1-2. (a) Kodi mpostolo Paulo akhali kuponi pomwe adanembera tsamba Aefezo, ndipo thangwe ranyi adawanembera? (b) Kodi ni mibvunzo iponi yomwe tin’cezerana mu nkhani ino?

 POMWE mpostolo Paulo akhadamangidwa ku Roma, iye akhafunisisa kulimbikisa abale wace wacikristau. Pakuti iye angadakwanisa lini kuwonana nawo maso na maso kuti awalimbikise, adacita kuwanembera matsamba. Iye adanembera tsamba Aefezo mu gole la 60 ayai 61 EC. — Aefezo 1:1; 4:1.

² Pafupi-fupi magole 10 m’mbuyo mwace, iye akhali ku Efezoko ndipo akhapalizira na kupfunzisa wanthu mafala yabwino ya Umambo. (Mabasa 19:1, 8-10; 20:20, 21) Iye akhafuna kwene-kwene abale wace wacikristauwo ndipo akhafunisisa kuwathandiza kuti apitirize kukhala wakukhulupirika kwa Yahova. Tsono, thangwe ranyi iye adanembera Akristau wakudzozedwawa bza nkhani ya mdima na cezayi? Ndipo n’ciyani comwe Akristau wentse angapfunze na nkhani imweyi? Bwerani ticezerane mitawiro ya mibvunzo imweyi.

KUCOKERA MU MDIMA KUYENDA KU CEZA

3. Kodi ni mafala yaponi yomwe mpostolo Paulo adayaphatisa basa pomwe akhanembera tsamba Aefezo?

³ Mpostolo Paulo adanembera tsamba Akristau wa ku Efezo, ndipo adawauza kuti: “Pakuyamba imwepo mukhali mu mdima, koma tsapano ndimwe ceza.” (Aefezo 5:8) Mpostolo Paulo adaphatisa basa mafala yakuti mdima na ceza kuti atithandize kubvesesa kucinja komwe Akristau wa ku Efezo adacita pa kusiya bzinthu bzomwe akhacita kale-kale aciyamba kucita bzinthu bzabwino. Bwerani tiwone kuti thangwe ranyi mpostolo Paulo adalewa kuti pakuyamba Aefezo akhali “mu mdima.”

4. Thangwe ranyi tingalewe kuti Aefezo akhali mu mdima wa magereja?

⁴ Iwo akhali mu mdima thangwe rakuti akhali mu gereja yakunama. Pomwe Akristau wa ku Efezo akhanati kupfunza cadidi,  iwo akhakhulupira bzomwe magereja yakunama yakhapfunzisa ndipo winango akhakhulupirambo bza mizimu. Mu mzinda wa Efezo mukhana templo ya mulungu wa cigerego wakucemeredwa Artemi omwe wanthu azinji akhadabwa naye kwene-kwene thangwe ra momwe akhadakonzedwera. Wanthu akhambayenda kumweko kuti akanamate bzifanikiso. Wanthu azinji kumweko akhambacita negosiyo ya kukonza na kugulisa bzifanikiso. (Mabasa 19:23-27) Kuthumizira bzimwebzi, mzindayo ukhadziwikambo kuti wanthu wace akhacita bza matsenga kwene-kwene. — Mabasa 19:19.

5. Kodi ni mwa njira iponi Aefezo akhali mu mdima wa makhalidwe yakuipa?

⁵ Iwo akhali mu mdima thangwe rakuti akhana makhalidwe yakuipa. Mzinda wa Efezo ukhadziwika thangwe rakuti kumweko kukhacitika kwene-kwene bzinthu bza upombo. Wanthu akhambaceza nkhani za upombo mu mzindamo na m’madyo ya magereja. (Aefezo 5:3) Wanthu azinji wa mu mzindamo “[akhakwanisa] lini kusiyanisa cabwino na cakuipa,” bzomwe bzin’funa kuthandauza kuti “bzomwe iwo akhacitabzo akhabziwona kuti bzikhali bzabwino.” (Aefezo 4:17-19) Pomwe Aefezowo akhanati kuzindikira kuti bzomwe akhacitabzo bzikhali bzakuphonyeka, cikumbu-mtima cawo cikhawanesa lini ndipo akhadziwa lini kuti Mulungu angadadzawalanga thangwe ra bzinthu bzakuipa bzomwe iwo akhacita. Ndipopa Paulo adalewa kuti “makumbukidwe yawo yali mu mdima ndipo iwo ali kutali na moyo omwe ngwa Mulungu.”

