“Simakadze, nguwe lobusisa lolungile. Umfukamela ngemusa wakho, kube shangatsi kungelihawu.”​—HLA. 5:12.

1, 2. Yini Elija layicela kumfelokati waseSarefathi, futsi wamcinisekisa ngani?

 LOMUNYE make nendvodzana yakhe, kanye nemphrofethi waNkulunkulu bebalambile. Njengobe lomfelokati waseSarefathi abesalungele kubasa umlilo, umphrofethi Elija wacela kutsi amuphe emanti kanye nesinkhwa. Abekufuna kumupha emanti, kodvwa kudla labenako ‘bekuyingcosana yafulaha esitjeni, nenseketse yemafutsa eludziweni.’ Ngako-ke, abecabanga kutsi ute kudla lokwenele langakudla nemphrofethi, futsi wamchazela.​—1 Khos. 17:8-12.

² Elija watsi kuye: “Ubocala wentele mine kucala licebelengwane lelincane lesinkhwa, kuloko lonako, bese ukuletsa lapha kimi. Emvakwaloko-ke, bese utentela wena nendvodzana yakho. Ngobe nguloko lokushiwo nguSimakadze Nkulunkulu wema-Israyeli, utsi: ‘Fulaha losesitjeni angeke aphele, nenseketse yemafutsa ingeke iphele eludziweni, kuze kube lilanga lapho Simakadze ayawunisa khona litulu eveni.’”​—1 Khos. 17:13, 14.

3. Nguyiphi inkinga lebalulekile lebekwe embikwetfu?

³ Lenkinga lomfelokati labebukene nayo beyimatima kakhulu kwendlula kukhetsa kutsi yini labetawuyenta ngalokudla kwekugcina lokuncane labenako. Abetawetsembela yini kuJehova kutsi utawusindzisa yena kanye nendvodzana yakhe, nobe abetawubeka tidzingo takhe tenyama kucala kunekutsi emukelwe nguNkulunkulu futsi abe ngumngani wakhe? Natsi kufanele sitsatse sincumo lesifananako. Sitawukhatsateka kakhulu ngekufuna kwemukelwa nguJehova yini nobe sitawufuna sivikelo etintfweni lesinato? Sinato tonkhe tizatfu tekwetsemba Nkulunkulu kanye nekumkhonta. Kunetinyatselo lesingatitsatsa kute sifune futsi sitfole kwemukelwa nguYe.

 ‘Ufanele Wena Kutsi Wemukele Kukhontwa’

4. Kungani Jehova akufanelekela kukhontwa?

⁴ Jehova unelilungelo lekulindzela kutsi bantfu bamkhonte ngalokwemukelekako. Licembu letinceku takhe tasezulwini lakufakazela kuba liciniso kwalamavi ngekutsi litsi: “Ufanele wena, Nkulunkulu, loyiNkhosi yetfu, kutsi wemukele bukhosi, neludvumo, nemandla, ngobe konkhe kwadalwa nguwe. Konkhe kwenteka ngentsandvo yakho, kwadalwa ngayo.” (Semb. 4:11) Ngesizatfu sekutsi Jehova unguMdali, uyakufanelekela kukhontwa.

5. Kungani kufanele lutsandvo lwaNkulunkulu lusente sifune kumkhonta?

⁵ Lesinye sizatfu lesenta kutsi sikhonte Jehova, lutsandvo lanalo ngatsi lelingeke licatsaniswe. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Ngako Nkulunkulu wadala umuntfu waba ngumfanekiso wakhe; wamdala waba ngumfanekiso waNkulunkulu: wabadala, lomdvuna nalomsikati.” (Gen. 1:27) Ngako-ke, Nkulunkulu unike bantfu inkhululeko yekucabanga kanye neyekwenta tincumo. Ngekusinika kuphila, Jehova waba nguBabe wabo bonkhe bantfu. (Luk. 3:38) Njenganobe ngabe ngumuphi babe lolungile, wente konkhe kute anike emadvodzana kanye nemadvodzakati akhe loko lakudzingako kute ajabulele kuphila. “Uphumisa lilanga lakhe” futsi “anise imvula” kute iplanethi lenguMhlaba isikhicitele kudla lokunyenti endzaweni lenhle.​—Mat. 5:45.

