1. (a) Abantu bazamukela njani izikhumbuzo njalo lokhu kubangelwa yini? (b) Ukuzigqaja kungenza ukuthi umuntu asamukele njani iseluleko?

 ABANTU bamukela ukuqondiswa ngezindlela ezitshiyeneyo. Isikhumbuzo esivela emuntwini olesikhundla singemukelwa ngokuthobeka, kodwa esivela emuntwini oyintanga yethu kumbe olesikhundla esincane kulesethu singahle singalalelwa. Kanti njalo indlela abantu abazizwa ngayo nxa bekhuzwa kumbe bexwayiswa itshiyene kakhulu. Omunye angadana, ahlulukelwe, kumbe ayangeke, kodwa omunye angakhuthazeka, athathe inyathelo njalo akhuthale. Kungani kulomehluko ongaka? Lokhu kungabangelwa yikuzigqaja. Kuliqiniso ukuthi ukuzikhukhumeza kungenza ukuthi umuntu angahluleli kuhle, kube sekusenza ukuthi angemukeli iseluleko abeselahlekelwa ngumlayezo ongamnceda.​—Zaga. 16:18.

2. Kungani amaKhristu eqiniso eqakathekisa iseluleko esitholakala eLizwini likaNkulunkulu?

² Kodwa amaKhristu eqiniso ayasiqakathekisa iseluleko esilusizo, ikakhulu nxa sisekelwe eLizwini likaNkulunkulu. Izikhumbuzo zikaJehova zenza sithole ukuqedisisa okusincedayo, ziyasifundisa njalo zisinceda ukuthi sibalekele izinto ezingasigwenxa, ngokwesibonelo ukufuna ukunotha, ukuziphatha kubi kwezemacansini, ukudakwa kanye lezidakamizwa. (Zaga. 20:1; 2 Kor. 7:1; 1 Tes. 4:3-5; 1 Tim. 6:6-11) Okuhle kakhulu yikuthi ‘silentokozo ezinhliziyweni zethu,’ esiyithola ngokulalela izikhumbuzo zikaNkulunkulu.​—Isa. 65:14.

3. Yiwuphi umbono womhubi okungaba kuhle ukuthi siwulingisele?

³ Nxa sifuna ukulondoloza ubuhlobo bethu obuligugu loBaba wethu osezulwini, kumele siqhubeke sisamukela umlayo kaJehova olokuhlakanipha, siwusebenzise ekuphileni kwethu. Kuyinto enhle kakhulu ukuthi sibe lombono onjengowomhubi owabhala wathi: ‘Izimiso zakho  kumbe izikhumbuzo zakho ziyilifa lami laphakade; ziyintokozo yenhliziyo yami.’ (Hubo. 119:111) Siyayithanda yini lathi imilayo kaJehova kumbe kwezinye izikhathi siyibona inzima? Lanxa siyake sicaphuke nxa sinikwe iseluleko esithile, akumelanga siphelelwe lithemba. Singafunda ukuthemba ukuhlakanipha okukhulu kukaNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo yonke. Ake sikhangele izindlela ezintathu zokwenza lokhu.

4. Yiphi into eyayingantshintshi empilweni kaDavida?

⁴ Lanxa iNkosi uDavida yayike ithokoze njalo idane kwesinye sikhathi, kulento eyayingantshintshi empilweni yayo, ukuthemba uMdali wayo ngokupheleleyo. Yathi: “Kuwe, Jehova, ngiphakamisela umphefumulo wami; Ngethemba kuwe, O Jehova.” (Hubo. 25:1, 2) Kuyini okwanceda uDavida ukuthi athembe uYise osezulwini?

5, 6. ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lisitshelani ngobuhlobo uDavida ayelabo loJehova?

⁵ Abantu abanengi bathandaza kuNkulunkulu kuphela nxa sebesebunzimeni obukhulu. Ungezwa njani nxa isihlobo sakho kumbe umngane wakho ekukhulumisa kuphela nxa efuna imali kumbe okuthile? Mhlawumbe ungacina uqalisa ukuthandabuza ukuthi kanti vele ukudingelani. Kodwa uDavida wayenganjalo. Ekuphileni kwakhe konke, ubuhlobo bakhe loJehova babutshengisa ukuthi uyamthanda uNkulunkulu wakhe njalo ulokholo kuye, kungelani lokuthi izinto zihamba kuhle loba zinzima.​—Hubo. 40:8.

