1, 2. (a) N’ciyani cimbakondwesa atumiki wa Mulungu nsiku zino? (b) Kodi abereki na akulu angathandize tani maswaka kubvesesa thandauzo la batismo?

“NDIMBAKUDZIWA kuyambira pomwe udabadwa ndipo ndinkukomedwa kubva kuti iwepo unkufuna kubatizidwa. Ndingakomedwe kukubvunza kuti: ‘Thangwe ranyi unkufuna kubatizidwa?’” Mafalaya yadalewedwa na mbale omwe ankutumikira ninga mkulu Wacikristau kuna Christopher wa magole 12 yakubadwa. M’bvunzoyu ngwakufunika. Bzimwebzi bzimbatikondwesa kuwona kuti gole liri-lense maswaka bzulu bzizinji yankubatizidwa kuzungulira dziko lense. (Mpal. 12:1) Tenepo, abereki wacikristau na akulu wa gwere wan’funika kutsimikiza kuti maswaka yacite cakusankhula si kuti mwakundofuna koma mwakucokera pansi pa mtima.

 ² Fala la Mulungu limbalatiza kuti kubzipereka na batismo ni ciyambi ca moyo womwe un’dzacitisa Mkristau kugumana bzisimbo bzakucokera kwa Yahova, tsono an’dzagumanambo citsutso cakucokera kwa Sathani. (Mim. 10:22; 1 Pe. 5:8) Na tenepo, abereki wacikristau ambapfunzisa wana wawo bzomwe kukhala nyakutewera wa Kristu kumbaphatanidza. Kwa maswaka yomwe yalibe abereki wacikristau, akulu m’gwere mwa lufoyi an’dzawathandiza kudziwa bzomwe kukhala nyakutewera kumbathandauza. (Werengani Luka 14:27-30.) Ninga kukhala na makonzedwe ya kumaliza basa la kumanga nyuma, bzimbafunambo kukonzekera kuti munthu atumikire Yahova mwakukhulupirika ‘mpaka kuphampha.’ (Mat. 24:13) Tsono n’ciyani comwe maswaka yangacite payokha kuti yatsimikize kutumikira Yahova kwa moyo wawo wense? Bwerani tiwone.

3. (a) Kodi mafala ya Jezu na ya Pedru yambatipfunzisa ciyani bza kufunika kwa batismo? (Mat. 28:19, 20; 1 Pe. 3:21) (b) Kodi tin’cezerana mibvunzo iponi?

³ Kodi ndimwe tswaka omwe munkukumbukira bza kubatizidwa? Penu munkukumbuka tenepo, munkutendedwa! Ni mwayi ukulu kwene-kwene kubatizidwa kuti mukhale Mboni ya Yahova. Kuthumizira bzimwebzi, batismo n’cinthu cakufunika kwa mkristau ndipo ni njira yomwe tin’dzatambirira cipulumuso. (Mat. 28:19, 20; 1 Pe. 3:21) Pakuti ni cikhumbo canu cakucokera mu mtima kuphatisisa piciro lanu lomwe mun’dzacitira Yahova, mun’funika kukhala wakukonzekera cakusankhula canu cikuluci. Bzingakhale bwino kukumbukira mibvunzo mitatuyi yomwe in’dzakuthandizani kuwona penu mwakonzeka kuti mudzabatizidwe. Mibvunzo inkutewerayo njiyi: (1) Kodi ndine wakukhwimadi kuti ndicite cakusankhulaci? (2) Kodi n’kufuna kwangu kuti ndibatizidwe? (3) Kodi ndimbabvesesa bzomwe bzimbathandauza kukhala wakubzipereka kwa Yahova? Bwerani ticezerane bwino-bwino mibvunzoyi.

4, 5. (a) N’thangwe ranyi batismo imbafuna lini wanthu akulu-akulu wokha? (b) Kodi kukhala kristau wakukhwima bzimbathandauza ciyani?

⁴ Bibliya limbalewa lini kuti batismo ni cinthu cakufunika kucitidwa kokha na wanthu wacikulire ayai munthu omwe an’fitsa msinkhu wakuthemera kuti atambire maudindo yanango.  Pa Mimwani (Miyambo) 20:11 pambati: ‘Napo mwana m’ng’ono ambadziwika na mabasa yace, penu bzicito bzace mpsakucena na bzakulungama.’ Ule omwe akana magole mang’ono-ng’ono, angabvesese bzomwe bzimbathandauza kucita cilungamo na kukhala wakubzipereka kwa Mulengi. Tsono kubatizidwa ni cinthu cakufunika ndipo ni njira yakuthemera kwa tswaka lomwe linkuwoneka kuti lakhwima ndipo labzipereka kwa Yahova.—Mim. 20:7.