6, 7. (a) Ngumuphi umonakalo Adamu lawuletsele intalo yakhe? (b) Umhlatjelo waKhristu utawubentelani labo labafuna kwemukelwa nguNkulunkulu?

⁶ Jehova wasisindzisa emiphumeleni lemibi yesono. Ngekona, Adamu waba njengemuntfu logembulako lowebela umndeni wakhe kute agembule. Ngekuhlubuka kuJehova, Adamu wantjontjela bantfwana bakhe litsemba labo lenjabulo yaphakadze. Kungacabangeli kwakhe kwente bantfu bagcilatwa yinkhosi lembi, lesono. Ngaleso sizatfu, bonkhe bantfu bayagula, bahlangabetana nebuhlungu, futsi ekugcineni bayafa. Kute kukhululwe sigcili kudzingeka inhlawulo, naJehova wente inhlawulo kute asisindzise kulemiphumela lemibi. (Fundza Roma 5:21.) Ngesizatfu sekutsi Jesu Khristu abenta ngekuvumelana nentsandvo yaBabe wakhe, wanikela ‘ngemphilo yakhe, kutsi ibe yinhlawulo yalabanyenti.’ (Mat. 20:28) Ngekushesha bonkhe labo labemukelwa nguNkulunkulu batawutfola tonkhe tinzuzo talenhlawulo.

⁷ UMdali wetfu, Jehova, wente lokungetulu kwaloko umuntfu langakwenta kute siphile imphilo lejabulisako kanye nalenenjongo. Nasemukelwa nguye, sitawukwati kubona loko lakwentako kute alungise umonakalo loye wahlupha bantfu. Jehova utawuchubeka akhombisa ngamunye wetfu indlela ‘labavuza ngayo labo labamfunako.’​—Heb. 11:6.

“Sive Sakho Siyawutinikela”

8. Loko lokwenteka ku-Isaya kusifundzisani ngekukhonta Nkulunkulu?

⁸ Kwemukelwa nguNkulunkulu kufaka ekhatsi kuyisebentisa kahle inkhululeko yetfu yekutikhetsela. Loku kungesizatfu sekutsi Jehova akacindzeteli nobe ngabe ngubani kutsi amkhonte. Emalangeni a-Isaya, Nkulunkulu wabuta: “Ngitawutfuma bani?” Ngekucaphela kutsi lomphrofethi unelilungelo lekutikhetsela, Jehova wamhlonipha. Asewucabange indlela Isaya labejabule ngayo nakaphendvula: “Nangu mine, tfuma mine!”​—Isa. 6:8.

9, 10. (a) Nkulunkulu kufanele simkhonte ngesimo sengcondvo lesinjani? (b) Kungani kubalulekile kutsi sikhonte Jehova ngemphefumulo wonkhe?

⁹ Bantfu bakhululekile kutsi bakhonte Nkulunkulu nobe bangamkhonti. Jehova ufuna simkhonte ngekutitsandzela. (Fundza Joshuwa 24:15.) Nanobe ngabe ngubani lokhonta Nkulunkulu ngekukhonona, angeke amjabulise, futsi Nkulunkulu akabemukeli labo labanemgomo wekujabulisa labanye bantfu. (Khol. 3:22) Nangabe sivumela tintfo telive tiphatamise kukhonta kwetfu, futsi tisente singakhonti Nkulunkulu ‘ngayo yonkhe inhlitiyo yetfu,’ angeke semukeleke kuye. (Hla. 119:2) Jehova uyati kutsi kumkhonta ngemphefumulo wonkhe kuzuzisa tsine. Mosi wakhutsata ema-Israyeli kutsi akhetse  kuphila ngekutsi ‘atsandze Simakadze Nkulunkulu wawo, eve liphimbo lakhe, anamatsele kuye.’​—Dut. 30:19, 20.

¹⁰ INkhosi Davide yaka-Israyeli wasendvulo yahlabelela Jehova: “Sive sakho siyawutinikela mhlazana ulwa netitsa takho, emabutfo akho ayawuta kuwe ahlobe ngemvunulo lengcwele, ayawuvela njengematolo asentsatsakusa.” (Hla. 110:3) Lamuhla, bantfu labanyenti babeka kulondzeka ngekwetimali kanye nenjabulo kucala ekuphileni kwabo. Nanobe kunjalo, labo labatsandza Jehova, babeka umsebenti longcwele kucala ekuphileni kwabo. Inkhutsalo labanayo nabashumayela tindzaba letinhle iveta loko lokubaluleke kakhulu kubo. Betsembela kuJehova ngalokugcwele kutsi utawubaniketa tidzingo tabo tamalanga onkhe.​—Mat. 6:33, 34.