6. Thangwe ranyi Paulo adalewa kuti Aefezo akhali “mu ceza”?

⁶ Tsono Aefezo anango alibe kupitiriza kukhala mu mdimamo. Paulo adalewa kuti iwo “[akhali] ceza mwakubverana na Mbuya.” (Aefezo 5:8) Iwo adabvuma ceza ca m’Fala la Mulungu. (Salimo 119:105) Iwo adasiya kukhulupira bzinthu bzakunama bzomwe akhakhulupira pakuyamba na kusiyambo makhalidwe yawo ya upombo. Iwo adayamba ‘kutewezera Mulungu’ ndipo adayamba kunamata Yahova na kucita bzinthu bzomwe bzimbamukondwesa. — Aefezo 5:1.

7. Kodi ni mwa njira iponi moyo wathu ukhali wakundendemerana na wa Akristau wa ku Efezo?

⁷ Mwakundendemerana na iwo, pomwe tikhanati kupfunza Bibliya, tikhalimbo mu mdima  thangwe tikhakhulupira bzinthu na kucita bzinthu bza upombo. Winango wa ifepano tikhambacitambo mafesta yomwe magereja yakunama yambacita. Tsono pomwe tidapfunza mitemo ya Yahova pa nkhani ya cabwino na cakuipa, ifepano tidacinja. Tidayamba kukhala na moyo mwakubverana na mitemo yace yakulungama. Bzimwebzi bzidaticitisa kuti tikhale na bzisimbo bzizinji. (Zaiya 48:17) Tsono, pana mphitca zinango zomwe tingagumane nazo. Ifepano tin’funika kupitiriza kukhala kutali na mdima “ticifamba ninga wana wa ceza.” Kodi tingacite tani bzimwebzi?

THAWANI MDIMA

8. Mwakubverana na Aefezo 5:3-5, kodi Akristau wa ku Efezo akhafunika kutcenkha ciyani?

⁸ Werengani Aefezo 5:3-5. Kuti Aefezo akhale kutali na mdima, iwo akhafunika kutcenkha kucita bzinthu bzomwe Yahova ambakomedwa lini nabzo. Iwo akhandofunika lini kutcenkha bzinthu bza upombo basi, koma akhafunikambo kutcenkha kumbalewa nthabwala za kutukwana. Mpostolo Paulo adakumbusa Aefezo kuti akhafunika kutcenkha kucita bzinthu bzimwebzi kuti adzakwanise “[kupita] mu Umambo bwa Kristu na Mulungu.”

9. Thangwe ranyi tin’funika kucita ciri-centse kuti titcenkhe kucita bzinthu bzomwe bzingaticitise kucita upombo?

⁹ Ifepanombo tin’funika kucita ciri-centse kuti titcenkhe kucita “mabasa ya mu mdima yomwe yambabala lini bzisapo.” (Aefezo 5:11) Mwa ciratizo, mu dziko linango, abale adakonza grupo ya mu interneti kuti ambaceze. Pomwe grupoyo idayamba, abalewo akhambandoceza nkhani zauzimu zokha-zokha. Tsono pang’ono na pang’ono, iwo adadzayamba kumbaceza nkhani zomwe Yahova ambakomedwa lini nazo. Iwo adadzayamba kumbaceza kwene-kwene nkhani za malume ya pa mphasa. Abale winango omwe akhalimbo mu grupomo adadzalewa kuti nkhani zimwezi zidadzacitisa kuti iwo acite upombo. Bzimwebzi bzikulatiziratu kuti munthu omwe ambapitiriza kunyang’anisa, kutetekera, kubva nkhani zakuipa ayai bzinthu bza upombo, iye ambadzamalizira kucita pikado. — Genesesi 3:6; Tiyago 1:14, 15.

10. Kodi n’ciyani comwe Sathani ambayezera kucita kuti atipumpse? (Aefezo 5:6)

¹⁰ Dziko la Sathaniri limbayezera kutipumpsa kuti tikhulupire kuti bzomwe Yahova ambalewa kuti mpsakuipa mpsakuipa lini. (2 Pedru 2:19) Bzimwebzi bzimbatidabwisa lini! Msampha ubodzi omwe Sathani ambauphatisa basa ngwa kunamiza wanthu kuti ataze kudziwa cabwino na cakuipa. (Zaiya 5:20; 2 Akolinto 4:4) Ndipopa programa zizinji za pa tv, mavidiyo na nkhani za pa interneti zimbalimbikisa wanthu kuti acite bzinthu mwakupitana na mitemo yakulungama ya Yahova! Sathani ambayezera kuticitisa kukumbuka kuti makhalidwe yakuipa yangatidzonge lini koma yangaticitise kuti tikondwe na moyo. — Werengani Aefezo 5:6.

11. N’ciyani cidacitikira Angela, ndipo thangwe ranyi tin’funika kuphatisa basa malango ya pa Aefezo 5:7? (Onani cithunzi-thunzi.)

