1. Kuyini okunceda abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuthi baqhubeke bemkhonza lanxa behlangana lenhlupho?

 IBHAYIBHILI lithi siphila ‘ezikhathini ezinzima, okunzima ukuphila kuzo.’ (2 Thim. 3:1) Abantu bakaJehova balenhlupho njengaye wonke nje umuntu emhlabeni lo esiphila kuwo. Kodwa bona baphinda bahlukuluzwe ngenxa yokuthi bakhonza uJehova. Kuyini okusinceda ukuthi siqhubeke sikhonza uJehova lanxa sihlangana lenhlupho? Into enkulu esincedayo yikwazi ukuthi uJehova “unguNkulunkulu ophilayo.”—Jer. 10:10; 2 Thim. 1:12.

2. Kuyini esikwaziyo ngoJehova okungasiqinisa?

² UJehova nguNkulunkulu okhona sibili njalo uyasiqinisa nxa sisebunzimeni, aphinde adinge lamathuba okusisekela. (2 Imilan. 16:9; Hubo. 23:4) Ukukhumbula ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu ophilayo kungasinceda ukuthi simelane lezilingo ezingasehlela. Sizaxoxa ngokuthi ukukhumbula lokho kwayinceda njani iNkosi uDavida.

3. Wayesitshoni uDavida ngesikhathi esithi “uJehova uyaphila!”?

³ UDavida wayemazi uJehova futhi wayethembele kuye. Wakhuleka kuye ecela ukuthi amncedise ngesikhathi ehlaselwa yiNkosi uSawuli kanye lezinye izitha zakhe. (Hubo. 18:6) UNkulunkulu wathi esephendule umthandazo wakhe wamkhulula, uDavida wathi: “UJehova uyaphila!” (Hubo. 18:46) Evesini le kayisikho ukuthi uDavida wayevuma ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona nje. Elinye ibhuku elichasisa amaHubo lithi uDavida wayetshengisa ukuthi uyaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova “unguNkulunkulu ophilayo ohlala ezimisele ukunceda abantu bakhe.” Okwenzakala kuDavida kwakumtshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyaphila njalo lokho kwamnceda ukuthi azimisele ukumkhonza lokumdumisa.—Hubo. 18:​28, 29, 49.

4. Kusinceda njani ukubona uJehova enguNkulunkulu ophilayo?

 ⁴ Ukuqiniseka ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu ophilayo kuzasinceda ukuthi sikukhuthalele ukumkhonza. Kuzasinceda lokuthi sibe lamandla okuqinisela nxa sisebunzimeni njalo siqhubeke sisebenza nzima enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu. Kanti njalo kuzasinceda lokuthi sizimisele ukuhlala siseduze loJehova.

UNKULUNKULU OPHILAYO UZAKUQINISA

5. Kuyini okuzasinceda ukuthi singesabi nxa singehlelwa yizilingo? (UFiliphi 4:13)

⁵ Nxa singakhumbula ukuthi uJehova uyaphila lokuthi uhlala ezimisele ukusincedisa, sizenelisa ukumelana laloba yisiphi isilingo kungelani lokuthi sikhulu kangakanani. Akula bunzima obungehlula uNkulunkulu wethu. Phela unguSomandla futhi angasipha amandla okuthi siqinisele. (Bala uFiliphi 4:13.) Lokho kusinceda ukuthi singesabi nxa sisehlelwa yizilingo. Ukubona uJehova esincedisa nxa singehlelwa yizilingo ezincane kusinceda siqiniseke ukuthi uzasincedisa nxa singehlelwa yibunzima obukhulu.

6. Yiziphi izinto ezenzakala uDavida esakhula ezamnceda ukuthi amthembe kakhulu uJehova?

⁶ Cabanga ngezinto ezimbili ezenza uDavida wamthemba kakhulu uJehova. Ngesikhathi esakhula eselusa izimvu zikayise, kwathutsha isilwane sabamba imvu sahamba layo. Ngelinye ilanga kwabuya ibhere lenza okufananayo. UDavida waba lesibindi wazilandela inyamazana lezi wasethatha izimvu zikayise. Kodwa kazange azitshaye isifuba ngayekwenzile ngoba wayekwazi ukuthi uJehova nguye owayemncedisile. (1 Sam. 17:​34-37) UDavida kazange akukhohlwe okwenzakalayo. Ukucabangisisa ngezinto lezo kwamnceda wangathandabuzi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ophilayo wayezamqinisa ngesikhathi esizayo.