Imihlatjelo Leyemukelwa NguNkulunkulu

11. Ngumuphi umvuzo ema-Israyeli laba nelitsemba lekuwutfola ngekwenta imihlatjelo kuJehova?

¹¹ Ngaphansi kwesivumelwane seMtsetfo, bantfu baNkulunkulu bebenta imihlatjelo leyemukelekako kute batfole umusa wakhe. UmBhalo waLevithikhusi 19:5 utsi: “Naninikela umhlatjelo wekuthula kuSimakadze, wunikeleleni kutsi nemukeleke.” Kuyo yona lencwadzi yeliBhayibheli siyafundza: “Naninikela umhlatjelo wekubonga kuSimakadze, nibowunikelela kutsi wemukeleke esikhundleni senu.” (Lev. 22:29) Ngesikhatsi ema-Israyeli enta imihlatjelo yetilwane leyemukelekako etikwelilati laJehova, lentfutfu leyayiphuma ‘beyiliphunga lelinuka lusi lolumnandzi’ kuNkulunkulu weliciniso. (Lev. 1:9, 13) Abetiva ajabulile ngetento telutsandvo letentiwa bantfu bakhe. (Gen. 8:21) Kuletincenye taloMtsetfo, sitfola simiso lesisebentako nalamuhla. Labo labenta imihlatjelo leyemukelekako kuJehova uyabemukela. Ngumiphi imihlatjelo layemukelako? Asesicoce ngetintfo letimbili: Kutiphatsa kwetfu kanye netintfo lesitikhulumako.

12. Ngukuphi kutiphatsa lokungenta ‘kunikela ngemitimba yetfu kutsi ibe ngumnikelo’ kungemukeleki kuNkulunkulu?

¹² Encwadzini yakhe layibhalela emaRoma, umphostoli Pawula watsi: “Nikelani imitimba yenu ibe ngumnikelo lophilako, nalongcwele, nalowemukeleka kuNkulunkulu; leyo-ke nguyona nkonzo yenu sibili.” (Rom. 12:1) Kute emukeleke, umuntfu kufanele agcine umtimba wakhe wemukeleka kuNkulunkulu. Nangabe atingcolisa ngekubhema, ngensangu, kusebentisa tidzakamiva letingekho emtsetfweni, nobe kusebentisa kabi tjwala, umnikelo wakhe angeke wemukeleke. (2 Khor. 7:1) Ngetulu kwaloko, njengobe ‘loyo lophingako wona umtimba wakhe,’ nobe ngukuphi kutiphatsa lokubi lakwentako, kwenta umhlatjelo wakhe ungamjabulisi Jehova. (1 Khor. 6:18) Kute umuntfu ajabulise Nkulunkulu, kufanele ‘abe ngcwele kuko konkhe kuhamba kwakhe.’​—1 Phet. 1:14-16.

13. Kungani kufaneleka kutsi sidvumise Jehova?

¹³ Lomunye umnikelo lowenta Jehova ajabule nguloko lesikukhulumako. Labo labatsandza  Jehova bahlale bakhuluma kahle ngaye elinyentini kanye nalapho babodvwa emakhaya abo. (Fundza Tihlabelelo 34:1-3.) Fundza Tihlabelelo 148-150, bese unaka kutsi letihlabelelo letintsatfu tisikhutsata kanyenti kangakanani kutsi sidvumise Jehova. Ecinisweni, ‘kudvumisa kwalabacotfo kufanele.’ (Hla. 33:1) Jesu Khristu loSibonelo setfu, wagcizelela kubaluleka kwekudvumisa Nkulunkulu ngekushumayela tindzaba letinhle.​—Luk. 4:18, 43, 44.

14, 15. Hoseya wakhutsata ema-Israyeli kutsi ente muphi umhlatjelo, futsi Jehova wativa njani?

