Hlala Othandweni LukaNkulunkulu

1, 2. Singayitholaphi namuhla indawo yokucasha ephephile?

ZIBONE ngeso lengqondo uhamba emgwaqweni ngosuku olunesivunguvungu. Isibhakabhaka sigqunqa sibe mnyama. Liqale ukubaneka, lidume bese liyidliva. Uyagijima, ucinge indawo yokukhosela. Laphaya eceleni komgwaqo ubona umpheme. Uqinile, womile futhi ukahle. Yeka indlela oyazisa ngayo leyo ndawo ephephile!

² Siphila ezikhathini eziyaluzelayo. Izimo zezwe ziya ziba zimbi kakhulu. Kodwa ukhona umpheme olondekile, indawo yokucasha engasigcina siphephile, singalimali unomphela. Iyini? Yizwa lokho iBhayibheli elikufundisayo: “Ngizothi kuJehova: ‘Wena uyisiphephelo sami nenqaba yami, uNkulunkulu wami, engiyothembela kuye.’”—IHubo 91:2.

 3. Singamenza kanjani uJehova isiphephelo sethu?

³ Cabanga nje! UJehova, uMdali noMbusi wendawo yonke angaba indawo yethu yokukhosela. Angasigcina silondekile ngoba unamandla ukudlula noma ubani nanoma yini engase isihlasele. Ngisho noma singalimala, uJehova angakuqeda konke lokho kulimala. Kodwa singamenza kanjani uJehova isiphephelo sethu? Kudingeka sithembele kuye. Ngaphezu kwalokho, iZwi lakhe liyasinxusa: “Zigcineni othandweni lukaNkulunkulu.” (Jude 21) Yebo, kudingeka sihlale othandweni lukaNkulunkulu, silondoloze isibopho sothando noBaba wethu wasezulwini. Singabe sesiqiniseka ukuthi uyisiphephelo sethu. Kodwa singasakha kanjani isibopho esinjalo?

4, 5. Iziphi ezinye zezindlela uJehova asibonise ngazo uthando?

⁴ Ukuze sihlale othandweni lukaNkulunkulu, kudingeka siqonde indlela uJehova asibonise ngayo uthando. Cabanga ngezinye zezimfundiso zeBhayibheli ozifundile ngosizo lwale ncwadi. NjengoMdali, uJehova uye wasinika umhlaba njengekhaya lethu elihle. Uwugcwalise ngensada yokudla namathantala amanzi, inqwaba yezinto zemvelo, izilwane ezimangalisayo, nezindawo ezinhle. NjengoMlobi weBhayibheli, uNkulunkulu uye wasembulela igama lakhe nezimfanelo zakhe. Ngaphezu kwalokho, iZwi lakhe lembula ukuthi wathumela emhlabeni iNdodana yakhe ethandekayo, uJesu, wayiyeka yahlupheka futhi yafa ngenxa yethu. (Johane 3:16) Sisho ukuthini leso sipho kithina? Sisinika ithemba lekusasa elimangalisayo.

⁵ Ithemba lethu lekusasa lincike kokunye futhi okwenziwe uNkulunkulu. UJehova umise uhulumeni wasezulwini, uMbuso kaMesiya. Ngokushesha uzoqeda konke ukuhlupheka, wenze umhlaba ube ipharadesi. Cabanga nje! Singaphila khona ngokuthula nenjabulo kuze kube phakade. (IHubo 37:29) Okwamanje uNkulunkulu usinike isiqondiso sendlela yokuphila engcono kunazo zonke. Usinike nesipho sokuthandaza, umzila ovulekile wokuxhumana naye. Lezi ezinye zezindlela ezimbalwa uJehova abonise ngazo ukusithanda kwakhe isintu sisonke kanye nawe uwedwa.