⁶ Khangela amazwi kaDavida okubonga uJehova lokumdumisa lapho esithi: “O Jehova, Nkulunkulu wethu, ibizo lakho libabazeka kangaka emhlabeni wonke! Uyibekile inkazimulo yakho ngaphezulu emazulwini.” (Hubo. 8:1) Uyakunanzelela yini ukuthi uDavida wayelobuhlobo obuqine kakhulu loYise osezulwini? UDavida wayebuqakathekisa ubukhulu bukaNkulunkulu kanye lobukhazikhazi bakhe njalo lokhu kwamnika idlabuzane lokudumisa uJehova “ilanga lonke.”​—Hubo. 35:28.

7. Ukusondela kuNkulunkulu ngokuthandaza kusinceda ngani?

⁷ NjengoDavida, kumele sikhulume loJehova zikhathi zonke ukuze siqhubeke simthemba. IBhayibhili lithi: “Sondelani phansi kukaNkulunkulu laye uzasondela kini.” (Jak. 4:8) Ukusondela kuNkulunkulu ngokuthandaza lakho kuyindlela eqakathekileyo nxa sifuna umoya ongcwele.​—Bala u-1 Johane 3:22.

8. Kungani kungamelanga sithandaze siphindaphinda amazwi afananayo?

⁸ Nxa uthandaza, ukujayele yini ukuphindaphinda imitsho kumbe amazwi afananayo? Nxa kunjalo, ungakathandazi zinike isikhathi sokucabanga ngalokho ozakhuluma ngakho. Nxa sikhuluma lomngane kumbe isihlobo siphindaphinda amazwi afananayo zikhathi zonke, angakuthanda yini lokhu? Hatshi, angacina esesephulela izigodo endlebeni. Kuliqiniso ukuthi kakungeke kwenzakale ukuthi uJehova angalaleli umthandazo oqotho wenceku yakhe ethembekileyo. Kodwa kungaba kuhle ukuthi nxa sikhuluma loJehova singaphindaphindi amazwi afananayo.

9, 10. (a) Kuyini esingakuthandazela? (b) Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sithandaze ngenhliziyo yonke?

⁹ Kusegcekeni ukuthi imithandazo yethu kumele ibe ngeyenhliziyo yonke nxa sifuna ukusondela kuNkulunkulu. Ukuqhubeka sitshela uJehova konke okusezinhliziyweni zethu kwenza ukuthi siqhubeke sisondela kuye njalo siqhubeke simthemba. Kodwa kuyini okunye okumele sikuthandazele? ILizwi likaNkulunkulu liphendula lisithi: “Ezintweni zonke, ngokukhuleka langokuncenga, ngokubonga, bekani izicelo zenu kuNkulunkulu.” (Flp. 4:6) Iqiniso elikhona yikuthi singathandazela loba yini ethinta ubuhlobo bethu loNkulunkulu kumbe impilo yethu njengezinceku zakhe.

¹⁰ Ukuhlola amazwi amadoda labesifazana abathembekileyo abalemithandazo yabo  eyabhalwa eBhayibhilini kungasinceda. (1 Sam. 1:10, 11; ImiSeb. 4:24-31) AmaHubo alezingoma kanye lemithandazo eminengi eyayisenziwa ngenhliziyo yonke kuJehova. Ezingomeni lezi lasemithandazweni le, kuvezwa yonke imizwa yabantu, kusukela ebuhlungwini kusiya ekuthokozeni okukhulu. Ukuhlola imithandazo yabantu laba abaqotho kungasinceda ukuthi sithandaze ngendlela ezwakalayo kuJehova.

