1, 2. (a) Ngiwuphi umvuzo iinkhonzi zakaZimu eziqale phambili kiwo? (b) Yini esisiza sihlale sikhumbula umvuzo? (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.)

NJENGOMPOSTOLI uPowula, amaKrestu azesiweko namhlanjesi anelungelo ‘lokuzuza umvuzo wokubizwa kwezulwini okungekwakaZimu.’ (Flp. 3:14) Baqale phambili ekukhonzeni noJesu Krestu emBuswenakhe wezulwini begodu bahlanganyele naye ekususeni isono ebantwini. (IsAm. 20:6) Kwamambala, lesi sisabelo esihle ababizelwe nguZimu bona bahlanganyele kiso! Ezinye izimvu zinethemba elihlukileko. Ziqale phambili ekuzuzeni umvuzo wokuphila okungapheliko ephasina, akhusuthi uyaqala bona lithemba elithabisa kangangani lelo!—2 Pit. 3:13.

² UPowula wakhuthaza amaKrestu bona ahlale athembekile, afumane umvuzo ngokutjho naka amezwi: “Bekani imikhumbulwenu ezintweni zezulwini” (Kol. 3:2) Bekufuze bahlale balikhumbula ithemba labo okulilifa lokuyokuphila ezulwini. (Kol. 1:4 5) Ukucabanga ngeembusiso uJehova azithembisako kusiza iinkhonzi zakhe zihlale ziwukhumbula umvuzo obekwe phambi kwazo,  kungathaliseki bona banethemba lokuyokuphila ezulwini namkha ephasini.—1 Kor. 9:24.

3. UPowula wawayelelisa ngaziphi iingozi amaKrestu?

³ UPowula wabuye godu wayelelisa amaKrestu ngeengozi ezingabalahlekisela umvuzwabo. Ngokwesibonelo, nakatlolela ibandla leKolose malungana namaKrestu wamanga ebekalinga ukuzuza umusa kaZimu ngokulalela umThetho kunokobana bawuzuze ngokukholwa kwabo kuKrestu. (Kol. 2:16-18) UPowula wakhuluma godu nangeengozi esizibonako nathi nje ezingasilahlekisela umvuzo. Ngokwesibonelo, wakhuluma ngokuthi singazibalekela njani iimfiso ezisilapheleko, silungise iinkinga ezingavela hlangana kwethu nabanakwethu nokuqalana neentjhijilo zomndeni. Isiyeleliso sakhe ngeendabezi siqakathekile nakithi namhlanjesi. Akhesihlolisise iinyeleliso zethando ezifumaneka encwadini ayitlolela beKolose.

4. Kubayini iimfiso ezisisono zingasilahlekisela umvuzo?

⁴ Ngemva kokukhumbuza abafowabo ngethemba labo elihle, uPowula wathi: “Nje-ke bulalani koke okukini okungekwemvelo yephasini: ubudzewuri, ukusilaphala, ikanuko, iimfiso ezimbi nobumarhamaru.” (Kol. 3:5) Iimfiso ezisisono zinamandla tle! Zinjalo nje zingasilahlekisela ngobuhlobo bethu noZimu. Omunye umzalwana okhewaba neemfiso zesono bewasuswa nebandleni, naku akutjhoko ngemva kokubuyela kwakhe ebandleni, uthi: “Ngadoswa sifiso esinamandla khulu kangangobana akhenge ngikghone ukulisa ebengikwenza bengazifumana sele ngivela ngehloko esonweni.”

