1. Yiwuphi umbuzo abantu abanengi abazibuza wona okugoqela lamaKhristu eqiniso?

 UJEHOVA UNKULUNKULU uyakuthanda yini? Abanye bayavuma ukuthi uNkulunkulu uthanda wonke umuntu nje, njengoba kutshiwo kuJohane 3:16. Kodwa bayazibuza ukuthi: ‘Kambe mina uNkulunkulu uyangithanda sibili?’ AmaKhristu eqiniso lawo angazibuza umbuzo onjalo. Enye indoda yakhuluma amazwi la ngesikhathi idanile: “Ngikuthola kunzima ukukholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulendaba lami.” Lawe uyake uthandabuze ngendlela enjalo yini?

2, 3. Ngubani ofuna sicabange ukuthi uJehova kasithandi futhi kasiqakathekisi, njalo singalwisana njani lomcabango onjalo?

² USathane ufuna sicabange ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu kasithandi futhi kasiqakathekisi. Wandise ukukhohlisa abantu ngokubenza bazigqaje ngobuhle babo. (2 KwabaseKhorinte 11:3) Uyakuthanda futhi ukwenza ababuthakathaka bazizwe bengasibantu balutho. (UJohane 7:47-49; 8:13, 44) Lokhu ukwenza ikakhulu ‘kulezinsuku zokucina.’ Abantu abanengi bakhulele ezimulini ‘ezingelathando.’ Ikanti abanye bandise ukuhlutshwa ngabantu abalolaka, abangelandaba labanye futhi abalenkani. (2 KuThimothi 3:1-5) Ngenxa yokuhlala isikhathi eside behlutshwa, bebandlululwa, loba bezondwa, abantu abanjalo bangabe sebekwamukele ukuthi akulamuntu ongabathanda loba ukuthi abalancedo.

³ Ungalilahli ithemba nxa kuyikuthi uyake ube lemicabango enjalo. Ngezinye izikhathi sizithwalisa nzima kungelasizatho. Kodwa khumbula ukuthi iLizwi likaNkulunkulu lenzelwe ukuthi ‘liqondise izinto’ futhi ‘lidilize izinto eziqine njengezinqaba.’  (2 KuThimothi 3:16; 2 KwabaseKhorinte 10:4) IBhayibhili lithi: “Sizaqinisekisa inhliziyo zethu phambi kwakhe kuloba yikuphi inhliziyo zethu ezingasisola ngakho, ngoba uNkulunkulu mkhulu kulezinhliziyo zethu njalo wazi izinto zonke.” (1 UJohane 3:19, 20) Asixoxeni ngendlela ezine iMibhalo esinceda ngazo ukuthi ‘siqinisekise inhliziyo zethu’ ukuze singathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda.

4, 5. Umzekeliso kaJesu wentaka utshengisa njani ukuthi siqakathekile kuJehova?

⁴ Okokuqala, iBhayibhili litshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uqakathekisa inceku yakhe ngayinye. Ngokwesibonelo uJesu wathi: “Intaka ezimbili azithengiswa ngohlamvu lwemali olungatsho lutho yini? Lanxa kunjalo ayikho leyodwa ewela phansi uYihlo engakwazi. Ngitsho lenwele ezisemakhanda enu zibaliwe zonke. Ngakho lingesabi, lina liqakatheke kakhulu kulentaka ezinengi.” (UMathewu 10:29-31) Cabanga ukuthi amazwi la ayesitshoni kulabo ababemlalele.

⁵ Singazibuza ukuthi umuntu wayengayithengelani intaka. Impendulo elula yikuthi ngesikhathi sikaJesu, intaka yiyo inyoni eyayitshiphe ukwedlula zonke kwezidliwayo. Nanzelela ukuthi nxa umuntu wayelendibilitshi eyodwa, wayengathenga intaka ezimbili. Kodwa uJesu waphinda watshengisa ukuthi nxa umuntu wayengathenga ngendibilitshi ezimbili, wayethola intaka ezinhlanu hatshi ezine. Inyoni yesihlanu kwakungathi ayiqakathekanga njengoba yayisiba yimbasela. Mhlawumbe izidalwa lezo zazingaqakathekanga ebantwini, kodwa uMdali wazo wayezibona njani? UJesu wathi: “Ayikho leyodwa [ngitsho laleyo eyimbasela] uNkulunkulu ayikhohlwayo.” (ULukha 12:6, 7) Khathesi sesiwuzwisisa sibili umcijo kaJesu. Nxa uJehova eqakathekisa intaka eyodwa nje, pho umuntu yena umqakathekisa kakhulu kangakanani! Njengoba uJesu watsho, uJehova wazi konke ngathi. Ngitsho lenwele zethu zibaliwe!

