1. Nasizakulotjha uZimu ngefanelo khuyini esiyitlhogako? Begodu sikutjho ngaliphi?

UJESU wakhe wathi: “Abalotjha ngeqiniso bazokulotjha uBaba ngommoya nangeqiniso, ngombana kwamambala, uBaba ufuna ukulotjhwa babantu abanjalo.” (Jwanisi 4:23; 6:44) Ngalokho-ke, umuntu kufuze ‘aragele phambili aqiniseke ukuthi khuyini okwamukelekako eKosini.’ (Efesu 5:10) Nokho akusilula ukwenza njalo. USathana ulinga ngakho koke ukusiphambanisa iinhloko sigcine sesenza izinto ezidanisa uJehova.—IsAmbulo 12:9.

2. Hlathulula okwenzeka eNtabeni yeSinayi.

² USathana ulinga ukusihlahlathisa ngayiphi indlela? Kanengi uyasididanisa singasazi ukuthi ngikuphi okulungileko nokungakalungi. Singakhumbula isehlakalo esenzeka esitjhabeni sama-Israyeli eNtabeni yeSinayi. Ngesikhathi uMosi anyukele entabeni abantu bebasolo bamlindile. Wariyada ukubuya abantu nabo besebadinwe kulinda. Ekugcineni babawa u-Aroni bonyana abenzele uzimu. U-Aroni wabenzela ikunzana yegolide. Kwasuka imbedla yomnyanya, abantu bathoma ukulotjha ikunzana leyo ngapha bajida. Bona-ke bebathi bayiphethe khona, nganingoba  bathi bagidinga ‘umnyanya’ kaJehova. Kodwana isenzwesi bekuyinto engakalungi nakancani. KuJehova isenzwesi besikulotjha iinthombe, kangangokuthi inengi lafa. (Eksodusi 32:1-6, 10, 28) Thina-ke sifundani kilokhu? Singathomi ‘sithinte okungakahlambuluki.’ Asivumeleni uJehova asifundise ukuthi okuhle nokumbi sikubona ngani?—Isaya 52:11; Hezekiyeli 44:23; Galatiya 5:9.

3, 4. Kuqakatheke ngani ukuhlolisisa imisuka yeminyanya?

³ Nakasephasini uJesu, wabandula abapostoli bakhe endabeni yokulotjha okucwengileko. Ngemva kokufa kwakhe, baraga nayo njalo abapostoli bafundisa abafundi abatjha ngeenkambisolawulo zakaJehova. Isikhathi sakhamba njalo nabapostoli bahlongakala. Zangena njalo-ke iimfundiso ezimamala ebandleni, kwangena imibono ephambeneko, amasiko woburhedeni kunye neminyanya yakhona. Eminye yeminyanya le bayipha namabizo amatjha ukwenzela ukuthi imukeleke ebuKrestwini. (2 Thesalonika 2:7, 10; 2 Jwanisi 6, 7) Inengi layo iminyanya le, lisadumile bekube kunamhlanjesi begodu ayikhambi yodwa, ithuthukisa iinkolelo ezimamala kunye nobudimoni. *—IsAmbulo 18:2-4, 23.

⁴ Bekube kunamhlanjesi iminyanya namaholideyi kudlale indima ekulu emaphilweni wabantu. Kodwana njengombana isikhathi sikhamba uzokufunda indlela uJehova ayiqala ngayo iminyanya le. Lokho kungenza nawe wenze amatjhuguluko. Nokho angeze kwaba lula, kodwana qiniseka ukuthi uJehova  uzokusiza. Akhesihlole imisuka yeminyanya le besithole nokuthi uJehova uzizwa njani ngayo.