 6. Ungasabela kanjani othandweni uJehova akubonise lona?

⁶ Umbuzo obalulekile okudingeka ucabange ngawo yilo: Ngizosabela kanjani othandweni lukaJehova? Abaningi bazothi, “Nami kudingeka ngimthande uJehova.” Ingabe nawe uzizwa ngaleyo ndlela? Nanku umyalo uJesu athi mkhulu kunayo yonke: “Kumelwe uthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho nangawo wonke umphefumulo wakho nangayo yonke ingqondo yakho.” (Mathewu 22:37) Ngokuqinisekile unezizathu eziningi zokuthanda uJehova uNkulunkulu. Kodwa ingabe ukuba nomuzwa wokuthi uyamthanda yikhona kuphela okushiwo ukuthanda uJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo, umphefumulo nengqondo yakho?

 7. Ingabe kunokwengeziwe ekuthandeni uNkulunkulu kunokugcina ngokuba nomuzwa wokumthanda? Chaza.

⁷ Njengoba kuchaziwe eBhayibhelini, ukuthanda uNkulunkulu kungaphezu kokuba nomuzwa wokuthi uyamthanda. Empeleni, nakuba umuzwa wokuthi uyamthanda uJehova ubalulekile, lowo muzwa umane nje uyisiqalo sothando lwangempela ngaye. Imbewu ye-apula ibalulekile ukuze kumile isihlahla sama-apula esithelayo. Nokho, uma ufuna i-apula, ungajabula yini uma umuntu ekunika imbewu yalo? Cha, ngeke! Ngokufanayo, umuzwa wokuthanda uJehova uNkulunkulu uyisiqalo. IBhayibheli lithi: “Yilokhu okushiwo uthando ngoNkulunkulu, ukuba sigcine imiyalo yakhe; futhi imiyalo yakhe ayiwona umthwalo.” (1 Johane 5:3) Ukuze lube olwangempela, uthando ngoNkulunkulu kumelwe luthele izithelo ezinhle. Kumelwe luboniswe ngezenzo.—Mathewu 7:16-20.

8, 9. Singalubonisa kanjani uthando nokwazisa ngoNkulunkulu?

⁸ Uthando lwethu ngoNkulunkulu silubonisa ngokulalela imiyalo yakhe nangokusebenzisa izimiso zakhe. Akunzima kakhulu ukwenza lokho. Kunokuba ibe umthwalo, imithetho kaJehova iklanyelwe ukusisiza siphile ukuphila okuhle, okujabulisayo nokwanelisayo. (Isaya 48:17, 18) Ngokuphila ngokuvumelana nesiqondiso sikaJehova, sibonisa uBaba wethu wasezulwini ukuthi sikwazisa ngempela konke asenzele khona. Ngokudabukisayo, bambalwa kakhulu ezweni lanamuhla ababonisa lokho kwazisa. Asifuni ukuba ngabantu abangenako ukwazisa, njengabanye ababephila ngesikhathi uJesu esemhlabeni. UJesu waphulukisa abantu abayishumi abanochoko, kodwa munye kuphela owabuyela kuye eyobonga. (Luka 17:12-17) Ngokuqinisekile siyofuna ukuba njengalona owabonga, hhayi njengalaba abangu-9 abangabonganga!

⁹ Iyini imiyalo kaJehova okudingeka siyigcine? Sixoxe ngeminingi yayo kule ncwadi, kodwa ake sibukeze embalwa. Ukugcina imiyalo kaNkulunkulu kuzosisiza sihlale othandweni lwakhe.

10. Chaza ukuthi kungani kubalulekile ukuqhubeka singenisa ulwazi ngoJehova uNkulunkulu.

¹⁰ Ukufunda ngoJehova kuyisinyathelo esibalulekile ekusondeleni kuye. Akufanele kuphele. Uma usemnyango ngobusuku obushubis’ umnkantsha, wothé umlilo, ungawuyeka yini umlilo ulothe uze ucime? Cha. Ubungalokhu ukhwezela ukuze umlilo uqhubeke uvutha futhi ushisa. Kona kanye ukuphila kwakho kungase kube sengozini! Njengoba izinkuni zenza umlilo uqhubeke uvutha, kanjalo “ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu” lugcina uthando lwethu ngoJehova luvutha.—IzAga 2:1-5.

