1. Ndi anthu otani amene Yehova amawakokela kwa iye? Ndipo n’cifukwa ciani anthuwo ayenela kukhala maso kuuzimu?

YESU anati: “Olambila oona adzalambila Atate motsogoleledwa ndi mzimu ndi coonadi, pakuti Atate amafuna otelowo azimulambila.” (Yohane 4:23) Yehova akapeza anthu otelo monga mmene anapezela inu, amawakokela kwa iye ndi kwa Mwana wake. (Yohane 6:44) Umenewu ndi mwai waukulu kwambili. Anthu okonda coonadi ca m’Baibulo, nthawi zonse ayenela ‘kutsimikiza kuti covomelezeka kwa Ambuye n’citi,’ cifukwa Satana ndi katswili pa kusoceletsa anthu.—Aefeso 5:10; Chivumbulutso 12:9.

2. Fotokozani mmene Yehova amaonela anthu amene amasakaniza kulambila koona ndi konama.

² Kumbukilani zimene zinacitika pafupi ndi Phili la Sinai pamene Aisiraeli anauza Aroni kuti awapangile fano. Aroni anagonjela zofuna zao, ndipo anapanga mwana wa ng’ombe wagolide ndi kunena kuti anali kuimila Yehova. Iye anati: “Maŵa kuli cikondwelelo ca Yehova.” Kodi Yehova anakondwela pamene io anasakaniza kulambila koona ndi konama? Iyai. Cifukwa ca zimenezi Yehova anapha anthu pafupifupi 3,000. (Ekisodo. 32:1-6, 10, 28) Kodi nkhani imeneyi ikutiphunzitsa ciani? Ngati tifuna kukhalabe m’cikondi ca Mulungu, sitiyenela ‘kukhudza cinthu ciliconse codetsedwa,’ ndipo cifukwa cokonda Yehova tiyenela kuyesetsa kuteteza coonadi kuti cisaipitsidwe ndi kanthu kalikonse.—Yesaya 52:11; Ezekiel 44:23; Agalatiya 5:9.

3, 4. N’cifukwa ciani tiyenela kuganizila mosamala mfundo za m’Baibulo tikafuna kudziŵa miyambo ndi zikondwelelo zoyenela ndi zosayenela?

 ³ Atumwi anali kuteteza mpingo ku anthu ampatuko. N’zacisoni kuti io atafa, anthu odzicha Akristu amene sanali kukonda coonadi anatengela miyambo, zikondwelelo, ndi maholide acikunja, ndi kuziloŵetsa mumpingo wacikristu. (2 Atesalonika 2:7, 10) Pamene tikukambilana zikondwelelo zimenezi, onani mmene zimaonetsela mzimu wa dziko osati wa Mulungu. Mwacidule, tinganene kuti zolinga za zikondwelelo zonse za dziko n’zofanana. Zimalimbikitsa zilakolako za thupi, kukhulupilila mizimu, ndi zikhulupililo za cipembedzo conama. Zimenezi ndi zizindikilo za “Babulo Wamkulu.” * (Chivumbulutso 18:2-4, 23) Musaiwalenso kuti Yehova amadziŵa bwino kuti zikondwelelo zofala za masiku ano zinacokela ku miyambo yakale yonyansa yacipembedzo conyenga. N’zosacita kufunsa kuti Mulungu amanyansidwanso ndi zikondwelelo zimenezi masiku ano. Kodi nafenso sitiyenela kuziona mmene iye amazionela?—2 Yohane 6, 7.

⁴ Monga Akristu oona, timadziŵa kuti Yehova amadana ndi zikondwelelo zina. Conco, tiyenela kukhala otsimikiza mtima kupewelatu zikondwelelo zimenezi. Ndipo kupendanso cifukwa cake Yehova amadana ndi zikhulupililo zimenezi, kudzatilimbikitsa kuyesetsa kupewa ciliconse cimene cingatilepheletse kukhalabe m’cikondi ca Mulungu.

