1, 2. (a) N’ciani cimasangalatsa anthu a Mulungu masiku ano? (b) Kodi makolo acikristu ndi akulu angathandize bwanji acinyamata kumvetsa tanthauzo la ubatizo?

MKULU wina anauza mnyamata wa zaka 12, dzina lake Christopher kuti: “Ndinakudziŵa kucokela pamene unabadwa, ndipo ndine wosangalala kumva kuti ufuna kubatizidwa.” Kenako anati: “Koma n’cifukwa ciani ufuna kubatizidwa?” Mkuluyo anali ndi colinga cabwino pamene anali kufunsa zimenezi. Timasangalala kuona acinyamata ambili akubatizidwa caka ciliconse. (Mlaliki 12:1) Koma makolo acikristu ndi akulu mumpingo amafuna kuti acinyamata amvetsetse tanthauzo la kubatizidwa ndi kuti asankhe okha kubatizidwa.

² Baibulo limatiphunzitsa kuti kudzipeleka ndi kubatizidwa ndi ciyambi ca umoyo watsopano wa Mkristu. Munthu  akabatizidwa, amakhala ndi mwai wolandila madalitso ambili ocokela kwa Yehova, koma m’pamenenso Satana amayamba kum’tsutsa kwambili. (Miyambo 10:22; 1 Petulo 5:8) N’cifukwa cake makolo acikristu ayenela kupeza nthawi yophunzitsa ana ao tanthauzo la kukhala wophunzila wa Kristu. Ngati makolo a wacinyamata si Mboni, akulu mumpingo ayenela kumuthandiza mwacikondi kumvetsetsa tanthauzo la kudzipeleka ndi kubatizidwa. (Ŵelengani Luka 14:27-30.) Kuti munthu amange nyumba mpaka kuimaliza amafunika kukonzekela bwino. Naonso acinyamata ayenela kukonzekela bwino akalibe kubatizidwa kuti atumikile Yehova mokhulupilika “mpaka pa mapeto.” (Mateyu 24:13) N’ciani cimene cingathandize acinyamata kukonzekela kuti atumikile Yehova kwamuyaya? Tiyeni tikambilane.

3. (a) Kodi zimene Yesu ndi Petulo anakamba zimaonetsa bwanji kuti ubatizo ndi wofunika? (Mateyu 28:19, 20; 1 Petulo 3:21) (b) Tikambilana mafunso ati? Nanga n’cifukwa ciani?

³ Kodi ndinu wacinyamata ndipo mukufuna kubatizidwa? Ngati n’conco, muli ndi colinga cabwino. Ndi mwai waukulu kukhala Mboni ya Yehova yobatizidwa. Ubatizo ndi cinthu cimene Mkristu aliyense ayenela kucita, ndipo ndi wofunika kuti tikapulumuke cisautso cacikulu. (Mateyu 28:19, 20; 1 Petulo 3:21) Mukabatizidwa, mumasonyeza kuti munalonjeza kuti mudzatumikila Yehova kwamuyaya, ndipo muyenela kusunga lonjezo lanu. Mafunso otsatilawa adzakuthandizani kuona ngati ndinu wokonzeka kubatizidwa: (1) Kodi ndine wokhwima mwakuuzimu moti ndingabatizidwe? (2) Kodi ndikufuna kubatizidwa mwa kufuna kwanga? (3) Kodi ndimamvetsetsa tanthauzo la kudzipeleka kwa Yehova? Tiyeni tikambilane mafunso amenewa.

4, 5. (a) N’cifukwa ciani ubatizo si wa anthu acikulile okha? (b) Kodi kukhala Mkristu wokhwima kumatanthauza ciani?

⁴ Baibulo silikamba msinkhu kapena zaka zimene munthu ayenela kubatizidwa. Pa Miyambo 20:11 timaŵelenga kuti: “Ngakhale mnyamata amadziŵika ndi nchito zake, ngati zocita zake zili zoyela ndiponso zoongoka.” Conco, ngakhale wacicepele angathe kusiyanitsa cabwino ndi coipa ndiponso angathe kudzipeleka kwa Mlengi wake. Cotelo, ubatizo ndi cinthu cofunika kwambili cimene wacinyamata wofikapo mwakuuzimu ndiponso wodzipeleka kwa Yehova angacite.—Miyambo 20:7.

