1, 2. (a) Yini lekhombisa kutsi libandla laseKholose langelikhulu lekucala belihlaselwa? (b) Ngusiphi seluleko bazalwane baseKholose labaniketwa sona kute bahlale bacinile?

LIBANDLA lebuKhristu langelikhulu lekucala eKholose lalihlaselwa! Labanye kulelibandla bebabangela kwehlukana ngekutsi bakhutsate kulalelwa kweMtsetfo waMosi. Labanye bebakhutsata kutihluphekisa, lobekufaka ekhatsi kutemuka injabulo ekuphileni. Akhuluma ngaletimfundziso letingemanga, umphostoli Pawula wabhala incwadzi lekhutsatako, wecwayisa baseKholose watsi: “Cinisekani kutsi kubete umuntfu lonitfumba ngekuhlakanipha kwebantfu, nekuyenga lokulite ngemasiko ebantfu, ngetintfo letitsatfwa njengaletibalulekile eveni kodvwa hhayi kuKhristu.”—Khol. 2:8.

² Kube lamaKhristu lagcotjiwe anaka ‘tintfo letitsatfwa njengaletibalulekile eveni,’ bekangabe akalinaki lilungiselelo laJehova lekuwasindzisa. (Khol. 2:20-23) Kute awasite alondvolote buhlobo bawo lobuligugu naNkulunkulu, Pawula wawecwayisa watsi: “Tingcondvo tenu atihlale tinake tintfo letisezulwini, hhayi letisemhlabeni.” (Khol. 3:2) Bomnakabo Khristu bekufanele bahlale bacabanga ngelitsemba labo lekutfola lifa lelingonakali ‘lababekelwe lona ezulwini.’—Khol. 1:4, 5.

3. (a) Nguliphi litsemba emaKhristu lagcotjiwe lahlale acabanga ngalo? (b) Ngumiphi imibuto lesitawucoca ngayo kulesihloko?

 ³ Lamuhla, emaKhristu lagcotjiwe nawo ahlale anake uMbuso waNkulunkulu losezulwini nelitsemba lawo lekuba ‘tindlalifa naKhristu.’ (Rom. 8:14-17) Kodvwa kutsiwani ngalabo labanelitsemba lekuphila emhlabeni? Emavi aPawula asebenta njani kubo? Nguyiphi indlela ‘letinye timvu’ letinganaka ngayo “tintfo letisezulwini”? (Joh. 10:16) Singazuza njani ngekucabanga ngetibonelo temadvodza labekatsembekile akadzeni lafaka ekhatsi Abrahama naMosi lokwatsi nobe abhekene nebumatima kodvwa ahlale anake tintfo letisezulwini?

4. Letinye timvu tingatigcina njani tingcondvo tato tinake tintfo letisezulwini?

⁴ Nanobe letinye timvu tite litsemba lekuphila ezulwini, nato tingatinaka tintfo tasezulwini. Ngayiphi indlela? Ngekutsi tente Jehova Nkulunkulu neMbuso wakhe kute kucala ekuphileni kwato. (Luk. 10:25-27) Ngaleso sizatfu, sitsatsa Khristu njengesibonelo setfu. (1 Phet. 2:21) Njengebazalwane betfu bangelikhulu lekucala, natsi sibhekene netimfundziso temanga, kuhlakanipha kwebantfu nekutsandza umcebo kulelive laSathane. (Fundza 2 Khorinte 10:5.) Njengobe silingisa Jesu, kufanele sikuphaphamele kucaphela letintfo letingaphatamisa buhlobo betfu naNkulunkulu.

5. Singawuhlola njani umbono lesinawo mayelana nekufuna umcebo?

⁵ Umbono walelive ngemcebo uyakuphatamisa yini kuphila kwetfu? Ngalokuvamile, tintfo lesititsandzako tibonakala kuloko lesikucabangako nalesikwentako. Jesu watsi: “Lapho kunemcebo wakho khona, kulapho nenhlitiyo yakho itawuba khona.” (Mat. 6:21) Kute sibone kutsi inhlitiyo yetfu isiholela kuphi, kuhle kutsi sitihlole sikhatsi ngasinye. Tibute: ‘Singakanani sikhatsi lengisicitsa ngicabanga ngemali? Kucabanga ngetemabhizinisi, kucongelela imali nobe kufuna kuphila imphilo lentofontofo kutsatsa sikhatsi sami lesinyenti yini? Ngiyetama yini kulondvolota liso lelihle lelihlale linake tintfo letiphatselene naNkulunkulu?’ (Mat. 6:22) Jesu washo kutsi labo labanake kakhulu ‘kutibekela umcebo emhlabeni’ babufaka engotini buhlobo babo naNkulunkulu.—Mat. 6:19, 20, 24.