11. Kungani kumele sicabangisise ngezixwayiso ezivela kuNkulunkulu?

¹¹ UDavida wathi: “Isikhumbuzo sikaJehova sithembekile, sihlakaniphisa ongelalwazi.” (Hubo. 19:7, NW) Lanxa singelalwazi, singaba leqiniso lokuthi singahlakanipha nxa silalela imilayo kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa ezinye izixwayiso eziseMibhalweni ziyabe zifuna ukuthi sicabangisise ngazo ukuze zisisize ngokugcweleyo. Lokhu kunjalo, ikakhulu endabeni yokuhlala siqotho nxa silingwa esikolo kumbe emsebenzini, ekulaleleni isimiso sikaNkulunkulu mayelana legazi, ukungangeneli kwezombusazwe zikhathi zonke kanye lokusebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibhili ezimayelana lokugqoka lokuzilungisa. Ukuba lombono kaNkulunkulu ngezinto lezi kuzasinceda ukuthi sihlale silungiselele izilingo zingakafiki. Singenza njalo, sesingazimisela-ke ezinhliziyweni zethu ukuthi sizakwenzani nxa kungaba lohlupho. Ukuhlela okunjalo kanye lokulungiselela kuseselesikhathi kungasivikela ukuthi singabi lobuhlungu.​—Zaga. 15:28.

12. Yiphi imibuzo esingacabangisisa ngayo engasinceda ukuthi sigcine izikhumbuzo zikaNkulunkulu?

¹² Khathesi silindele ukugcwaliseka kwezinto esazithenjiswa nguNkulunkulu. Pho-ke indlela esiphila ngayo iyakutshengisa yini ukuthi sihlala siphapheme ekukhonzeni? Ngokwesibonelo, siyakukholwa yini sibili ukuthi sekuseduze ukuthi iBhabhiloni eNkulu itshabalaliswe? Izibusiso ezizayo, ezigoqela ukuphila okungapheliyo epharadayisi emhlabeni, zilokhu zingokoqobo yini kithi njengalapho siqalisa ukufunda ngazo? Ekuphileni kwethu, silokhu sitshiseka yini enkonzweni, kumbe sesiqakathekisa okwethu ukwedlula inkonzo? Singathini ngokuvuswa kwabafileyo, ukungcweliswa kwebizo likaJehova kanye lokulwelwa kobukhosi bakhe? Kulokhu kuqakathekile yini kithi? Ukucabangisisa ngemibuzo le kungasinceda ukuthi senze njengomhubi, sigcine izikhumbuzo zikaNkulunkulu ‘ziyilifa lethu laphakade.’​—Hubo. 119:111.

13. Kungani amaKhristu ekhulu lokuqala akuthola kunzima ukuzwisisa ezinye izinto? Phana isibonelo.

¹³ Ezinye izinto ezibhalwe eBhayibhilini kasingeke sizizwisise ngokugcweleyo khathesi ngoba isikhathi sikaJehova sokuzicacisa asikafiki. UJesu watshela abaphostoli bakhe kanenginengi ukuthi kwakumele ahlupheke njalo abesebulawa. (Bala uMathewu 12:40; 16:21.) Kodwa abaphostoli kabazange bakuzwisise ukuthi wayesitshoni. Bakuzwisisa ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe lapho ebonakala kwabanye abafundi bakhe elomzimba wenyama “wasebavula izingqondo zabo ukuze bakwazi ukuzwisisa iMibhalo.” (Luka. 24:44-46; ImiSeb. 1:3) Abalandeli bakaKhristu labo kabazange bakuzwisise ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu wawuzabekwa ezulwini, baze bakuzwisisa sebethululelwe umoya ongcwele ngePhentekhosti lika-33 C.E.​—ImiSeb. 1:6-8.

14. Ekuqaliseni kwekhulu lesi-​20, yisiphi isibonelo esihle esasitshiyelwa ngabazalwane abanengi kungelani lokuthi babengazizwisisi kuhle izinsuku zokucina?