⁵ Kodi kukhwima mwakuuzimu kumatanthauza ciani? Kukhwima sikutanthauza cabe kukula kwa msinkhu kapena kuculuka kwa zaka zimene munthu ali nazo. Baibulo limatiuza kuti anthu okhwima kuuzimu anaphunzitsa “mphamvu  zao za kuzindikila” kuti azisiyanitsa cabwino ndi coipa. (Aheberi 5:14) Mkristu wokhwima mwakuuzimu amadziŵa coyenela ndipo amakhala wotsimikiza mumtima mwake kucicita. Iye amayesetsa kupewa zinthu zoipa. Komanso nthawi zambili amasankha yekha kucita zinthu zoyenela. Motelo, wacinyamata wamng’ono wokhwima mwakuuzimu amene wabatizidwa, akhoza kucita zinthu zoyenela ngakhale kuti makolo ake kapena anthu ena acikulile ali kutali.—Yelekezelani ndi Afilipi 2:12.

6, 7. (a) Fotokozani mavuto amene Danieli anakumana nao ku Babulo. (b) Kodi Danieli anaonetsa bwanji kuti anali wofikapo mwakuuzimu?

⁶ Kodi wacicepele angathe kukhala wokhwima mwakuuzimu? Tiyeni tiganizile citsanzo ca Danieli. Iye ayenela kuti anali wacicepele pamene anatengedwa kwa makolo ake kupita ku Babulo. Kumeneko, Danieli anali kukhala ndi anthu amene sanali kumvela malamulo a Mulungu. Tiyeni tikambilane zambili zokhuza umoyo wa Danieli pa nthawiyo. Iye anali kuonedwa kukhala mnyamata wapadela kwambili ku Babulo. Danieli anali mmodzi wa acinyamata amene anasankhidwa kuti atumikile mfumu. (Danieli 1:3-5, 13) Zikuoneka kuti Danieli anali ndi udindo wapamwamba kwambili ku Babulo kuposa umene akanakhala nao ku Isiraeli.

⁷ Kodi Danieli anacita ciani? Kodi iye analola kuti anthu a ku Babulo amusinthe ndi kufooketsa cikhulupililo cake? Ayi ndithu. Baibulo limati pamene Danieli anali ku Babulo, “anatsimikiza mumtima mwake kuti sadzidetsa” mwa kupewa cinthu ciliconse cogwilizana  ndi kulambila konama. (Danieli 1:8) Zimenezi zionetsa kuti Danieli anali wofikapo mwakuuzimu.

8. Kodi mwaphunzilapo ciani pa citsanzo ca Danieli?

⁸ Kodi tikuphunzilapo ciani pa citsanzo ca Danieli? Tikuphunzilapo kuti wacinyamata wofikapo mwakuuzimu angakhale wokhulupilika ngakhale pa nthawi yovuta. Iye sacita zinthu monga Bilimankhwe amene amasinthasintha maonekedwe ake malinga ndi malo. Wacinyamata wotelo sacita zinthu monga bwenzi la Mulungu ku Nyumba ya Ufumu koma akapita kusukulu n’kukhala bwenzi la dziko. M’malomwake, amakhalabe wokhulupilika kwa Mulungu akayesedwa.—Ŵelengani Aefeso 4:14, 15.

9, 10. (a) Kodi wacinyamata angapindule bwanji akaganizila zimene anacita atayesedwa? (b) Kodi ubatizo umatanthauza ciani?

⁹ N’zoona kuti palibe munthu wangwilo. Acinyamata ndi acikulile, onse amalakwitsa nthawi zina. (Mlaliki 7:20) Koma ngati mufuna kubatizidwa, ndi bwino kudzifufuza kuti muone ngati ndinu wotsimikiza ndi mtima wonse kumvela malamulo a Yehova. Dzifunseni kuti, ‘Kodi ndakhala ndikumvela Yehova kwa nthawi yaitali bwanji?’ Ganizilani mmene munacitila pamene cikhulupililo canu cinayesedwa. Kodi munakwanitsa kusankha zinthu moyenela? Monga Danieli, kodi winawake anakulimbikitsani kugwilitsila nchito luso lanu kuti mucilikize dziko la Satana? Ngati zinthu zofanana ndi zimenezi zakucitikilani, kodi mumatha kuzindikila cifunilo ca Yehova?—Aefeso 5:17.