6. Kungani singaba leqiniso lokuthi uJesu wayengakhulumi into engeke yenzakale lapho esithi inwele zethu zibaliwe?

 ⁶ Inwele zethu zibaliwe! Abanye bangacabanga ukuthi uJesu wayekhuluma ngento engeke yenzakale. Kodwa ake ucabange ngethemba lokuvuswa kwabafileyo. UJehova usazi kuhle okokuthi uyenelisa ukusidala kutsha! Usiqakathekisa kakhulu okokuthi ukhumbula konke ngathi, okugoqela i-DNA yethu kanye lakho konke okwenzakale empilweni zethu. a Ngakho ukubala izinwele zethu kuyinto elula kakhulu kuye ngoba umuntu munye ngamunye ulenwele ezingaba yi-100 000 ekhanda.

7, 8. (a) Kuyini uJehova akuqakathekisayo ezincekwini zakhe? (b) Yiphi eminye imisebenzi esiyenzayo eqakathekiswa nguJehova?

⁷ Okwesibili, iBhayibhili lisitshela lokho uJehova akuqakathekisayo ezincekwini zakhe. Ngamazwi alula nje, uthanda impawu ezinhle esilazo kanye lemizamo yethu yokwenza okuhle. INkosi uDavida yatshela indodana yayo uSolomoni yathi: “UJehova uyazihlola zonke inhliziyo azwisise imicabango lenhloso zomuntu.” (1 ImiLando 28:9) Njengoba uNkulunkulu ehlola amabhiliyoni ezinhliziyo zabantu emhlabeni lo ogcwele inzondo lodlakela, kumele ukuthi uyathokoza kakhulu nxa ethola inhliziyo ethanda ukuthula, iqiniso kanye lokulunga! Kuyini okwenzakalayo nxa uNkulunkulu ethola inhliziyo emthandayo, efuna ukufunda ngaye futhi efuna ukutshela abanye ngalolo lwazi? UJehova usitshela ukuthi uyabananzelela labo abatshela abanye ngaye. Uphinda abe ‘lebhuku elokukhumbula labo abamesabayo labacabangisisa  ngebizo lakhe.’ (UMalakhi 3:16) Izimpawu ezinjalo ziqakathekile kuye.

⁸ Yiphi eminye imisebenzi emihle uJehova ayiqakathekisayo? Uqakathekisa imizamo yethu yokulingisela iNdodana yakhe uJesu Khristu. (1 UPhetro 2:21) Omunye umsebenzi uNkulunkulu awuqakathekisayo ngowokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. URoma 10:15 uthi: “Ayisibuhle benyawo zalabo abatshumayela izindaba ezinhle ezimayelana lezinto ezinhle!” Kungenzakala ukuthi inyawo zethu asiziboni zizinhle. Kodwa lapha zimela imizamo eyenziwa zinceku zikaJehova ekutshumayeleni izindaba ezinhle. Yonke imizamo enjalo mihle futhi iligugu kuye.—UMathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20.

9, 10. (a) Kungani sileqiniso lokuthi uJehova uyakuqakathekisa ukubekezela kwethu nxa siphakathi kwenhlupho? (b) Kuyini uJehova angeke akucabange ngathi?

⁹ UJehova uqakathekisa lokubekezela kwethu. (UMathewu 24:13) Khumbula ukuthi uSathane ufuna utshiye ukukhonza uJehova. Nxa ungahlala uthembekile kuJehova uyabe utshengisa ukuthi uSathane ulamanga. (IZaga 27:11) Ngezinye  izikhathi ukubekezela akulula. Ukugula, inhlupho zemali, ukukhathazeka kanye lezinye inhlupho kungenza ukuphila kube nzima. Phela nxa esikukhangeleleyo kungaphuza siyaphela amandla. (IZaga 13:12) Ukubekezela kwethu nxa siphakathi kwenhlupho kuligugu kakhulu kuJehova. Lokho yikho okwenza iNkosi uDavida yacela ukuthi uJehova agcine inyembezi zayo ‘esigubhini sesikhumba.’ Ngokuqiniseka yaphinda yathi: “Azibhalwanga yini ebhukwini lakho?” (IHubo 56:8) UJehova uyazikhumbula inyembezi zethu kanye lokubekezela kwethu nxa siphakathi kwenhlupho. Inyembezi lezo lokubekezela kwethu kuligugu kuye.