¹⁴ Ngendlela efananayo, ekuqaliseni kwekhulu lesi-20 kwakulamaKhristu amanengi ayelombono ongaqondanga mayelana ‘lezinsuku zokucina.’ (2 Tim. 3:1) Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1914 abanye babecabanga ukuthi kwasekusele kancane ukuthi baye ezulwini. Lapho bebona ukuthi ithemba labo aligcwalisekanga, baphinda bahlola iMibhalo ngonanzelelo basebebona ukuthi kwakumele kube lomkhankaso omkhulu wokutshumayela. (Makho 13:10) Yikho-ke ngo-1922, uJ. F. Rutherford owayekhokhela emsebenzini wokutshumayela ngesikhathi leso watshela ababesemhlanganweni  wezizwe eCedar Point, Ohio, U.S.A., esithi: “Khangelani, iNkosi isibusa! Liyizisebenzi zayo eziyikhankaselayo. Ngakho-ke, memezelani, memezelani, memezelani, ukuthi sekuleNkosi lombuso wayo.” Kusukela ngesikhathi leso, ukumemezela “izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso” kulokhu kuluphawu lwezinceku zikaJehova kuze kube lamuhla.​—Mat. 4:23; 24:14.

15. Ukucabangisisa ngendlela uNkulunkulu aphatha ngayo abantu bakhe kusinceda ngani?

¹⁵ Nxa singacabangisisa ngendlela emangalisayo uJehova aphatha ngayo abantu bakhe kudala lakhathesi, siba lokuqiniseka okukhulu ukuthi ngeke ehluleke ukufeza intando yakhe kanye lenjongo yakhe esikhathini esizayo. Kanti njalo izikhumbuzo zikaNkulunkulu ziyasinceda ukuthi sihlale sicabanga ngeziphrofetho zakhe esilindele ukuthi zigcwaliseke njalo sizigcine ezinhliziyweni zethu. Singaqiniseka ukuthi ukwenza lokhu kuzasinceda ukuthi sizithembe ngokupheleleyo izithembiso zakhe.

16. Yiziphi izibusiso esizithola ngokuhlala sikhuthele enkonzweni?

¹⁶ UNkulunkulu wethu uJehova, nguNkulunkulu wezenzo ezimangalisayo, owenza izinto ezinkulu. Umhubi wabuza wathi: ‘Ngubani olamandla njengawe na O Jehova?’ Waphinda wathi: “Isandla sakho siqinile, esokunene siphakeme.” (Hubo. 89:8, 13) Lokhu kuyakhanya ngoba uJehova uyayiqakathekisa njalo uyayibusisa imizamo esiyenzayo ukuze sisekele ingqubelaphambili yomsebenzi woMbuso. UNkulunkulu uyabona ukuthi izinceku zakhe azihlali phansi zigoqe izandla zidle “isinkwa sobuvila,” kungelani lokuthi zingamadoda kumbe ngabesifazana, abadala labancane. (Zaga. 31:27) Silingisela uMdali wethu ngokukhuthala emisebenzini yobuKhristu. Ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo yonke kunceda munye ngamunye wethu njalo kwenza ukuthi uJehova athokoze kakhulu nxa  ebusisa inkonzo yethu.​—Bala iHubo 62:12.

17, 18. Kungani singathi imisebenzi yokholo isinceda ukuthi sithembe iziqondiso zikaJehova? Phana isibonelo.

¹⁷ Imisebenzi yokholo isinceda njani ukuthi sithembe uJehova ngenhliziyo yonke? Cabanga ngendaba eseMibhalweni ephathelane lokungena kwabako-Israyeli eLizweni ababelithenjisiwe. UJehova wayelaye ukuthi abaphristi ababethwala ibhokisi lesivumelwano bawelele emfuleni uJodani. Kodwa-ke abantu sebesiyafika emfuleni kwabacacela ukuthi izulu lentwasa lalenze umfula wagcwala wagamanxa. Babezakwenzani abako-Israyeli? Babezamisa amathende abo yini ekhunjini lomfula okwamaviki bamelele amanzi omfula ukuthi abohle? Hatshi, bathemba uJehova ngokugcweleyo njalo balandela iziqondiso zakhe. Waba yini umpumela? Nanku okwenzakalayo: ‘Kwathi abaphristi sebefika eJodani izinyawo zabo zithinta amanzi, amanzi ayevelela ngaphezulu ema ukugeleza. Abantu bachaphela ngaphetsheya malungana leJerikho. Abaphristi bema bathi mpo emhlabathini owomileyo phakathi kweJodani, ngesikhathi abantu bonke bechapha.’ (Josh. 3:12-17) Cabanga ukuthi kwakumangalisa kangakanani ukubona umfula lowo owawuzondile umiswa! Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ukholo lwabako-Israyeli kuJehova lwaqiniswa kakhulu ngoba bathemba iziqondiso zakhe.

