1-3. (a) Kungani umama eqikelela ukuthi indodana yakhe ihlanzekile? (b) Kungani uJehova efuna abakhulekeli bakhe bahlanzeke, futhi yini esishukumisela ukuba sifune ukuzigcina sihlanzekile?

UMAMA ugeza umfanyana wakhe bese emgqokisela indlela. Uyaqikelela ukuthi izingubo zakhe zinhle futhi zihlanzekile. Uyazi ukuthi inhlanzeko isemqoka empilweni yendodana yakhe. Uyaqaphela nokuthi ukubukeka kwayo kubakhela igama elihle abazali noma kulehlise.

² UJehova, uBaba wethu osezulwini, ufuna izinceku zakhe zihlanzeke. IZwi lakhe lithi: “Kozigcina ehlanzekile uyozibonakalisa uhlanzekile.” * (IHubo 18:26) UJehova uyasithanda; uyazi  ukuthi ukuzigcina sihlanzekile kungokwenzuzo yethu. Ulindele nokuba thina njengoFakazi bakhe simmelele kahle. Yebo, ukuhlanzeka nokuziphatha kwethu okuhle kuyoletha udumo kuJehova nasegameni lakhe elingcwele, ngeke kulethe isihlamba.—Hezekeli 36:22; 1 Petru 2:12.

³ Ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyabathanda abantu abahlanzekile kusishukumisela ukuba sizigcine sihlanzekile. Sifuna ukuba indlela yethu yokuphila ilethe udumo kuye ngoba siyamthanda. Sifuna nokuhlala othandweni lwakhe. Ngakho, ake sihlole ukuthi kungani kudingeka sizigcine sihlanzekile, ukuthi ukuhlanzeka kuhilelani, nendlela esingazigcina ngayo sihlanzekile. Ukuzihlola okunjalo kungasisiza sibone ukuthi zikhona yini izici okudingeka sithuthukise kuzo.

4, 5. (a) Siyini isizathu esiyinhloko sokuba sihlale sihlanzekile? (b) Ukuhlanzeka kukaJehova kubonakala kanjani endalweni yakhe ebonakalayo?

⁴ Enye yezindlela uJehova asihola ngayo iwukusibekela isibonelo. Ngenxa yalokho, iZwi lakhe lisinxusa ukuba sibe “abalingisi bakaNkulunkulu.” (Efesu 5:1) Nasi isizathu esiyinhloko esenza kudingeke ukuba sizigcine sihlanzekile: UJehova, uNkulunkulu esimkhulekelayo, uhlanzekile, umsulwa futhi ungcwele kuzo zonke izici.—Levitikusi 11:44, 45.

⁵ Ukuhlanzeka kukaJehova, njengeziningi zezimfanelo nezindlela zakhe, kusobala endalweni yakhe ebonakalayo. (Roma 1:20) Umhlaba wénziwa waba ikhaya labantu elihlanzekile. UJehova wenze kwaba nemijikelezo yemvelo ehlanza umoya namanzi. Amagciwane athile akhuculula ukungcola akushintshe kube izinto ezingenangozi. Ososayensi baye basebenzisa amanye alawa magciwane alambile ukuze akhuculule lapho kuchitheke khona uwoyela nokunye ukungcola okubangelwa ubugovu nomhobholo wabantu. Ngokusobala, ukuhlanzeka kubalulekile ‘kuMenzi womhlaba.’ (Jeremiya 10:12) Kufanele kubaluleke nakithi.

6, 7. UMthetho KaMose wakugcizelela kanjani ukuthi ukuhlanzeka kwakuyimfuneko kubakhulekeli bakaJehova?

⁶ Esinye isizathu esenza kudingeke sihlale sihlanzekile ukuthi  uJehova, uMbusi wethu Wendawo Yonke, ufuna abakhulekeli bakhe bahlanzeke. Ngaphansi koMthetho uJehova awunikeza u-Israyeli, ukuhlanzeka nokukhulekela kwakuyintonye. UMthetho wakucacisa ukuthi ngoSuku Lokuhlawulela, umpristi ophakeme kwakufanele ageze kabili hhayi kanye. (Levitikusi 16:4, 23, 24) Abapristi abengamele kwakufanele bageze izandla nezinyawo zabo ngaphambi kokuba banikele imihlatshelo kuJehova. (Eksodusi 30:17-21; 2 IziKronike 4:6) UMthetho wabalula izinto ezingu-70 ezazingenza umuntu angcole noma angafaneleki ukuhlanganyela emikhosini ethile. Lapho umIsrayeli esangcolile wayengenakuhlanganyela ekukhulekeleni—ezimweni ezithile, wayengabulawa uma enza kanjalo. (Levitikusi 15:31) Noma ubani owenqaba inqubo yokuhlanzwa eyayiyimfuneko, ehlanganisa ukugeza umzimba nokuhlanza izingubo zakhe, ‘kwakumelwe anqunywe phakathi kwebandla.’—Numeri 19:17-20.

