1 . Kuyini okwenza ukuthi uNkulunkulu leNdodana yakhe baqhubeke bethandana kakhulu?

 UJESU KHRISTU wathi: “Ngiyamthanda uBaba.” (Joh. 14:31) Waphinda wathi: “UYise uyayithanda iNdodana.” (Joh. 5:20) Lokhu akumelanga kusimangalise ngoba uJesu ‘wayengumbumbi eceleni’ kukaNkulunkulu okweminyaka eminengi kakhulu engakabuyi emhlabeni. (Zaga. 8:30) Ngesikhathi uJesu esebenza loJehova wafunda okunengi kakhulu ngaye njalo wayelezizathu ezinengi kakhulu ezazisenza ukuthi amthande. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ukusebenza kwabo ndawonye kwabenza babangamathe lolimi.

2. (a) Luyini uthando? (b) Yiyiphi imibuzo esizaxoxa ngayo?

² Uthando yimizwa ejulileyo yokuthakazelela omunye umuntu. Umhubi uDavida wahlabela wathi: “Ngiyakuthanda, O Jehova, mandla ami.” (Hubo. 18:1) Lathi kumele simthande uNkulunkulu ngoba laye uyasithanda. Nxa simlalela uzatshengisa ukuthi uyasithanda sibili. (Bala uDutheronomi 7:12, 13.) Kodwa-ke kulula yini ukuthi simthande uNkulunkulu thina singamboni? Kutshoni ukuthanda uNkulunkulu? Kungani kumele simthande? Kanti njalo singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyamthanda?

3, 4. Kuyini okwenza senelise ukuthanda uJehova?

³ Asingeke simbone uJehova uNkulunkulu ngoba “ungumoya.” (Joh. 4:24) Kodwa siyenelisa ukumthanda njalo iMibhalo isitshela ukuthi simthande. Ngokwesibonelo uMosi watshela abako-Israyeli  wathi: “Thanda uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ngenhliziyo yakho yonke langomoya wakho wonke langamandla akho wonke.”​—Dute. 6:5.

⁴ Kuyini okwenza senelise ukuthanda uNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo yonke? Wasidala silesifiso sokuba lobuhlobo laye njalo sisenelisa ukutshengisa uthando. Ukuba lobuhlobo obuhle loJehova kwenza sithokoze njalo simthande kakhulu. UJesu wakhuluma ngokuthi bayathokoza abananzelela ukuthi kumele babe lobuhlobo obuhle loNkulunkulu lapho esithi: “Babusisiwe abampofu emoyeni ngoba umbuso wezulu ngowabo.” (Mat. 5:3) Abanengi bayakuvuma ukuthi sizalwa silesifiso sokukhonza. Elinye ibhuku elithi Man Does Not Stand Alone, elabhalwa ngu-A. C. Morrison lithi: “Ukubona ukuthi abantu emhlabeni wonke bayamdinga uMdali wabo ophakemeyo njalo bayakholwa kuye kusitshiya sibambe owangaphansi futhi kwenza simhloniphe.”

5. Sikwazi njani ukuthi ukudinga uNkulunkulu ayisikho kudlalisa isikhathi?

⁵ Ukudinga uNkulunkulu yikudlalisa isikhathi yini? Hatshi, ngoba ufuna simfumane. Umphostoli uPhawuli wakucacisa lokhu lapho etshumayeza iqembu labantu elalibuthene e-Ariyophagu. Kwakuseduze leParthenon, ithempeli elalinikelwe ku-Athena, unkulunkulukazi wama-Athene asendulo. Wawuzakuzwa njani aluba wawukhona njalo ulalele uPhawuli ekhuluma ‘ngoNkulunkulu owenza umhlaba lakho konke okukuwo’ abesechaza lokuthi uNkulunkulu “kahlali emathempelini akhiwe ngezandla”? UPhawuli waphinda wathi uNkulunkulu “ngomuntu oyedwa wenza zonke izizwe zabantu, ukuthi zakhe emhlabeni wonke; njalo wamisa izikhathi abazilungiselweyo lazo kanye izindawo abamele bahlale kuzo. UNkulunkulu wakwenza lokhu ukuze abantu bamdinge lokuthi mhlawumbe bamfinyelele bamfumane, loba nje uvele engakhatshana komunye lomunye wethu.” (ImiSeb. 17:24-27) Yikho-ke abantu bangamfumana sibili uNkulunkulu. OFakazi bakaJehova abedlula i-7 500 000 ‘sebemfumene’ njalo bayamthanda kakhulu.