¹⁸ Kuyavunywa ukuthi uJehova kabenzeli izimangaliso ezinjalo abantu bakhe lamuhla, kodwa uyayibusisa imisebenzi yabo yokholo. Amandla kaNkulunkulu asebenzayo abanika amandla okwenza umsebenzi abawuphiweyo wokutshumayela izindaba zoMbuso emhlabeni wonke. Kanti njalo uFakazi omkhulu kaJehova, uJesu Khristu waqinisekisa abafundi bakhe ukuthi wayezabasekela emsebenzini lo oqakathekileyo. Wathi: ‘Ngakho hambani lenze abafundi ezizweni zonke. Ngilani kokuphela, kuze kube sekucineni kwesikhathi.’ (Mat. 28:19, 20) OFakazi abanengi ababelenhloni kumbe besesaba bayavuma ukuthi umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu ubanika isibindi sokukhuluma labantu abangabaziyo ekutshumayeleni.​—Bala iHubo 119:46; 2 Khorinte 4:7.

19. Kuyini esingaba leqiniso lakho lanxa silobuthakathaka?

¹⁹ Abanye abafowethu labodadewethu babuthakathaka kakhulu emzimbeni ngenxa yokugula kumbe ukuguga. Kodwa bangaba leqiniso lokuthi “uYise wesihawu loNkulunkulu wenduduzo yonke” uyazizwisisa izimo zomKhristu weqiniso munye ngamunye. (2 Kor. 1:3) Uyakuqakathekisa konke esikwenzayo ukuze sithuthukise imisebenzi yoMbuso. Sonke kumele sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi into eyisiqokoqela ukuze sisinde lukholo enhlawulweni kaKhristu, futhi senze konke esingakwenza kusiya ngezimo zethu.​—Heb. 10:39.

20, 21. Yiziphi ezinye izindlela esitshengisa ngazo ukuthi siyamthemba uJehova?

²⁰ Ukukhonza kwethu kugoqela ukusebenzisa ngokugcweleyo isikhathi sethu, amandla ethu kanye lempahla yethu. Siyavuma ukuthi sifuna ‘ukwenza umsebenzi womvangeli’ ngenhliziyo yethu yonke. (2 Tim. 4:5) Iqiniso elikhona yikuthi siyathokoza ukwenza njalo ngoba kunceda abanye ukuthi “bathole ulwazi lweqiniso oluqondileyo.” (1 Tim. 2:4, NW) Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi ukuhlonipha uJehova lokumdumisa kuyasinothisa ekukhonzeni kwethu. (Zaga. 10:22) Kanti njalo kuyasinceda ukuthi sibe lesibopho esingapheliyo sethemba kuMdali wethu.​—Roma. 8:35-39.

²¹ Njengoba kuke kwatshiwo, ukumthemba uJehova ukuthi uzasinika isiqondiso esihlakaniphileyo akuzenzakaleli; kumele sisebenze gadalala ukuze simthembe ngendlela enjalo. Yikho-ke, ngaso sonke isikhathi thembela kuJehova ngokuthandaza. Cabangisisa ngokuthi uJehova wayithuthukisa njani injongo yakhe kudala lokuthi uzayithuthukisa njani esikhathini esizayo. Njalo qhubeka uqinisa ukuthemba kwakho uJehova ngokwenza imisebenzi ephathelane lokukhonza. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi izikhumbuzo zikaJehova zizaba khona kuze kube nini lanini. Lawe ungaphila kuze kube nini lanini!