11. Izimfundiso zikaJesu zaba namuphi umphumela kubalandeli bakhe?

¹¹ UJesu wayefuna ukuba abalandeli bakhe balugcine luphila futhi luvutha bhé uthando lwabo ngoJehova nangeZwi laKhe leqiniso eliyigugu. Ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe, uJesu wafundisa abafundi bakhe ababili ngezinye zeziprofetho ezisemiBhalweni yesiHebheru ezazigcwaliseke kuye. Waba yini umphumela? Kamuva bathi: “Izinhliziyo zethu bezingavuthi yini njengoba ebekhuluma kithi endleleni, njengoba ebesikhanyisela imiBhalo ngokugcwele?”—Luka 24:32.

12, 13. (a) Kwenzekeni kubantu abaningi namuhla ngokuthanda uNkulunkulu neBhayibheli? (b) Singaluvimba kanjani uthando lwethu ukuba lungapholi?

¹² Lapho uqala ukufunda ngalokho iBhayibheli elikufundisayo ngempela, ingabe waphawula ukuthi inhliziyo yakho yaqala ukuvutha ngenxa yenjabulo, intshiseko, nothando ngoNkulunkulu? Akungatshazwa. Baningi abaye bazizwa ngaleyo ndlela. Inselele manje iwukugcina lolo thando olujulile luphila futhi lukhula. Asifuni ukulandela isimo sezwe lanamuhla. UJesu wabikezela: “Uthando lwabaningi luyophola.” (Mathewu 24:12) Ungaluvimba kanjani uthando lwakho ngoJehova nangeqiniso leBhayibheli ukuba lungapholi?

¹³ Qhubeka ungenisa ulwazi ngoJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu. (Johane 17:3) Zindla, noma cabanga ujule, ngalokho okufundayo eZwini likaNkulunkulu, uzibuze: ‘Kungifundisani lokhu ngoJehova uNkulunkulu? Isiphi esinye isizathu okunginika sona sokumthanda ngayo yonke inhliziyo, ingqondo nomphefumulo wami?’ (1 Thimothewu 4:15) Ukuzindla kanjalo kuyogcina uthando lwakho ngoJehova luvutha bhé.

14. Umthandazo ungasisiza kanjani ukuba sigcine uthando lwethu ngoJehova luphila?

¹⁴ Enye indlela yokugcina uthando lwakho ngoJehova luvutha iwukuthandaza njalo. (1 Thesalonika 5:17) ESahlukweni 17 kule ncwadi, sifunde ukuthi umthandazo uyisipho esiyigugu esivela kuNkulunkulu. Njengoba nje ubuhlobo babantu bukhula lapho bekhuluma njalo nangokukhululekile, kanjalo nobuhlobo bethu noJehova buhlala bufudumele futhi buphila uma sithandaza njalo kuye. Kubalulekile ukuba singalokothi sivumele imithandazo yethu ibe imilolozelo—amazwi afanayo esiwaphindaphinda ngaphandle komuzwa wangempela noma amazwi angasho lutho. Kudingeka sikhulume noJehova ngendlela ingane ekhuluma ngayo noyise emthandayo. Siyokhuluma ngenhlonipho kodwa ngokukhululekile, ngobuqotho nangokusuka enhliziyweni. (IHubo 62:8) Yebo, isifundo seBhayibheli somuntu siqu nomthandazo osuka enhliziyweni kuyizici ezibalulekile zokukhulekela kwethu, futhi ziyasisiza ukuba sihlale othandweni lukaNkulunkulu.

15, 16. Kungani umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso singawubheka kufanele njengoyilungelo nengcebo?