¹⁰ Lanxa kunjalo inhliziyo yethu ingakwala ukuthi siqakathekile kuNkulunkulu. Ingasitshela ukuthi: ‘Kodwa kulabanye abanengi abenza kuhle ukwedlula wena. Kumele ukuthi uJehova uyadana kakhulu nxa ekuqathanisa labo!’ Kodwa uJehova kasiqathanisi labanye futhi uyazwisisa njalo kasicabangeli okubi. (KwabaseGalathiya 6:4) Nxa uJehova ehlola inhliziyo uyakubona konke okuhle esikwenzayo futhi uyakuqakathekisa kungelani lokuthi kuncane kangakanani.

11. Kuyini esingakufunda ngoJehova endleleni ahlulela ngayo u-Abhija?

¹¹ Okwesithathu, nxa uJehova esihlola ukwenza ngonanzelelo edinga okuhle. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova wathi bonke abemuli yeNkosi uJerobhowami babezabulawa kodwa wathi u-Abhija owayengomunye wamadodana enkosi nguye yedwa owayezangcwatsha. Ngenxa yani? Ngoba “nguye yedwa uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli athole okuhle kuye phakathi kwabendlu kaJerobhowami.” (1 AmaKhosi 14:1, 10-13) UJehova wahlola inhliziyo yendoda le wathola ‘okuhle kuyo.’ Lanxa kwakungabe kukuncane, uJehova wabona kuqakathekile ukuthi kubhalwe eLizwini lakhe. Wanika u-Abhija umvuzo ngenxa yokuhle ayekwenzile, etshengisa umusa lanxa wayengowemuli yabahlamuki.

12, 13. (a) Indaba yeNkosi uJehoshafathi itshengisa njani ukuthi uJehova ukhangela okuhle kithi lanxa senze isono? (b) UJehova utshengisa njani ukuthi ungumzali olothando?

 ¹² Esinye isibonelo esihle ngesiphathelane lenkosi eyayilungile uJehoshafathi. Lapho inkosi le isenza ngendlela etshengisa ubuwula, umphrofethi kaJehova wayitshela wathi: “UJehova ukuzondele kakhulu ngenxa yalokhu okwenzileyo.” La ngamazwi enza umuntu acabangisise! Kodwa umlayezo kaJehova awuzange uphelele khonapho. Waphinda wathi: “Lanxa kunjalo kulezinto ezinhle ezitholakale kuwe.” (2 ImiLando 19:1-3) Kwakufanele sibili ukuthi uJehova amzondele uJehoshafathi kodwa ukuzonda lokho akuzange kumenze angaboni okuhle enkosini le. Lokhu kwenza uJehova angafanani lathi abantu abalesono. Thina sijayele ukungaboni okuhle kwabanye nxa sibazondele. Ikanti nxa singenza isono sijayele ukukhulelwa yikudana, ukuyangeka lokuzisola besekubangela ukuthi singaboni okuhle kithi. Lanxa kunjalo, ungakhohlwa ukuthi uJehova uyasithethelela nxa singaphenduka ezonweni zethu sizimisele ukungaziphindi.

¹³ Nxa uJehova ekuhlola, uyazilahla izono ezinjalo njengomuntu ogebha igolide olahla  amatshe angelancedo abesegcina igolide. UJehova laye uzibona ziligugu kakhulu impawu ezinhle olazo lemisebenzi emihle oyenzayo. Wake wakunanzelela yini ukuthi abazali abalothando bayagcina imidwebo kumbe eminye imisebenzi yabantwababo yesikolo lanxa sekudlule amatshumi eminyaka? UJehova ungumzali olothando ukwedlula bonke. Nxa singaqhubeka sithembekile kuye, kasoze akhohlwe imisebenzi yethu emihle kanye lezimpawu zethu ezinhle. Iqiniso yikuthi uJehova ukubona kuyinto engalunganga ukukhohlwa lezozinto, futhi yena kakaze abe ngongalunganga. (KumaHebheru 6:10) Kulokunye futhi uJehova akwenzayo nxa esihlola.