6. Singaphumelela njani ekulwisaneni netifiso tenyama?

⁶ Inyama yetfu lenesono ifuna sente tintfo letijabulisa tsine. (Fundza Roma 7:21-25.) Nangabe umoya waNkulunkulu bewungasebenti ekuphileni kwetfu, besingagcine sesenta “imisebenti yebumnyama.” Lemisebenti ingafaka ekhatsi ‘imicimbi lengalawulwa . . . kutiphatsa kabi ngekwelicansi, nekutiphatsa lokubi kwekweyisa.’ (Rom. 13:12, 13) Kute siphumelele ekuncobeni ‘tintfo letisemhlabeni’—lokutintfo letitsandvwa yinyama yetfu—kufanele sihlale sicabanga ngetintfo tasezulwini. Kwenta loko kudzinga umetamo. Kungako umphostoli Pawula atsi: “Ngiyawucindzetela umtimba wami futsi ngiwenta sigcili.” (1 Khor. 9:27) Akungabateki kutsi akukafaneli siyekelele nangabe sifuna kuchubeka sisemncintiswaneni wekuphila. Asesihlole loko lokwentiwa ngemadvodza lamabili letsembekile akadzeni kute ‘ajabulise Nkulunkulu.’—Heb. 11:6.

7, 8. (a) Ngutiphi tinkinga Abrahama naSara labahlangabetana nato? (b) Yini Abrahama labehlale acabanga ngayo?

⁷ Ngesikhatsi Jehova atjela Abrahama kutsi atfutse nemndeni wakhe baye eKhenani, walalela ngekutitsandzela. Ngenca yekukholwa nekulalela kwa-Abrahama,  Jehova wenta sivumelwane naye, watsi: “Ngitakwenta ube sive lesikhulu, ngikubusise.” (Gen. 12:2) Nobe kunjalo, ngemuva kweminyaka letsite, Abrahama nemkakhe Sara bebasolo bete bantfwana. Jehova besekasikhohliwe yini setsembiso labesente na-Abrahama? Ngetulu kwaloko, kuphila eKhenani bekungasimelula. Abrahama nemndeni wakhe bebashiye likhaya labo netihlobo tabo e-Uri, lidolobha lelinotsile eMesophothamiya. Bahamba emakhilomitha langetulu kwa-1 600 kute bafike eKhenani lapho bebahlala khona emathendeni, babeketelela indlala futsi babhekana netigebengu. (Gen. 12:5, 10; 13:18; 14:10-16) Nobe kunjalo, bebete sifiso sekubuyela kulendzawo lenotsile yase-Uri.—Fundza Hebheru 11:8-12, 15.

⁸ Esikhundleni sekutsi anake ‘tintfo letisemhlabeni,’ Abrahama “wakholwa nguSimakadze.” (Gen. 15:6) Wanaka tintfo tasezulwini ngekutsi ahlale acabanga ngetetsembiso taNkulunkulu. Umphumela waloko waba kutsi kukholwa kwa-Abrahama kwaba nemivuzo ngesikhatsi Nkulunkulu Losetikwako Konkhe abonakala kuye atsi: “‘Buka etulu esibhakabhakeni ubale tinkhanyeti, nawungatibala.’ Wachubeka watsi kuye: ‘Nentalo yakho-ke iyawuba ngako.’” (Gen. 15:5) Loko kwamcinisekisa kakhulu Abrahama! Ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi nakabuka sibhakabhaka lesigcwele tinkhanyeti, abekhumbula setsembiso saJehova sekutsi intalo yakhe itawuba yinyenti. Ngesikhatsi lesifanele saNkulunkulu, Abrahama waba nayo indlalifa, njengobe kwakwetsenjisiwe.—Gen. 21:1, 2.