⁷ Nakuba singekho ngaphansi koMthetho KaMose, usenza siqonde indlela uNkulunkulu abheka ngayo izinto. Ngokusobala, uMthetho wagcizelela ukuthi ukuhlanzeka kwakuyimfuneko kubakhulekeli bakaNkulunkulu. UJehova akashintshile. (Malaki 3:6) Ukukhulekela kwethu ngeke kwamukeleke kuye ngaphandle kokuba kube ‘okuhlanzekile nokungangcolile.’ (Jakobe 1:27) Ngakho kudingeka sazi ukuthi yini ayilindele kithi ngokuqondene nalokhu.

8. Kukuziphi izici uJehova alindele ukuba sihlanzeke kuzo?

⁸ EBhayibhelini, umqondo wokuba ohlanzekile usho okungaphezu nje kokuhlanzeka emzimbeni. Ukuba ohlanzekile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu kuthinta zonke izici zokuphila kwethu. UJehova ulindele ukuba sizigcine sihlanzekile ezicini ezine eziyisisekelo—ngokomoya, ngokuziphatha, engqondweni nangokwenyama. Ake sicabangele okuhilelekile esicini ngasinye.

9, 10. Kusho ukuthini ukuhlanzeka ngokomoya, futhi yini amaKristu eqiniso ayigwemayo?

⁹ Ukuhlanzeka ngokomoya. Kalula nje, ukuhlanzeka ngokomoya  kusho ukungaxubi ukukhulekela kweqiniso nokwamanga. Lapho ama-Israyeli ephuma eBhabhiloni ephindela eJerusalema, kwakufanele alalele lo myalo waphezulu: “Phumani lapho, ningathinti lutho olungcolile; . . . zigcineni nihlanzekile.” (Isaya 52:11) Ama-Israyeli ayephindela kwelakubo ngokuyinhloko ukuze abuyisele ukukhulekela kukaJehova. Lokho kukhulekela kwakudingeka kuhlanzeke—kunganindwa yinoma yiziphi izimfundiso, imikhuba namasiko ahlambalaza uNkulunkulu enkolo yaseBhabhiloni.

¹⁰ Namuhla, thina njengamaKristu eqiniso kumelwe siqaphele ukuba singangcoliswa ukukhulekela kwamanga. (1 Korinte 10:21) Ukuqapha kubalulekile kule ndaba ngoba sizungezwe ithonya lenkolo yamanga. Emazweni amaningi, amasiko, imikhuba nemicikilisho ehlukahlukene ihlobene nezimfundiso zenkolo yamanga, njengenkolelo yokuthi kunokuthile okungaphakathi kithi okusindayo lapho sifa. (UmShumayeli 9:5, 6, 10) AmaKristu eqiniso ayawagwema amasiko ahilela izinkolelo zenkolo yamanga. * Ngeke sivumele ukucindezelwa abanye kusenze siyekethise izindinganiso zeBhayibheli zokukhulekela okuhlanzekile.—IzEnzo 5:29.

11. Kuhilelani ukuhlanzeka kokuziphatha, futhi kubaluleke ngani ukuzigcina sihlanzekile kule ndaba?

¹¹ Ukuhlanzeka kokuziphatha. Ukuzigcina sihlanzekile ngokuziphatha kuhlanganisa ukugwema noma yiluphi uhlobo lokuziphatha kabi ngokobulili. (Efesu 5:5) Kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba sihlale sihlanzekile ngokuziphatha. Njengoba sizobona esahlukweni esilandelayo sale ncwadi, ukuze sizigcine othandweni lukaNkulunkulu, kumelwe ‘sibalekele ubufebe.’ Izifebe ezingaphenduki ‘ngeke zilizuze ifa lombuso kaNkulunkulu.’ (1 Korinte 6:9, 10, 18) Phambi kukaNkulunkulu, abanjalo baphakathi kwalabo “abanengekayo ngenxa yokungcola kwabo.” Uma behluleka ukuzigcina behlanzekile ngokuziphatha, “isabelo sabo siyoba . . . ukufa kwesibili.”—IsAmbulo 21:8.

