1. Kungani kumele siqinise ubuhlobo bethu loJehova?

UNGUFAKAZI kaJehova owazinikelayo wabhaphathizwa yini? Nxa kunjalo, uphethe igugu elimangalisayo. Igugu leli yibuhlobo bakho loNkulunkulu. Kodwa ubuhlobo lobu busengozini ngenxa yezinhlupho ezisemhlabeni kaSathane kanye lesono esazalwa silaso. Lokhu kuhlasela wonke amaKhristu. Yikho-ke ubuhlobo bethu loJehova kumele buhlale buqine kakhulu.

2. (a) Ungabuchaza njani ubuhlobo? (Khangela amabala angaphansi.) (b) Singabuqinisa njani ubuhlobo bethu loJehova?

² Buqine kangakanani ubuhlobo bakho loJehova? Uyafuna yini ukubuqinisa? Khangela ukuthi uJakhobe 4:⁠8 uthi kuyini ongakwenza. Uthi: ‘Sondela phansi kukaNkulunkulu laye uzasondela kuwe.’ Uyananzelela yini ukuthi kukhona okumele wena ukwenze, lalokho uJehova akwenzayo? * Nxa sizama ukuthi sisondele kuNkulunkulu, laye uyasondela phansi kwethu. Ubuhlobo bethu laye buqhubeka buqina kakhulu nxa sihlala sisenza izinto  ezingasisondeza kuye. Lokhu kuzakwenza ukuthi abe ngumngane wethu sibili, kube angani siyambona. Siyabe sesimazi kuhle kakhulu njengoJesu owathi: ‘Lowo ongithumileyo uqinisile, mina ngiyamazi.’ (Joh. 7:28, 29) Kodwa kuyini ongakwenza ukuze usondele phansi kukaJehova?

3. Singakhuluma njani loJehova?

³ Kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi sihlale sikhuluma loJehova nxa sifuna ukusondela kuye. Manje singakwenza njani lokhu? Nxa ulomngane wakho ohlala kwenye indawo ukhuluma laye njani? Mhlawumbe lihlala libhalelana kumbe likhuluma ngefoni. Ngakho-ke lawe nxa uhlala uthandaza kuJehova uyabe ukhuluma laye. (Bala iHubo 142:2.) Kanti njalo nxa ubala iLizwi lakhe, iBhayibhili, futhi ucabangisisa ngalokho okubalayo uyabe umvumela ukuthi akhulume lawe. (Bala u-Isaya 30:20, 21.) Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi siyakhuluma loJehova lokuthi laye uyakhuluma lathi. Ake sibone ukuthi lokhu kungabuqinisa njani ubuhlobo bakho laye.

4, 5. UJehova ukhuluma njani lawe esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe? Nika isibonelo.

⁴ Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uyavuma ukuthi iBhayibhili limumethe umlayezo kaNkulunkulu obhalelwe abantu bonke. Kodwa iBhayibhili liyakhuluma yini ngokuthi wena ngokwakho ungasondela njani phansi kukaJehova? Liyakutsho sibili. Njani? Nxa uhlala ubala iBhayibhili futhi ulitaditsha, nanzelela ukuthi uzizwa njani ngalokho okubalayo futhi ucabange ngokuthi ungakusebenzisa njani ekuphileni kwakho. Ungenza njalo, uyabe uvuma ukuthi uJehova akhulume lawe esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe, njalo lokhu kuzakwenza ukuthi libe ngabangane abakhulu.​—Heb. 4:12; Jak. 1:23-25.

⁵ Ngokwesibonelo, bala amazwi kaJesu aphathelane lokuthi ‘singazibutheli inotho emhlabeni’ ubusucabangisisa ngawo. Nxa ungabona ukuthi uyayiqakathekisa imisebenzi yoMbuso ukwedlula loba kuyini, uyabe ungani uyamuzwa uJehova ekuncoma. Kodwa ungananzelela ukuthi kusadingakala ukuthi udele ezinye izinto empilweni ukuze wenze okunengi enkonzweni, uJehova uyabe esekutshengise lapho okumele ulungisise khona ukuze usondele phansi kwakhe.​—Mat. 6:19, 20.

6, 7. (a) Ukubala iBhayibhili silizwisise kwenza ubuhlobo bethu loJehova bubenjani? Chaza. (b) Kungani kumele utaditshe?

⁶ Sesibonile ukuthi ukubala iMibhalo siyizwisise kuyasinceda sibili ukuthi sibone lapho okumele silungisise khona. Kodwa kuphinda kusincede lokuthi sizazi kuhle izindlela zakhe ezinhle besekusenza ukuthi simthande  kakhulu. Nxa indlela esimthanda ngayo iqhubeka ikhula, uJehova laye usuka asithande kakhulu, sibe ngamathe lolimi.​—Bala u-1 Khorinte 8:3.

⁷ Kodwa nxa sifuna ukuthi ukutaditsha kusisondeze kuJehova, kumele sikwazi ukuthi sitaditshelani. UJohane 17:3 uthi: “Yilokhu ukuphila okungapheliyo: ukuthi bakwazi wena, onguwe wedwa uNkulunkulu weqiniso.” Yikho-ke akumelanga ukuthi nxa sitaditsha inhloso yethu kube yikuthola ulwazi nje kuphela kodwa kumele sitaditshe ukuze ‘simazi’ kuhle uJehova.​—Bala u-Eksodusi 33:13; Hubo. 25:4.