5. N’cifukwa ciani tinganene motsimikiza kuti Yesu sanabadwe pa December 25?

⁵ Baibulo silinena kuti anthu anali kukondwelela tsiku la kubadwa kwa Yesu. Ndipo tsiku lake lenileni limene iye anabadwa silidziŵika. Koma cimene timadziŵa n’cakuti iye sanabadwe  pa December 25. Umenewu ndi mwezi wozizila kudela limenelo. * Cifukwa cimodzi cimene tikunenela zimenezi n’cakuti, Luka analemba kuti nthawi imene Yesu anabadwa, ‘abusa anali kugonela kuubusa akuyang’anila nkhosa zao.’ (Luka 2:8-11) Ngati abusa anali “kugonela kubusa” caka conse cathunthu, Luka sakanafunikila kuchula zimenezi. M’mwezi umenewu ku Betelehemu kumakhala kozizila cifukwa kumagwa mvula ndi cipale cofeŵa. Motelo, sizikanatheka kuti abusa ‘agonele kubusa’ cifukwa mwezi umenewu nkhosa zinali kukhala m’khola. Ndipo Yosefe ndi Mariya anapita ku Betelehemu cifukwa cakuti Kaisara Augusito analamula kuti anthu m’dzikolo akalembetse m’kaundula. (Luka 2:1-7) N’zokaikitsa kuti Kaisara akanalamula anthu amene anali kudana ndi ulamulilo wa Aroma kuti apite kumizinda ya makolo ao kukalembetsa kaundula panthawi yozizila conco.

6, 7. (a) Kodi miyambo yambili ya Krisimasi inayamba bwanji? (b) Pali kusiyana kotani pakati pa kupatsana mphatso za Krisimasi ndi mphatso zimene Akristu amapatsana?

⁶ Krisimasi si ya m’Malemba, koma inayambila ku maphwando akale acikunja monga zikondwelelo za Saturnalia. Cikondwelelo cimeneci anali kucitila mulungu wao wa zaulimi Saturn. Mogwilizana ndi kaŵelengedwe kao ka nyengo, olambila mulungu Mithra anali kukondwelela December 25 monga tsiku la “kubadwa kwa dzuŵa losagonjetseka.” “Ndipo Krisimasi inayamba panthawi imene kulambila dzuŵa kunali pacimake ku Roma,” zaka 300 pambuyo pa imfa ya Kristu.—New Catholic Encyclopedia.

⁷ Pa zikondwelelo zimenezi io anali kupatsana mphatso ndi kucita maphwando. Izi ndi zinthu zimene zimacitikabe pa Krisimasi masiku ano. Monga mmene zilili masiku ano, anthu popatsana mphatso pa Krisimasi sanali kutsatila mfundo ya pa 2 Akorinto 9:7, imene imati: “Aliyense acite mogwilizana ndi mmene  watsimikizila mumtima mwake, osati monyinyilika kapena mokakamizika, cifukwa Mulungu amakonda munthu wopeleka mokondwela.” Akristu amapatsana mphatso cifukwa cokondana, ndipo amacita izi patsiku lina lililonse. Koma io sayembekezela kuti ngati apatsa wina mphatso, iyenso awapatse. (Luka 14:12-14; ŵelengani Machitidwe 20:35.) Iwo amasangalala kuti sacitako Krisimasi cifukwa amapewa kupanikizika ndiponso nkhongole zimene anthu ambili amakhala nazo pa nyengo ya Krisimasi.—Mateyu 11:28-30; Yohane 8:32.

8. Kodi okhulupilila nyenyezi anapatsa Yesu mphatso pa tsiku limene iye anabadwa? Fotokozani.

⁸ Koma ena anganene kuti okhulupilila nyenyezi anapeleka mphatso kwa Yesu pa tsiku limene anabadwa. Koma kodi zimenezo n’zoona? Ai. Mphatso zao zinali cabe ulemu kwa munthu wochuka, ndipo umenewo unali mwambo wofala m’nthawi zakale. (1 Mafumu 10:1, 2, 10, 13; Mateyu 2:2, 11) Kunena zoona, io sanapite kukaona Yesu pa tsiku limene anabadwa. Panthawi  imene io anapita kukamuona, Yesu sanali khanda m’khola la ng’ombe, koma anali mwana wa miyezi ingapo.

