Ukuphilela Intando KaNkulunkulu—Namuhla Naphakade
“Nani . . . ngesikhathi esiseleyo nisesenyameni ningabe nisahlala ngezinkanuko zabantu kodwa ngentando kaNkulunkulu.”—1 PETRU 4:1, 2.
1, 2. (a) Abaningi basabela kanjani emqondweni wokuzithoba entandweni yomunye umuntu? (b) Abathile ebandleni lobuKristu bangase basabele kanjani? (c) Ngakho-ke imiphi imibuzo ephakanyiswayo?
USABELA kanjani emqondweni wokuvumela ukuphila kwakho kulawulwe uNkulunkulu? Abaningi namuhla bathola wona kanye umqondo wokuzithoba entandweni yomunye umuntu ubacasula. Ngisho nasemiphakathini okuthiwa ithembekile kunokuhlubuka okwandayo ngokumelene negunya. Izibhelu, ukubhikisha, iziphithiphithi, nobudlova kuyizinto zansuku zonke. Ngaphansi kokucindezeleka ubuhle bempucuko buyancipha futhi buntengantenge.—2 Thimothewu 3:1-3.
2 Ngokuphambene, oFakazi BakaJehova babonisa ukuthi baphilela intando kaNkulunkulu ngokwethembeka kwabo, ngokwesibonelo, enkonzweni yabo yendlu ngendlu. Nokho, ngezinye izikhathi abambalwa baye babonakalisa umoya wokuzibusa, ngisho nasebandleni lobuKristu. Bangase bacasulwe yiseluleko sabadala. Abambalwa babonisa ukungasihloniphi isigaba ‘senceku ethembekileyo neqondayo,’ neNdikimba yaso Ebusayo. (Mathewu 24:45-47; IzEnzo 15:2, 23) Ngakho-ke kuphakama imibuzo: Kungani kumelwe ngizithobe entandweni kaNkulunkulu? Kungani ukuphila kwami kumelwe kulawulwe uNkulunkulu?
Isibonelo SikaKristu Sokuzidela
3. Yisiphi iseluleko esanikezwa uPetru ngokuqondene nesimo sethu sengqondo?
3 UPetru, owayehlanganyele noJesu okuhlangenwe nakho okuningi, wakholelwa ukuthi kwakunesizathu esihle kakhulu sokuphilela intando kaNkulunkulu kunokuphilela eyomuntu siqu. Wathi: “Njengokuba uKristu wahlupheka enyameni, hlomani nani ukuqonda okunjalo, ngokuba ohluphekile enyameni uyekile ukona, ukuze ngesikhathi esiseleyo nisesenyameni ningabe nisahlala ngezinkanuko zabantu kodwa ngentando kaNkulunkulu.”—1 Petru 4:1, 2.
4. UJesu wakubonisa kanjani ukuzithoba kwakhe kuYise?
4 Kungani uJesu ahlupheka enyameni? Ngoba wasekela uhlangothi lukaYise empikiswaneni yobukhosi bendawo yonke, noma ukubusa. Wabonakalisa uNkulunkulu eneqiniso futhi uSathane engumqambimanga. Futhi lokho wakwenza ngokuba avumele ukuphila kwakhe kwasemhlabeni kulawulwe uNkulunkulu, ngisho nakuba kwaphumela ekubeni afe ukufa komfel’ ukholo.—2 Korinte 5:14, 15.
5. Iyiphi inselele isibonelo sikaJesu esiyibeka phambi kwethu?
5 Nokho lokho kufa kwakuwukubonakaliswa kothando lukaNkulunkulu ngoKristu. (1 Johane 4:10) Kungani kunjalo? Ngoba ngenxa yakho, sonke isintu sathola izinzuzo. (Roma 5:8; 6:23) Kodwa bangaki abazimisele ukwamukela lezozinzuzo? Bangaki abazimisele ukulingisa uKristu futhi badele izifiso zabo siqu ukuze bazithobe entandweni kaNkulunkulu?—Heberu 13:15, 17.
Izinzuzo Manje Nasesikhathini Esizayo
6, 7. Iziphi izinzuzo zokuzithoba entandweni kaJehova?
