1, 2. Yisiphi isipho esimangalisayo esisinikwe nguJehova? (b) Kuyini okungasisiza ukuthi senze izinqumo ezinhle ekuphileni?

UKUPHILA kuyisipho esimangalisayo esisinikwe nguJehova. (UGenesisi 1:27) Usinike lezimiso okumele sizilandele ukuze sikukholise ukuphila. Kumele sizisebenzise izimiso lezi ukuze senelise ukwehlukanisa “okuhle kokubi.” (KumaHebheru 5:14) Nxa singenza njalo siyabe sivumela uJehova ukuthi asisize sicabange ngendlela ayamukelayo. Nxa singasebenzisa izimiso zikaNkulunkulu ekuphileni kwethu sizakubona ukuqakatheka kwazo.

² Kunzima ukwenza isinqumo nxa kungelamthetho okhuluma ngesimo esiyabe sikuso. Ngokwesibonelo kungadingakala ukuthi senze isinqumo endabeni zokwelatshwa kusetshenziswa igazi. Kuyini okungasisiza ukuthi senze isinqumo esizathokozisa uJehova? IBhayibhili lilezimiso ezingasinceda endabeni le. Izimiso lezi ziyasinceda ukuthi senze izinqumo ezinhle futhi sisale silomzwangedwa omuhle. (IZaga 2:6-11) Ake sixoxe ngezinye zazo.

3, 4. (a) UNkulunkulu watshengisa njani ukuthi uyaliqakathekisa igazi? (b) Igazi limelani?

³ IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi igazi lingcwele ngoba limela ukuphila futhi kuligugu kuJehova. Ngemva kokuba uKhayini ebulele umfowabo, uJehova wathi kuye: “Igazi lomfowenu liyakhala kimi lisuka emhlabathini.” (UGenesisi 4:10) Evesini le, ibala elithi “igazi” litsho ukuphila kuka-Abela.

⁴ UZamcolo esephelile, uJehova wanika abantu imvumo yokudla inyama, kodwa wathi: “Lingadli inyama ilegazi lokuphila kwayo phakathi.” (UGenesisi 9:4) Umthetho lo uyasebenza kithi sonke. Kumele sibe lombono kaJehova wokuthi igazi limela ukuphila.​—IHubo 36:9.

5, 6. UMthetho kaMosi wawuveza njani umbono kaJehova ngokuphila kanye legazi?

⁵ Emthethweni awunika uMosi, uJehova wathi: “Loba nguwuphi owako-Israyeli . . . ozakudla loba yiliphi igazi—ngizamelana laye odla igazi ngimxotshe phakathi kwabantu bakibo. Ngoba impilo yesidalwa isegazini.”​—ULevi 17:10, 11.

⁶ UMthetho kaMosi wawusithi nxa umuntu angahlaba inyamazana kwakumele ayophise. Ukwenza lokhu kwakufanana lokubuyisela ukuphila kwenyamazana leyo kuMdali wayo uJehova. (UDutheronomi 12:16; UHezekheli 18:4) Kodwa lokhu kwakungatsho ukuthi ama-Israyeli adlulise amalawulo ekophiseni inyamazana. Okwakumele akwenze  yikutshengisa ukuthi ayamhlonipha uJehova njalo ayaliqakathekisa igazi ngokophisa inyamazana. Kanti njalo uMthetho wawusithi ama-Israyeli kumele enze imihlatshelo ngezinyamazana ukuze athethelelwe izono zawo.​—Khangela Amabala Asekucineni 19 lo-20.

7. UDavida watshengisa njani ukuthi uyaliqakathekisa igazi?

⁷ Okwenziwa nguDavida ngesikhathi esilwa lamaFilisti kuyasinceda sizwisise ukuthi igazi liqakatheke kangakanani. Amadoda ayeloDavida ananzelela ukuthi wayesefile ngokoma yikho asuka aya endaweni yesitha ukuze amphathele amanzi. UDavida wala ukunatha amanzi ababemphathele wona kodwa “wawathela phambi kukaJehova.” Wathi: “Akungenzeki, O Jehova, ukuba ngenze lokhu. Akusigazi labantu abahambe befake ukuphila kwabo engozini na?” UDavida wayezwisisa ukuthi igazi liqakathekile kuNkulunkulu.​—2 USamuyeli 23:15-17.

8, 9. Kuyini amaKhristu akukholwayo mayelana legazi?