9. Kulandzela sibonelo sa-Abrahama kutasikhutsata njani kutsi sihlale simatasatasa emsebentini waNkulunkulu?

⁹ Njenga-Abrahama, natsi simele kugcwaliseka kwetetsembiso taNkulunkulu. (2 Phet. 3:13) Nangabe tingcondvo tetfu tingakanaki tintfo tasezulwini, kugcwaliseka kwaletetsembiso kutawubonakala kwephuta futsi singehlisa emandla ekukhonteni Nkulunkulu. Nasi sibonelo: Kukhona yini kutidzela lokwentile esikhatsini lesendlulile kute ube lihlahlandlela nobe kute ukhonte ngaletinye tindlela letikhetsekile? Nangabe wente njalo, sikuncoma kakhulu. Kodvwa kutsiwani nyalo? Khumbula kutsi Abrahama wahlale acabanga ‘ngelidolobha lelinetisekelo leticinile.’ (Heb. 11:10) “Wabonisa kukholwa kuJehova, kwatsiwa ulungile.”—Rom. 4:3.

10. Bekunjani kuphila kwaMosi ngesikhatsi asemusha?

¹⁰ Lenye indvodza leyagcina ingcondvo yayo icabanga ngetintfo tasezulwini kwakunguMosi. Asesemusha, “wafundziswa yonkhe inhlakanipho yaseGibhithe.” Lena kwakungasiyo nje imfundvo levamile. Mosi wakhulela esigodlweni saFaro ngesikhatsi iGibhithe ingumbuso lonemandla kakhulu emhlabeni wonkhe. Ngalemfundvo lesezingeni lelisetulu labeyitfolile, Mosi waba ‘nelikhono lekukhuluma kanye nemandla lamakhulu.’ (Imis. 7:22) Cabanga ngematfuba labekangamvulekela! Nobe kunjalo, ingcondvo yaMosi beyinake tintfo letibalulekile—kwenta intsandvo yaNkulunkulu.

11, 12. Nguyiphi imfundvo Mosi layitsatsa njengaleyo lebalulekile, futsi sikwati njani loko?

¹¹ Unina waMosi lokunguJokhebedi abemfundzise ngaNkulunkulu wemaHebheru kusukela asemncane. Mosi abeyihlonipha kakhulu imfundvo levela kuJehova futsi ayitsatsa njengaleyo lebaluleke ngetulu kwemcebo. Ngako wawashiya emalungelo nematfuba labekangawatfola ngekuhlala esigodlweni saFaro. (Fundza Hebheru 11:24-27.) Ngako-ke, kufundza ngaJehova nekuba nekukholwa kuye kwenta kutsi ingcondvo yaMosi inake tintfo tasezulwini.

 ¹² Mosi abetfole imfundvo leyayisezingeni lelisetulu ngaleso sikhatsi, kodvwa lemfundvo wayisebentisela kutfola sikhundla lesisetulu yini eGibhithe, kutakhela ligama nobe kutfola umcebo? Cha. Kube wenta njalo, abengeke ‘ale kubitwa ngekutsi uyindvodzana yendvodzakati yaFaro, akhetse kuhlushwa nebantfu baNkulunkulu kunekutsi atijabulise kwesikhashana esonweni.’ Kuyacaca kutsi Mosi wasebentisa imfundvo yakhe kute ente loko lokufunwa nguJehova.

13, 14. (a) Yini leyasita Mosi kutsi akufanele kwenta umsebenti labekatawunikwa nguJehova? (b) NjengaMosi, yini lokungase kudzingeke siyente?

¹³ Mosi abetsandza Jehova nebantfu baKhe. Nakaneminyaka lengu-40 budzala, Mosi wacabanga kutsi sewukulungele kukhulula bantfu baNkulunkulu ebugcilini baseGibhithe. (Imis. 7:23-25) Nobe kunjalo, ngaphambi kwekutsi Jehova amnikete lomsebenti, Mosi abesadzinga lokutsite. Bekufanele atfobeke, abeketele, abe nemoya lomuhle, kanye nekutibamba. (Taga 15:33) Mosi abedzinga kuceceshwa lobekutamenta akulungele kubeketelela tilingo nebumatima lobebuseta. Emashumi eminyaka lambalwa lawacitsa angumelusi abetamniketa kuceceshwa labekudzinga kute abe nalobuntfu lobuhle.