12, 13. Ikuphi ukuhlobana okukhona phakathi kwemicabango nezenzo, futhi singazigcina kanjani sihlanzekile engqondweni?

 ¹² Ukuhlanzeka engqondweni. Imicabango izala izenzo. Uma sivumela imicabango engafanele yakhele ezingqondweni nasezinhliziyweni zethu, siyozithola sesizenza nakanjani izenzo ezingcolile. (Mathewu 5:28; 15:18-20) Kodwa uma sigcwalisa izingqondo zethu ngemicabango emsulwa nehlanzekile, singashukumiseleka ukuba silondoloze ukuziphatha okuhlanzekile. (Filipi 4:8) Singazigcina kanjani sihlanzekile engqondweni? Phakathi kokunye, kudingeka sigweme noma iluphi uhlobo lokuzijabulisa olungonakalisa ukucabanga kwethu. * Ngaphezu kwalokho, singagcwalisa izingqondo zethu ngemicabango ehlanzekile ngokutadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu njalo.—IHubo 19:8, 9.

¹³ Ukuze sihlale othandweni lukaNkulunkulu, kubalulekile ukuzigcina sihlanzekile ngokomoya, ngokuziphatha nasengqondweni. Kwezinye izahluko zale ncwadi kuxoxwa ngokwengeziwe ngalezi zici zenhlanzeko. Okwamanje ake sihlole isici sesine—ukuhlanzeka ngokwenyama.

14. Kungani ukuhlanzeka ngokwenyama kungeyona indaba yomuntu siqu nje kuphela?

¹⁴ Ukuhlanzeka ngokwenyama kuhilela ukugcina imizimba yethu nendawo esikuyo kuhlanzekile. Ingabe ukuhlanzeka okunjalo kuyindaba yomuntu siqu engamdingi omunye umuntu? Akunjalo neze ngabakhulekeli bakaJehova. Njengoba sekuphawuliwe, ukuhlanzeka kwethu ngokwenyama kubalulekile kuJehova hhayi nje kuphela ngoba kusizuzisa kodwa nangenxa yokuthi kuveza ukuthi unjani yena. Cabanga ngomfanekiso osekuqaleni. Ukubona ingane ehlale ingcolile noma iyidixa kwenza uzibuze ngabazali bayo, akunjalo? Asifuni lutho endleleni esibukeka ngayo noma endleleni esiphila  ngayo oluyoletha isihlamba kuBaba wethu osezulwini noma luthunaze isigijimi esisishumayelayo. IZwi likaNkulunkulu lithi: “Asinikezi sizathu sokukhubeka nangayiphi indlela, ukuze inkonzo yethu ingatholakali inephutha; kodwa ngazo zonke izindlela sizitusa njengezikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu.” (2 Korinte 6:3, 4) Singazigcina kanjani-ke sihlanzekile ngokwenyama?

15, 16. Ihlanganisani imikhuba emihle yenhlanzeko, futhi kufanele zibe njani izingubo zethu?

¹⁵ Ukuhlanzeka nokubukeka komuntu siqu. Nakuba amasiko nezimo zokuphila zihluka kuye ngamazwe, ngokuvamile singakwazi ukuthola insipho namanzi anele okuba sigeze njalo futhi siqiniseke ukuthi thina nezingane zethu sihlanzekile. Imikhuba emihle yenhlanzeko ihlanganisa ukugeza izandla ngensipho namanzi ngaphambi kokudla noma ukuphatha ukudla, ngemva kokuya endlini yangasese nangemva kokugeza umntwana noma ukumshintsha. Ukugeza izandla  ngensipho namanzi kungavimbela izifo futhi kusindise nokuphila. Kungavimbela ukubhebhetheka kwamagciwane ayingozi, ngaleyo ndlela kusize abantu bagweme izifo ezinjengohudo. Emazweni lapho izindlu zingenawo amapayipi athutha indle, mhlawumbe indle ingagqitshwa njengoba kwakwenziwa kwa-Israyeli wasendulo.—Duteronomi 23:12, 13.