¹⁰ N’cifukwa ciani kudziŵa mayankho a mafunso amenewa n’kofunika? Cifukwa cakuti adzakuthandizani kuona kuti ubatizo ndi nkhani yaikulu. Ubatizo umaonetsa kuti munapanga lonjezo lapadela kwa Yehova. Munamulonjeza kuti mudzam’konda ndi kum’tumikila ndi mtima wanu wonse kwamuyaya. (Maliko 12:30) Aliyense amene afuna kubatizidwa ayenela kukhala wokonzeka kusunga lonjezo lake kwa Yehova.—Ŵelengani Mlaliki 5:4, 5.

11, 12. (a) Kodi munthu amene afuna kubatizidwa ayenela kuonetsetsa kuti wacita ciani? (b) N’ciani cidzakuthandizani kuona moyenelela makonzedwe a Yehova a ubatizo?

¹¹ Baibulo limakamba kuti anthu onse a Yehova, kuphatikizapo acinyamata, adzamutumikila “mofunitsitsa.” (Salimo 110:3) Cotelo, munthu amene akufuna kubatizidwa ayenela kuonetsetsa kuti wapanga cosankha cimeneci mwa kufuna kwake. Zimenezi zimafuna kudzifufuza mosamala kwambili makamaka ngati munakulila m’coonadi.

¹² Pamene munali kukula, muyenela kuti munaona anthu ambili akubatizidwa. Mwina anthu amenewo anali anzanu kapena acibale anu. Koma muyenela kukhala wosamala kuti musabatizidwe cabe cifukwa cakuti mwafika pa  msinkhu winawake kapena cifukwa cakuti anzanu ambili akubatizidwa. Kodi n’ciani cingakuthandizeni kuona ubatizo mmene Yehova amauonela? Muyenela kupeza nthawi yoganizila cifukwa cake ubatizo ndi wofunika kwambili. M’nkhani ino ndi yotsatila muli mfundo zimene zingakuthandizeni.

13. Mungadziŵe bwanji ngati cosankha canu cofuna kubatizidwa ndi cocokeladi pansi pa mtima?

¹³ Kuganizila mapemphelo anu ndi njila imodzi imene ingakuthandizeni kuona ngati cosankha canu cofuna kubatizidwa ndi cocokeladi pansi pamtima. Kodi mumapemphela kaŵilikaŵili kwa Yehova? Kodi mumachula zinthu mwacindunji popemphela? Mayankho anu pa mafunso amenewa adzaonetsa ngati ubwenzi wanu ndi Yehova ndi wolimba. (Salimo 25:4) Nthawi zambili, Yehova amayankha mapemphelo athu kudzela m’Baibulo. Kodi n’ciani cina cimene cingakuthandizeni kuona ngati mufunadi kuyandikila Yehova ndi kum’tumikila ndi mtima wanu wonse? Muyenela kuganizila ndandanda yanu ya phunzilo laumwini. (Yoswa 1:8) Dzifunseni kuti: ‘Kodi ndili ndi cizoloŵezi cocita phunzilo la Baibulo laumwini? Kodi ndimatengako mbali ndi mtima wonse pa kulambila kwa pabanja?’ Mayankho a mafunso amenewa adzakuthandizani kuona ngati mufuna kubatizidwa mwa kufuna kwanu.

14. Fotokozani kusiyana pakati pa kudzipeleka ndi ubatizo.

¹⁴ Acinyamata ena sadziŵa kusiyana pakati pa kudzipeleka ndi ubatizo. Ena anganene kuti anadzipeleka kale kwa Yehova koma si okonzeka kubatizidwa. Koma kodi zimenezi n’zotheka? Kudzipeleka ndi pemphelo lolonjeza Yehova kuti mudzam’tumikila kwamuyaya. Pamene mwabatizidwa, mumaonetsa ena kuti munadzipeleka kwa Yehova. Conco, musanabatizidwe mufunika kudziŵa tanthauzo la kudzipeleka kwa Mulungu.

