. Siyothola isikhathi esiningi sokuzindla kanzulu nangomthandazo uma senza ukuphila kwethu kube lula ngezinga okungenzeka ngalo. (1 Thimothewu 6:6-8) Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu eziye zenza kanjalo—eziye zasiphula ameva enhlabathini ukuze isitshalo esithela izithelo sithole umsoco, ukukhanya nendawo enkudlwana—zithola isibusiso sikaJehova. USandra oneminyaka engu-26 ubudala uthi: “Lapho ngizindla ngezibusiso zami eqinisweni, ngiyaqaphela ukuthi izwe alinalutho elingalunikeza oluqhathaniseka nazo!”—IHubo 84:11.
18. Singahlala kanjani ezwini likaNkulunkulu futhi sikhuthazele njengamaKristu?
18 Kusobala-ke, ukuthi sonke, abadala nabancane, siyohlala ezwini likaNkulunkulu futhi sikhuthazele njengabafundi bakaKristu uma nje izwi likaNkulunkulu lihlala kithi. Ngakho, masiqiniseke ukuthi inhlabathi eyizinhliziyo zethu ezingokomfanekiso ayilokothi iqine, ingajuli noma yene kodwa ihlala ithambile futhi ijulile. Ngaleyo ndlela, siyokwazi ukuligxilisa ngokugcwele kithi izwi likaNkulunkulu futhi ‘sithele izithelo ngokukhuthazela.’—Luka 8:15.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Kulesi sihloko, sizoxoxa ngeyokuqala kulezi zimfuneko. Ezinye ezimbili kuzoxoxwa ngazo ezihlokweni ezilandelayo.
b Ukuze uzindle ngomthandazo ngengxenye yeBhayibheli oyifundile ungase, ngokwesibonelo, uzibuze: ‘Ingabe iveza imfanelo noma izimfanelo ezithile zikaJehova? Ihlobana kanjani nesihloko seBhayibheli? Ngingayisebenzisa kanjani ekuphileni kwami noma ukuze ngisize abanye?’
c Ngokokulandisa okuthathu kwamaVangeli ngalo mzekeliso kaJesu, imbewu iminyaniswa izinhlungu nezinjabulo zaleli zwe: “Izinkathazo zalesi simiso sezinto,” “amandla engcebo okukhohlisa,” ‘izifiso zazo zonke ezinye izinto,’ “nezinjabulo zalokhu kuphila.”—Marku 4:19; Mathewu 13:22; Luka 8:14; Jeremiya 4:3, 4.
Zithini Izimpendulo Zakho?
• Kungani kudingeka ‘sihlale ezwini likaJesu’?
• Singalivumela kanjani izwi likaNkulunkulu ukuba lihlale ezinhliziyweni zethu?
• Zinhlobo zini zabantu ezimelelwa izinhlobo ezine zenhlabathi uJesu akhuluma ngayo?
• Ungasithola kanjani isikhathi sokuzindla ngezwi likaNkulunkulu?
[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 10]
“NIMI NIQINILE EQINISWENI”
UNYAKA NONYAKA abafundi abaningi bakaKristu asebenesikhathi eside bayazibonakalisa ukuthi ‘bami beqinile eqinisweni.’ (2 Petru 1:12) Yini ebasiza ukuba bakhuthazele? Cabangela okunye kwalokho abakushoyo.
“Ngiphetha usuku ngalunye ngokufunda ingxenye yeBhayibheli nangokuthandaza. Ngibe sengicabanga ngalokho engikufundile.”—UJean, owabhapathizwa ngo-1939.
“Ukuzindla ngendlela asithanda ngokujule ngayo uJehova, umuntu ophakeme kangaka, kungenza ngizizwe ngilondekile futhi kunginika amandla okuhlala ngithembekile.”—UPatricia, owabhapathizwa ngo-1946.
“Ngokunamathela emikhubeni emihle yokutadisha iBhayibheli nangokuba matasa ‘ezintweni ezijulile zikaNkulunkulu,’ ngiye ngakwazi ukuqhubeka.”—1 Korinte 2:10; U-Anna, owabhapathizwa ngo-1939.
“Ngifunda iBhayibheli nezincwadi zethu ezisekelwe kulo ukuze ngihlole inhliziyo nezisusa zami.”—UZelda, owabhapathizwa ngo-1943.
“Izikhathi engizikhonze kakhulu yilapho ngizihambela ngedwa ngikhuluma noJehova ngomthandazo ngimtshela nje indlela engizizwa ngayo.”—URalph, owabhapathizwa ngo-1947.
“Ngiqala usuku ngokuhlola itekisi losuku nangokufunda ingxenye yeBhayibheli. Lokhu kunginika okuthile okusha engingazindla ngakho phakathi nosuku.”—UMarie, owabhapathizwa ngo-1935.
“Kimina, ingxoxo yevesi nevesi yencwadi yeBhayibheli ingiqabula ngempela.”—UDaniel, owabhapathizwa ngo-1946.
Wena uzinika nini isikhathi sokuzindla ngomthandazo ngezwi likaNkulunkulu?—Daniyeli 6:10b; Marku 1:35; IzEnzo 10:9.
[Isithombe ekhasini 13]
Ngokwenza izinto ezingokomoya zize kuqala, ‘singathela izithelo ngokukhuthazela’