5. Singazivikela njani ebujamweni obuyingozi?

⁵ Kufuze sibutjheje khulu ubujamo obungasenza singayihloniphi ikambisolawulo kaJehova yokuziphatha. Ngokwesibonelo, Kukuhlakanipha ngabantu ababili abathembisene umtjhado bona babeke umthetho zisuka nje ukuthi angeze bathintana, bamangane, namkha babe bodwa emsithelweni. (IzA. 22:3) Ubujamo obuyingozi bokuziphatha bungavela nalokha umKrestu akhambe ngebanga lomsebenzi namkha nakufuze asebenze nomuntu wengubo namkha wembaji. (IzA. 2:10-12, 16) Nakungenzeka uzifumane ebujamwenobu, ziveze ukuthi unguFakazi kaJehova, ziphathe ngendlela ehloniphekileko begodu ukhumbule ukuthi ukuganukeja kungaletha imiphumela emimbi neyingozi. Singazifumana silingeka nalokha sigandelelekile begodu sibogaboga. Eenkhathinezo, singazifumana sesifuna umuntu ozosenza sikhohlwe esiqalene nakho asenze sizizwe sitlhogwa. Singazifumana sigandeleleke khulu ngokomzwelo kangangobana sifune ukutjhidelana nananyana ngubani. Nakungenzeka kuwe, ungazazi nakancane, tjhidela kuJehova nabantu bakhe, ubabawe bakusize ungalahlekelwa mvuzo.—Funda iRhubo 34:18; IzAga 13:20.

6. Nasikhetha zokuzithabisa, yini okufuze sihlale siyikhumbula?

⁶ Ukubulala iimfiso ezisisono kutlhoga bona sibalekele zokuzithabisa ezisilapheleko. Zokuzithabisa zanamhlanjesi zifana khulu nezangesikhathi seSodoma neGomora lakadeni. (Jud. 7) Abadosi phambili bezokuzithabisa bafundisa abantu ukuthi zomseme ezisisono azinamraro begodu zamukelekile, zibafaka nomkhumbulo wokuthi azinayo imiphumela emimbi. Angekhe sazikhohlisa, sithabele nanyana ngikuphi ukuzithabisa esinikelwa khona. Kufuze sikhethe zokuzithabisa engekhe zatjhidisa ilihlo lethu emvuzweni wokuphila.—IzA. 4:23.

7. Ngimiphi imiraro engavela ebandleni lobuKrestu?

⁷ Soke sizovuma ukuthi ukuba yingcenye yebandla lobuKrestu kusibusiso. Ifundo esiyifumana eliZwini lakaJehova nasisebandleni, ithando nesekelo labanakwethu, ngikho okusisiza bona singawasusi amehlwethu emvuzweni. Nanyana kunjalo, ngezinye iinkhathi ukungaboni ngokufana kuyavela kubangele bona amalunga webandla abe namavunda. Nasingayilungisi msinyana imiraro le, ingagcina sele iphenduke ihloyo.—Funda 1 Pitrosi 3:8, 9.

8, 9. (a) Ngibuphi Ubuntu obuzosisiza sifumane umvuzo wokuphila? (b) Yini engasisiza sibulunge ukuthula nakhibe akhenge sibone ngokufanako nomunye umKrestu?

⁸ UPowula wakhuthaza beKolose, wathi: “Yeke njengabakhethiweko bakaZimu, abacwengileko nabathandekako, yembathani isirhawu, ukulunga, ukuthobeka, ubumnene nokubekezela. Bekezelelanani nakube omunye uneensolo ngomunye; libalelanani njengombana neKosi yanilibalela, iye nani kumele nilibalele. Ngaphezu kwakho koke lokhu, zembathiseni ngethando lona elibopha koke ndawonye kuzwane.”—Kol. 3:12-14.

⁹ Ithando nobumnene kungasisiza silibalelane. Ngokwesibonelo, Nasizwa ngasuthi silinyazwe mamezwi namkha zizenzo zomKrestu esikunye naye ebandleni, singalinga ukukhumbula iinkhathi nathi esenza namkha sakhuluma kumbi ngazo. Kghani alisithabisi na ithando nobumnene abanakwethu abasitjengisa khona ngokuthi bangasikhumbuzi ngobutjhapho bethu? (Funda uMtjhumayeli 7:21, 22.) Khulukhulu sithokoza umusa kaKrestu ngokusihlanganisa ekukhulekeleni kwamambala obunobunye. (Kol 3:15) Soke silotjha uZimu munye, sitjhumayela ngomlayezo munye begodu siqalana neentjhijilo epheze zifane. Nasilibalelana omunye nomunye, sisuke sithuthukisa ubunye bobuKrestu begodu sihlala siqale phambili emvuzweni wokuphila.