6 Ngakho yeka ukuthi sifaneleke kangakanani ngisho nasezinsukwini zethu isimemo uJehova asinikeza uIsrayeli eminyakeni eyizi-2 700 edlule: “NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho okufundisile okukusizayo, okuholile ngendlela omelwe ukuhamba ngayo. Sengathi nga ulalele imiyalo yami! Khona ukuthula kwakho kwakuyakuba-njengomfula, nokulunga kwakho njengamaza olwandle.”—Isaya 48:17, 18; qhathanisa noGenesise 22:18.
7 UJehova usifundisa okuyinzuzo kithi ngokuphilela kwethu intando yakhe—futhi lezozinzuzo azikhona nje ukuthula nokulunga kwalapha nokwamanje kuphela. Zihlanganisa izibusiso zesikhathi esizayo zokuphila okuphakade, njengoba ngisho noJesu athembisa: “Ngokuba lokhu kuyintando kaBaba ukuba yilowo nalowo obona iNdodana, akholwe yiyo, abe-nokuphila okuphakade; ngiyakumvusa mina ngomuhla wokuphela.”—Johane 6:40.
8. Isithembiso sikaJesu sovuko siyinduduzo ngayiphi indlela namuhla?
8 Lawomazwi ayinduduzo enkulu namuhla kumaKristu athembekile asekhulile ngeminyaka. Lesimiso sezinto sesisonyakeni waso wama-72 kusukela osukwini olubucayi luka-1914. Izwe likaSathane liye lahlala isikhathi eside kunalokho abaningi ababekulindele. Eqinisweni, amaKristu athile ayelindele ukubona iArmagedoni nokuqala kwesimiso esisha sezinto esikhathini sawo sokuphila asefile. Nokho ukuphila kwawo, okunikezelwe ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu, akubanga yize. Ekugcwalisekeni kwamazwi akhe, uJesu uyowavusa futhi awanike inzuzo yokuphila okuphakade.—Johane 5:28, 29; 1 Korinte 15:58.
Isimo Sengqondo SikaKristu
9, 10. (a) Yini okumelwe sihlome ngayo? (Filipi 2:5-8) (b) Yini ekhethekile ngegama lesiGreki elihunyushwe ngokuthi “isimo sengqondo” elikweyoku-1 Petru 4:1?
9 Yini engenza kube lula ngathi ukuzithoba entandweni kaNkulunkulu? Ngokweseluleko sikaPetru, esicashunwe esigabeni sesi-3, kumelwe sizihlomise ‘ngesimo sengqondo esifanayo’ naleso uJesu ayenaso.—1 Petru 4:1, NW.
10 Lapha uPetru usebenzisa igama lesiGreki elitholakala kabili kuphela emiBhalweni yesiGreki elithi—enʹnoi·a. Nakuba abanye abahumushi belihumusha ngokuthi “ingqondo,” akulona igama elivamile lesiGreki elisho “ingqondo” elingelithi nous. Ngakho-ke, uPetru, ngaphansi kokuphefumlelwa, wayenephuzu elithile elibalulekile engqondweni lapho ekhetha lelibizo elingavamile. Isazi esingumGreki uW. E. Vine uthi elithi enʹnoi·a “lisho injongo, inhloso, icebo.” IGreek-English Lexicon kaJ. H. Thayer ilichaza ‘njengendlela yokucabangela nengokomzwelo.’
11. Yini esingayifunda esibonelweni sikaJesu ngokuqondene nendlela esisebenzisa ngayo ukuphila kwethu?
11 Inkambo kaJesu yokuzidela yayibonisa ngokusobala injongo yakhe, noma icebo. Wayengaphili ukuphila kokuzikhathalela, ezifunela injabulo nokuzilibazisa. Wayazi ukuthi ukuphila kwakhe kwangaphambili kwasezulwini wayengakudelanga ukuze azochitha iminyaka embalwa emhlabeni ephishekela izinzuzo zobugovu. (Bheka okuphambene okukuGenesise 6:1, 2, 4, nakuJuda 6.) Ngakho wathi: “Ngehle ezulwini kungengukuba ngenze intando yami, kodwa ukuba ngenze intando yongithumileyo.” (Johane 6:38) UJesu wayeqotho ekuzinikeleni kwakhe ezimisweni zikaYise, ngaso sonke isikhathi ezibeka ngaphezu kwentando yakhe siqu, kwaze kwaba ngisho nasekufeni okuyihlazo.—Luka 22:42.