6. UJesu wathi yiwuphi umlayo “oyingqala njalo odlula yonke imilayo”?

⁶ UJehova kumele simthande ngenhliziyo yethu yonke. UJesu wakucacisa lokhu lapho umFarisi embuza esithi: “Mfundisi, yiwuphi umlayo omkhulu kulayo yonke eMthethweni?” UJesu wamphendula wathi: “ ‘Thanda iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho ngenhliziyo yakho yonke langomphefumulo wakho wonke langengqondo yakho yonke.’ Yiwo oyingqala njalo odlula yonke imilayo.”​—Mat. 22:34-38.

7. Kutshoni ukuthanda uNkulunkulu (a) ‘ngenhliziyo yethu yonke’? (b) ‘ngomphefumulo wethu wonke’? (c) ‘langengqondo yethu yonke’?

⁷ UJesu wayesitshoni lapho esithi kumele sithande uNkulunkulu ‘ngenhliziyo yethu yonke’? Wayesitsho ukuthi izifiso zethu kanye lemizwa yethu kumele kutshengise ukuthi siyamthanda uJehova. Kumele simthande ‘ngomphefumulo wethu wonke’ okutsho ukuthi kukho konke esikwenzayo ezimpilweni zethu. Kanti njalo kumele sithande uNkulunkulu ‘ngengqondo yethu yonke,’ okutsho ukuthi kukho konke esikucabangayo. Umcijo oqakathekileyo nanku: Kumele simthande ngokupheleleyo uJehova.

8. Kuyini esizakwenza nxa simthanda ngokupheleleyo uNkulunkulu?

⁸ Nxa simthanda uNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo yethu yonke langomphefumulo wethu wonke langengqondo yethu yonke, sizafunda iLizwi lakhe zikhathi zonke. Sizakwenza konke asitshela khona futhi sikhuthale ekutshumayeleni izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. (Mat. 24:14; Rom. 12:1, 2) Kanti njalo sizasondela phansi kwakhe ngenxa yokuthi siyabe simthanda ngenhliziyo yethu yonke. (Jak. 4:8) Asikhangeleni ezinye izizathu ezenza sithande uNkulunkulu lanxa singeke sizibale siziqede.

9. Kungani simthanda uJehova uMdali wethu osinakekelayo?

⁹ UJehova nguMdali wethu njalo nguye osinakekelayo. “UPhawuli wathi: “Siphila kuye, sihambe silalame.” (ImiSeb. 17:28) UJehova  wasinika umhlaba omuhle kakhulu ukuze sihlale kuwo. (Hubo. 115:16) Usinika lokudla kanye lezinye izinto esingeke siphile singelazo. Yikho uPhawuli watshela izakhamizi zaseListra ezazikhonza izithombe wathi: ‘UNkulunkulu ophilayo kazange ayekele ukuzifakazela: Utshengisile umusa ngokulipha izulu laphezulu lamabele ngesikhathi sawo; ulipha ukudla okunengi njalo agcwalise izinhliziyo zenu ngentokozo.’ (ImiSeb. 14:15-17) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi yikho okwenza simthande kakhulu uMdali wethu oMkhulu osinakekelayo.​—UmTshu. 12:1.

10. Kumele sizwe njani ngalokho esakwenzelwa nguNkulunkulu ukuze asikhulule esonweni lasekufeni?

¹⁰ UNkulunkulu wahlela ukuthi sikhululwe esonweni esibangela ukufa esasithatha ku-Adamu. (Rom. 5:12) Yikho-ke “uNkulunkulu ubonakalisa uthando lwakhe kithi ngalokhu: Siseseyizoni, uKhristu wasifela.” (Rom. 5:8) Izinhliziyo zethu ziyaphuphuma sibili ngokuthanda uJehova ngenxa yokuthi wenza ukuthi sithethelelwe izono nxa siphenduka njalo sisiba lokholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu wenhlawulo.​—Joh. 3:16.