⁸ Ngesikhathi samaKhristu okuqala kwakungasenziwa imihlatshelo yezinyamazana. Kodwa kwakumele balihloniphe igazi. Phakathi kweminye imithetho uJehova ayefuna amaKhristu ayigcine kwakulothi: “Xwayani igazi.” Umthetho lo wawuqakatheke njengomthetho wokuziphatha kubi kwezemacansini kanye lowokukhonza izithombe.​—ImiSebenzi 15:28, 29, NW.

⁹ Lanamuhla amaKhristu ayakwazi ukuthi  uJehova nguye uMthombo wokuphila. Siyakwazi lokuthi igazi lingcwele futhi limela ukuphila. Yikho kumele sicabange ngezimiso zeBhayibhili nxa kusiza endabeni yokwelatshwa kusetshenziswa igazi.

10, 11. (a) Kungani oFakazi bakaJehova bengavumi ukufakwa igazi kumbe izingxenye zalo ezine? (b) Yiziphi izindlela zokwelatshwa okutshiyelwa kumKhristu ngamunye ukuthi azikhethele?

¹⁰ OFakazi bakaJehova bayakwazi ukuthi umlayo othi ‘sixwaye igazi’ awupheleli endabeni yokulidla kuphela. Utsho lokungalifaki emizimbeni yethu, ukungavumi ukuthi elethu lisetshenziswe ngabanye kumbe ukuthi ligcinwe ukuze silisebenzise nxa sesiselatshwa. Lokhu kugoqela izingxenye zalo ezine ama-red cells, ama-white cells, ama-platelets kanye le-plasma.

¹¹ Izingxenye lezi ziyehlukaniswa zibe zingxenyana ezincane. UmKhristu ngamunye uyazikhethela ukuthi uzazamukela yini izingxenyana lezi loba hatshi. Kanti njalo kumele akhethe kuseselesikhathi ukuthi ufuna igazi lakhe lisetshenziswe njani ngesikhathi eselatshwa kumbe ehlolwa.​—Khangela Amabala Asekucineni 21.

12. (a) Kungani uJehova elendaba lesikukhethayo? (b) Kuyini okungasisiza ukuthi senze izinqumo ezinhle ezindabeni zokwelatshwa?

¹² UJehova ulendaba lesikukhethayo lanxa umzwangedwa wethu ungabe usivumela ngoba uyakwazi okusezinhliziyweni zethu. (Bala iZaga 17:3; 24:12.) Yikho kumele sithandaze kuJehova  futhi sichwayisise ukuze senelise ukukhetha kuhle ezindabeni zokwelatshwa. Lokhu kuzasisiza ukuthi senze isinqumo esizatshiya umzwangedwa wethu uhlanzekile. Akumelanga sicele abanye ukuthi basenzele isinqumo, kumbe sibabuze ukuthi, ‘Kunguwe ubuzakwenzani?’ Kodwa kumele sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi umKhristu ngamunye kumele “athwale umthwalo wakhe.”​—KwabaseGalathiya 6:5; KwabaseRoma 14:12.

13. Imithetho esiyinikwa nguJehova isifundisani ngaye?

¹³ Konke uJehova athi sikwenze kunceda thina futhi kutshengisa ukuthi uyasithanda. (IHubo 19:7-11) Kodwa isizathu esikhulu esenza simlalele yikuthi siyamthanda. Indlela esimthanda ngayo yenza singavumi ukufakwa igazi. (ImiSebenzi 15:20) Lokhu kwenza sibe lempilakahle. Abantu abanengi lamuhla bayakwazi ukuthi ukufakwa igazi kubangela imikhuhlane, yikho labodokotela abanengi sebekhetha ukungafaki abantu igazi nxa bebelapha. Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi imithetho kaJehova itshengisa inhlakanipho lothando lwakhe.​—Bala u-Isaya 55:9; UJohane 14:21, 23.

14, 15. (a) Yiphi imithetho uJehova ayinika ama-Israyeli ukuze awavikele? (b) Singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyakuhlonipha ukuphila?