⁵ Kodi kukhala wakukhwima kumbathandauza ciyani? Kukhwima kumbaphatanidza bzizinji kuposa kundokula mwakuthupi. Bibliya limbalewa kuti munthu wakukhwima ‘ambaphatisa basa mphanvu yace yakukumbuka yakupfunzisidwa kuti asiyanise cabwino na cakuipa.’ (Waheb. 5:14) Tenepo, wanthu wakukhwima ambadziwa bzinthu bzomwe Yahova ambawona kuti mpsakulungama ndipo ambatsimikiza mu mtima mwawo kucita bzimwebzo. Wanthu amwewa ambabvuma lini kupumpswidwa kuti acite bzinthu bzakuipa; ndipo ambacitambo lini kungingimiridwa kucita bzabwino. N’cadidi kuti ndibzo bzomwe timbadikhirira kuti maswaka yomwe yan’funa kubatizidwa yakhotcerere mitemo ya Mulungu napo pomwe abereki ayai wanthu wacikulire ali lini pafupi.—Ndendemezerani na Wafiripo 2:12.

6, 7. (a) Fotokozani bzineso bzomwe Danyeri adagumana nabzo ku Babulo. (b) Kodi Danyeri adalatiza tani kuti akhadakhwima?

⁶ Kodi tswaka lingalatizedi kukhwima kumweku? Mbatiwoneni ciratizo ca m’Bibliya ca Danyeri. Pinango iye akhali mkati mwa magole khumi pomwe adatengedwa kuna abereki wace mwamphanvu aciyendesedwa ku ukapolo ku Babulo. Mwakusaya kutenga nthawe, Danyeri adakhala pakati pa wanthu womwe akhadasiyaniratu nawo makumbukidwe pakati pa cabwino na cakuipa. Kuthumizira bzimwebzi, Danyeri adagumanika pomwe na cineso cinango: Iye akhasamalidwa ninga munthu wakupambulika m’Babulo. Danyeri akhali m’bodzi mwa maswaka yomwe yakhadasankhulidwa mwakusamala kwene-kwene kuti ambakhale patsogolo pa mambo! (Dan. 1:3-5, 13) Bzinkuwoneka kuti Danyeri akhana mipata yomwe angadaigumana lini ku Jirayeri.

⁷ Kodi Danyeri adacita ciyani na mipata yenseneyi? Kodi iye adabvuma kupumpsidwa na bzinthu bza mu Babulo? Kodi iye adabvuma kucinjidwa thangwe ra bzinthu bzakumuzungulira ayai kudzonga cikhulupiro cace? Ne na pang’onopo! Bibliya limbalewa kuti Danyeri pomwe akhali ku Babulo, ‘adatsimikiza mu mtima mwace kuti an’bzipswipiza lini’ na cinthu ciri-cense cakubverana na kunamata kwakunama. (Dan. 1:8) Danyeri adalatiza kuti akhadakhwima!

8. Kodi mungapfunze ciyani na ciratizo ca Danyeri?

⁸ Kodi mungapfunze ciyani na ciratizo ca Danyeri? Tswaka lomwe ndakukhwimwa limbacinja lini pa bzomwe latsimikiza. Iye ali lini ninga javi ayai dwidwi omwe ambacinja-cinja mawala yace kuti andendemerane na mbutoyo. Iye ambacita lini bzinthu ninga xamwali wa Mulungu ku Nyumba ya Umambo koma acikhala ninga xamwali wa dziko ku xikola. Mbuto mwa kucinja-cinja, iye ambapitiriza kukhala wakulimba napo pomwe ambayezedwa cikhulupiro.—Werengani Wayefezo 4:14, 15.

9, 10. (a) Kodi tswaka lingagumane tani phindu likakumbukira momwe lacitira pomwe likhayezedwa cikhulupiro cace? (b) Kodi batismo imbathandauza ciyani?

⁹ N’cadidi, palibe munthu wakulungama, maswaka napo akulu-akulu ambaphonya nthawe zinango. (Mpal. 7:20) Tenepo, penu imwepo mun’funa kudzabatizidwa, ni nzeru kukumbukira kutsimikiza kwanu kuti mupitirize kusunga mitemo ya Yahova. Kodi mungadziwe tani kuti ndimwe wakuthemera kubatizidwa? Bzibvunzeni kuti: ‘Kodi ndimbadziwika kuti ndimbateweza bzakutonga bza Mulungu?’ Kumbukirani momwe mwacitira bzinthu pomwe mukhayezedwa cikhulupiro tsapanopapa. Kodi mumbalatiza kuti mumbakwanisa kusiyanisa cabwino na  cakuipa? Ninga momwe bzidacitikira na Danyeri, kodi imwepo mumbawonedwa ninga munthu wakupambulika mu dziko la sathaniri? Kodi ‘mumbapitiriza kuzindikira kufuna kwa Yahova’ napo bzomwe Mulungu an’funa bzinkutsutsana na bzomwe imwepo mumbafuna?—Wayef. 5:17.