5. Sazi njani ukuthi uJesu akhenge abelethwa ngoDisemba 25?

⁵ Eenarheni ezinengi umnyanya kaKresimusi ugidingwa ngoDisemba 25. Nabantu abanengi bacabanga ukuthi lilanga lakaJesu lamabeletho. Akukho lapho iBhayibheli ikhuluma khona ngelanga namkha ngenyanga uJesu abelethwa ngayo. Kodwana kukhona ekutjhoko ngesikhathi esithileko somnyaka. ULukasi nakakhuluma ngendaba le, wathi uJesu wabelethelwa eBhethelehema “bekunabelusi abahlala ngaphandle” bagade imihlambabo. (Lukasi 2:8-11) Ngenyanga kaDisemba, iBhethelehema isuke imakhaza, liyana belikhithike. Ngalokho-ke abelusi bengeze bahlala ngaphandle ebusuku nemihlambabo. Alo sifundani endabeni le? Ngesikhathi ekwabelethwa ngaso uJesu ubujamo bezulu bebupholile begodu bekungasiyo inyanga kaDisemba. Godu iBhayibheli kunye nomlando kuyayifakazela indaba le, kungenzeka wabelethwa hlangana nenyanga kaSeptemba namkha ku-Oktoba.

6, 7. (a) Amasiko akhambisana noKresimusi avelaphi? (b) Ukuphana ngezipho sikwenza ngaliphi ibanga?

⁶ Alo uKresimusi wavelaphi? Wasuselwa emnyanyeni wamaqaba. Umnyanya lo, bekungowamaRoma bawususela kuzimu wezokulima. Enye incwadi ithi: “AmaRoma bewaphele enze isidlo bewagidinge nomnyanya lo phakathi kwakaDisemba. Ngelanga lakaKresimuselo bekuzokurhatjiswa kwenziwe namasiko wakhona. Bekuba nokudla okuphuma phambili, abantu  baphane izipho, kukhanyiswe namakeresi.” Nomnyanya wokugidingwa kwamabeletho kwakazimu wamaPheresiya owaziwa ngozimu welanga, nawo bewufakwa hlangana nelanga lakaDisemba 25.

⁷ Kinanyana ngikuphi, abantu abanengi nabagidinga uKresimusi akubafikeli nakancani emkhumbulweni ukuthi lo, msuka woburhedeni. Basuke baqale phambili ekuzigidingeleni uKresimusi njengesikhathi sokuba nemindeni kudliwe kamnandi bekuphanwe nezipho. Yinto ehle ukuthanda imindeni nabangani,  noJehova kuyamthabisa ukubona iinceku zakhe ziphana izipho. Kunjengokutjho kwebe-2 Korinte 9:7 nayithi, “UZimu uthanda umuphi othabileko.” UJehova akakalindeli ukuthi sibe nelanga elikhethekileko lokugulegana ngezipho. Abantu bakaJehova bahlala baphana izipho bagidinge nobudlelwana babo neenhlobo nabangani kesinye nesinye isikhathi bebangalindeli ukubuyiselwa litho. Ukuthandana kwabo kubenza baphane.—Lukasi 14:12-14.

8. Izazi zamgulega na uJesu asese lisana? Hlathulula.

⁸ Abantu abanengi nabasekela umbono wokuphana ngezipho ngelanga lakaKresimusi bathi, indaba le solo yathoma ngezazi ezalethela isana elinguJesu izipho ngesitebeleni. Kuliqiniso akhona amadoda eza azokubona uJesu abe amgulega nangezipho. Bekuyinto ejayelekileko emihleni yeBhayibheli ukulethela umuntu okhethekileko isipho. (1 AmaKhosi 10:1, 2, 10, 13) Kodwana bewazi ukuthi iBhayibheli ithi amadoda la bewaphengula ngeenkwekwezi, abuye abe bosomlingo? Abantu abanjalo-ke bebangamlotjhi uJehova. Begodu akhenge beze ngelanga uJesu abelethwa ngalo. Bamkweriyela ‘sekamntwana’ ononyaka ubudala.—Matewu 2:1, 2, 11.

9. EBhayibhelini kukhulunywa ngamiphi iminyanya yokugidinga ilanga lamabeletho?

⁹ Ilanga lokubelethwa komntwana liyathabisa. (IRhubo 127:3) Nanyana kunjalo lokho akutjho ukuthi kufuze ligidingwe. Akhucabange ngalokhu: IBhayibheli likhuluma ngeminyanya emibili yokugidinga ilanga lamabeletho. Elinye ngeleKosi yeGibhida uFaro,  elinye ngeleKosi uHerode. (Funda uGenesisi 40:20-22; Markosi 6:21-29.) Bobabili ababusaba bebangamlotjhi uJehova. Nalokha nasifunda iBhayibheli akukho lapha itjho khona ukuthi kunomuntu okhe wagidinga ilanga lamabeletho khisibe ulotjha uJehova.