9. N’ciani cinacitika pa zikondwelelo za masiku akubadwa ochulidwa m’Baibulo?

⁹ Ngakhale kuti mwana akabadwa anthu amasangalala, Baibulo silikamba kuti panali mtumiki wa Mulungu aliyense amene anakondwelela tsiku lake la kubadwa. (Salimo 127:3) Kodi tinganene kuti zimenezi zinangoiŵalika? Ai, cifukwa cakuti zikondwelelo ziŵili za masiku akubadwa zimachulidwa. Zikondwelelo zimenezi ndi ca kubadwa kwa Farao wa ku Iguputo ndi ca Herode Antipa. (Ŵelengani Genesis 40:20-22; Maliko 6:21-29.) Pa zocitika ziŵilizi panacitika zinthu zoipa, makamaka pa cikondwelelo  ca tsiku la kubadwa kwa Herode cifukwa ndi pamene Yohane M’batizi anadulidwa mutu.

10, 11. Kodi Akristu oyambilila anali kuziona bwanji zikondwelelo za masiku akubadwa? Ndipo n’cifukwa ciani?

¹⁰ Buku lina linati: “Akristu oyambilila anali kuona kuti mwambo wokondwelela kubadwa kwa munthu ndi wacikunja.” (The World Book Encyclopedia) Mwacitsanzo, Agiriki akale anali kukhulupilila kuti munthu aliyense anali ndi mzimu wom’teteza umene unali kupezeka panthawi ya kubadwa kwa munthuyo ndipo unali kumuyang’anila pa umoyo wake wonse. Mzimuwo “unali pa ubwenzi wina wake ndi mulungu amene anabadwanso patsiku limene munthuyo anabadwa.” (The Lore of Birthdays) Ndiponso kwa nthawi yaitali, masiku akubadwa akhala okhudzana ndi kukhulupilila nyenyezi.

¹¹ Atumiki a Mulungu akale sanali kucita miyambo yokondwelela masiku akubadwa cifukwa ca cikhulupililo cao komanso cifukwa cakuti inayambila kucikunja ndiponso inali kuphatikizapo kukhulupilila mizimu. Amuna ndi akazi amenewa anali ofatsa ndi odzicepetsa. Iwo sanaone tsiku lao la kubadwa kukhala lofunika kwambili cakuti ndi kulicitila phwando. * (Mika 6:8; Luka 9:48) M’malo mwake, anali kutamanda ndi kuyamikila Yehova kuti anawapatsa mphatso ya moyo. *—Salimo 8:3, 4; 36:9; Chivumbulutso 4:11.

12. Kodi tsiku la imfa ya munthu limaposa bwanji tsiku lake la kubadwa?

¹² Mulungu amakumbukila anthu onse okhulupilika amene anamwalila ndipo mosakaikila adzawaukitsa. (Yobu 14:14, 15) Lemba la Mlaliki 7:1 limati: “Mbili yabwino imaposa mafuta onunkhila, ndipo tsiku lomwalila limaposa tsiku lobadwa.” “Mbili” yathu imeneyi ndi dzina labwino limene timapanga ndi  Mulungu cifukwa com’tumikila mokhulupilika. Cosangalatsa n’cakuti, mwambo wokha umene Akristu analamulidwa kucita ndi kukumbukila imfa ya Yesu osati kubadwa kwake. Ndipo ‘dzina’ labwino la Yesu n’lofunika kuti tikapulumuke.—Aheberi 1:3, 4; Luka 22:17-20.

13, 14. Kodi miyambo yofala ya Isitala inacokela kuti?