¹⁴ Nasishumayela ngenkhutsalo siniketa bufakazi belutsandvo lwetfu ngaJehova kanye nekutsi sifuna kwemukelwa nguye. Nasi sibonelo: Cabanga ngendlela umphrofethi Hoseya lancenga ngayo ema-Israyeli labesakhonta bonkulunkulu bemanga futsi asalahlekelwe kwemukelwa nguNkulunkulu. (Hos. 13:1-3) Hoseya wawatjela kutsi ancenge, atsi: ‘[Jehova] sitsetselele tonkhe tono tetfu, usemukele ngemusa, khona sitewunikela ngetinkunzana tetindzebe tetfu.’​—Hos. 14:1, 2, NW.

¹⁵ Inkunzi beyisilwane lebesidule kakhulu ema-Israyeli labenganikela ngaso kuJehova. Ngako-ke, ‘tinkunzana tetindzebe tetfu’ tisho emagama lanemusa futsi lacatjangwe kahle, lesiwashoko kute sidvumise Nkulunkulu weliciniso. Jehova wativa njani ngalabo labebenta imihlatjelo lenjalo? Watsi: ‘Ngitawubatsandza ngekukhululeka.’ (Hos. 14:4) Labo labebenta imihlatjelo lenjalo yekudvumisa, Jehova wabatsetselela, wabemukela futsi waba ngumngani wabo.

16, 17. Ngesikhatsi kukholwa kuNkulunkulu kwenta umuntfu kutsi ashumayele tindzaba letinhle, Jehova uwemukela njani lomnikelo wakhe wekudvumisa?

¹⁶ Kudvumisa Jehova embikwelinyenti bekusolo kuyincenye lebalulekile yekukhonta kweliciniso. Kukhatimulisa Nkulunkulu weliciniso bekubaluleke kakhulu kumhlabeli kangangekutsi waze wancenga Nkulunkulu, watsi: “Simakadze, yemukela iminikelo yami yekukudvumisa.” (Hla. 119:108) Kutsiwani ngalamuhla? Nakakhuluma ngesicumbi lesikhulu sebantfu besikhatsi setfu, Isaya waphrofetha: ‘Batawumemetela ludvumo lwaSimakadze. . . . Lube ngiminikelo leyemukeleka elatini [laNkulunkulu.]’ (Isa. 60:6, 7) LomBhalo uyagcwaliseka ngobe tigidzi tebantfu tinika Nkulunkulu ‘kumdvumisa lokungumnikelo wayo yonkhe imilomo levuma libito lakhe.’​—Heb. 13:15.

¹⁷ Kutsiwani ngawe? Uyamnika yini Nkulunkulu imihlatjelo leyemukelekako? Nangabe ungakwenti loko, utawulwenta yini lushintjo bese ucala kudvumisa Jehova embikwelinyenti? Ngesikhatsi kukholwa kukwenta ucale kushumayela tindzaba letinhle, ‘Simakadze utawutsandza kakhulu umnikelo wakho kunekunikela ngenkunzana.’ (Fundza Tihlabelelo 69:30, 31.) Ungaciniseka ngekutsi ‘leliphunga lelimnandzi’ lemnikelo wakho litawufika kuJehova futsi utawukwemukela. (Hez. 20:41) Injabulo lotawuba nayo angeke icatsaniswe.

“Jehova Utawubusisa Nanobe Ngabe Ngubani Lolungile”

18, 19. (a) Ngumuphi umbono bantfu labanyenti labanawo lamuhla mayelana nekukhonta Nkulunkulu? (b) Kulahlekelwa ngumusa waNkulunkulu kuba namuphi umphumela?

¹⁸ Lamuhla, bantfu labanyenti bafinyelela esiphetfweni lesifanana naleso lesentiwa ngulabanye ngesikhatsi saMalakhi, batsi: “Akunamsebenti kukhonta Nkulunkulu. Yini nje lesiyizuzile ngekwenta lakufunako?” (Mal. 3:14) Ngekucondziswa sifiso sabo sekufuna umcebo, batsatsa injongo yaNkulunkulu njengaleyo lebangeke  bakwati kuyifinyelela kanye nemitsetfo yakhe njengaleyo lengasasebenti. Kubo, kushumayela tindzaba letinhle kukucitsa sikhatsi futsi kuyabadzina.