¹⁴ UJehova wanika abako-Israyeli imithetho eyayibanceda. Ngokwesibonelo, wabatshela ukuthi nxa besakha indlu kumele bakhe lomduli omncane  ogombolozele uphahla ukuze kungabi lomuntu owayo. (UDutheronomi 22:8) Omunye umthetho abanika wona wawuphathelane lezinyamazana. Nxa umuntu wayelenkunzi elolaka kwakumele ayivalele ukuze ingalimazi kumbe ibulale abanye. (U-Eksodusi 21:28, 29) Nxa um-Israyeli wayengayekela ukulalela imithetho le besekusifa umuntu wayesiba lecala.

¹⁵ Imithetho le isinceda sizwisise ukuthi uJehova uyakuqakathekisa ukuphila. Ukwazi lokho kwenza sikuhloniphe ukuphila. Lokhu singakwenza ngokugcina izindawo esihlala kuzo kanye lezimota zethu zisesimeni esihle, ukutshayela ngonanzelelo langokukhetha kuhle ezokuzilibazisa. Kuyadanisa ukuthi abantu abanengi benza izinto eziyingozi. Lokho ayisikho uJehova akufunayo kodwa ufuna siqakathekise ukuphila kwethu lokwabanye.​—UmTshumayeli 11:9, 10.

16. Kukhanya njani ukuthi uJehova uyakuqakathekisa ukuphila komntwana ongakazalwa?

¹⁶ UJehova uyakuqakathekisa ukuphila kwabantu bonke okugoqela lokomntwana ongakazalwa. EMthethweni awunika uMosi, uJehova waveza ukuthi nxa amadoda angathi esilwa abulale umfazi ozithweleyo loba umntwana osesiswini, ayesiba lecala lokubulala. Lanxa lokho kwakungabe kwenzakale ngengozi kwakumele impilo ibhadalwe ngempilo. (Bala u-Eksodusi 21:22, 23.) UNkulunkulu ubona umntwana ongakazalwa njengomuntu  sibili. Pho ucabanga ukuthi uzwa njani nxa ebona abantu bekhipha izisu?

17. Kungani umuntu owakhipha isisu engakwazi ukuthi wenza into embi kungamelanga ahlale ezisola?

¹⁷ UJehova angamthethelela yini umuntu owakhipha isisu engakwazi ukuthi wenza into embi? Ye, angamthethelela ngomhlatshelo kaJesu. (ULukha 5:32; Kwabase-Efesu 1:7) Owesifazane owake wenza isono esinjalo akumelanga ahlale ezisola ngaso. “UJehova ulesihawu njalo ulomusa . . . Njengobukhatshana bempumalanga kuyo intshonalanga kanjalo ususile iziphambeko zethu kithi.”​—IHubo 103:8-14.

18. Kungani kuyingozi ukuzonda abanye?

¹⁸ Okunye okutshengisa ukuthi siyakuhlonipha ukuphila yikuthanda abanye. Umphostoli uJohane wathi: “Lowo ozonda umzalwane wakhe ungumbulali.” (1 UJohane 3:15) Ukuzonda omunye umuntu kungenza ukuthi simphathe kubi, simgcone njalo size sifise ukuthi ngabe uyafa. UJehova uyakwazi ukuthi siyabathanda yini abanye kumbe siyabazonda. (ULevi 19:16; UDutheronomi 19:18-21; UMathewu 5:22) Yikho akumelanga sizonde loba ngubani.​—UJakhobe 1:14, 15; 4:1-3.

19. Yiphi eyinye indlela esingatshengisa ngayo ukuthi siyakuhlonipha ukuphila?

¹⁹ IHubo 11:5 lisitshela eyinye indlela esingatshengisa ngayo ukuthi siyakuhlonipha ukuphila. Lithi uJehova ‘uyabazonda labo abathanda udlakela.’  Nxa sizilibazisa ngezinto ezilodlakela siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyaluthanda. Asifuni ukuzilibazisa ngezinto ezinjalo kodwa sifuna ukubukela izinto ezihlanzekileyo.​—Bala uFiliphi 4:8, 9.

20-22. (a) Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi abantu abanengi abakuhloniphi ukuphila? (b) AmaKhristu atshengisa njani ukuthi ‘kawasiwo awomhlaba’?

²⁰ Abantu emhlabeni lo abakuhloniphi ukuphila. Sekungamakhulu eminyaka ohulumende bebangela ukufa kwezigidi zabantu okugoqela lezikhonzi zikaJehova. IBhayibhili lithi ohulumende laba yizilo ezesabekayo futhi ezilolaka. (UDanyeli 8:3, 4, 20-22; ISambulo 13:1, 2, 7, 8) Kanti njalo ukuthengisa izikhali sekwenze abantu baba lemali enengi kakhulu lamuhla. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi “umhlaba wonke ungaphansi kwamandla omubi.”​—1 UJohane 5:19.

