1. Kungani kumele sizehlise kuJehova?

KUMELE sizehlise * kuJehova ngoba nguye uMdali wethu. Yikho ulelungelo lokusitshela okumele sikwenze lokungamelanga sikwenze. (Isam. 4:11) Kodwa esinye isizatho esiqakathekileyo esenza simlalele yikuthi unguMbusi ongcono kulabo bonke. Kusukela kudala ababusi abanengi bebesiba lamandla okubusa abanye. Kodwa bona batshiyene kakhulu loJehova ngoba yena unguMbusi ohlakaniphileyo, olothando, olesihawu njalo olomusa kulabo bonke.​—Eks. 34:6; Rom. 16:27; 1 Joh. 4:8.

2. UHebheru 12:9-11 ukhuluma ngaziphi izizatho ezenza sizehlise kuJehova?

² UJehova kafuni ukuthi isizatho esikhulu sokumlalela sibe yikwesaba ukumdanisa kodwa ufuna simlalele ngoba simthanda futhi simbona enguBaba osithandayo. Encwadini uPhawuli ayibhalela abaseHebheru wathi “sizehlise kakhulu kuBaba” ngoba indlela asiqeqetsha ngayo ‘inceda thina.’​—Bala uHebheru 12:9-11.

3. (a) Singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyazehlisa kuJehova? (b) Sizaxoxa ngayiphi imibuzo?

³ Sizehlisa kuJehova nxa sisenza okusemandleni ethu ukuthi simlalele kukho konke futhi silwisana lesifiso sokuzenzela umathanda. (Zaga. 3:5) Nxa singafunda okunengi ngobuntu bakhe kuzakuba lula ukuthi sizehlise kuye ngoba ubuntu lobu bukhanya kukho konke akwenzayo. (Hubo. 145:9) Singaqhubeka sifunda ngoJehova sizamthanda kakhulu. Nxa simthanda asisoze siyidinge imithetho  eminengi esitshela okumele sikwenze lokungamelanga sikwenze. Sizazama ukuthanda okuhle lokuzonda okubi njengoJehova. (Hubo. 97:10) Kodwa akulula ngaso sonke isikhathi ukulalela uJehova. Kungani kunjalo? Abadala bebandla, obaba labomama bangafundani kulokho okwenziwa nguMbusi uNehemiya, iNkosi uDavida kanye loMariya unina kaJesu? Imibuzo le izaphendulwa esihlokweni lesi.

4-5. Ngokwalokho okutshiwo kuRoma 7:21-23, kungani kungaba nzima ukuzehlisa kuJehova?

⁴ Esinye isizatho esenza kube nzima ukuthi sizehlise kuJehova yikuthi silesono. Yikho kwezinye izikhathi asifuni ukulalela uJehova. Ngesikhathi u-Adamu lo-Eva besidla isithelo okwakuthiwe bangasidli bazikhethela okuhle lokubi. (Gen. 3:22) Lalamuhla abantu abanengi balokhu bengafuni ukulalela uJehova, bazenzela umathanda.

⁵ Lalabo abamaziyo uJehova futhi abamthandayo kungabathwalisa nzima ukuzehlisa kuye ngokupheleleyo. Lokhu kwenzakala lakumphostoli uPhawuli. (Bala uRoma 7:21-23.) Lathi sifuna ukwenza izinto ezithokozisa uJehova njengoPhawuli. Kodwa kumele siqhubeke silwisana lesifiso sokwenza okubi.

6-7. Kuyini okunye okungenza kube nzima ukuthi sizehlise kuJehova? Nika isibonelo.

⁶ Okunye okungenza kube nzima ukuthi sizehlise kuJehova yindlela esakhuliswa ngayo kanye lomphakathi esakhulela kuwo. Indlela abantu abanengi abacabanga ngayo iyaphikisana lentando kaJehova. Yikho kumele siqhubeke sizama sibili ukuthi singacabangi njengabo. Ake sixoxe ngesibonelo esisodwa.