7. Kuyini uDavida ayecabanga ngakho futhi lokho kwamnceda njani ukuthi alwisane loGoliyathi?

⁷ Ngelinye ilanga uDavida wahamba enkambeni yamabutho ako-Israyeli njalo kumele ukuthi ngalesosikhathi wayengakafikisi iminyaka engu-20. Wathola amasotsha esebanjwe ngumhedehede ebona inkalakatha yendoda engumFilisti okuthiwa nguGoliyathi eyayilokhu isithi: “Ngiyaleyisa ibutho lako-Israyeli.” (1 Sam. 17:​10, 11) Okwakusenza amasotsha la esabe yikuthi ayecabanga kakhulu ngenkalakatha yendoda ayeyibona langalokho eyayikukhuluma iweyisa. (1 Sam. 17:​24, 25) Kodwa uDavida yena wayengacabangi ngezinto lezi. Wayebona okwakusenziwa nguGoliyathi kungasikweyisa ibutho lama-Israyeli kuphela kodwa kuyikweyisa “ibutho likaNkulunkulu ophilayo.” (1 Sam. 17:26) UDavida wayecabanga kakhulu ngoJehova. Wayekholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu owayemncedisile esesengumelusi wayezamncedisa lakhathesi. Walwisana laye uGoliyathi engathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzamsekela. Lakanye wanqoba!—1 Sam. 17:​45-51.

8. Kuyini okuzasenza singathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzasincedisa ngezikhathi zobunzima? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

⁸ Lathi singenelisa ukulwisana lezilingo nxa singakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu ophilayo uhlala ekulungele ukusincedisa. (Hubo. 118:6) Okuzasinceda ukuthi simthembe yikucabanga ngezinto asezenzile. Bala indaba eziseBhayibhilini ezizakukhumbuza indlela uJehova asindisa ngayo izinceku zakhe zakudala. (Isaya. 37:​17, 33-37) Okunye ongakwenza yikuhamba kuwebhusayithi yethu i-jw.org ubukele kumbe ubale ngezindaba ezitshengisa indlela uJehova asekela ngayo abafowethu labodadewethu lamuhla. Kanti njalo ungacabanga langendlela uJehova akuncedise ngazo empilweni yakho. Ungakhathazeki nxa engqondweni yakho kungafiki indlela emangalisayo  uJehova ake wakuncendisa ngayo, engabe ifanana lokulwa lebhere kumbe isilwane. Kungani kungamelanga kukukhathaze lokho? Mhlawumbe ungabe ungananzeleli indlela ezinengi uJehova akuncedise ngazo empilweni yakho. Phela ukudonsile ukuthi ube ngumngane wakhe. (Joh. 6:44) Kanti njalo nguye okuncedisileyo ukuthi uqhubeke useqinisweni kuze kube lamuhla. Yikho mcele akuncedise ukuthi ukhumbule izikhathi lapho aphendula khona imithandazo yakho, wakusekela ngesikhathi udinga uncedo kumbe wakuqinisa ngezikhathi zobunzima. Ukucabanga ngezikhathi lezo kuzakunceda ungathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzaqhubeka ekusekela.

9. Kuyini okumele sikukhumbule nxa sisebunzimeni? (IZaga 27:11)

⁹ Ukukholwa ukuthi uJehova nguNkulunkulu ophilayo kuzasinceda ukuthi singadani kakhulu nxa sisebunzimeni. Njani? Kuzasinceda sibone ukuthi lokho esizakwenza nxa siphakathi kwenhlupho kunganceda ukuthi uJehova aphendule uSathane. Phela uSathane uthi nxa singehlelwa yibunzima sizamtshiya uJehova. (Jobe. 1:​10, 11; bala iZaga 27:11.) Kodwa nxa singahlala siqotho kuJehova lanxa sisebunzimeni sizenelisa ukutshengisa ukuthi siyamthanda lokuthi uDeveli ulamanga. Mhlawumbe lapho ohlala khona uhulumende kalivumeli ukuthi likhonze likhululekile kumbe ungabe ulohlupho lwemali. Kungenzeka ukuthi bantu elibatshumayezayo kabafuni ukulalela njalo lawe ungabe ulezinye nje inhlupho. Nxa kunjalo, khumbula ukuthi ubunzima ophakathi kwabo bukunika ithuba lokuthi wenze inhliziyo kaJehova ithokoze. Khumbula lokuthi kasoze avume ukuthi ulingwe ngalokho ongeke wenelise ukukubekezelela. (1 Khor. 10:13) Uzakunika amandla okuthi uqinisele.