¹¹ Sathani ambafuna kuti ifepano tibverane na wanthu omwe ambateweza lini mitemo ya Yahova. Tsono mpostolo Paulo adacenjeza Akristau wa ku Efezo kuti: “Lekani kumbacitambo nawo bzimwebzi,” wale omwe ambacita bzinthu bzakuipa pamaso pa Mulungu. (Aefezo 5:7) Kumbukirani kuti kubverana na wanthu wakuipa kumbandothandauza lini kumbandoceza nawo nkhope na nkhope basi. Koma iko kumbathandauzambo kuceza na wanthu mwakuphatisa basa mbuto zakucezera za pa interneti napo kuti bzimwebzi bziribe kucitikira wanthu wa ku Efezo. Angela, a omwe ambakhala ku Ásia, adawona kuti ni ngozi kwene-kwene  kumbaceza na wanthu mwakuphatisa basa mbuto zakucezera za pa interneti. Iye adalewa kuti: “Pang’ono na pang’ono inepano ndidayamba kucinja makumbukidwe yangu. Ndidafika pakuwona kuti mpsakuphonyeka lini kukhala na ‘xamwali’ omwe ambateweza lini mitemo ya m’Bibliya. Ndidadzafika pakukumbuka kuti BZIRIBE BASA inepano kukhala na moyo omwe Yahova ambakomedwa lini nawo.” Tsono akulu wa lufoyi adamuthandiza Angela kucinja makumbukidwe yace. Iye adalewa kuti: “Tsapano inepano nimbacita nyongo kuti nimbakumbukire kwene-kwene bzinthu bzauzimu mbuto mwakumala nthawe ndikuceza na wanthu mwakuphatisa basa mbuto zakucezera za pa interneti.”

12. N’ciyani comwe cin’dzatithandiza kuti tipitirize kuteweza mitemo yakulungama ya Yahova?

¹² Ifepano tin’funika kucita nyongo kuti tileke kukhala na nzeru zakuti kukhala na makhalidwe yakuipa n’kwakuphonyeka lini. Ifepano timbadziwa kuti kukhala na makhalidwe yakuipa n’kwakuphonyeka. (Aefezo 4:19, 20) Tingacite bwino kubzibvunza kuti: ‘Kodi inepano nimbacita nyongo kuti ndileke kubverana na wanthu omwe ambateweza lini mitemo ya Yahova napo akhale anzangu wa ku basa, anzangu wa ku xikola, ayai winango? Kodi nimbakhwimika kuti nditeweze mitemo ya Yahova napo kuti wanthu angandilewe kuti ndidanesa?’ Ninga momwe cinembo ca 2 Timotio 2:20-22 cimbalewera, tin’funikambo kucita mphole pomwe tikusankhula wanthu omwe tin’funa kuti akhale axamwali wathu napo mkati mwa gwere. Tin’funika kukumbukira kuti ni Akristau lini wentse omwe angatithandize kuti tipitirize kukhala wakukhulupirika kwa Yahova.

FAMBANI “NINGA WANA WA CEZA”

13. Kodi “kufamba ninga wana wa ceza” kumbathandauza ciyani? (Aefezo 5:7-9)

¹³ Mpostolo Paulo adauza Akristau wa ku Efezo kuti aleke kufamba mu mdima. Tsono iye adawauzambo kuti “[afambe] ninga wana wa ceza.” (Werengani Aefezo 5:7-9.) Kodi bzimwebzi bzikuthandauza ciyani? Bzimwebzi bzikuthandauza kuti nthawe zentse tin’funika kumbacita bzinthu ninga Akristau wacadidi. Ndipo cinthu cibodzi comwe cingatithandize kucita bzimwebzi ndico kumbawerenga na kupfunza Bibliya pabodzi na mabukhu yathu yanango.  Ndipo tin’funikambo kutewezera ciratizo na mapfunziso ya Jezu, omwe akhali “ceza ca dziko.” — Juwau 8:12; Mimwani 6:23.

14. Kodi mzimu wakucena umbatithandiza tani?

¹⁴ Cinthu cinango comwe cingatithandize kufamba ninga “wana wa ceza” ni mzimu wakucena wa Mulungu. Thangwe ranyi? Thangwe rakuti mpsakunesa kwene-kwene kupitiriza kukhala wakucena mu dziko lakuipali. (1 Atesalonika 4:3-5, 7, 8) Mzimu wakucena ungatithandize kucinja makumbukidwe yathu ticileka kumbakumbuka ninga wanthu wa m’dzikoli. Ndipo mzimu wakucenayo ungatithandizembo kulatiza “ubwino bwentse na cirungamo.” — Aefezo 5:9.