¹⁹ Umsuka walemibono lenjena wacala ensimini yase-Edeni. NguSathane lowadukisa Eva kutsi angakunaki kubaluleka kwekuphila lokuhle Jehova labemnikete kona kanye nekutsi angakufuni kwemukelwa nguYe. Nalamuhla, Sathane wetama kudukisa bantfu kute bacabange kutsi kute labatawukutfola nabenta intsandvo yaNkulunkulu. Nanobe kunjalo, Eva kanye nendvodza yakhe batfola kutsi kulahlekelwa ngumusa waNkulunkulu kusho kulahlekelwa kuphila kwabo. Nalamuhla, labo labalandzela sibonelo sabo lesibi batawutfola umphumela lofananako.​—Gen. 3:1-7, 17-19.

20, 21. (a) Yini leyentiwa ngumfelokati waseSarefathi, futsi waba yini umphumela? (b) Singamlingisa njani umfelokati waseSarefathi, futsi kungani kufanele sente kanjalo?

²⁰ Uyawubona yini umehluko lokhona emkhatsini wesiphetfo lesibuhlungu sa-Adamu na-Eva kanye nemphumela wetentakalo lesikhulume ngato ekucaleni mayelana na-Elija nemfelokati waseSarefathi? Ngemuva kwekuva emavi a-Elija lasikhutsato, lomfati wabhaka wase uphakela lomphrofethi kucala lesinkhwa labenaso. Ngako-ke, Jehova wasigcwalisa setsembiso sakhe labekasitjele Elija. Lendzaba itsi: ‘Wachubeka adla, ngaleyo ndlela Elija nalomfelokati nemndeni wakhe baba nekudla lokwenele onkhe emalanga. Ngobe esitjeni safulaha akazange aphele fulaha, naseludziweni lwemafutsa akazange aphele emafutsa, kwenteka njengobe livi laSimakadze lelalikhulunywe ngu-Elija lishito.’​—1 Khos. 17:15, 16.

²¹ Lomfelokati waseSarefathi wenta intfo bantfu labambalwa kulabatigidzigidzi labafisa kuyenta. Wetsembela kuNkulunkulu wensindziso ngalokuphelele, futsi watfola lusito kuye. Lokulandzisa kanye nalokunye lokuseBhayibhelini kuveta kutsi kufanele setsembele kuJehova. (Fundza Joshuwa 21:43-45; 23:14.) Indlela boFakazi BaJehova balamuhla labaphila ngayo ibufakazi bekutsi Jehova angeke abashiye labo labemukelako.​—Hla. 34:6, 7, 17-19. a

22. Kungani kuphutfuma kufuna kwemukelwa nguNkulunkulu kusengakephuti?

²² Lilanga laJehova lekwehlulela liyawufika ngekushesha “kubantfu bonkhe emhlabeni wonkhe.” (Luk. 21:34, 35) Kute lotawulibalekela. Umcebo nobe tintfo umuntfu lanato angeke timsite kutsi eve livi leMehluleli waNkulunkulu lobekiwe litsi: “Wotani, nine lenibusiswe nguBabe! Wotani nitewudla lifa lembuso, lenawulungiselelwa.” (Mat. 25:34) Ecinisweni, ‘Jehova utawubusisa lolungile. Amfukamele ngemusa wakhe, kube shangatsi kungelihawu.’ (Hla. 5:12) Ngako-ke, kufanele sifune kwemukelwa nguNkulunkulu!

[Umbhalo longentansi]

Usakhumbula?

• Kungani Jehova akufanelekela kutsi simkhonte ngenhlitiyo yetfu yonkhe?

• Ngumiphi imihlatjelo Jehova layemukelako lamuhla?

• Inkhulumo letsi ‘tinkunzana tetindzebe tetfu’ isho kutsini, futsi kungani kufanele sinikele ngato kuJehova?

• Kungani kufanele sifune kwemukelwa nguNkulunkulu?

[Imibuto Yesihloko Lesifundvwako]

[Sitfombe ekhasini 19]

Umphrofethi waNkulunkulu wacela lomunye make lomphofu kutsi enteni?

[Sitfombe ekhasini 21]

Ngutiphi tinzuzo lesititfola ngekunika Jehova umhlatjelo wekumdvumisa?

[Sitfombe ekhasini 23]

Kwetsembela kwakho kuJehova ngebucotfo angeke kukushiye udvumatekile