14, 15. (a) Kungani siqakathekile kuJehova lanxa singabantu abalesono? Nika umzekeliso. (b) Kuyini uJehova akwenzayo ngokuhle akuthola kithi futhi uzibona njani izinceku zakhe ezithembekileyo?

¹⁴ UJehova kahlali ekhangele esikuphambanisayo kodwa ubona lalokho esenelisa ukukwenza. Nanku umzekeliso: Abantu abathanda izinto ezidwetshiweyo bangenza loba yini ukuze balungise imidwebo engasekho esimeni esihle. Ngokwesibonelo, kulomuntu owadubula umdwebo kaLeonardo da Vinci owawubiza imali engamadola ayizigidi ezingaba ngu-30 owawuseNational Gallery eseLondon, e-England. Umdwebo lo owawusuleminyaka engu-500 awuzange ulahlwe kodwa walungiswa. Kungani walungiswa? Kungenxa yokuthi wawuligugu ebantwini abathanda imidwebo. Kambe wena awuqakathekanga yini ukwedlula umdwebo nje? Uqakathekile kakhulu kuNkulunkulu lanxa ulesono owasithola ku-Adamu. (IHubo 72:12-14) UJehova uNkulunkulu, onguye owadala abantu uzasiqeda isono ebantwini bonke abamthandayo.—ImiSebenzi 3:21; KwabaseRoma 8:20-22.

¹⁵ Kuliqiniso ukuthi uJehova ubona okuhle kithi esingeke sakubona thina ngokwethu. Nxa singaqhubeka simkhonza, uzasincedisa ukuthi sithuthukise impawu ezinhle esilazo size sibe ngabantu abapheleleyo. UJehova uyabaqakathekisa labo abathembekileyo kuye kungelani lokuthi umhlaba kaSathane ubaphatha njani.—UHagayi 2:7.

16. Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhulu obutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda futhi sazi njani ukuthi inhlawulo inceda ngamunye wethu?

¹⁶ Okwesine yikuthi uJehova usitshengisa ngezindlela ezinengi ukuthi uyasithanda. Umhlatshelo wenhlawulo kaKhristu ukwenza kucace ukuthi uSathane ulamanga nxa esithi asiqakathekanga njalo asithandwa. Akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi ukufa kukaJesu kabuhlungu kanye lobuhlungu obukhulu uJehova abuzwa lapho ebona iNdodana yakhe ayithandayo isifa, kutshengisa ukuthi bayasithanda. Kuyadanisa ukuthi abantu abanengi bakuthola kunzima ukukholwa ukuthi isipho lesi singabanceda. Bazibona bengaqakathekanga. Kodwa khumbula ukuthi umphostoli uPhawuli wayeke wahlukuluza abalandeli bakaKhristu. Lanxa kunjalo, wabhala wathi: ‘INdodana kaNkulunkulu yangithanda yazinikela ngenxa yami.’—KwabaseGalathiya 1:13; 2:20.

17. UJehova usebenzisani ukuze asidonsele kuye laseNdodaneni yakhe?

¹⁷ UJehova utshengisa ukuthi uyasithanda ngokusinceda esebenzisa umhlatshelo kaKhristu. UJesu wathi: “Akulamuntu ongeza kimi engazange adonswe nguBaba ongithumileyo.” (UJohane 6:44) UJehova ngokwakhe usidonsela eNdodaneni yakhe lasekuphileni okungapheliyo. Njani? Usebenzisa umsebenzi wokutshumayela ofinyelela umuntu ngamunye. Uphinda asebenzise lomoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze asincede sizwisise iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini njalo silisebenzise lanxa silesono. Amazwi uJehova awatshela abako-Israyeli ayasebenza lakithi. Wathi: “Ngikuthande ngothando olungapheliyo, yikho ngikusondeze kimi ngothando oluqotho.”—UJeremiya 31:3.

