1-2. (a) Ngokwalokho okutshiwo kuZaga 16:31, kumele sibabone njani asebekhulile abathembekileyo? (b) Yiphi imibuzo esizayiphendula esihlokweni lesi?

NXA ama-diamond esemhlabathini futhi engakalungiswa awacazimuli njalo awabukeki. Yikho nxa umuntu angawabona angawadlula engananzeleli ukuthi ngamatshe aligugu.

² Abafowethu labodadewethu asebekhulile abathembekileyo bafanana lama-diamond la, baligugu kakhulu. ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lifanisa inwele zabo ezimhlophe lomqhele. (Bala uZaga 16:31; 20:29) Kodwa kulula ukuthi singananzeleli ukuthi baligugu. Labo abananzelela ukuthi asebekhulile baligugu bathola okungcono kakhulu ukwedlula i-diamond. Esihlokweni lesi sizaphendula imibuzo emithathu elandelayo: Kungani uJehova ebona asebekhulile abathembekileyo beligugu? Kungani abafowethu labodadewethu asebekhulile beqakathekile enhlanganisweni yakhe? Singenzani ukuze sifunde ezibonelweni zabo?

3. Ngokwalokho okutshiwo kuHubo 92:12-15, kungani asebekhulile abathembekileyo beligugu kuJehova?

³ Asebekhulile abathembekileyo baligugu kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Uyakwazi ukuthi bangabantu abanjani futhi uyabuqakathekisa ubuntu babo obuhle. Uyathokoza nxa ebona asebekhulile bencedisa abasesebatsha ukuthi bazuze ukuhlakanipha abakuthole eminyakeni eminengi bemkhonza bethembekile. (Jobe. 12:12; Zaga. 1:1-4) Kakukhohlwa lokuqinisela kwabo. (Mal. 3:16) Lanxa behlangane lenhlupho empilweni  baqhubeke belokholo oluqinileyo kuJehova. Ithemba abalalo liyakhanya kakhulu kulangesikhathi beqala ukufunda iqiniso. Kanti njalo uJehova uyabathanda ngoba baqhubeka bememezela ibizo lakhe “lanxa sebebadala.”—Bala iHubo 92:12-15.

4. Kuyini okungaduduza abafowethu labodadewethu asebekhulile?

⁴ Nxa iminyaka isihambile qiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyawukhumbula umsebenzi owenzileyo esikhathini esidlulileyo. (Heb. 6:10) Ubukhuthele emsebenzini wokutshumayela futhi lokhu kuyamthokozisa uBaba wethu osezulwini. Ubuqinisela nxa usebunzimeni ngitsho lakulobo obukuzwise ubuhlungu obukhulu. Ubulalela njalo ulwela lokho okutshiwo liBhayibhili futhi ubuyenza ngokuthembeka imisebenzi eqakathekileyo obulayo enhlanganisweni kaJehova njalo uqeqetsha abanye. Wenze konke ongakwenza ukuze uhambisane lotshintsho ngalunye obelusiba khona enhlanganisweni kaJehova. Ubusekela njalo ukhuthaza abanye abasenkonzweni yesikhathi sonke. UJehova uNkulunkulu uyakuthanda okwamagama ngenxa yokuthi uqotho. Uthembisa ukuthi “kayikubadela abathembekileyo bakhe.” (Hubo. 37:28) Ukuqinisekisa esithi: ‘Lasebudaleni bakho izinwele zakho sezimhlophe ngizakuqinisa.’ (Isaya. 46:4) Yikho ungacabangi ukuthi njengoba iminyaka isihambile awusaqakathekanga enhlanganisweni kaJehova. Uqakathekile sibili!

5. Kuyini okumele asebekhulile bahlale bekukhumbula?

⁵ Kunengi okungenziwa ngasebekhulile enhlanganisweni kaJehova. Lanxa bengabe bengasaqinanga emzimbeni njengakudala kunengi abakubonileyo empilweni okunganceda abanye. UJehova uzaqhubeka ebasebenzisa ngendlela ezitshiyeneyo njengoba sizabona ezibonelweni esizaxoxa ngazo, ezakudala lezakhathesi.

6-7. Nika izibonelo zabantu abasebekhulile ababusiswa nguJehova ngenxa yokuthembeka kwabo.

⁶ IBhayibhili lilezibonelo ezinhle zalabo ababethembekile abaqhubeka besebenzela uJehova lanxa basebekhulile. Ngokwesibonelo, uMosi wayeseleminyaka engaba ngu-80  ngesikhathi esiba ngumphrofethi kaJehova futhi ekhethwa ukuthi akhokhele isizwe sako-Israyeli. UDanyeli wayelokhu engumphrofethi kaJehova eseleminyaka edlula 90. Umphostoli uJohane laye wayengabe eseleminyaka edlula 90 ngesikhathi ephefumulelwa ukuthi abhale ibhuku leSambulo.