11, 12. Kuyini esikuthenjiswa nguJehova okusinika ithemba?

¹¹ UJehova ‘uNkulunkulu wethemba usigcwalisa ngentokozo enkulu langokuthula.’ (Rom. 15:13) Ithemba esiliphiwa nguNkulunkulu lenza siqinisele nxa silwisana lezilingo ezingaxegisa ukholo lwethu. Abagcotshiweyo ‘abathembekayo, lanxa kuselungeni lokufa, bazaphiwa umqhele wokuphila [“ezulwini,” NW.] (Isam. 2:10) Kanti-ke abaqotho abalethemba lokuphila emhlabeni bazathola izibusiso ezingapheliyo ePharadayisi esilithenjiswayo. (Luk. 23:43) Sizwa njani nxa sicabanga ngezithembiso lezi? Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi siyathokoza kakhulu, sibe lokuthula njalo simthande kakhulu yena osipha “zonke izipho ezinhle lezipheleleyo”!​—Jak. 1:17.

¹² UNkulunkulu usithembisa ukuthi abafileyo bazavuswa futhi lokhu kuyasithokozisa. (ImiSeb. 24:15) Kubuhlungu sibili ukufelwa yizihlobo kumbe ngabangane bethu, kodwa ithemba lokuthi abafileyo bazavuswa lenza ‘singadabuki njengabanye abantu, abangelalo ithemba.’ (1 Thes. 4:13) UJehova uNkulunkulu uyasithanda, yikho elesifiso esikhulu sokuvusa abafileyo ikakhulu abathembekileyo abanjengoJobe, indoda eyayingelasici. (Jobe. 14:15) Uyazibona yini ngelihlo lengqondo uthokoza kakhulu usuhlangabeza abantu abazabe bevuswa? Siqhubeka simthanda uBaba wethu osezulwini njalo uthando lwethu luqhubeka luvutha ngenxa yokuthi usithembisa ukuthi uzabavusa sibili abantu abafileyo.

13. Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyasikhathalela sibili?

¹³ UJehova uyasikhathalela sibili. (Bala iHubo 34:6, 18, 19; 1 Phetro 5:6, 7.) Siyakwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wethu olothando uhlala elungiselele ukunceda abantu abathembekileyo. Yikho sihlala sichelesile ngokuba yingxenye ‘yezimvu zedlelo lakhe.’ (Hubo. 79:13) Kanti njalo sizakubona ngokucacileyo ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyasithanda kulokho azasenzela khona esebenzisa uMbuso wakhe obuswa nguMesiya, uJesu Khristu. Nxa iNkosi le ebekwe nguNkulunkulu isisuse udlakela, ukucindezela kanye lobubi emhlabeni, abantu abalalelayo bazakuba lokuthula okungapheliyo futhi bazahlala kuhle. (Hubo. 72:7, 12-14, 16) Asingeke sikuphike ukuthi izibusiso lezi zenza simthande ngenhliziyo yethu yonke, ngomphefumulo wethu wonke, ngamandla ethu wonke langengqondo yethu yonke uNkulunkulu wethu osikhathalelayo.​—Luk. 10:27.

14. UNkulunkulu usinike siphi isibusiso esimangalisayo?

¹⁴ UJehova uyasithanda sibili ngoba usinike isibusiso esimangalisayo sokuthi sibe ngoFakazi bakhe. (Isaya. 43:10-12) Lathi siyamthanda uNkulunkulu ngoba usivumele ukuthi sisekele ubukhosi bakhe lokuthi sinike abantu ithemba leqiniso emhlabeni lo ogcwele izinhlupho. Kanti njalo ukholo lwethu lwenza sikhulume singathandabuzi ngoba sitshela abanye izindaba ezinhle ezivela eLizwini likaNkulunkulu weqiniso. UNkulunkulu uphinda asenze sibe lethemba ngoba uyazigcwalisa izithembiso zakhe zikhathi zonke.  (Bala uJoshuwa 21:45; 23:14.) Siyabona-ke ukuthi lingaphuma litshone silokhu silandisa ngezibusiso kanye lezinto ezenza simthande uJehova. Kodwa singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyamthanda?