8. (a) Ku-2 AmaKhosi 15:1-5, kuyini okungenza singayizwisisi indlela uJehova aphatha ngayo iNkosi u-Azariya? (b) Ukumazi uJehova kusinceda njani ukuthi singasoli indlela enza ngayo izinto?

⁸ Kuzakwenzakalani nxa sesimazi kuhle uJehova futhi esengumngane wethu? Kasisoze sikhathazeke kakhulu nxa kulendaba esiyibala eBhayibhilini kodwa singazwisisi ukuthi uJehova wakwenzelani okukhulunywa ngakho endabeni leyo. Ngokwesibonelo, wena uthini ngesijeziso uJehova asipha u-Azariya owayeyiNkosi yakoJuda? (2 AmaKho. 15:1-5) Phela u-Azariya waqhubeka ‘esenza ukulunga phambi kukaJehova’ lanxa ‘abantu babeqhubeka benikela imihlatshelo’ njalo ‘betshisela impepha’ ezindaweni zokukhonzela onkulunkulu bamanga. Kodwa “uJehova wehlisela iNkosi u-Azariya ubulephero eyabugula yaze yafa.” Ngenxa yani? Impendulo asiyitholi endabeni le. Manje lokhu kumele kusikhathaze yini? Kambe sekungasenza sicabange ukuthi uJehova waphongujezisa u-Azariya engenzanga lutho? Nxa sizazi kuhle izindlela zikaJehova asisoze sikwenze lokhu. Siyabe sikwazi lokuthi ukhuza “ngokufaneleyo” zonke izikhathi. (Jer. 30:11) Yikho-ke kasisoze sithandabuze ukuthi uJehova wamahlulela ngokufaneleyo u-Azariya lanxa singakwazi ukuthi wayemjeziselani.

9. Kuyini esikuthola kwamanye amavesi okwenza sizwisise ukuthi kungani uJehova wajezisa u-Azariya ngokumtshaya ngobulephero?

⁹ Lanxa kunjalo, indaba yeNkosi u-Azariya iyacaciswa kwamanye amavesi eBhayibhilini. INkosi u-Azariya yayibizwa langokuthi yiNkosi u-Uziya. (2 AmaKho. 15:7, 32) Endabeni eku-2 ImiLando 26:3-5, 16-21, sithola ukuthi u-Uziya wayesenza ukulunga phambi kukaJehova. Kodwa ngokuya kwesikhathi waqalisa “ukuziqhenya” futhi lokhu “kwamlethela incithakalo.” Wazama ukwenza umsebenzi wabaphristi ayengelalungelo lokuwenza. Abaphristi abangu-81 bajamelana laye bazama ukumkhuza. Wenzani esekhuziwe? ‘Wabathukuthelela’ kakhulu abaphristi. Lokhu kwatshengisa ukuthi wayeseliqhalaqhala sibili. Yikho uJehova wamjezisa ngokumtshaya ngobulephero.

10. Kungani kungamelanga sifune ukuchazelwa konke uJehova akwenzayo, njalo kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi singathandabuzi ukuthi izindlela zakhe zilungile?

¹⁰ Yiwuphi umcijo ovezwa lapha? Endabeni yeNkosi u-Azariya sesizwisisa ukuthi kungani uJehova wayijezisa inkosi le. Kodwa uzakwenzani nxa kuyikuthi akula enye indawo eBhayibhilini lapho okuyabe kucaciswa khona indaba oyabe uyibala? Uzahle umsole yini uNkulunkulu, uthi kahluleli kuhle? Uzacakubanga yini ukuthi iBhayibhili liphethe ulwazi olwaneleyo olusenza sikwazi ukuthi uJehova wenza okulungileyo ngaso sonke isikhathi lokuthi nguye okwaziyo ukuthi kuyini okulungileyo lokungalunganga? (Dute. 32:4) Nxa siqhubeka sisibamazi kuhle uJehova sizazithanda kakhulu izindlela zakhe njalo zizaqhubeka zisicacela okokuthi siyabe singasadingi ukuchazelwa konke akwenzayo. Woba leqiniso lokuthi ukutaditsha yikho okuzakwenza ukuthi uqhubeke uzwisisa njalo ucabangisisa ngendlela uNkulunkulu akhuluma ngayo lathi esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe asibhalele lona. (Hubo. 77:12, 13) Lokhu kuzakwenza ukuthi ube lobuhlobo  obuqinileyo loJehova, abe ngumngane wakho omkhulu.

11-13. Sikwazi njani ukuthi uJehova uyayilalela imithandazo? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

¹¹ Umthandazo uyasisondeza kuJehova. Siyabe simdumisa, simbonga futhi simcela ukuthi asikhokhele kukho konke esikwenzayo. (Hubo. 32:8) Kodwa nxa ufuna ukuthi ubuhlobo bakho loJehova buqine kumele ukholwe ukuthi uyayizwa imithandazo.