10, 11. (a) Kubayini ukuba nomona kuyingozi? (b) Singakubalekela njani ukuthi umona usenze singawufumani umvuzo wethu?

¹⁰ Iimbonelo ezisilemukisako eziseBhayibhelini zisikhumbuza ukuthi ubumarhamaru bungasilahlekisela umvuzo. Ngokwesibonelo, uKayini wafela umfowabo u-Abela umona wambulala. UKhorarhi, uDatani, no-Abiramu bamonakalela uMosi bamphikisa kabuhlungu. IKosi uSawula nayo yaba nomona ngepumelelo kaDavida yafuna ukumbulala. Ngikho iliZwi lakaZimu lithi: “Lapha kunomona nomrhobholo khona, kuzokuba khona ihlangahlangano nazo zoke izenzo zobukhohlakali.”—Jak. 3:16.

¹¹ Nasihlawulela ithando nomusa eenhliziyweni zethu angeze kwaba bulula ukuthi sibe nomona. IliZwi lakaZimu lithi: “Ithando liyabekezela . . . Alinamona.” (1 Kor. 13:4) Nasifuna ukuthi umona ungabi nomrabhu eenhliziyweni zethu kufuze silwe ngamandla bona siqale izinto njengoZimu, siqale abazalwana nabodade njengamalunga womzimba wobuKrestu. Lokho kuzosenza sizwisise indlela abazizwa ngayo, nasenza njalo sizabe sivumelana nesinqophiso esithi, “nangabe isitho esisodwa siyahlonitjhwa, zoke ezinye zithaba naso.” (1 Kor. 12:16-18, 26) Kunokuthi sibe nomona sizokuthaba abanye nabafumana iimbusiso. Cabanga ngesibonelo sakaJonathani indodana yeKosi uSawula. Akhenge abe nomona ngesikhathi uDavida abekwa bona babe yindlalifa esihlalweni sobukhosi. Kunalokho kwamkhuthaza. (1 Sam. 23:16-18) Singalihlawulela na ithando elinjengelakaJonathani?

12. Ngisiphi isinqophiso seBhayibheli okufuze senze ngokuvumelana naso nasizakufumana unongorwana simndeni?

¹² Ukwenza ngokuvumelana neenkambiso zeBhayibheli kuzokuletha ukuthula nethabo emndenini bekunisize ufumane unongorwana. UPowula wayinikela siphi isinqophiso imindeni yeKolose? Uyatjho uthi: “Bafazi, thobelani amadoda wenu ngombana kuyifanelo yenu eKosini. Madoda, thandani abafazi benu, ningabakhahlamezi. Bantwana, lalelani ababelethi benu kikho koke ngombana lokho kuyayithokozisa iKosi. Bobaba, ningabathukuthelisi abantwana benu, khona bangazukudana.” (Kol. 3:18-21) Nawe uzokuvuma ukuthi ukwenza ngokuya ngokwesinqophiso sakaPowula esiphefumulelweko kungawazuzisa nanje amadoda, abafazi nabantwana.

13. Udade omKrestu angayisiza njani indodakwakhe engakholwako?

¹³ Kuthiwani nangabe uthethwe kodwana uzizwa indodakwakho engakholwako ingakuphathi ngendlela efaneleko? Nawusolo unghonghoyila ngendlela indodakwakho engakuphathi kuhle ngayo, buzokuba ngcono na ubujamo? Nanyana ungakghona uyemenza bona enze izinto wena ozifunako, uzokukghona na ukuyenza athande iqiniso? Mancani amathuba wokuthi lokho kungenzeka. Kodwana nawungahlonipha ilungiselelo lobuhloko, uzokuba nesandla ekuthuleni komndenakho, uzabe udumisa uJehova begodu kungenzeka usize indodakwakho bona ithande ukulotjha uJehova ngeqiniso,  wena nayo niba semathubeni wokufumana unongorwana.—Funda 1 Pitrosi 3:1, 2.