UNKULUNKULU OPHILAYO UZAKUNIKA UMVUZO

10. UNkulunkulu ophilayo uzabenzelani labo abamkhonzayo?

¹⁰ UJehova uyabanika umvuzo labo abamkhonzayo. (Heb. 11:6) Khathesi usenza sibe lokuthula futhi sisuthiseke njalo esikhathini esizayo uzasinika ukuphila okungapheliyo. Yikho  singahlala simthemba uJehova, siqiniseka ukuthi uyafuna sibili ukusipha umvuzo lokuthi ulawo amandla okwenza njalo. Lokho kuzasinceda ukuthi sihlale sisenza okunengi emsebenzini weNkosi njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu zakudala. Lokho yikho uThimothi ayekwenza.—Heb. 6:​10-12.

11. Kungani uThimothi wayesebenza nzima ebandleni? (u-1 Thimothi 4:10)

¹¹ Bala u-1 Thimothi 4:10. UThimothi wayethembele kuNkulunkulu ophilayo, yikho wayezimisele ukusebenza nzima. Wayekwenza njani lokho? Umphostoli uPhawuli wamkhuthaza ukuthi aqhubeke ethuthuka endleleni ayetshumayela ngayo layefundisa ngayo ebandleni. Kwakumele abe yisibonelo esihle kwamanye amaKhristu, abadala labancane. Kanti njalo wayephiwe leminye imisebenzi enzima egoqela ukukhuza abanye ebandleni kodwa lokho ekwenza ngothando. (1 Thim. 4:​11-16; 2 Thim. 4:​1-5) UThimothi wayeqiniseka ukuthi uJehova wayezamnika umvuzo lanxa ngezinye izikhathi abanye babengawuboni umsebenzi awenzayo kumbe bengawuqakathekisi.—Rom. 2:​6, 7.

12. Kuyini okunceda abadala ukuthi baqhubeke besebenza nzima emabandleni? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

¹² Lamuhla abadala bangaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyawubona umsebenzi omuhle abawenzayo lokuthi uyawuqakathekisa. Lanxa abadala belomsebenzi wokwelusa lokufundisa kanye lokutshumayela, abanengi babo bayancedisa emisebenzini yokwakha izakhiwo zenhlanganiso lokuncedisa abehlelwe ngumonakalo. Abanye bakumaqembu avakatshela izigulane kumbe kumaKhomithi Asebenzelana Lezibhedlela. Abadala abazinikela ukwenza imisebenzi le babona ibandla liyinhlanganiso kaJehova hatshi eyomuntu, yikho besenza imisebenzi yabo ngenhliziyo yonke futhi beqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzabanika umvuzo.—Kol. 3:​23, 24.

13. UJehova uzwa njani ngalokho esimenzela khona?

¹³ Lanxa kungayisithi sonke esingaba  ngabadala, kukhona esingakupha uJehova. UNkulunkulu wethu uyakuqakathekisa konke esikwenzayo ukuze simkhonze ngenhliziyo yonke. Uyayibona yonke iminikelo esiyenzayo ukuze sisekele umsebenzi womhlaba wonke kungelani lokuthi inganani. Uyathokoza nxa esibona siphakamisa isandla sifuna ukuphendula emihlanganweni lanxa silenhloni futhi kuyamthokozisa ukubona sithethelela abanye nxa besiphambanisele. Qiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyakuqakathekisa konke okwenzayo lanxa ubona angani kuncane. Uyakuthanda njalo uzakunika umvuzo.—Luk. 21:​1-4.