¹⁵ Isifundo seBhayibheli somuntu siqu nomthandazo kuyizici zokukhulekela esingazenza ngasese. Kodwa manje ake sibheke isici sokukhulekela esisenza obala: ukukhuluma nabanye ngezinkolelo zethu. Ingabe akhona amaqiniso eBhayibheli osuxoxe ngawo nabanye kakade? Uma kunjalo, uye waba nelungelo elimangalisayo. (Luka 1:74) Lapho sikhuluma nabanye ngamaqiniso esiwafundile ngoJehova uNkulunkulu, sisuke senza isabelo esibaluleke kakhulu esinikwe wonke amaKristu eqiniso—isabelo sokushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.—Mathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20.

¹⁶ Umphostoli uPawulu wabheka inkonzo yakhe njengento eyigugu, eyibiza ngokuthi ingcebo. (2 Korinte 4:7) Ukukhuluma nabantu ngoJehova uNkulunkulu nezinjongo zakhe kuwumsebenzi omuhle kunayo yonke ongawenza. Sisebenzela iNkosi enhle kakhulu, futhi sithola izinzuzo ezingcono kakhulu. Ngokwenza lo msebenzi, usiza abantu abanhliziyo ziqotho ukuba basondele kuBaba wethu wasezulwini futhi bangene endleleni eya ekuphileni okuphakade! Yimuphi omunye umsebenzi ongenelisa ngaphezu kwalo? Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukufakaza ngoJehova neZwi lakhe kukhulisa ukholo lwakho, kuqinise nothando lwakho ngaye. UJehova uyayazisa imizamo yakho. (Hebheru 6:10) Ukuhlala umatasa kulo msebenzi kukusiza ukuba uhlale othandweni lukaNkulunkulu.—1 Korinte 15:58.

17. Kungani umsebenzi wamaKristu wokushumayela uphuthuma namuhla?

¹⁷ Kubalulekile ukukhumbula ukuthi umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso uyaphuthuma. IBhayibheli lithi: “Shumayela izwi, ube kulo unomuzwa wokuphuthuma.” (2 Thimothewu 4:2) Kungani ukushumayela kuphuthuma kangaka namuhla? IZwi likaNkulunkulu liyasitshela: “Usuku olukhulu lukaJehova luseduze. Luseduze, lushesha kakhulu.” (Zefaniya 1:14) Yebo, isikhathi sikaJehova sokuqeda sonke lesi simiso sezinto sisondela ngokushesha. Abantu kudingeka baxwayiswe! Kudingeka bazi ukuthi manje yisikhathi sokuba bakhethe uJehova njengoMbusi wabo. Ukuphela ‘ngeke kwephuze.’—Habakuki 2:3.

18. Kungani kufanele sikhulekele uJehova obala sikanye namaKristu eqiniso?

¹⁸ UJehova ufuna ukuba simkhulekele obala sikanye namaKristu eqiniso. Kungakho iZwi lakhe lithi: “Masicabangelane ukuze sivuselelane uthando nemisebenzi emihle, singakuyeki ukuhlangana kwethu ndawonye, njengoba kungumkhuba wabanye, kodwa sikhuthazane, futhi ikakhulu njengoba nibona usuku lusondela.” (Hebheru 10:24, 25) Lapho sibuthana nesikholwa nabo emihlanganweni yobuKristu, siba nethuba elimangalisayo lokudumisa nokukhulekela uNkulunkulu wethu esimthandayo. Siyakhana futhi sikhuthazane.

19. Singaziqinisa kanjani izibopho zothando ebandleni lobuKristu?

¹⁹ Lapho sihlangana nabanye abakhulekeli bakaJehova, siqinisa izibopho zothando nobungane ebandleni. Kubalulekile ukuba sicinge okuhle kwabanye, njengoba noJehova ecinga okuhle kithi. Ungalindeli ukuphelela kokholwa nabo. Khumbula ukuthi amazinga abo okukhula ngokomoya awafani nokuthi ngamunye wethu uyawenza amaphutha. (Kolose 3:13) Uma wakha ubungane obuseduze nalabo abamthanda ngokujulile uJehova, uyokhula ngokomoya. Yebo, ukukhulekela uJehova ukanye nabafowenu nodadewenu abangokomoya kuyokusiza uhlale othandweni lukaNkulunkulu. UJehova ubavuza kanjani labo abamkhulekela ngokwethembeka, ngokwenza kanjalo bahlale othandweni lwakhe?