¹⁶ Izingubo zethu nazo zidinga ukuhlanzwa njalo ukuze zihlanzeke futhi zibukeke. Izingubo zomKristu akudingeki zize zibize kakhulu noma zibe ezemfashini yamuva, kodwa kufanele zihlanzeke, zibukeke futhi zibe nesizotha. (1 Thimothewu 2:9, 10) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sikuphi, sifuna indlela esibukeka ngayo “ihlobise imfundiso yoMsindisi wethu, uNkulunkulu.”—Thithu 2:10.

17. Kungani kufanele imizi yethu nendawo esikuyo ihlanzeke futhi ibukeke?

¹⁷ Umuzi nendawo esikuyo. Singase singahlali emzini kanokusho, noma kunjalo kufanele uhlanzeke futhi ubukeke ngokuvunyelwa izimo. Ngokufanayo, uma sihamba ngemoto lapho siya emihlanganweni nasenkonzweni yasensimini, singenza konke esingakwenza ukuyigcina ihlanzekile, ngaphakathi nangaphandle. Masingakhohlwa ukuthi umuzi negceke elihlanzekile kunikeza ubufakazi kukodwa nje. Angithi yithina esifundisa abantu ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu ohlanzekile, ukuthi ‘uzochitha abachitha umhlaba,’ nokuthi uMbuso wakhe maduzane uzoguqula leli khaya lethu eliwumhlaba libe ipharadesi. (IsAmbulo 11:18; Luka 23:43) Ngokuqinisekile sifuna indlela ebukeka ngayo imizi nezimpahla zethu ibonise abanye ukuthi ngisho kwamanje, sihlakulela imikhuba ehlanzekile eyofanelana nezwe elisha elizayo.

18. Singayibonisa kanjani inhlonipho ngeHholo lethu LoMbuso?

¹⁸ Indawo yethu yokukhulekela. Uthando lwethu ngoJehova lusishukumisela ukuba sibonise inhlonipho ngeHholo lethu LoMbuso, eliyisikhungo sokukhulekela kweqiniso endaweni. Lapho abasha befika ehholo, sifuna bayithande indawo yethu esihlangana kuyo. Kudingeka ihholo lihlanzwe futhi lilungiswe njalo ukuze siqiniseke ukuthi lihlale licocekile futhi  lilihle. Sisuke sibonisa inhlonipho ngeHholo lethu LoMbuso uma senza esingakwenza ekuligcineni lisesimweni esihle. Kuyilungelo ukusebenzisa isikhathi sethu ngokuzithandela ukuze sisize ekuhlanzeni, ‘ekuvuseleleni nasekulungiseni’ indawo yethu yokukhulekela. (2 IziKronike 34:10) Isimiso esifanayo siyasebenza lapho siseHholo Lomhlangano noma kwezinye izindawo ezisetshenziselwa imihlangano emikhulu.

19. Ukuze sizigcine sihlanzekile ngokwenyama, yini okudingeka siyigweme, futhi iBhayibheli lisisiza kanjani kule ndaba?

¹⁹ Ukuze sihlale sihlanzekile ngokwenyama, kudingeka sigweme imikhuba engcolisayo, enjengokubhema, ukusebenzisa kabi utshwala, nokusebenzisa izidakamizwa okungezona ezokwelapha. IBhayibheli alikhulumi ngokuqondile ngayo yonke imikhuba engcolile nenyanyekayo eyandile namuhla, kodwa linazo izimiso ezisisiza sibone indlela uJehova azizwa ngayo ngezinto ezinjalo. Ngenxa yokuthi siyayazi indlela uJehova abheka ngayo izinto, uthando lwethu ngaye lusishukumisela ukuba sithathe inkambo ayamukelayo. Ake sicabangele izimiso ezingokomBhalo eziyisihlanu.

20, 21. Hlobo luni lwemikhuba uJehova afuna sikhululeke kuyo, futhi yisiphi isizathu esinamandla esinaso sokulalela?

²⁰ “Njengoba sinalezi zithembiso, bathandekayo, masizihlanze kukho konke ukungcola kwenyama nokomoya, siphelelisa ubungcwele ngokwesaba uNkulunkulu.” (2 Korinte 7:1) UJehova ufuna sikhululeke emikhubeni engcolisa imizimba yethu nelimaza umoya wethu, noma ukuthambekela okuvelele kwengqondo. Ngakho-ke kumelwe sigweme imikhuba eluthayo eyaziwayo ukuthi iyingozi emzimbeni nasengqondweni.