¹⁰ N’thangwe ranyi tinkucita mibvunzo yakufunikayi? Mibvunzoyi in’dzakuthandizani kuwona batismo mu njira yakuthemera. Ninga momwe talewera kale, batismo imbathandauza kuti imwepo mwapiciradi kutumikira Yahova pa moyo wanu wense. Imwepo mumbapicira kuti mun’dzamufuna na kuti mun’dzamutumikira mpaka muyaya na mtima wanu wense. (Mar. 12:30) Munthu ali-wense omwe an’funa kubatizidwa an’funika kukhala wakutsimikiza kuteweza piciro lace.—Werengani Mpalizi 5:4, 5.

11, 12. (a) Kodi munthu omwe ankukumbukira bza kubatizidwa an’funika kutsimikiza ciyani? (b) N’ciyani cin’dzakuthandizani kupitiriza kumbawona makonzedwe ya Yahova ya kubatizidwa mu njira yakuthemera?

¹¹ Bibliya limbalewa kuti wanthu wa Yahova, kuphatanidza maswaka ‘an’dzabzipereka mwakufunisisa’ pa basa lace. (Psal. 110:3) Tenepo munthu omwe wafuna kubatizidwa an’funika kukhala wakutsimikiza kuti ni cikhumbo cace. Tingalewe kuti mwabzipenda ku mbali yanu. Thangwe ranyi? Thangwe rakuti bzakucitika pa moyo wanu ninga tswaka bzingakhale bzakupambulika. Mwa ciratizo, pinango imwepo mudaleredwa m’cadidi.

¹² Na kupita kwa magole, imwepo mwawona wanthu azinjisa wankubatizidwa, pinango kuphatanidza winango mwa azixamwali ayai abale wanu. Penu bziri tenepo kuna imwepo, kodi n’ciyani comwe mun’funika kucita mwakusamala? Dziwani kuti mu’funika lini kuwona batismo ninga cizolowezi comwe tswaka liri-lense lin’funika kucita tsapanopa ayai kutsogolo. N’ciyani comwe mungacite kuti mutsimikize penu mun’dzapitiriza kuwona mwakuthemera makonzedwe ya Yahova ya batismo? Mbakhalani na nthawe ya kukumbuka kuti n’thangwe ranyi kubatizidwa n’kwakufunika. N’cadidi, mun’gumana mathangwe yakusiyana-siyana mu nkhani ino na yakutewera yace.

13. Kodi mungadziwe tani penu cikhumbo canu ca kubatizidwa mwacita kusankhula mwekha?

¹³ Ziripo njira zizinji zomwe zingakuthandizeni kuzindikira penu cakusankhula canu ca kubatizidwa cinkucokeradi mu mtima. Mwa ciratizo, cikhumbo canu ca kutumikira Yahova cin’dzawoneka mwa mipembo yanu. Momwe mumbapembera kawiri-kawiri bzingalatize momwe uxamwali bwanu na Yahova buliri. (Psal. 25:4) Njira yakufunika kwene-kwene yomwe Yahova ambatawirira mipembo yathu ndiyo kuphatisa basa Fala lace. Nyongo yathu pa kupfunza Bibliya ni njira inango yakulatiza kuti tinkufunadi kufenderera Yahova na kumutumikira kucokera mu mtima. (Djos. 1:8) Tsono bzibvunzeni kuti: ‘Kodi mipembo yangu ndimbalungamiza pa ciyani? Kodi kupfunza kwangu Bibliya mwakukhazikika kuli tani?’ Ndipo penu mumbacita Kunamata Ninga Banja, bzibvunzeni kuti: ‘Kodi ndimbacitambo mbali mwakufunisisa makonzedwe ya banja?’ Mitawiro yanu ya mibvunzoyi in’dzakuthandizani kudziwa penu cikhumbo canu ca kubatizidwa mwacita kusankhula mwekha.

14. Fotokozani kusiyana kwa kubzipereka na batismo.

¹⁴ Wanthu winango ambakwanisa lini kusiyanisa kubzipereka na batismo. Mwa ciratizo, maswaka manango yambalewa kuti yadabzipereka kwa Yahova koma yakanati kukonzeka kuti yabatizidwe. Kodi bzimwebzi mpsakubveseseka? Kubzipereka kumbathandauza kuuza Yahova kuti mun’dzamutumikira mpaka muyaya. Pa batismo, munthu ambalatiza kuna wense kuti iye wabzipereka. Na tenepo, batismo n’cizindikiro cakuti mudabzipereka kale pamwekha kwa  Yahova mu mpembo. Munati kuyenda kukabatizidwa, mun’funika kutsimikizira kuti mudabvesesa thandauzo la kubzipereka.