⁷ Abanye asebekhulile abathembekileyo babengaziwa kangako njalo kungenzeka abantu babengakunanzeleli ababekwenza. Kodwa uJehova wayekubona njalo wabanika umvuzo ngokuthembeka kwabo. Ngokwesibonelo iBhayibhili alisitsheli okunengi ngendoda “eyayilungile njalo eyayizinikele kuNkulunkulu” okuthiwa nguSimiyoni kodwa uJehova wayeyazi futhi wayinika isibusiso sokubona usane olunguJesu lesokuphrofetha ngalo langonina. (Luk. 2:22, 25-35) Cabanga langomphrofethikazi owayengumfelokazi okuthiwa ngu-Ana. Lanxa wayeseleminyaka engu-84 “wayehlala ekhona ethempelini.” Laye wathola isibusiso sokubona usane olunguJesu ngenxa yokuthi wayehlala esethempelini. Bobabili uSimiyoni lo-Ana babeligugu kuJehova.—Luk. 2:36-38.

8-9. Kuyini okwenziwa ngomunye udadewethu esengumfelokazi?

⁸ Lamuhla abanengi asebekhulile abathembekileyo bayizibonelo ezinhle kulabo abasesebatsha. Ake sixoxe ngalokho okwenzakala kudade Lois Didur. Wayeleminyaka engu-21 ngesikhathi esiba liphayona eliqakathekileyo eCanada. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi yena lomkakhe uJohn bahambela okweminyaka eminengi. Ngemva kwalokho basebenza eBhetheli yeCanada okweminyaka edlula 20. ULois wathi eseleminyaka engu-58, yena lomkakhe bacelwa ukuthi bayesebenzela e-Ukraine. Babezakwenzenjani? Babengazitshela ukuthi sebekhule kakhulu okokuthi abasenelisi ukuyancedisa kwelinye ilizwe. Kodwa bavuma ukuya e-Ukraine futhi uJohn waba lilunga leKhomithi Yegatsha kulelolizwe. Ngemva kweminyaka eyisikhombisa uJohn watshona futhi uLois wakhetha ukuqhubeka ese-Ukraine. Khathesi seleminyaka engu-81 njalo ulokhu ekhonza uJehova ethembekile ndawonye lemuli yeBhetheli e-Ukraine futhi bonke bayamthanda kakhulu.

⁹ Abafelokazi abanjengoLois bangabe bengasaqakathekiswa kakhulu njengalapho omkabo besaphila kodwa balokhu beligugu kakhulu. UJehova uyabaqakathekisa kakhulu odadewethu labo ababesekela omkabo okweminyaka eminengi futhi abaqhubeka bemkhonza bethembekile. (1 Tim. 5:3) Bakhuthaza labasesebatsha.

10. Kungani sisithi uTony uyisibonelo esihle?

¹⁰ Abanengi asebekhulile abathembekileyo abangasenelisi ukuphuma endlini kumbe abahlala lapho okugcinwa khona asebekhulile labo baligugu kakhulu. Ngokwesibonelo,  umfowethu okuthiwa nguTony laye uhlala endaweni okugcinwa khona asebekhulile. Wabhabhathizwa ePennsylvania, eMelika, ngo-August 1942 eleminyaka engu-20. Esanda kubhabhathizwa wabizwa esisotsheni kodwa wala yikho wavalelwa ejele okweminyaka emibili lengxenye. Yena lomkakhe uHilda bancedisa abantwababo ababili ukuthi bafunde ngoJehova. UTony wayengumbonisi owengamele (khathesi owaziwa ngokuthi ngumhleli wequla labadala) emabandleni amathathu angena lawo futhi engumbonisi womhlangano wesiqinti. Wayehamba ayeqhuba imihlangano yebandla ejele njalo afundise abantu iBhayibhili khonapho. Khathesi useleminyaka engu-98 kodwa uqhubeka esebenzela uJehova. Ulokhu esenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuthi amkhonze ndawonye labafowabo labodadewabo ebandleni akulo.

11. Singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyabaqakathekisa asebekhulile abangasenelisi ukuphuma endlini kumbe abahlala lapho okugcinwa khona asebekhulile?

¹¹ Singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyabaqakathekisa asebekhulile abangasenelisi ukuphuma endlini kumbe abahlala lapho okugcinwa khona asebekhulile? Nxa kuvuma abadala bangabancedisa ukuthi baye emihlanganweni yebandla kumbe bayilalele njalo batshumayele. Singatshengisa ukuthi silendaba labo ngokubavakatshela kumbe ngokuxoxa labo ngezempucuko. Sifuna ukutshengisa ukuthi silendaba sibili lasebekhulile abangabe behlala endaweni lapho okugcinwa khona asebekhulile ekhatshana kakhulu lebandla labo. Nxa singayekela ukunanzelela singabakhohlwa asebekhulile labo. Abanye kungabe kubathwalisa nzima kumbe bebona angani akuqondanga ukuthi basixoxele ngempilo zabo. Kodwa sizancedakala kakhulu nxa singazinika isikhathi sokuxoxa labo njalo silalele nxa besitshela ngentokozo abayitholayo enhlanganisweni kaJehova.