¹³ Anthu amakondwelela Isitala poganiza kuti akukumbukila kuuka kwa Yesu. Koma mwambo umenewu unayambila ku cipembedzo conama. Zikuoneka kuti dzina lakuti Isitala linacokela kwa Eostre, kapena kuti Ostara, mulungu wamkazi wa anthu ochedwa Anglo-Saxon. Mulungu ameneyu anali wa mbandakuca ndi wa nyengo ya masika. Nanga mazila ndi akalulu anabwelapo bwanji pa Isitala? Mazila “akhala akugwilitsilidwa nchito monga cizindikilo ca moyo watsopano ndi ciukililo.” (Encyclopædia Britannica) Kwa nthawi yaitali akalulu akhala akugwilitsidwa nchito monga cizindikilo ca mphamvu ya kubeleka. Conco mwambo wa Isitala, umene amati ndi wokumbukila kuuka kwa Kristu, kwenikweni ndi mwambo wa kubeleka. *

¹⁴ Kodi Yehova angavomeleze kuti mwambo wonyansa wa kubeleka ndiponso wocokela kucikunja ukhale mwambo wokondwelela kuuka kwa Mwana wake? Kutalitali! (2 Akorinto 6:17, 18) Kunena zoona, Malemba satilamulila kapena kutilola kukondwelela kuuka kwa Yesu. Conco kucita Isitala ndi kumanena kuti tikukondwelela kuuka kwa Yesu ndi kusakhulupilika kwakukulu.

15. N’cifukwa ciani Akristu oona amapewa miyambo ina ya malilo?

¹⁵ Akristu oona amapewa miyambo yambili yokhudzana ndi malilo. Ina ya miyambo imeneyi imaphatikizapo mwambo wonena kumene mutu wa munthu wakufa uyenela kukhala pomuika  m’manda, ndi mwambo woika zinthu zosiyanasiyana m’bokosi. Amaikamo zinthu monga ndalama, sopo ndi zina zambili. Ena amayatsa moto poganiza kuti athamangitsa mizimu yoipa. Miyambo yonse imeneyi ndi yogwilizana ndi cikhulupililo cakuti akufa akhoza kuthandiza kapena kuvulaza amoyo. Conco, popeza kuti akufa “sadziŵa ciliconse,” anthu amene afuna kukhalabe m’cikondi ca Mulungu sacita miyambo yogwilizana ndi kulambila akufa.—Mlaliki 9:5,6,10.

16, 17. (a) N’cifukwa ciani Akristu amene afuna kukwatilana ayenela kupenda miyambo ya cikwati ya kudela lao kuti aone ngati ikugwilizana ndi mfundo za m’Baibulo? (b) Kodi Akristu ayenela kudziŵa ciani ponena za miyambo monga yowaza mpunga kapena zinthu zina pa cikwati?

¹⁶ Posacedwapa “mau a mkwati ndi a mkwatibwi sadzamvekanso mwa iwe [Babulo Wamkulu].” (Chivumbulutso 18:23) N’cifukwa ciani zili conco? Cifukwa cimodzi n’cakuti Babulo Wamkulu amakhulupilila mizimu, ndipo kutelo kungadetse cikwati kuyambila patsiku la phwando la cikwati.—Maliko 10:6-9.

¹⁷ Miyambo imasiyanasiyana malinga ndi dziko. Miyambo ina imene imaoneka ngati yabwino, ingakhale kuti inacokela ku miyambo ya ku Babulo. Anthu ena amati colinga ca miyambo imeneyi ndi kubweletsa “mwai” kwa anthu okwatilana kapena kwa opezeka pa phwandolo. (Yesaya 65:11) Umodzi mwa miyambo imeneyi ndi kuwaza mpunga kapena zinthu zina. Mwambo umenewu, uoneka kuti unacokela ku cikhulupililo cakuti zakudya zinali kutonthoza mizimu yoipa kuti isavulaze anthu okwatilanawo. Ndiponso kwa nthawi yaitali anthu akhala akuona kuti mpunga uli ndi mphamvu yobeleketsa, yopatsa cimwemwe, ndi moyo wautali. Conco, onse amene afuna kukhalabe m’cikondi ca Mulungu ayenela kupewa miyambo yodetsa imeneyi.—Ŵelengani 2 Akorinto 6:14-18.