20, 21. Kuyini “ukuphila kwangempela,” futhi kungani kuyithemba elimangalisayo?

²⁰ UJehova uvuza izinceku zakhe ezithembekile ngokuphila, kodwa hlobo luni lokuphila? Ingabe njengamanje uphila ngempela? Iningi lethu lingathi impendulo isobala. Angithi siyaphefumula, siyadla, siyaphuza. Kumelwe ukuba siyaphila impela. Lapho izinto zisihambela kahle, singaze sithi, “Siphila ngempela-ke manje!” Nokho, iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi, ngomqondo obalulekile, akukho muntu namuhla ophila ngempela.

²¹ IZwi likaNkulunkulu lisinxusa ukuba ‘sibambisise ukuphila kwangempela.’ (1 Thimothewu 6:19) La mazwi abonisa ukuthi “ukuphila kwangempela” kuyinto esinethemba lokuyithola esikhathini esizayo. Yebo, lapho sesiphelele, siyobe sesiphila ngomqondo ophelele walelo gama, ngoba siyobe siphila ngendlela uNkulunkulu ayeyihlosile ekuqaleni. Lapho sesiphila epharadesi lasemhlabeni sinempilo ephelele, ukuthula nenjabulo egcwele, siyobe sesiphila “ukuphila kwangempela”—ukuphila okuphakade. (1 Thimothewu 6:12) Akulona yini ithemba elimangalisayo lelo?

22. ‘Ungakubambisisa kanjani ukuphila kwangempela’?

²² ‘Singakubambisisa kanjani ukuphila kwangempela’? Esakhuluma ngayo le ndaba, uPawulu wanxusa amaKristu ukuba “enze okuhle” futhi “acebe emisebenzini emihle.” (1 Thimothewu 6:18) Kusobala-ke ukuthi okuningi kuncike endleleni esiwasebenzisa ngayo amaqiniso esiwafunde eBhayibhelini. Kodwa ingabe uPawulu wayesho ukuthi “ukuphila kwangempela” sikuzuza ngokwenza imisebenzi emihle? Cha, ngoba ithemba elimangalisa kanjalo lincike ekutholeni kwethu “umusa ongafanelwe” kaNkulunkulu. (Roma 5:15) Kodwa uJehova uyakujabulela ukubavuza labo abamkhonza ngokwethembeka. Ufuna ukukubona uphila “ukuphila kwangempela.” Ukuphila okunjalo okujabulisayo, okunokuthula nokuyohlala phakade kulindele labo abahlala othandweni lukaNkulunkulu.

23. Kungani kubalulekile ukuhlala othandweni lukaNkulunkulu?

²³ Ngamunye wethu wenza kahle ngokuzibuza, ‘Ingabe ngikhulekela uNkulunkulu ngendlela ayichaza eBhayibhelini?’ Uma siqiniseka ukuthi usuku nosuku impendulo inguyebo, kuyosho ukuthi sisendleleni elungile. Singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyisiphephelo sethu. Uyogcina abantu bakhe abathembekile belondekile phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina ezinzima zalesi simiso sezinto esidala. UJehova futhi uyosikhulula asingenise esimisweni sezinto esisha esikhazimulayo esesiseduze manje. Yeka indlela esiyothokoza ngayo lapho sibona leso sikhathi! Futhi yeka indlela esiyojabula ngayo ngokuthi sénza ukukhetha okuhle phakathi nalezi zinsuku zokugcina! Uma wenza ukukhetha okunjalo manje, uyophila “ukuphila kwangempela,” ukuphila okwakuhloswe uJehova uNkulunkulu, kuze kube phakade!