12. Ebandleni lethu kungabe kulabafowethu labodadewethu abanjani?

¹² Singamangala ukuthi kulezibonelo ezinhle kakhulu zabafowethu labodadewethu abathembekileyo asebekhulile ebandleni lethu. Udadewethu okuthiwa nguHarriette wakhonza uJehova ethembekile okweminyaka eminengi esendaweni akhulela kuyo eNew Jersey, eMelika, wasethutha wayahlala lendodakazi yakhe. Abafowethu labodadewethu abasebandleni ayesengena lalo bazinika isikhathi sokumazi futhi bananzelela ukuthi wayeligugu kakhulu. Wayebakhuthaza ngokubaxoxela lokho okwakusenzakala ekutshumayeleni ngesikhathi eqalisa ukufunda iqiniso ngabo-1920. Ngalezonsuku wayehlala elesixubho esikhwameni nxa esiya ekutshumayeleni ngoba wayezasidinga nxa angabotshwa. Ngo-1933 wabotshwa kabili futhi isikhathi ngasinye wavalelwa okweviki yonke ejele. Umkakhe owayengasoFakazi wayemsekela. Ngesikhathi uHarriette esejele wayesala egcine abantwababo abancane abathathu. Asebekhulile abathembekileyo abanjengoHarriette kumele baqakathekiswe sibili!

13. Kuyini esesikufundile mayelana lasebekhulile abasenhlanganisweni kaJehova?

¹³ Abafowethu labodadewethu asebekhulile baqakatheke kakhulu kuJehova lasenhlanganisweni yakhe. Bazibonele ngawabo uJehova eyibusisa ngendlela ezitshiyeneyo inhlanganiso yakhe futhi ebabusisa bona ngokwabo. Bafunde izifundo eziqakathekileyo emaphutheni abawenzayo. Yikho babone ‘njengomthombo wokuhlakanipha’ njalo ufunde kulokho okwenzakala empilweni zabo. (Zaga. 18:4) Nxa ungazinika isikhathi sokubazi, ukholo lwakho luzaqina futhi uzafunda okunengi!

14. UDutheronomi 32:7 ukhuthaza abasesebatsha ukuthi benzeni?

¹⁴ Zinike isikhathi sokuxoxa lasebekhulile. (Bala uDutheronomi 32:7.) Bangabe sebebona lufifi, sebetotoba njalo sebekhulumela phansi kodwa balokhu befisa ukwenza okunengi futhi sebezenzele “ibizo elihle” kuJehova. (UmTshu. 7:1) Ungakhohlwa ukuthi kuyini okwenza uJehova ababone beligugu. Qhubeka ubahlonipha. Yenza njengo-Elisha owala ukwehlukana lo-Elija ngelanga lokucina bendawonye. Kathathu u-Elisha wathi: “Angiyikutshiyana lawe.”—2 AmaKho. 2:2, 4, 6.

15. Yiphi imibuzo esingayibuza asebekhulile?

¹⁵ Tshengisa ukuthi uyabathanda asebekhulile ngokubabuza imibuzo ngenhlonipho. (Zaga. 1:5; 20:5; 1 Tim. 5:1, 2) Babuze imibuzo enjengale: “Kuyini okwenza waqiniseka ukuthi usulitholile iqiniso?” “Okwenzakale empilweni yakho kukuncede njani ukuthi usondele kuJehova?” “Kuyini okukuncede ukuthi uhlale uthokoza ekukhonzeni uJehova?” (1 Tim. 6:6-8) Lalela-ke nxa sebekuxoxela ngempilo zabo.

16. Nxa osekhulile losesemutsha bexoxa bancedakala njani?

¹⁶ Nxa osekhulile losesemutsha bexoxa, bobabili bayancedakala. (Rom. 1:12) Osesemutsha uzabona sibili ukuthi uJehova ulendaba lezinceku zakhe ezithembekileyo njalo osekhulile uzabona ukuthi uyathandwa. Osekhulile uzakholisa ukulandisela osesemutsha ngendlela uJehova ambusise ngayo.

17. Kungani singathi asebekhulile abathembekileyo baba bahle kakhulu nxa iminyaka ilokhu itshova?

¹⁷ Ubuhle buyaphela nxa umuntu eguga kodwa labo abaqotho kuJehova baqhubeka besiba bahle kuye umnyaka ngamunye. (1 Thes. 1:2, 3) Lokhu kuliqiniso ngoba okweminyaka eminengi bavumele umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu ukuthi ubabumbe njalo ubancedise ukuthi babe lobuntu obuhle. Nxa singaqhubeka sisibabazi abafowethu labodadewethu laba abaligugu futhi sifunda kubo, sizabaqakathekisa njalo sibabone beligugu kakhulu!

18. Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁸ Ibandla liyaqina nxa abasesebatsha beqakathekisa asebekhulile kodwa liyaqina kakhulu nxa asebekhulile labo bebaqakathekisa abasesebatsha. Esihlokweni esilandelayo sizaxoxa ngokuthi asebekhulile bangatshengisa njani ukuthi bayabaqakathekisa abasesebatsha abasemabandleni abo.