15. Kungasinceda ngani ukufunda iLizwi likaNkulunkulu zikhathi zonke kanye lokulisebenzisa ekuphileni kwethu?

¹⁵ Kumele sifunde iLizwi likaNkulunkulu zikhathi zonke njalo silisebenzise ekuphileni kwethu. Lokhu kuyabe kutshengisa ukuthi siyamthanda uJehova lokuthi siyafuna sibili ukuthi ilizwi lakhe libe ‘yikukhanya kwendlela yethu.’ (Hubo. 119:105) Nxa kulokuthile okusihluphayo, singaduduzwa ngamazwi la amnandi athi: “Inhliziyo edabukileyo, ezisolayo, hawu Nkulunkulu, kawuyikuyilahla.” “Uthando lwakho, O Jehova, lwangisekela. Nxa ukunqineka kwase kungikhulela, induduzo yakho yaletha intokozo emphefumulweni wami.” (Hubo. 51:17; 94:18, 19) UJehova ulesihawu kulabo abalezinhlupho njalo uJesu laye uyabazwela kakhulu abantu. (Isaya. 49:13; Mat. 15:32) Nxa sifunda iBhayibhili kuzasicacela kakhulu ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda sibili besekusenza ukuthi lathi simthande ngenhliziyo yethu yonke.

16. Ukuthandaza kuNkulunkulu zikhathi zonke kusinceda njani ukuthi siqhubeke simthanda?

¹⁶ Kumele sithandaze kuNkulunkulu zikhathi zonke. Imithandazo yethu yenza sisondele phansi ‘kwalowo owuzwayo umthandazo.’ (Hubo. 65:2) Sisuka simthande kakhulu uNkulunkulu nxa sibona ukuthi uyayiphendula imithandazo yethu. Ngokwesibonelo, mhlawumbe sesakubona ukuthi uNkulunkulu kasiyekeli silingwa ngokwedlula lokho esingakumela. (1 Khor. 10:13) Nxa kulokuthile okusikhathazayo besesithandaza sincenga ngenhliziyo yonke, ‘ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu’ okukhulu kakhulu kungasilinda. (Flp. 4:6, 7) Kwezinye izikhathi singalingisela uNehemiya ngokuthandazela enhliziyweni, kuthi ngemva kwesikhathi sinanzelele ukuthi umthandazo wethu uphenduliwe. (Neh. 2:1-6) Nxa ‘sibambelela ekukhulekeni’ besesibona ukuthi uJehova uyasiphendula, sizaqhubeka simthanda kakhulu. Kanti njalo asisoze sithandabuze lokuthi uzasincedisa ukuthi silwisane lezilingo ezingasehlela zixegise ukholo lwethu.​—Rom. 12:12.

17. Nxa simthanda uNkulunkulu kuyini esizazimisela ukukwenza mayelana lemihlangano?

 ¹⁷ Akumelanga siyekele ukungena imihlangano yobuKhristu emikhulu lemincane. (Heb. 10:24, 25) Abako-Israyeli babebuthana ukuze bazizwele, bafunde ngoJehova. Lokhu kwakubanceda ukuthi bamesabe njalo balandele iMithetho yakhe. (Dute. 31:12) Akubi nzima ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu nxa simthanda ngenhliziyo yethu yonke. (Bala u-1 Johane 5:3.) Yikho-ke akumelanga sivumele loba yini isenze silove emihlanganweni. Sifuna ukuqhubeka simthanda uJehova njalo asifuni ukuthi uthando lwethu luphole.​—Isam. 2:4.