10. AmaKrestu wekadeni bewakuqala njani ukugidingwa kwelanga lamabeletho?

¹⁰ Enye incwadi ithi amaKrestu wekadeni “bewaqala iminyanya yokugidinga ilanga lamabeletho njengesiko lamaqaba.” Amasiko layo asekelwe eenkolelweni zamala. Nasi isibonelo, ekadeni amaGirigi bewakholelwa ukuthi umuntu woke uvikelwe mmoya ebewukhona nakabelethwako. Acabanga nokuthi ummoya lo uthintene nozimu owabelethwa ngelanga linye nomuntu loyo. Ukungezelela kilokho, iinkolelo zamaqabezi zithintene nezazi zeenkwekwezi.

11. UJehova uzizwa njani ngokuthi siphane?

¹¹ Ilanga lamabeletho liqakatheke khulu kabanye libenza bazizwe bathandwa begodu bathokozelwa. Singawatjengisa amalungethu womndeni nabangani ukuthi siyabathanda nanyana kukunini ingasi ngamalanga akhethekileko kwaphela. UJehova ufuna sibe nomusa besiphane ngaso soke isikhathi. (Funda IzEnzo 20:35.) Simthokoza kwamambala ngesipho sokuphila asiphe sona qobe lilanga, ingasi ngelanga esabelethwa ngalo kwaphela.—IRhubo 8:4, 5; 36:10.

12. Ilanga lethu lokufa lingcono ngani kunelanga lokubelethwa?

¹² Incwadi kaMtjhumayeli 7:1, ithi “Ibizo elihle lingcono kunamakha akhethekileko nelanga lokufa lingcono kunelokubelethwa.” Ilanga lethu lokufa lingcono ngani kunelanga lethu lokubelethwa? Nasibelethwako sisuke singakenzi litho ngokuphila kwethu  kungaba ngokuhle namkha okumbi. Kodwana nasisebenzisa ukuphila kwethu ekulotjheni uJehova, senze okuhle kabanye sizakhela “ibizo elihle,” noJehova uzosikhumbula nanyana singafa. (Jobho 14:14, 15) Abantu abalotjha uJehova abagidingi ilanga labo lamabeletho namkha lakaJesu. UJesu wasilayela bona sigidinge ilanga lokuKhumbula ukufa kwakhe.—Lukasi 22:17-20; Hebheru 1:3, 4.

13, 14. Ukugidingwa kwama-Ista kuhlotjaniswa nani?

¹³ Abantu abanengi nabagidinga ama-Ista, basuke bathi bamukela uJesu ekuvusweni kwabafileko. Ukugidingokhu kuhlotjaniswa nokugidinga ilanga lakasingazimu wesilimela omsikazi. Esinye isihlathululi-mezwi singezelela ngokuthi bekanguzimukazi wembeleko. Enye Incwadi ithi “amaqanda bewaqakathekile ngombana bekatshwaya ukuphila okutjha nokuvuswa.” Ngokwesiko lamaqaba imiqasa beyisolo isetjenziswa njengetshwayo lembeleko. Sekuyakhanya ukuthi ama-Ista awahlobani nokuvuswa kukaJesu.

¹⁴ Kghani uJehova uyathaba na nakabona abantu bahlanganisa iinkolelo zamala nokuvuswa kweNdodanakhe? Awa. (2 Korinte 6:17, 18) UJehova akhange asilayele ukuthi sigidinge ukuvuswa kwakaJesu.