18. Ndi mfundo za m’Baibulo ziti zimene anthu amene afuna kukwatilana ndiponso oitanidwa ku phwando la cikwati ayenela kukumbukila?

¹⁸ Atumiki a Yehova amapewa miyambo ya dziko imene ingacititse kuti phwando la cikwati cao likhale locititsa  manyazi kapena lokhumudwitsa ena. Mwacitsanzo, amene apatsidwa mwai wolankhulapo paphwando la cikwati, amapewa kulankhula zotukwana kapena zonyoza, kapenanso kukamba nthabwala zimene zingacititse manyazi amene aloŵa m’cikwati ndi anthu ena. (Miyambo 26:18, 19; Luka 6:31; 10:27) Atumiki a Yehova amapewanso kucita maphwando a cikwati odzionetsela, amene amaonetsa mzimu ‘wodzionetsela ndi zimene munthu ali nazo pa moyo wake.’ (1 Yohane 2:16) Ngati mukonzekela phwando la cikwati, musaiŵale kuti Yehova amafuna kuti muzikhala ndi cimwemwe mukakumbukila tsiku lapadela limenelo. *

19, 20. Kodi buku lina limati mwambo wogundanitsa mabotolo ndi matambula unayamba bwanji? N’cifukwa ciani Akristu sayenela kucita nao mwambo umenewu?

¹⁹ Mwambo wofala pa phwando la cikwati ndi pa maceza ena ndi kugundanitsa mabotolo kapena matambula. Buku lina la mu 1995 limene limasimba za moŵa ndi cikhalidwe ca anthu limati: “Kugundanitsa mabotolo kapena matambula . . . ndi mwambo umodzi wacikunja umene watsala pa miyambo yakale imene inali kutsatilidwa popeleka nsembe kwa milungu. Nsembe zimenezi zinali magazi kapena vinyo . . . Anthu anali kupeleka nsembe zimenezi pofuna kuti adalitsidwe. Popempha madalitsowo io anali kupemphela mwacidule kuti, ‘mukhale ndi moyo wautali’ kapena ‘mukhale ndi thanzi labwino.’”—International Handbook on Alcohol and Culture.

²⁰ N’zoona kuti anthu ambili saona kuti kugundanitsa mabotolo kapena matambula ndi mwambo wacipembedzo kapena wokhudza zamatsenga. Komabe, mwambo wonyamula matambula a vinyo m’mwamba ungaonedwe ngati kupempha mizimu kumwamba kuti iwadalitse. Malemba salola anthu kupempha zinthu mwa njila imeneyi.—Yohane 14:6; 16:23. *

21. Ngakhale kuti maphwando ena sanacokele ku zipembedzo zonama, kodi ndi maphwando ofala ati amene Akristu amapewa? Nanga n’cifukwa ciani?

²¹ Masiku ano, makhalidwe oipa afala kwambili. Babulo Wamkulu ndi amene wacititsa zimenezi. M’maiko ena anthu amacita maphwando osiyanasiyana kumene anthu amavina modukula kwambili, ndipo nthawi zina maphwando amenewa amalimbikitsa khalidwe la kugonana kwa amuna kapena akazi okhaokha. Kodi n’koyenela kuti munthu ‘wokonda Yehova’ azipezeka ku maphwando amenewo kapena kuwapenyelela? Kodi kucita zimenezi kungaonetse kuti iye amanyansidwadi ndi —zoipa? (Salmo 1:1, 2; 97:10) Zingakhale bwino kukhala ndi —maganizo monga a wamasalimo amene anapemphela kuti: “Cititsani maso anga kuti asaone zinthu zopanda pake.”—Salmo 119:37.