18. Nxa simthanda uNkulunkulu sizawenza njani umsebenzi wokutshumayela?

¹⁸ Kumele sikhuthalele ukutshela abanye “iqiniso levangeli.” (Gal. 2:5) Nxa simthanda uNkulunkulu sizakuba lamadlabuzane okukhuluma ngoMbuso wakhe obuswa nguMesiya, iNdodana yakhe ayithandayo ‘ezakhwela enqoleni imele iqiniso’ ngesikhathi se-Amagedoni. (Hubo. 45:4; Isam. 16:14, 16) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uyasithokozisa kakhulu umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi ngoba siyabe sincedisa abantu ukuze bafunde ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyasithanda lokuthi usithembisa umhlaba omutsha!​—Mat. 28:19, 20.

19. Kungani kumele siqakathekise abelusi esibaphiwe nguJehova?

¹⁹ Kumele siqakathekise abelusi esibaphiwe nguNkulunkulu ukuthi basinakekele. (ImiSeb. 20:28) Konke okwenziwa nguJehova kuyasinceda zonke izikhathi. Yikho-ke abadala abangamaKhristu bayizipho ezivela kuye. ‘Banjengesihonqo sokuvikela umoya, lesiphephelo sokucatshela isiphepho, njengomthunzi wedwala elikhulu elizweni elomileyo.’ (Isaya. 32:1, 2) Kambe kulomuntu ongeke athabe yini angathola indawo yokucatsha nxa kulesiphepho kumbe umoya omkhulu ovunguzayo? Nxa ilanga litshisa bhe, siyathokoza kakhulu singathola umthunzi omuhle oqandelelayo. Izifaniso lezi zisenza sibone ukuthi abadala bayasincedisa ekukhonzeni kwethu nxa kulokuthile okungahambi kuhle njalo basenza sizizwe ngcono. Nxa silalela abakhokheli bethu, siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyaziqakathekisa “izipho ebantwini,” okutsho abadala. Kanti njalo siyabe sitshengisa lokuthi siyamthanda uNkulunkulu kanye loKhristu, iNhloko yebandla.​—Efe. 4:8; 5:23; Heb. 13:17.

20. Nxa umthanda uNkulunkulu uzakwenza njani lokho okutshiwo kuJakhobe 1:22-25?

²⁰ Nxa umthanda kakhulu uJehova, awusoze ‘ulalele ilizwi nje kuphela’ kodwa ‘uzakwenza lokho elikutshoyo.’ (Bala uJakhobe 1:22-25.) Umuntu ‘owenza lokho ilizwi elikutshoyo’ ulokholo olumenza atshiseke ekutshumayeleni njalo abe lokuthile akwenzayo emihlanganweni yobuKhristu, ngokwesibonelo ukuphendula. Kanti njalo nxa umthanda kakhulu uNkulunkulu, uzalalela “umthetho opheleleyo” ogoqela konke akufunayo.​—Hubo. 19:7-11.

21. Imithandazo yakho eqotho ingafaniswa lani?

²¹ Ukuthanda uJehova uNkulunkulu kuzakwenza ukuthi uhlale uthandaza kuye ngenhliziyo yakho yonke. Kumele ukuthi uDavida wayekhuluma ngokutshiswa kwempepha kwansuku zonke okwakusenziwa kusalandelwa isivumelwano soMthetho lapho ehlabela esithi: “Sengathi umkhuleko wami ungema phambi kwakho [Jehova] njengempepha; kuthi ukuphakama kwezandla zami kube njengomhlatshelo wakusihlwa.” (Hubo. 141:2; Eks. 30:7, 8) Izicelo zakho, ukuncenga kwakho okuqotho kanye lamazwi akho okudumisa lokubonga uNkulunkulu avela enhliziyweni akube njengempepha enuka mnandi okutsho ukuthi kube yimithandazo eyemukelwa nguNkulunkulu.​—Isam. 5:8.

22. Kuyini esizaxoxa ngakho esihlokweni esilandelayo?

²² UJesu wathi kumele sithande uNkulunkulu kanye lomakhelwana wethu. (Mat. 22:37-39) Esihlokweni esilandelayo sizaphinda sikhulume ngothando futhi. Sizabona ukuthi ukuthanda uJehova kanye lezimiso zakhe kuzasinceda njani ukuthi siphilisane kuhle labanye njalo sithande umakhelwana wethu.