⁷ Kwezinye izindawo abasakhulayo bakhuthazwa ukuthi baxotshane lenotho. Udade okuthiwa nguMary * laye ngomunye owaba sesimeni esinjalo. Wafunda kwenye iyunivesithi edumileyo elizweni lakibo engakafundi ngoJehova. Abangakibo bazama ukumbamba ngamandla ukuthi adinge umsebenzi omnika imali enengi futhi owawuzamenza ahlonitshwe ngabanye. Laye wayekufuna lokhu. Kodwa uthe esefunde ngoJehova njalo esemthanda wantshintsha ayefuna ukukwenza. Lanxa kunjalo uthi: “Kwesinye isikhathi kuyavuleka amathuba okuthi ngenze imali enengi kodwa ngiyabe ngisazi ukuthi azangiphambanisa ekukhonzeni. Indlela engakhuliswa ngayo yenza kube nzima ukuthi ngale ukwenza imisebenzi le. Kuyabe sekumele ngicele uJehova angincedise ukuthi ngibalekele isilingo sokwamukela umsebenzi ozangiphambanisa ekukhonzeni.”​—Mat. 6:24.

8. Sizaxoxa ngani khathesi?

⁸ Sesibonile ukuthi kuyasinceda ukuzehlisa kuJehova. Kodwa labo abaphiwe amandla, ngokwesibonelo abadala bebandla, obaba labomama balesinye isizatho sokuthi bazehlise kuNkulunkulu. Phela bangabanceda abanye nxa besenza njalo. Khathesi asixoxeni ngezinye izibonelo eziseBhayibhilini ezingasinceda sibone ukuthi singawasebenzisa njani amandla esiwaphiweyo ngendlela ethokozisa uJehova.

9. Kuyini uNehemiya ahlangana lakho?

⁹ UJehova unike abadala bebandla umsebenzi oqakathekileyo wokwelusa abantu bakhe. (1 Phet. 5:2) Abadala  bangafunda okunengi endleleni uNehemiya aphatha ngayo abantu bakaJehova. UNehemiya wayelamandla sibili njengoba wayengumbusi koJuda. (Neh. 1:11; 2:7, 8; 5:14) Ake ucabange ngokunye ahlangana lakho. Wezwa ukuthi abantu babesenza izinto ezimbi ethempelini futhi bengalandeli lokho okwakutshiwo nguMthetho ukuthi banikele ukuze basekele amaLevi. AmaJuda ayengasawulaleli umthetho weSabatha njalo amanye amadoda ayesezithathele abafazi bezinye izizwe ezazingakhonzi uJehova. UMbusi uNehemiya kwasekumele alungise isimo esasikhona.​—Neh. 13:4-30.

10. UNehemiya wenzani esethole izinto zingamanga kuhle koJuda?

¹⁰ UNehemiya kawasebenzisanga kubi amandla akhe. Kazange abambe abantu ngamandla ukuthi balandele okufunwa nguye. Kodwa wakhuleka ngenhliziyo yonke kuJehova ecela ukuthi amncedise njalo wafundisa abantu uMthetho kaJehova. (Neh. 1:4-10; 13:1-3) Kanti njalo watshengisa ukuthi uthobekile ngokusebenza labantu ngitsho lalapho kusakhiwa kutsha imiduli yeJerusalema.​—Neh. 4:15.

11. U-1 Thesalonika 2:7, 8 uthi abadala kumele babaphathe njani abanye ebandleni?

¹¹ Lanxa abadala bengeke bakubone okwabonwa nguNehemiya bangamlingisela ngendlela ezinengi. Ngokwesibonelo, basebenza nzima ukuze bancede abafowabo labodadewabo futhi abaziboni bengcono kulabo ngenxa yamandla abawaphiweyo. Babaphatha kuhle abanye ebandleni. (Bala u-1 Thesalonika 2:7, 8.) Bakhuluma kuhle labo ngoba bathobekile futhi bayabathanda sibili. U-Andrew oselesikhathi eside engumdala uthi: “Sengananzelela ukuthi abafowethu labodadewethu bayamthanda umdala olomusa njalo okulula ukukhuluma laye. Kubalula ukuthi ibandla libambisane labadala abanje.” UTony, laye oselesikhathi eside engumdala uthi: “Ngiyazama ukusebenzisa iseluleko esikuFiliphi  2:3 futhi ngiyazama ngaso sonke isikhathi ukubona abanye bengcono kulami. Lokhu kuyanginceda ukuthi ngingababambi ngamandla ukuthi bangilalele.”

12. Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi abadala bazithobe?

¹² Abadala kumele bathobeke njengoJehova. Lanxa uJehova enguMbusi wendawo yonke ‘uyakhothama’ avuse “abampofu othulini.” (Hubo. 18:35; 113:6, 7) IBhayibhili liphinda lithi uyabazonda abazigqajayo labazikhukhumezayo.​—Zaga. 16:5.

13. Kungani kumele umdala ‘alubambe ulimi lwakhe’?

¹³ Umdala ozehlisayo kuJehova kumele ‘alubambe ulimi lwakhe.’ Engayekela ukwenza njalo angavuka ngolaka nxa edelelwa ngomunye. (Jak. 1:26; Gal. 5:14, 15) U-Andrew esike sakhuluma ngaye uthi: “Kwesinye isikhathi kuyabe kusithi ngimphendule kubi umfowethu loba udadewethu ongidelelayo. Kodwa ukucabangisisa ngezibonelo zamadoda athembekileyo okukhulunywa ngawo eBhayibhilini kungincede ngabona ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuthi ngithobeke futhi ngibe mnene.” Abadala batshengisa ukuthi bayazehlisa kuJehova nxa bekhuluma ngendlela elomusa lelothando labanye ebandleni kumbe labanye abadala.​—Kol. 4:6.

14. Yiwuphi umsebenzi uJehova awunike obaba njalo ukhangeleleni kubo?

¹⁴ UJehova unike obaba umsebenzi wokukhokhela imuli zabo yikho ukhangelele ukuthi baqeqetshe njalo balaye abantwababo. (1 Khor. 11:3; Efe. 6:4) Kodwa lokho akutsho ukuthi bangasebenzisa amandla abo ngaloba yiphi indlela abayifunayo. UJehova nguye owasungula imuli yikho obaba bazalandisa kuye ngendlela abaphatha ngayo imuli zabo. (Efe. 3:14, 15) Obaba batshengisa ukuthi bayazehlisa kuJehova ngokusebenzisa amandla abo ngendlela emthokozisayo. Kunengi abangakufunda ngokuhlola okwenziwa yiNkosi uDavida.

15. Kungani iNkosi uDavida iyisibonelo esihle kubobaba?

¹⁵ UDavida wayeyinhloko yemuli yakhe njalo uJehova wamenza waba yinhloko yesizwe sonke sako-Israyeli. UDavida wayelamandla amakhulu njengoba wayeyinkosi. Kwezinye izikhathi wayewasebenzisa kubi amandla akhe futhi wenza amaphutha amakhulu. (2 Sam. 11:14, 15) Kodwa watshengisa ukuthi uyazehlisa kuJehova wamukela iseluleko. Nxa wayekhuleka  wayemtshela indlela ayezizwa ngayo njalo wenza konke ayengakwenza ukuthi alalele iseluleko sikaJehova. (Hubo. 51:1-4) Kanti njalo wayethobeke okokuthi kazange alalele iseluleko esivela emadodeni kuphela kodwa walalela lesivela kwabesifazana. (1 Sam. 19:11, 12; 25:32, 33) UDavida wafunda emaphutheni akhe futhi waqakathekisa ukukhonza uJehova ukwedlula loba yini.

16. Obaba bangafundani kulokho okwenziwa nguDavida?

¹⁶ Obaba bangafundani kulokho okwenziwa yiNkosi uDavida? Ungawasebenzisi kubi amandla owaphiwe nguJehova. Vuma nxa uphambanisile futhi ulalele iseluleko esisekelwe eBhayibhilini osiphiwa ngabanye. Ungenza njalo imuli yakho izakuhlonipha ngoba uthobekile. Thulula isifuba sakho kuJehova nxa uthandaza lemuli yakho. Ungenza njalo izabona ukuthi uthembele kuye ukuthi akuncedise futhi akukhokhele. Okuqakatheke kakhulu okumele ukwenze yikufaka ukukhonza uJehova kuqala empilweni yakho. (Dute. 6:6-9) Isibonelo sakho esihle ngesinye sezipho eziligugu ongasinika imuli yakho.