¹² Abanye abantu bacabanga ukuthi umthandazo yindlela nje yokuthoba ingqondo nxa ukhathazekile. Bathi bona uyabe ucabanga ukuthi umthandazo wakho uphenduliwe, kodwa okuyabe kwenzakele yikuthi nxa uthandaza uyabe ukhulume ngento ekukhathazayo, wabona ukuthi uhlupho lungaphi, wasuzimisela ukuthola indlela ongalulungisisa ngayo. Kuliqiniso ukuthi umthandazo ungakunceda ngezindlela lezi. Kodwa ungakwazi njani ukuthi uJehova uyabe elalele sibili nxa uthandaza?

¹³ Nanku okungakunceda: UJesu esezulwini wazibonela ngawakhe ukuthi uJehova wayeyiphendula njani imithandazo yabantu bakhe abasemhlabeni. Eselapha emhlabeni, wayethandaza nxa wayefuna ukutshela uYise osezulwini indlela ayezizwa ngayo. Phela ngelinye ilanga wathandaza ubusuku bonke. (Luk. 6:12; 22:40-46) Waphinda wafundisa labalandeli bakhe ukuthi bathandaze njani. Kambe wayezazihluphelani ngokwenza konke lokhu nxa wayecabanga ukuthi uJehova kayilaleli imithandazo? Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi uJesu wayekwazi ukuthi ukuthandaza yikukhuluma loJehova sibili. Ngelinye ilanga uJesu wathi: “Baba ngiyakubonga ukuthi ungizwile. Mina bengisazi ukuthi uhlala ungizwa.” Lathi singaba lethemba lokuthi uJehova ‘uyayizwa imithandazo.’​—Joh. 11:41, 42; Hubo. 65:2.

14, 15. (a) Kungasinceda ngani ukuthi nxa sithandaza singakhekhelezi? (b) Ukuthandaza kwamnceda njani uKathy ukuthi abe lobuhlobo obuqinileyo loJehova?

¹⁴ Nxa ungakhekhelezi futhi umtshela konke okufunayo uJehova, uzabona ukuthi uyawuphendula umthandazo wakho lanxa kwezinye izikhathi kuyabe kungekho egcekeni ukuthi ukuphendule njani. Ukubona ukuthi uJehova uyayiphendula imithandazo yakho kuzakwenza ukuthi abe ngumngane wakho  okokuthi kuyabe kungani uyambona. Kanti njalo nxa ungahlala umtshela konke okukuhluphayo, laye uzasondela kakhulu kuwe.

¹⁵ Ake sixoxe ngoKathy. * Wayehamba sibili ekutshumayeleni kodwa wayengayikholisi inkonzo. Uthi: “Ngangingakuthandi ngitsho ukutshumayela. Ngathi sengitshiye umsebenzi omunye umdala webandla wangitshela ukuthi ulethemba lokuthi ngizakuba liphayona lesikhathi sonke; waze wangiqhubela lefomu lokuphayona. Lakanye ngabuthatha ubuphayona, ngaqalisa lokuthandaza nsuku zonke ngicela ukuthi uJehova angincedise ukuthi ngikuthande ukutshumayela.” UJehova wayiphendula yini imithandazo yakhe? UKathy uqhubeka esithi: “Sengileminyaka emithathu ngiphayona. Ukuya enkonzweni zikhathi zonke kanye lokubona ukuthi abanye odadewethu benza njani kungincede ukuthi kancane kancane ngenelise ukutshumayela ngendlela engcono. Khathesi sengiyithanda kakhulu inkonzo. Okungithokozisayo ukwedlula konke yikuthi khathesi sengiseduze kakhulu loJehova.” Siyabona-ke ukuthi imithandazo kaKathy yamnceda ukuthi abe lobuhlobo obuqinileyo loJehova.

16, 17. (a) Kuyini esingakwenza ukuze ubuhlobo bethu loJehova buhlale buqinile futhi bukhula? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁶ Kumele siqhubeke sisebenza gadalala okwempilo yethu yonke ukuze sibe lobuhlobo obuqinileyo loNkulunkulu. Sibonile ukuthi kufanele senze izinto ezizasisondeza kuJehova nxa sifuna ukuthi laye asondele kithi. Yikho-ke kasizameni ngazo zonke izindlela ukuthi sihlale sikhuluma loNkulunkulu ngokufunda iBhayibhili kanye lokuthandaza. Nxa siqhubeka siqinisa ubuhlobo bethu loJehova, uzasincedisa ukuthi senelise ukulwisana lezilingo.

¹⁷ Kodwa okungasikhathaza kakhulu yikubona izinhlupho zethu zingasapheli lanxa siyabe sithandaza ngenhliziyo yonke. Lokhu kungenza ukuthi sicine singasamthembi kangako uJehova. Singacina sesizibuza ukuthi kambe uyayizwa yini imithandazo yethu lokuthi usasibona singabangane bakhe yini. Pho nxa sekunje singenzani ukuze singathandabuzi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulokhu engumngane wethu? Lokhu sizaxoxa ngakho esihlokweni esilandelayo.