12, 13. (a) UJesu wasibonisa kanjani isimo sakhe sengqondo emthonjeni kaJakobe? (b) Wayesho ukuthini uJesu lapho ethi, “Nginokudla engikudlayo eningakwaziyo”?
12 Ngisho nalapho ekhathele futhi elambile, uJesu wasibonisa ngokusobala isimo sakhe sengqondo ngasentandweni kaYise. Ngesinye isikhathi, lapho abafundi bakhe beyofuna ukudla, waphumula emthonjeni kaJakobe. Kunokuba athathe isihlwathi baze babuye abafundi, waphikelela ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. Wathatha isinyathelo esingavamile ngomJuda. Waxoxa nowesifazane waseSamariya. Wamsiza ukuba aqonde uNkulunkulu weqiniso. Ngenxa yalokho “amaSamariya amaningi alowomuzi akholwa nguye ngezwi lowesifazane.”—Johane 4:6-26, 39-42.
13 Lapho abafundi bakhe bebuya, bamxusa ukuba adle. Wabaphendula kanjani? “Nginokudla engikudlayo eningakwaziyo.“ Yabakhungathekisa impendulo yakhe kwaze kwaba yilapho enezela: “Ukudla kwami kungukwenza intando yongithumileyo, ngifeze umsebenzi wakhe.” Ngokusobala, uJesu wayekujabulela ukuzithoba entandweni kaYise. Yayifana nokudla kuye, futhi njengoba kunjalo ngokudla ukudla okumnandi, ngenxa yalokho wajabulela ukwaneliseka kwangempela. Uma sifuna ukuzizwa saneliseke ngempela ekuphileni kwethu, akukho okungcono esingakwenza ngaphandle kokulandela isibonelo sikaJesu Kristu.—Johane 4:31-38.
Imiphumela Yesimo Sengqondo SikaKristu
14. Yini esiyidingayo ukuze sibe nesimo sengqondo sikaKristu? Bonisa.
14 Kumelwe kusithinte kanjani ukuba nesimo sengqondo sikaKristu? Uma sifunda ukucabanga njengoKristu, khona-ke siyoba namandla angaphakathi ayosiqondisa ukuba senze lokho uJesu ayeyokwenza ngaphansi kwanoma yiziphi izimo. (Luka 22:42; Efesu 4:23, 24, NW) Lamandla awanakuvela ekwesabeni isijeziso, njengeseluleko esivela kubadala ebandleni, kodwa kunalokho ayovela ekwaziseni okukhulu ngemithetho nezimiso zikaJehova. Lesosimo singasiqhathanisa nomuntu olalela imithetho yomgwaqo lapho ebona iphoyisa kuphela—ukuzithoba ethonyeni elingaphandle kuphela. Kodwa umuntu othatha ukuphila njengokubalulekile, othanda umakhelwane wakhe, futhi obona ukuhlakanipha kokuba nemithetho yemigwaqo uyolalela ngoba uyawuhlonipha umthetho. Unesisusa sangaphakathi esinamandla.—IHubo 51:10.
15. (a) Yini ebonisa ukuthi uJesu wayenamandla angaphakathi ashukumisa ingqondo yakhe? (Efesu 4:23) (b) Yiziphi izibonelo zobuqotho kumaKristu anamuhla ezinikeza ubufakazi bomqondo kaKristu?
15 UJesu wayenawo ‘lawomandla angaphakathi ashukumisa ingqondo yakhe.’ Ngakho wayethembekile entandweni kaYise, kwaze kwaba sekufeni. Wakhuthazelela ukuhlupheka ngaphandle kokuba akhononde noma athuke abashushisi bakhe. (1 Petru 2:21-24) Ngezinye izikhathi thina njengamaKristu singase sibe ngaphansi kokucindezela okufanayo. Iziphathimandla eziphikisayo zingase zizame ukuvimbela umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela nemihlangano, njengoba zenza eSpain phakathi nenkathi kaFranco nasemazweni ahlukahlukene aseYurophu phakathi nokubusa kobuNazi. Abazalwane nodade abaningi baphathwa kabi emzamweni wokuba bakhaphele abazalwane ababenemithwalo yemfanelo ebandleni. Naphezu kokushushiswa iningi lama liqinile. (Bheka iYearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses ka-1978, amakhasi 171-2, 182-3; iYearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses ka-1986 amakhasi 137-59.)