15. Kodi n’ciyani comwe tin’funika kucita kuti titambire mzimu wakucena? (Aefezo 5:19, 20)

¹⁵ Cinthu cibodzi comwe tingacite kuti titambire mzimu wakucena ndico kuukumbira kwa Yahova. Jezu adalewa kuti Yahova an’dzapereka mzimu wakucena “kwa wale omwe ambamukumbira.” (Luka 11:13) Ndipo tikambatumbiza Yahova pabodzi na Akristau anzathu pa mitsonkhano timbatambirambo mzimu wakucena. (Werengani Aefezo 5:19, 20.) Tikakhala na mzimu wakucena, ifepano tin’dzakwanisa kukhala na moyo omwe umbakondwesa Mulungu.

16. N’ciyani cin’dzatithandiza kuti ticite bzakusankhula bzanzeru? (Aefezo 5:10, 17)

¹⁶ Tikakhala na cakusankhula cikulu kuti ticite, ifepano tin’funika nthawe zentse ‘kumbazindikira kufuna kwa Yahova’ ndipo tikamala ticite bzinthu mwakubverana na kufuna kwaceko. (Werengani Aefezo 5:10, 17.) Tikambaphatisa basa nfundo za m’Bibliya pa moyo wathu timbalatiza kuti tikufuna kucita bzinthu mwakubverana na nzeru za Yahova. Ndipo kucita bzimwebzi kun’dzatithandiza kuti ticite bzakusankhula bzanzeru.

17. Kodi n’ciyani comwe tin’funika lini kucita kuti tiphatise basa nthawe yathu mwanzeru? (Aefezo 5:15, 16) (Onani cithunzi-thunzi.)

¹⁷ Mpostolo Paulo adauzambo Akristau wa ku Efezo kuti ambaphatise basa nthawe yawo mwanzeru. (Werengani Aefezo 5:15, 16.) “Nyakuipayo,”  omwe ni Sathani, ambafuna kuti ifepano tikhale wakutanganidwa na bzinthu bza m’dzikoli ticisaya nthawe yakucita bzinthu bza Yahova. (1 Juwau 5:19) Mpsakupusa kwa Mkristau kuikha bzinthu bzakuthupi ayai kufuna kupfunza kwene-kwene pa mbuto yakuyamba ndipo aciikha kunamata Yahova pa mbuto yaciwiri. Bzimwebzi bzikacitika, tidziweretu kuti ifepano tikutengeka na nzeru za dziko. Tikudziwa kuti bzinthu bzimwebzi bziribe kuipa, tsono ibzo bzin’funika lini kukhala pa mbuto yakuyamba pa moyo wathu. Kuti tifambe ninga “wana wa ceza,” tin’funika ‘kuphatisa bwino basa nthawe yathu,’ ticiikha bzinthu bzakufunika pa mbuto yakuyamba.

18. Kodi n’ciyani comwe Donald adacita kuti aphatise basa bwino nthawe yace?

¹⁸ Khalani tceru kuti muphatise basa mpata uli-wentse omwe mungakhale nawo kuti mucite bzizinji pa kutumikira Yahova. Bzimwebzi ndibzo bzomwe m’bale munango wakucemeredwa Donald, omwe ambakhala ku África do Sul, adacita. Iye adalewa kuti: “Inepano ndidawona kuti ningadakwanisa kucita bzizinji pa kutumikira Yahova, ndipopa ndidamukumbira Yahovayo kuti andithandize kugumana basa lomwe lingadandipasa mpata wakuti ndipalizire kwene-kwene. Ndipo mwakuthandizidwa na iye, ndidagumanadi basa labwino. Patsogolo pace, inepano na mkazangu tidayamba kucita utumiki bwa nthawe zentse pabodzi.”

19. Kodi n’ciyani comwe tingacite kuti tipitirize kufamba “ninga wana wa ceza”?

¹⁹ Tsamba lomwe mpostolo Paulo adanembera Akristau wa ku Efezo lidawathandiza kuti acinje bzinthu pa moyo wawo. Ninga momwe tawonera mu nkhani ino, tsamba limweri lina malango yakufuliziridwa yomwe yangatithandizembo ntsiku zino. Malango yamweya yangatithandize kusankhula bwino bzinthu bzakutsangalaza nabzo na kusankhula axamwali wabwino. Yangatithandizembo kuti tifune kupitiriza kufamba mu ceza ca cadidi mwa nthawe zentse kumbapfunza Bibliya. Ndipo yalatiza kuti mzimu wakucena ungatithandize kukhala na makhalidwe yabwino. Mukaphatisa basa malango ya Pauloya, imwepo mun’dzacita bzakusankhula bzanzeru bzomwe bzimbabverana na makumbukidwe ya Yahova. Ndipo mukacita bzimwebzi, imwepo mun’dzatcenkha kukhala mu mdima wa dzikoli ndipo mun’dzapitiriza kufamba mu ceza!