18, 19. (a) Kuyini okunye okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda futhi sazi njani ukuthi ulendaba lomuntu ngamunye? (b) ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lisiqinisekisa njani ukuthi uJehova uyasilalela futhi ulozwelo?

¹⁸ Isibusiso sokuthandaza ngeyinye indlela etshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda kakhulu. IBhayibhili lisikhuthaza ukuthi ‘sithandaze kokuphela.’ (1 KwabaseThesalonika 5:17)  UJehova uyasilalela nxa sikhuleka, yikho iBhayibhili lisithi ‘uyayilalela imithandazo.’ (IHubo 65:2) Kazange aphe loba ngubani umsebenzi lo, ngitsho leNdodana yakhe uqobo. Ake ucabange: UMdali wazo zonke izinto usikhuthaza ukuthi sikhululeke ukukhuluma laye ngomkhuleko. Kodwa uphongusilalela nje engelandaba lalokho esikutshoyo kumbe indlela esizizwa ngayo? Hatshi.

¹⁹ UJehova ulozwelo. Kuyini uzwelo? Omunye umKhristu othembekileyo osekhulile wathi: “Uzwelo yibuhlungu bakho engibuzwa enhliziyweni yami.” UJehova ulendaba lobuhlungu esibuzwayo yini? Mayelana lokuhlupheka kwabantu bako-Israyeli, iBhayibhili lithi: “Kulo lonke usizi lwabo, laye waba losizi.” (U-Isaya 63:9) UJehova kazange aphongubona inhlupho zabo atshiye kunjalo, kodwa wabazwela abantu bakhe. Amazwi akhe awakhuluma ngezinceku zakhe atshengisa kuhle indlela azizwa ngayo ngabo. Athi: “Loba ngubani othinta lina uthinta inhlamvu yelihlo lami.” b (UZakhariya 2:8) Ukuxhotshwa ilihlo kubuhlungu sibili! Ngakho ivesi le itshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyasikhathalela futhi uzwa ubuhlungu nxa sisizwa ubuhlungu.

20. NgokukaRoma 12:3, yikuphi ukucabanga okungaqondanga okungamelanga sibe lakho?

²⁰ AmaKhristu akumelanga azikhukhumeze loba azigqaje ngokuthi uNkulunkulu uyawathanda njalo uyawaqakathekisa. Umphostoli uPhawuli wabhala wathi: “Ngomusa omkhulu engiwuphiweyo ngitshela wonke umuntu phakathi kwenu ukuthi angacabangi ukuthi ungcono kulalokho ayikho khona, kodwa acabange ngendlela etshengisa ukuthi usebenzisa kuhle ingqondo, kusiya ngokholo ngamunye aluphiwe  nguNkulunkulu.” (KwabaseRoma 12:3) Kuyasithokozisa ukuthi uBaba wethu osezulwini uyasithanda, kodwa kasingakhohlwa ukuthi bekungasifanelanga, sikuthole ngenxa yomusa omkhulu kaNkulunkulu.—ULukha 17:10.

21. Yiwaphi amanga kaSathane okungamelanga siwakholwe njalo kuyini okumele sihlale sikukhumbula?

²¹ Kasizimiseleni ukwenza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuthi singakholwa amanga kaSathane athi uNkulunkulu kasiqakathekisi njalo kasithandi. Kasingavumi ukuthi izinto ezenzakala empilweni zethu zisenze sicabange ukuthi uNkulunkulu ngeke asithande, kumbe ukuthi kayiboni imisebenzi emihle esiyenzayo. Singaqali ukucabanga ukuthi izono zethu zinkulu kakhulu okokuthi ngitsho legazi leNdodana yakhe eligugu ngeke lizihlambulule. Kasingawakholwa amanga la ngoba avela kuSathane! Asihlaleni sikhumbula iqiniso eliphefumulelweyo elakhulunywa nguPhawuli. Wathi: “Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi ngitsho lokufa, loba ukuphila, loba izingilosi, loba ohulumende, loba izinto ezikhona khathesi loba ezizakuza, loba amandla, loba ukuphakama, loba ukutshona, loba yini edaliweyo, akusoze kusehlukanise lothando lukaNkulunkulu asitshengisa lona ngoKhristu uJesu iNkosi yethu.”—KwabaseRoma 8:38, 39.