15. Kodi kubzipereka kumbathandauza ciyani?

¹⁵ Kulewa mwacigwatho, mukasankhula kupereka moyo wanu kwa Yahova, mun’funika kusiya bzicito bzanu. Imwepo mudapicira kwa Yahova kuti mun’dzaikha patsogolo cakulinga cace kuposa bzinthu bzense pa moyo wanu. (Werengani Mateu 16:24.) Piciro liri-lense lin’funika kutengedwa mwa mphanvu, koma piciro lakuperekedwa kwa Yahova Mulungu ndakufunika kwene-kwene! (Mat. 5:33) Kodi mungalatize tani kuti mwabzilambadi mwekha ndipo kuti tsapano muli kwa Yahova?—War. 14:8.

16, 17. (a) Perekani ciratizo ca thandauzo la kubzilamba mwekha. (b) Kodi munthu omwe wabzipereka kwa Yahova angalewe ciyani?

¹⁶ Yezezerani kuti, xamwali wanu wakupasani kanderendere ninga mphaso. Iye ankukupasani mwa kundolewa kuti: “Kanderendereyu, ngwako.” Koma patsogolo pace ankulewa pomwe kuti: “Tsono bzavi bzakufambisira bzin’pitiriza kukhala na ine. Ndipo ine ndine ndin’dzafambisa kanderendereyu, sikuti iwepo.” Kodi mungakomedwe na “mphasoyo”? Kodi mungamuwone tani nyakuperekayo?

¹⁷ Tsapano kumbukirani bzomwe Yahova angadikhirire kwa munthu omwe wabzipereka kwa iye, omwe akulewa kuti: “Ndinkukupasani moyo wangu. Ine ndine wanu.” Apa tani penu munthuyo Wayamba kukhala na moyo wa pawiri, pinango kubvunzira mwakabisira munthu wakusaya kukhulupira? Kodi tani penu iye wapita basa lomwe lin’mutazisa kucita utumiki na mtima wense ayai kugumanika pa mitsonkhano Yacikristau? Kodi bzimwebzi bzingandendemerane lini na munthu ule omwe wakhala na bzavi bza kanderendere? Munthu omwe wabzipereka kwa Yahova angalewe kuti: “Moyo wangu ndinkuupereka m’manja mwanu. Inepano nthawe zense ndin’dzacita kufuna kwanu napo penu bzomwe imwepo mumbafuna bzinkutsutsana na nzeru zangu.” Bzimwebzi bzingalatize makumbukidwe ya Jezu, yomwe adayalewa pomwe akhali pansi pano kuti: “Ndabuluka kucokera kudzulu kuti ndidzacite sikuti kufuna kwangu, koma kufuna kwa ule omwe wanditumiza.”—Ju. 6:38.

18, 19. (a) Kodi bzomwe Rose na Christopher adalewa bzimbalatiza tani kuti kukhala wakubatizidwa ni mwayi omwe umbabweresa bzisimbo? (b) Kodi mumbabva tani mukambakumbukira bza kubatizidwa?

¹⁸ Batismo ni mbali yakufunika kwene-kwene yomwe in’funika lini kuwonedwa ninga cinthu cakupepuka. Panthawe ibodzi-bodziyo, kubzipereka na kubatizidwa ni mwai ukulu kwene-kwene. Tswaka lomwe limbafuna Yahova na kuzindikira bzomwe kubzipereka kumbathandauza, limbabwerera lini m’mbuyo pa cakusankhula cace ca kubatizidwa; ndipo palibe nthawe iri-yense yomwe ambadandaula thangwe ra cakusankhula caceco. Mtsikana wakubatizidwa wakucemeredwa Rose adalewa kuti: “Ndimbamufuna Yahova ndipo palibe cinthu comwe cimbandikondwesa kuposa kumutumikira. Ndikhanati kutsimikiza kucita cakusankhula cikulu pa moyo wangu kuposa cakusankhula ca kubatizidwa.”

¹⁹ Apa tani bza Christopher omwe tamulewa kumayambiriro kwa nkhani ino ule? Pakuti iye akhana magole 12 pomwe adabatizidwa, kodi cakusankhula caceci cikhacokeradi pansi pa mtima? Christopher ambakomedwa akakumbukira bza kubzipereka na kubatizidwa kwace. Iye adayamba kutumikira ninga mpainiya wakukhazikika pomwe akhana magole 17, ndipo adakhala mtumiki wakuthandiza pomwe akhana magole 18, ndipo tsapano iye ankutumikira pa Betel. Iye adalewa kuti: “Kubatizidwa kwangu kukhali cakusankhula cabwino. Moyo wangu ngwakudzala na basa lacikondweso la Yahova na gulu lace.” Penu munkukumbuka bza kudzabatizidwa, kodi mungakonzekere tani? Nkhani inkutewerayi indzatawira m’bvunzoyu.