16. Iziphi ezinye zezindlela esingase sivivinywe ngazo namuhla? Singamelana kanjani nazo?
16 Singase sibe ngaphansi kokucindezeleka ngokuphathelene nokungathathi-hlangothi kobuKristu noma ukusetshenziswa kokumpontshelwa kwegazi. (IzEnzo 5:29; 15:28, 29) Khona-ke kuphakamisa inselele, Ingabe siphilela intando kaNkulunkulu noma eyomuntu? Noma isilingo singase sivele ezifisweni zenyama nakubangane ababi. Mhlawumbe esikoleni noma emsebenzini, kungase kuvele ithuba lokubhema noma ukusebenzisa imilaliso ngaphandle kokuba noma ubani ebandleni azi ngakho. Noma kuthiwani ngesilingo sokugembula emdlalweni wokubheja? Noma ukuhlobonga, noma ukuphinga? Ngokuvamile isimo esisemisebenzini yezwe singabangela imicabango emibi nezenzo ezimbi—ngaphandle kokuba sinokuqonda okufana nokukaKristu ngokuqondene nokwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. Yini oyoyenza? Ingabe uyoba namandla afanele ashukumisa ingqondo yakho ukuze ulandele inkambo kaKristu ngaphansi kwezimo ezinjalo?—Efesu 4:17-20; 1 Johane 2:15, 16.
17, 18. (a) Iliphi iphuzu elinamandla uPetru aliveza ngokuqondene nalabo abenza isono sibe umkhuba? (b) Yini edingekayo ukuze simelane nokuhlasela kwesono?
17 Ngokuqhubekayo uPetru ugcizelela isidingo sokwenza intando kaNkulunkulu eluleka: “Ngokuba isikhathi esidlulileyo sasanele ukwenza okuthandwa ngabezizwe ngokuhamba ngamanyala, nangezinkanuko, nangokudakwa, nangokuminza, nangokuxokozela, nangokukhonza izithombe okuyichilo. Bayamangala ngokungagijimeli kwenu kulowomsindo wokushinga kwabo, behlambalaza; bayakuziphendulela kulowo olungele ukwahlulela abahambayo nabafileyo.”—1 Petru 4:3-5.
18 Lapha uPetru uveza iphuzu elinamandla—labo abangayinaki intando kaNkulunkulu kumelwe baziphendulele. (Qhathanisa neyabaseRoma 14:12; namaHeberu 13:17.) UPawulu ufinyelela esiphethweni esifanayo encwadini yakhe eya kwabaseKolose, lapho ebhala: “Ngakho-ke bulalani amalungu enu asemhlabeni, ubufebe, nokungcola, nokuhuheka, nokukhanuka, nesangabe, okungukukhonza izithombe, okuza ngakho ulaka lukaNkulunkulu.” Ngokuqinisekile bonke abenza izinto ezinjalo abaphileli intando kaNkulunkulu kodwa, kunalokho, ukwanelisa izifiso zabo zobugovu. Nokho abantu bayagqashula ekuziphatheni okunjalo okuyihlazo, ngoba, njengoba uPawulu esho, “Ekade nihamba kukho nani, lapho nisahlezi kukho.”—Kolose 3:5-7; Efesu 4:19; bheka futhi eyoku-1 Korinte 6:9-11.
Ukuqonda Okuyintando KaNkulunkulu
19. Abaningi bakubonisa kanjani manje ukuthi baphilela intando kaJehova? (Roma 12:1, 2)
19 Phakathi naleminyaka yokugcina yekhulu lama-20, abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi ezintathu sebeye baqonda ukuthi iyini intando kaNkulunkulu ngabo. Njengomphumela, bashumayela ngentshiseko izindaba ezinhle zikahulumeni woMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (IzEnzo 8:12; Marku 13:10) Abaziphileli bona ngokwabo, njengoba iningi labanye lenza. Bayazi ukuthi ngokushesha uNkulunkulu uzophelisa lesimiso esonakele, futhi bayazidela ukuze basize abanye bazuze lolulwazi oluqondile, njengoba nje umphostoli uPawulu eluleka: “Bhekisisani ukuthi nihamba kanjani, kungabi-njengabangahlakaniphile kepha njengabahlakaniphileyo, nithengisise isikhathi, ngokuba izinsuku zimbi. Ngakho-ke ningabi-yiziwula, kodwa qondani okuyintando yeNkosi.”—Efesu 5:15-17.