²¹ Kodwa amaKhristu eqiniso ‘kawasiwo awomhlaba’ okutsho ukuthi awangeneli kwezombusazwe njalo awayi lasezimpini. Awasekeli izinhlanganiso ezibulala abantu. (UJohane 15:19; 17:16) AmaKhristu awavuki ngolaka nxa ehlukuluzwa ngoba uJesu wathi kumele athande izitha zawo.​—UMathewu 5:44; KwabaseRoma 12:17-21.

²² Inkolo yamanga ibangele ukufa kwabantu abanengi. IBhayibhili nxa likhuluma ngeBhabhiloni Enkulu loba inkolo yamanga lithi: “Kuwe  kwafunyanwa igazi labaphrofethi lelabangcwele, kanye lelabo bonke ababulawayo emhlabeni.” Lokhu yikho okwenza uJehova athi: “Bantu bami, phumani kuyo.” Labo abakhonza uJehova akumelanga bazihlanganise lenkolo yamanga.​—ISambulo 17:6; 18:2, 4, 24.

23. Kugoqelani ‘ukuphuma’ eBhabhiloni Enkulu?

²³ Kumele ‘siphume’ siphele eBhabhiloni Enkulu. Lokhu kutsho ukuthi kufanele ube leqiniso lokuthi ibizo lakho selicitshiwe emakhadini esonto owawungena kuyo. Kodwa akupheleli lapho. Kumele sizonde njalo sixwaye izinto ezenziwa yiBhabhiloni Enkulu ezigoqela ukuziphatha kubi kwezemacansini, ukungenela kwezombusazwe kanye lokukhonza izithombe. (Bala iHubo 97:10; ISambulo 18:7, 9, 11-17) Izinto lezi zibangele ukufa kwabantu abanengi kakhulu.

24, 25. Ukwenza izinto ezithokozisa uNkulunkulu kusinceda ngani?

²⁴ Ngesikhathi singakafundi iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini sasisenza izinto ezimbi. Kodwa ukuba lokholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu kwasisiza ukuthi sintshintshe njalo sizinikele kuJehova. Lokhu kwenza sathola “izikhathi zokuhlambuluka okuvela eNkosini.” Ukwazi ukuthi senza izinto ezithokozisa uNkulunkulu kwenza sihlaliseke futhi sibe lomzwangedwa omuhle.​—ImiSebenzi 3:19; U-Isaya 1:18.

²⁵ UJehova angasithethelela ngomhlatshelo kaJesu lanxa sake saba sezinhlanganisweni ezingakuhloniphiyo  ukuphila. Khathesi sesikuhlonipha ukuphila futhi sitshengisa lokho ngokufundisa abantu iqiniso ngoNkulunkulu ukuze babelobuhlobo obuhle laye.​—2 KwabaseKhorinte 6:1, 2.

26-28. (a) Yiwuphi umsebenzi uJehova awunika uHezekheli? b) Yiwuphi umsebenzi uJehova asinike wona lamuhla?

²⁶ UJehova watshela uHezekheli ukuthi atshumayele ngokubhujiswa kweJerusalema futhi atshele abantu lokho okwakumele bakwenze ukuze basinde. Nxa wayengayekela ukwenza njalo wayekuzaba lecala legazi. (UHezekheli 33:7-9) UHezekheli watshengisa ukuthi uyakuhlonipha ukuphila ngokwenza lokho ayekutsheliwe.

²⁷ UJehova usinike umsebenzi wokutshela abantu ukuthi umhlaba kaSathane usuzabhujiswa. Kumele sibancede ukuthi babengabangane bakaJehova futhi babelethemba lokuthola ukuphila okuphakade. (U-Isaya 61:2; UMathewu 24:14) Nxa singenza konke okusemandleni ethu sizatsho amazwi la athi: “Kangilacala ngegazi labantu bonke. Phela kangithikazanga ukutshumayela kini yonke intando kaNkulunkulu.”​—ImiSebenzi 20:26, 27.

²⁸ Kulokunye okumele sikwenze ukuze sitshengise ukuthi siyakuhlonipha ukuphila. Lokhu sizaxoxa ngakho esahlukweni esilandelayo.