15. Yathoma njani iHalowini?

¹⁵ IHalowini ebuye ibizwe ngokuthi yiHalosi, imnyanya okhambisana nobuloyi, iinlwanyana ezisabekako ezizwelela ubumnandi bokubanga umonakalo neempuku. Umnyanya lo awusiyinto etja. Amabutho wepi weBritain newe-Ireland bewagidinga umnyanya wokutshwaya ukuphela kwesikhathi sokuvuna inyezi nayigcwalako pheze ekuthomeni kwenyanga kaNovemba. Bewakholelwa bona nabagidinga umnyanya lo, iimmoya yabafileko ibuyela ephasini. Ngelanga lomnyanya kubekwa ukudla neenselo ukwenzela bona iimmoya le ingalimazi abantu abaphilako. Nasibona abantwana bambethe izembatho zehalowini bangena umuzi nomuzi batjho isiqubulo esithi, “Siphani  okudliwako.” Abatjheji ukuthi balingisa isikweli lobudimoni.

16, 17. Kufuze sithome sicabange ngani nasilungiselela umtjhado?

¹⁶ Umtjhado sisenzakalo esithabisako. Ugidingwa ngeendlela ezinengi ezihlukahlukeneko ephasini loke. Kanengi abantu abazitshwenyi ngokwazi ukuthi isiko lomtjhado lathomaphi, yeke lokho kungabenza bangalemuki ukuthi amanye amasiko avela eenkolelweni zabarhedeni. Kodwana amaKrestu alungiselela ukutjhada kufuze aqiniseke ukuthi uzokuthabisa uJehova. Ngokufunda ngomsuka wamasiko womtjhado, lokho kuzokusiza amaKrestu atjhadako athathe iinqunto ezihlakaniphileko.—Markosi 10:6-9.

¹⁷ Amanye amasiko womtjhado kukholelwa bona afisela labo abatjhadako ‘itjhudu.’ (Isaya 65:11) Nasi isibonelo, ezinye iindawo abantu barhatjha umkhwenyana nomakoti ngereyisi namkha ngokhunye okufanako. Ngokwenza lokhu bakholelwa ukuthi kuzobasiza babe nabantwana, bafumane ithabo, babe nepilo ede nokuthi bazokuvikeleka ezintweni ezikhohlakeleko. Yeke amaKrestu ayaqiniseka bona abalekela amasiko akhambisana nekolo yamala.—Funda 2 Korinte 6:14-18.

18. Ngiziphi ezinye iinkambisolawulo zeBhayibheli ezisebenza emitjhadweni?

¹⁸ AmaKrestu atjhadako afuna umnyanyawo uthabise, uhlonipheke ukuze woke umuntu okhona awuthabele. Abantu abamenyiweko emtjhadweni wamaKrestu angekhe bavunyelwa bona batjho into engakalungi, ikulumo evusa zomseme namkha batjho into  engahloniphi abatjhadako nabanye. (IzAga 26:18, 19; Lukasi 6:31; 10:27) Umtjhado wamaKrestu awukhuthazi ‘ikanuko yamehlo nokuzikhakhazisa ngalokho umuntu anakho.’ (1 Jwanisi 2:16) Nawulungiselela umtjhado qiniseka bona indlela owulungiselela ngayo izokutjhiya uneenkumbulo ezithabisako ngawo.—Qala isiPhetho 28.

19, 20. Umsuka wokubethanisa amarhalasi uvela kuphi?

¹⁹ Umukghwa ojayelweko emtjhadweni nakezinye iindawo zeminyanya, kubethanisa amarhalasi nakuselwako. Hlangana nesenzwesi, umuntu vane asenza nakafisela abanye okuhle bese abanye baphakamisela amarhalasi phezulu ukuvumelana naye. Alo amaKrestu kufuze awuqale njani umukghwa lo?

²⁰ Enye incwadi yathi umukghwa lo uvela esikweni lakade labantu ebebangalotjhi uZimu, “bebawenza ngomnqopho wokulotjha abozimu bamala.” Godu bewenziwa ngomnqopho “wokufiselana itjhudu, ngomthandazo onamezwi arhunyeziweko ofiselana ‘ipilo ede’ namkha ‘ipilo engcono!’” Emihleni leyo abantu bebajayele ukuphakamisela amarhalasi phezulu babawe isibusiso kibozimu babo. Kodwana le akusiyindlela uJehova aphana ngayo isibusiso.—Jwanisi 14:6; 16:23.