HLALA USEDUZE LONKULUNKULU OPHILAYO

14. Ukuhlala siseduze loJehova kuzasinceda njani ukuthi siqhubeke sithembekile? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

¹⁴ Nxa sikukholwa ukuthi uJehova ukhona sibili, kuzakuba lula ukuthi sihlale sithembekile kuye. Lokho yikho kanye okwenziwa nguJosefa, wala ukufeba. Wayekwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona futhi wayengafuni ukumdanisa. (Gen. 39:9) Nxa sifuna ukuba ngabangane bakaJehova, kumele sizinike isikhathi sokuthandaza kuye lokutaditsha iLizwi lakhe. Singenza njalo, ubungane bethu laye buzaqina. Nxa singalingisela uJosefa sihlale singabangane bakaJehova, kasisoze senze loba yini engamdanisa.—Jak. 4:8.

15. Sifundani kulokho okwenziwa ngama-Israyeli ngesikhathi esenkangala? (UHebheru 3:12)

¹⁵ Labo abakhohlwayo ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu ophilayo kungaba nzima ukuthi bahlale beqotho. Cabanga ngalokho okwenziwa ngama-Israyeli ngesikhathi esenkangala. Ayekwazi ukuthi uJehova ukhona kodwa aqalisa ukuthandabuza ukuthi wayezawanakekela, aze abuza athi: “UJehova uphakathi kwethu yini kumbe hatshi?” (Eks. 17:​2, 7) Ngemva kwalokho amhlamukela uNkulunkulu. Kasifuni ukulingisela isibonelo sawo esibi.—Bala uHebheru 3:12.

16. Kuyini okungenza kube nzima ukuthi siqhubeke sikholwa kuNkulunkulu?

¹⁶ Abantu esiphila labo benza kube nzima ukuthi sihlale siseduze loJehova. Abanengi bayakwala ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona. Izikhathi  ezinengi labo abangenzi okufunwa nguNkulunkulu bakhanya bephumelela. Lokhu kungenza kube nzima ukuthi siqhubeke sikholwa kuNkulunkulu. Lanxa singeke siphike ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona, singaqalisa ukuthandabuza ukuthi uzasincedisa. Umlobi weHubo 73 kwake kwamhlupha lokho. Wayebona abantu bengelandaba lemithetho kaNkulunkulu kodwa izinto ziqhubeka zibahambela kuhle. Lokho kwamenza wazibuza ukuthi kuyanceda yini ukuthi aqhubeke ekhonza uNkulunkulu.—Hubo. 73:​11-13.

17. Kuyini okuzasinceda ukuthi sihlale siseduze loJehova?

¹⁷ Kuyini okwanceda umhubi ukuthi alungisise indlela ayesecabanga ngayo? Wacabangisisa ngokwakuzakwenzakala kulabo abayekela ukuthemba uJehova. (Hubo. 73:​18, 19, 27) Wacabanga langezibusiso ezitholwa ngumuntu okhonza uJehova. (Hubo. 73:24) Lathi kungaba kuhle ukuthi sicabange ngezibusiso ezinengi uJehova asiphe zona lokuthi impilo yethu ibizakuba njani aluba besingamkhonzi. Lokho kuzasinceda ukuthi siqhubeke sithembekile kuJehova futhi silingisele umhubi owathi: “Ukusondela kuNkulunkulu kuhle kimi.”—Hubo. 73:28.

18. Kungani kungamelanga sesabe okuzakwenzakala esikhathini esizayo?

¹⁸ Singenelisa ukulwisana laloba yiziphi inhlupho ezingasehlela ezinsukwini lezi zokucina ngoba ‘siyizigqili zikaNkulunkulu ophilayo loweqiniso.’ (1 Thes. 1:9) UNkulunkulu wethu ukhona sibili futhi uyabancedisa labo abamkhonzayo. Kazange azitshiye izinceku zakhe zasendulo njalo lathi kasoze asitshiye. Sekuseduze ukuthi kube lokuhlupheka okukhulu emhlabeni. Kodwa kasisoze sidabule kukho sisodwa, uJehova uzabe elathi. (Isaya. 41:10) Kwangathi sonke ‘singaba lesibindi sokuthi: “UJehova ungumsizi wami, angisoze ngesabe.”’—Heb. 13:​5, 6.