17. UJehova unike omama umsebenzi onjani?

¹⁷ UJehova unike omama umsebenzi ohloniphekayo emulini kanye lamandla phezu kwabantwababo. (Zaga. 6:20) Okwenziwa ngumama lalokho akutshoyo ebantwaneni bakhe kungabanceda kumbe kubalimaze okwempilo yabo yonke. (Zaga. 22:6) Omama bangafundani kulokho okwenziwa nguMariya unina kaJesu?

18-19. Omama bangafundani kulokho okwenziwa nguMariya?

¹⁸ UMariya wayeyazi engayiphumputhi iMibhalo. Wayemhlonipha kakhulu uJehova futhi engumngane wakhe oseduze. Wayezimisele ukuzehlisa kuJehova lanxa lokho kwakuzayintshintsha impilo yakhe.​—Luk. 1:35-38, 46-55.

¹⁹ Bomama, kunengi elingakufunda kuMariya. Lingamlingisela njani? Okokuqala, taditsha iBhayibhili futhi ukhuleke sonke isikhathi uwedwa ukuze uqinise ubungane bakho loJehova. Okwesibili, zimisele ukuntshintsha indlela ophila ngayo ukuze uthokozise uJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, engxenye wakhuliswa ngabazali ababengalutho ukuzonda futhi ababelitshingela. Yikho ungabe wakhula uzitshela ukuthi le yiyo indlela yokukhulisa abantwana. Lanxa usufundile ukuthi uJehova ukhangelele ukuthi ubaphathe njani abantwabakho, kungaba nzima ukuthi ube lesineke futhi ubekezele ikakhulu  nxa bengakulaleli wena udiniwe. (Efe. 4:31) Ngezikhathi ezinje kuyabe sekumele ukhuleke kuJehova umcela ukuthi akuncedise. Umama okuthiwa nguLydia uthi: “Kwesinye isikhathi ngiyathandaza kuJehova ukuze ngingayitshingeli indodana yami nxa ingangilaleli. Ngiyake ngime ngisakhuluma ngikhulekele enhliziyweni ngicela ukuthi uJehova angincedise. Umthandazo uyanginceda ukuthi ngehlise umoya.”​—Hubo. 37:5.

20. Yiluphi uhlupho abanye omama abalalo futhi kuyini okungabanceda?

²⁰ Abanye omama bona bakubona kunzima ukutshengisa abantwababo ukuthi bayabathanda. (Tit. 2:3, 4) Abanengi babo bakhuliswa ngabazali ababengabatshengisi ukuthi bayabathanda. Kodwa lokhu akutsho ukuthi sekumele babakhulise njalo ababo abantwana. Umama ozehlisayo kuJehova kumele afunde ukutshengisa abantwabakhe ukuthi uyabathanda. Lanxa kungaba nzima ukuthi antshintshe indlela acabanga ngayo, azizwa ngayo layenza ngayo angenelisa ukuntshintsha. Lokhu kuzakwenza ukuthi yena lemuli yakhe bathokoze kakhulu.

21-22. Ngokwalokho okutshiwo ku-Isaya 65:13, 14, kunceda ngani ukuzehlisa kuJehova?

²¹ INkosi uDavida yayikwazi ukuthi ukuzehlisa kuJehova kuyanceda. Yabhala yathi: “Iziqondiso zikaJehova zilungile, ziletha ukuthokoza enhliziyweni. Imilayo kaJehova isobala, iletha ukukhanya emehlweni. Ngazo inceku yakho iyacetshiswa; ukuzilandela kulomvuzo omkhulu.” (Hubo. 19:8, 11) Lamuhla siyazibonela umehluko okhona phakathi kwabantu abazehlisa kuJehova labangafuni ukulalela iseluleko sakhe esilothando. Abazehlisa kuJehova ‘bahlabela ngentokozo yezinhliziyo zabo.’​—Bala u-Isaya 65:13, 14.

²² Nxa abadala bebandla, obaba labomama bezehlisa kuJehova bazaphila impilo engcono, izimuli zabo zithokoze futhi ibandla lonke limanyane kakhulu. Okuqakatheke kakhulu yikuthi bazathokozisa inhliziyo kaJehova. (Zaga. 27:11) Kambe kukhona okuthokozisa ukwedlula lokhu?