14. Yini ekufuze amadoda amaKrestu eyenze nangabe abomkabo abangakholwako abawahloniphi?

¹⁴ Alo kuthiwani nawuyindoda uzizwa kwanga umkakho akakuhloniphi? Ungamenza na bona akuhloniphe ngokuthi umthethise ufune ukumtjengisa ukuthi ngubani olawulako? Awa angeze kwasiza lokho! UZimu ulindele bona usebenzise ubuhloko bakho ngethando ulingise uJesu. (Efe. 5:23) UJesu wasebenzisa ubuhloko bakhe ebandleni ngethando nangokubekezela. (Luk. 9:46-48) Ngokulandela isibonelo sakaJesu indoda ingasiza umkayo bona alotjhe uZimu ngeqiniso.

15. Indoda emKrestu imtjengisa njani umkayo ukuthi iyamthanda?

¹⁵ Amadoda ayatjelwa: “thandani abafazi benu, ningabakhahlamezi.” (Kol. 3:19) Indoda ethanda umkayo iyamlalela nakakhulumako ibe imqinisekise ngokuthi iyayithokoza akucabangako. (1 Pit. 3:7) Ngitjho nanyana ingekhe yenze nananyana yini ayitjhoko, kodwana akutjhoko kuyisiza ifikelele esiquntweni esivuthiweko. (IzA. 15:22) Indoda enethando isebenza ngamandla ukuthi ifumane ihlonipho kumkayo kunokuthi ifune ukuhlonitjwa ngekani. Indoda ethanda umkayo nabantwabayo kanengi iba nomndeni olotjha uJehova ngethabo begodu ithumba inongorwana wepilo.

16, 17. Nawumumuntu omutjha ungakubalekela njani ukuthi ubasilingekele ngokudluleleko ababelethi bakho?

¹⁶ Akhesithi umumuntu omutjha begodu uzizwa kwanga ababelethi bakho abamaKrestu abakuzwisisi bebakubekela nemithetho eqine khulu. Ukusilingeka kwakho kungakwenza uzizwe kwanga ukulotjha uJehova akusisiqunto esihle. Kodwana nawuvumela ukusililngeka kukwenze ulise ukulotjha uJehova, ingasi kade uzokubona ukuthi akekho omunye umuntu onendaba nawe ngokusuka ehliziyweni ukudlula ababelethi bakho abahlonipha uZimu nebandla.

¹⁷ Ngathana ababelethi bakho bebangazange khebakukhalime solo kwaba ngibo, bewungekhe wazibuza ukuthi bayakuthanda na? (Heb. 12:8) Alo kuthiwani nangabe indlela ababelethi bakho abakukhalima ngayo ngiyo ekusilingako? Kunokuthi usilingwe yindlela abakukhalima ngayo, linga ukubona ukuthi kungenzeka kunonobangela obenza benze ngendlela abenza ngayo. Yeke yehlisa ummoya, wenze koke okusemandlenakho ukuthi ungasiligwa kukhalinywa. IliZwi lakaZimu lithi? “Owazi ilwazi ulonda amezwakhe nonommoya ophasi umumuntu ozwisisako.” (IzA. 17:27) Umgomwakho awube kukuthi ube mumuntu ovuthiweko othatha isiyeleliso kuhle, isiyelelisweso sikuzuzise ngaphandle kobana utshwenyeke ngokuthi sinikelwe njani. (IzA. 1:8) Kusibusiso ukuba nababelethi abamthanda ngeqiniso uJehova. Ungaqiniseka ukuthi bazokufuna ukukusiza ufumane unongorwana wepilo.

18. Kubayini uzimisele ukudzimelelise amehlwakho kunongorwana?

¹⁸ Unongorwanethu uyathabisa kwamambala kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ukuphila okunganakufa ezulwini namkha ukuphila okungapheliko ephasini eliyipharadesi. Kulithemba eliqinisekisiweko, isithembiso esenziwe Mbumbethu ngokwakhe. UZimu nakakhuluma ngePharadesi elizokuba sephasina uthi, “iphasi lizakuzala ilwazi [lakaJehova].” (Isa. 11:9) Woke umuntu ophila ephasini uzabe afundiswa nguZimu. Lowo ngungorwana ekufuze silwe ngamandla bona siwufumane. Yeke beka umkhumbulwakho kilokho uJehova akuthembisileko begodu ungavumeli litho likwenze ungawufumani unongorwana lo!