20, 21. (a) Kumelwe sisibheke kanjani isipho sokuphila? (Jakobe 4:13-17) (b) Singakugwema kanjani ukulingisa izwe?
20 Ukuphila kunjengengilazi yamanzi abandayo, acwebile. Emashumini okuqala eminyaka okuphila komuntu, “uphuza” kakhulu nangokushesha—kuze kube yilapho eqala ukuzibuza ukuthi mingaki iminyaka yokuphila esasele ‘engilazini.’ Leyo inkinga edida wonke umuntu. Khona-ke, yeka ukuthi kubaluleke kangakanani ukuphila unomuzwa wokuba nomthwalo wemfanelo kuNkulunkulu nakumakhelwane wakho! Yeka ukuthi kubaluleke kangakanani ukukhumbula intando kaNkulunkulu kunokumane ukhumbule intando yakho yobugovu!—Mathewu 7:21, 24, 26.
21 Nokho, njengoba siphila ezweni elilawulwa umoya kaSathane, akulula ngaso sonke isikhathi ukuphilela intando kaNkulunkulu. (IsAmbulo 12:9) Ngaso sonke isikhathi sithola ukucindezeleka okusilolongela entandweni nasesimweni sengqondo salelizwe. Ukulandelela izimfashini kungathonya ngisho nabathile ebandleni, nabo baqale ukubukeka njengengxenye yabadlali abathile abadumile. Khona-ke, yeka ukuthi sifaneleke kangakanani iseluleko sikaPawulu: “Ningalingisi lelizwe, kodwa niguqulwe isimo ngokwenziwa ibentsha ingqondo yenu, ukuze nibe-nokuhlolisisa okuyintando kaNkulunkulu, okuhle, nokuthandekayo, nokupheleleyo!”—Roma 12:2.
22. (a) Iyini intando kaNkulunkulu ngesikhathi sethu? (b) Singakubonisa kanjani ukuthi siphilela intando kaNkulunkulu? (c) Yisiphi isibusiso esilindele labo abaphilela intando kaNkulunkulu?
22 Intando kaNkulunkulu iwukuba “lezi zindaba ezinhle zoMbuso” zishunyayelwe emhlabeni wonke ngaphambi kokuba aqede lesimiso sezwe samanje. (Mathewu 24:14, NW; IsAmbulo 14:6, 7) Lokhu kukunikeza isizathu esanele sokuba usabele obizweni lwezikhonzi ezengeziwe zesikhathi esigcwele uma izimo zikuvumela. Futhi kuyisizathu, sokuba abadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo batholakale ukuze bathuthele emabandleni okungenzeka abe nesidingo sosizo lwabo. Futhi kuyisizathu esinamandla sokuba noma yimuphi uFakazi abe ufakazi wangempela ongumKristu—hhayi nje ngegama kuphela kodwa aphilele ngempela intando kaNkulunkulu manje naphakade. Yazi ukuthi ngokwenza kanjalo ‘uyobe uzibekela isisekelo esihle sesikhathi esizayo ukuze ubambe ukuphila okuyikho.’—1 Thimothewu 6:19.
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ UJesu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayephilela intando kaNkulunkulu?
◻ Yiziphi izinzuzo ezitholwa yilabo abaphilela intando kaNkulunkulu?
◻ Sasiyini isimo sengqondo sikaKristu ngasentandweni kaNkulunkulu?
◻ Kumelwe asithinte kanjani ‘amandla ashukumisa ingqondo’?
◻ Kumelwe sikubheke kanjani ukuphila?
[Isithombe ekhasini 21]
Ingabe ikwazisa umthetho kukwenza uwulalele, noma ingabe ukuba khona kwephoyisa kuphela?