22. Ndi liti pamene Mkristu angasankhe mogwilizana ndi cikumbumtima cake kucita cikondwelelo kapena ai?

²² Patsiku la zikondwelelo za dziko, Mkristu ayenela kusamala kuti zocita zake zisapangitse ena kuona ngati akucilikiza zikondwelelo zimenezo. Paulo anati: “Kaya mukudya kapena kumwa kapena mukucita cina ciliconse, citani zonse ku ulemelelo wa Mulungu.” (1 Akorinto 10:31; onani bokosi lakuti, “ Sankhani Mwanzelu.”) Komabe, ngati mwambo wina wake kapena cikondwelelo cina cake si cacipembedzo conama, si candale ndipo si cosemphana ndi mfundo za m’Baibulo, Mkristu angasankhe kucita cikondwelelo cimeneco kapena ai. Ayenelanso kuganizila mmene ena amaonela zocitikazo kuti asawakhumudwitse.

23, 24. Kodi tingacite ciani kuti tiwafike pamtima anthu powaphunzitsa mfundo zolungama za Yehova?

²³ Anthu ambili amaona masiku a zikondwelelo zina zofala kukhala mwai woceza ndi acibale kapena mabwenzi ao. Conco, ngati ena cifukwa cosatimvetsetsa bwino angakambe kuti tilibe cikondi cifukwa ca cosankha cathu ca m’Malemba  ndi kuti tanyanya nazo, tingawafotokozele mokoma mtima kuti Mboni za Yehova zimadziŵa kuti kuceza ndi acibale ndi mabwenzi n’kofunika. (Miyambo 11:25; Mlaliki 3:12, 13; 2 Akorinto 9:7) Timasangalala kuceza ndi okondedwa athu caka conse cathunthu. Koma cifukwa timakonda Mulungu ndi mfundo zake zolungama, sitifuna kudetsa maceza amenewo ndi miyambo imene imam’khumudwitsa.—Onani bokosi lakuti “ Kulambila Koona Kumabweletsa Cimwemwe Coculuka.”

²⁴ Mboni zina zathandiza anthu amene amafuna kudziŵa zambili pankhani imeneyi. Mbonizo zimagwilitsila nchito mfundo za m’nkhani 16 m’buku lakuti: Zimene Baibo Imaphunzitsa M’ceni-ceni. * Musaiŵale kuti colinga cathu ndi kuthandiza anthuwo kumvetsetsa mfundozo, osati kuwina mikangano. Motelo, khalani aulemu, ofatsa, ndipo “mau anu azikhala acisomo, okoma ngati kuti mwawathila mcele.”—Akolose 4:6.

25, 26. Kodi makolo angathandize bwanji ana ao kulimbitsa cikhulupililo ndi cikondi cao pa Yehova?

²⁵ Pokhala atumiki a Yehova, ndife anthu ophunzitsidwa bwino. Timadziŵa cifukwa cake timakhulupilila ndi kucita zinthu zina kapena kupewa zinthu zina. (Aheberi 5:14) Conco, makolo phunzitsani ana anu kusinkhasinkha mfundo za m’Baibulo. Mukatelo, mudzalimbitsa cikhulupililo cao ndi kuwathandiza kuti azipeleka mayankho a m’Malemba akafunsidwa za cikhulupililo cao. Ndiponso mudzawathandiza kudziŵa kuti Yehova amawakonda.—Yesaya 48:17, 18; 1 Petulo 3:15.

²⁶ Onse amene amalambila Mulungu “motsogoleledwa ndi mzimu ndi coonadi,” amapewa zikondwelelo zosagwilizana ndi Malemba, ndipo amayesetsa kukhala oona mtima pa mbali zonse za umoyo wao. (Yoh. 4:23) Masiku ano, ena amaona kuti kukhala oona mtima ndi kosathandiza. Koma monga mmene tidzaphunzilila m’nkhani yotsatila, kutsatila mfundo za Mulungu n’kothandiza kwambili nthawi zonse.