²¹ IBhayibheli linikeza isizathu esinamandla sokuba “sizihlanze kukho konke ukungcola.” Phawula ukuthi eyesi-2 Korinte 7:1 iqala ngala mazwi: “Njengoba sinalezi zithembiso.” Ziphi izithembiso? Njengoba kushiwo emavesini andulele, uJehova uyathembisa: “Ngizonamukela. Futhi mina ngiyoba uyihlo.” (2 Korinte 6:17, 18) Cabanga nje: UJehova uthembisa  ukukuvikela nokukuthanda njengoba nje ubaba enza endodaneni noma endodakazini yakhe. Kodwa uJehova uyofeza lezi zithembiso kuphela uma ugwema izinto ezingcolisa ‘inyama nomoya.’ Yeka indlela okungaba ubuwula ngayo-ke ukuvumela noma imuphi umkhuba onyanyekayo ukuphuce ubuhlobo obuyigugu nobuseduze kanjalo noJehova!

22-25. Yiziphi izimiso ezingokomBhalo ezingasisiza sigweme imikhuba engcolile?

²² “Kumelwe uthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho nangawo wonke umphefumulo wakho nangayo yonke ingqondo yakho.” (Mathewu 22:37) UJesu wakhetha lo myalo njengomkhulu kunayo yonke. (Mathewu 22:38) UJehova ufanelwe ukuba simthande ngothando olunjalo. Ukuze simthande ngenhliziyo yonke, ngomphefumulo wonke kanye nengqondo yonke, kumelwe sigweme imikhuba engafushanisa ukuphila kwethu noma ithuntubeze amandla ethu okucabanga esiwanikwe uNkulunkulu.

²³ “[UJehova] unika bonke abantu ukuphila nomoya nazo zonke izinto.” (IzEnzo 17:24, 25) Ukuphila kuyisipho esivela kuNkulunkulu. Siyamthanda uMuphi, ngakho sifuna ukubonisa inhlonipho ngalesi sipho. Sixwaya noma imiphi imikhuba elimaza impilo yethu ngoba siyaqaphela ukuthi imikhuba enjalo ibonisa indelelo enkulu ngesipho sokuphila.—IHubo 36:9.

²⁴ “Kumelwe uthande umakhelwane wakho njengoba uzithanda wena.” (Mathewu 22:39) Imikhuba engcolile ngokuvamile ayigcini nje ngokuthinta oyenzayo kodwa nalabo abaseduze naye. Ngokwesibonelo, ukuhogela intuthu kagwayi kungabalimaza abantu abangabhemi. Umuntu olimaza abantu abaseduze naye wephula umyalo waphezulu wokuthanda umakhelwane. Uphikisa nakushoyo uma ethi uthanda uNkulunkulu.—1 Johane 4:20, 21.

²⁵ ‘Zithobeni futhi nilalele ohulumeni neziphathimandla njengababusi.’ (Thithu 3:1) Emazweni amaningi, ukuba nezidakamizwa ezithile noma ukuzisebenzisa kuwukwephula umthetho. NjengamaKristu eqiniso, asizigcini  izidakamizwa ezingekho emthethweni futhi asizisebenzisi.—Roma 13:1.

26. (a) Ukuze sihlale othandweni lukaNkulunkulu, yini okudingeka siyenze? (b) Kungani ukuzigcina sihlanzekile phambi kukaNkulunkulu kuyindlela engcono kakhulu yokuphila?

²⁶ Ukuze sihlale othandweni lukaNkulunkulu, kudingeka sizigcine sihlanzekile hhayi nje esicini esisodwa noma ezimbili kodwa kuzo zonke. Ukulahla imikhuba engcolisayo nokuhlukana nayo kungase kungabi lula, kodwa kungenzeka. * Ngempela, ayikho enye indlela engcono yokuphila, ngoba ngaso sonke isikhathi uJehova usifundisa okusizuzisayo. (Isaya 48:17) Okubaluleke kakhulu, ngokuzigcina sihlanzekile siyothola ukwaneliseka okubangelwa ukwazi ukuthi simmelela kahle uNkulunkulu esimthandayo, kanjalo sihlale othandweni lwakhe.