21. Ngimiphi eminye iminyanya amaKrestu ekufuze ayibalekele?

²¹ Ngaphambi kobana uzibandakanye emnyanyeni othileko, thoma ngokuzibuza ukuthi umnyanya loyo uveza ukuziphatha okunjani. Eminye iminyanya  ikhuthaza ukujida okuvusa ikanuko, ukusela okungalawulekiko nokuziphatha okumbi. Godu iminyanya le ingathuthukisa ubutabani namkha ikhuthaze ukuthanda izinto zephasi. Nje-ke nasizibandakanya eminyanyeni efana nale, siyakuzonda na okuzondwa nguJehova?—IRhubo 1:1, 2; 97:10; 119:37.

22. Yini ezokusiza umKrestu athathe isiqunto esifaneleko malungana nokuzibandakanya emnyanyeni othileko?

²² AmaKrestu kufuze alinge ngawo woke amandla bona abalekele yoke iminyanya engahloniphi uZimu. Umpostoli uPowula wathi: “Kungakhathaliseki bona niyadla namkha niyasela namkha nenza nanyana yini okhunye, koke kwenzeleni iphazimulo kaZimu.” (1 Korinte 10:31; qala isiPhetho 29.) Iye khona, akusiyo yoke iminyanya ehlobene nokuziphatha okumbi, ikolo yamala namkha ukuthanda izinto zephasi. Nange umnyanya othileko awuphuli iinkambisolawulo zeBhayibheli, kufuze sizikhethele ukuthi sizokuya namkha awa. Godu sifuna ukuhlala sicabanga ngokuthi isiqunto esisithathako sizobathinta njani abanye.

23, 24. Amalunga angasiboFakazi bakaJehova singawahlathululela njani ngeenqunto esizithathako?

²³ Kungenzeka sewulisile ukuzibandakanya eminyanyeni engahloniphi uJehova. Kodwana amanye amalunga womndeni angasiboFakazi bakaJehova angazitjela ukuthi awuwathandi begodu awusafuni ukuba nawo. Ngezinye iinkhathi angazizwa ngasuthi amaholideyi ngiwo kwaphela enza umndeni ube ndawonye. Alo ebujamweni obunjalo uzokwenza njani?  Zinengi iindlela ongabaqinisekisa ngazo ukuthi uyabathanda nokuthi baqakathekile kuwe. (IzAga 11:25; UMtjhumayeli 3:12, 13) Ngasikhathi ungabamema bona bazokuditjha nawe.

²⁴ Nabakubuzako ukuthi kubayini ungagidingi amanye amaholideyi, isizo ungalifumana ngokuqala iincwadi zehlangano ne-jw.org bona ukghone ukubahlathululela ngamabangakho. Nawenza lokhu ungabenzi bafikelwe mkhumbulo wokuthi ulinga ukubakatelela namkha ukubenza bacabange njengawe. Basize babone ukuthi zinengi izinto ozicabangileko kwathi ngemva kwalokho wazithathela iinqunto. Hlala uthobekile begodu ‘amezwakho awabe nomusa ngaso soke isikhathi, anungwe ngetswayi.’—Kolose 4:6.

25, 26. Ababelethi bangabasiza njani abantwababo bona bathande iinkambisolawulo zikaJehova?

²⁵ Kuqakathekile ngathi soke bona siwazi kuhle amabanga asenza singazibandakanyi keminye iminyanya. (Hebheru 5:14) Nganingoba umnqophwethu kuthabisa uJehova. Nangabe sibabelethi, kufuze siziphe isikhathi sokusiza abantwabethu bona bazwisise bebathande iinkambisolawulo zeBhayibheli. Kuzokuthi nasele balemuka ukuthi uJehova ukhona, bazokufuna ukumthabisa.—Isaya 48:17, 18; 1 Pitrosi 3:15.

²⁶ UJehova kuyamthabisa ukusibona senza koke esingakwenza bona simlotjhe ngendlela ehlanzekileko nangokuthembeka. (Jwanisi 4:23) Kodwana abantu abanengi bacabanga ukuthi akusilula ngomuntu bona ahlale athembekile ephasini elingakathembeki. Kghani bayiphethe khona? Akhe sicoce ngayo indaba le esahlukweni esilandelako.