15. Kodi kudzipeleka kumatanthauza ciani?

¹⁵ Pamene mukudzipeleka kwa Yehova, mumamuuza kuti tsopano ndinu ake. Mumam’lonjeza kuti kumutumikila kudzakhala cinthu cofunika kwambili pa umoyo wanu. (Ŵelengani Mateyu 16:24.) Lonjezo limeneli ndi nkhani yaikulu kwambili. (Mateyu 5:33) Kodi mungaonetse bwanji kuti mumadziŵa kuti ndinu a Yehova ndipo mudzayamba kucita cifunilo cake nthawi zonse?—Aroma 14:8.

16, 17. (a) Pelekani fanizo losonyeza zimene kudzipeleka kumatanthauza. (b) Kodi munthu amene wadzipeleka kwa Mulungu amakhala akumuuza ciani kwenikweni?

¹⁶ Tiyeni tikambilane citsanzo ici: Yelekezani kuti mnzanu wakupatsani galimoto. Iye wakupatsani mapepala oonetsa kuti galimotoyo ndi yanu, ndipo akukuuzani kuti: “Galimotoyi ndi yanu.” Koma kenako akunenanso kuti: “Makiyi sindikupatsani. Ndipo ndiziiyendetsa ndine osati inu.” Kodi mungaikonde mphatso yotelo? Nanga mungamuone bwanji mnzanu amene wakupatsani mphatsoyo?

¹⁷ Pamene munthu wadzipeleka kwa Yehova, amamuuza kuti: “Ndakupatsani moyo wanga, ndipo ndine wanu.” Yehova amayembekezela kuti munthuyo  adzakwanilitsa lonjezo lake. Koma bwanji ngati munthuyo wasiya kumvela Yehova ndi kuyamba cibwenzi mwakabisila ndi munthu amene satumikila Mulungu? Kapena bwanji ngati wayamba nchito imene simupatsa nthawi yolalikila ndi kupezeka pa misonkhano ya mpingo? Ndiye kuti munthuyo sakukwanilitsa lonjezo lake kwa Yehova. Zimenezi zingafanane ndi kusunga makiyi a galimoto. Tikadzipeleka kwa Yehova, timamuuza kuti, “Ndakupatsani moyo wanga.” Motelo, nthawi zonse tiyenela kucita cifunilo ca Yehova ngakhale pamene sizitikomela. Tiyeni titengele citsanzo ca Yesu amene anati: “Ndinatsika kucokela kumwamba kudzacita cifunilo ca iye amene anandituma, osati cifunilo canga.”—Yohane 6:38.

18, 19. (a) Kodi mau amene Rose ndi Christopher anakamba akuonetsa bwanji kuti ubatizo umabweletsa madalitso? (b) Kodi mumamva bwanji mukaganizila za ubatizo?

¹⁸ Kukamba zoona, ubatizo ndi cosankha cacikulu. Ndi mwai wapadela kudzipeleka kwa Yehova ndi kubatizidwa. Acinyamata amene amakonda Yehova ndi kumvetsetsa tanthauzo la kudzipeleka, sanyalanyaza kupeleka moyo wao kwa Mulungu ndi kubatizidwa. Ndipo akacita zimenezo, sadziimba mlandu. Mtsikana wina dzina lake Rose anati: “Ndimakonda Yehova ndipo ndimasangalala kutumikila Yehova kuposa kucita cinthu cina ciliconse. Ndimaona kuti ndinacita bwino kwambili kubatizidwa.”

¹⁹ Kodi Christopher amene wachulidwa kuciyambi kwa nkhani ino, amamva bwanji cifukwa cosankha kubatizidwa ali ndi zaka 12? Iye anakamba kuti ndi wosangalala kwambili kuti anasankha kubatizidwa. Christopher anakhala mpainiya wa nthawi zonse ali ndi zaka 17, ndipo anakhala mtumiki wothandiza ali ndi zaka 18. Tsopano akutumikila pa Beteli. Iye anati: “Ndikuona kuti ndinacita bwino kwambili kubatizidwa. Ndimakhala ndi zocita zambili zosangalatsa potumikila Yehova ndi gulu lake.” Ngati mukufuna kubatizidwa, kodi mungakonzekele bwanji? M’nkhani yotsatila tidzayankha funso limeneli.