¹⁴ Mosi wafundza yini kulokuceceshwa lakutfola ngesikhatsi asengumelusi? Yebo wafundza. LiVi laNkulunkulu litsi Mosi waba ‘ngumuntfu lotfobekile kwendlula wonkhe umuntfu labekhona emhlabeni.’ (Num. 12:3) Abesafundze kutfobeka, futsi loko kwamsita kutsi asebentelane kahle nebantfu labanyenti labanetinkinga letehlukahlukene. (Eks. 18:26) Natsi kudzingeka sibe nebuntfu bebuKhristu lobutasisita kutsi sendlule “ekuhluphekeni lokukhulu” futsi singene emhlabeni lomusha waNkulunkulu lonekulunga. (Semb. 7:14) Siyakhona yini kusebentelana nebantfu labafaka ekhatsi labo labanenhlitiyo lencane nobe labasheshe bacansuke? Senta kahle ngekulalela emavi emphostoli Phetro, lowakhutsata emakholwa lakanye nawo watsi: “Hloniphani bantfu bato tonkhe tinhlobo, nitsandze bonkhe bazalwane.”—1 Phet. 2:17.

15, 16. (a) Kungani kubalulekile kugcina tingcondvo tetfu tinake tintfo letinhle? (b) Kungani kubalulekile ngemaKhristu kutsi ahlale atiphatsa kahle?

¹⁵ Siphila ‘etikhatsini letibucayi lokumatima kubhekana nato.’ (2 Thim. 3:1) Ngako kute sihlale sinebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu, kufanele tingcondvo tetfu tihlale tinake tintfo letinhle. (1 Thes. 5:6-9) Asesibone kutsi singakwenta njani loko kunati tincenye letintsatfu tekuphila kwetfu.

¹⁶ Kutiphatsa kwetfu: Phetro wakubona kubaluleka kwekutiphatsa kahle. Watsi: “Gcinani kutiphatsa kwenu kukuhle emkhatsini webantfu, kuze . . . batibonele bona imisebenti yenu lemihle, ngaloko bakhatimulise Nkulunkulu.” (1 Phet. 2:12) Nome ngabe sisekhaya, emsebentini, esikolweni, ekutijabuliseni, nobe emsebentini wekushumayela, senta konkhe lokusemandleni kute siletse ludvumo kuJehova ngendlela lenhle lesitiphatsa ngayo. Kuliciniso kutsi njengobe sibantfu labanesono, sonkhe siyawenta emaphutsa. (Rom. 3:23) Kodvwa nasichubeka ‘silwa kulwa lokuhle kwekukholwa,’ sitawuphumelela ekulwisaneni nenyama yetfu lenesono.—1 Thim. 6:12.

17. Singasilingisa njani simo sengcondvo Khristu Jesu labekanaso? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.)

¹⁷ Simo setfu sengcondvo: Kuba nesimo lesihle sengcondvo kuhlobene nekutiphatsa kahle. Umphostoli Pawula watsi: “Hlalani ninalomcondvo naKhristu Jesu labenawo.” (Fil. 2:5) Jesu abenasiphi simo sengcondvo? Abetfobekile. Kutfobeka kwamenta watidzela emsebentini wakhe  wekushumayela. Kushumayela kulabanye ngetindzaba letimnandzi teMbuso waNkulunkulu kwakuyintfo lebaluleke kakhulu kuye. (Mak. 1:38; 13:10) Jesu abetsatsa liVi laNkulunkulu njengesisekelo saloko lebekakufundzisa. (Joh. 7:16; 8:28) Abetadisha imiBhalo Lengcwele ngenkhutsalo kute akhone kuyicaphuna, kuyivikela nekuyichaza. Nasitfobekile futsi sikukhutsalele kushumayela nekuba nesifundvo seliBhayibheli lesitichubela sona, sitawulingisa Khristu ngendlela lesicabanga ngayo.

18. Nguyiphi indlela lebalulekile lesingawusekela ngayo umsebenti waJehova?

¹⁸ Kusekela umsebenti waJehova: Injongo yaJehova ikutsi “egameni laJesu onkhe emadvolo aguce—alabo labasezulwini, newalabasemhlabeni.” (Fil. 2:9-11) Ngisho nasesikhundleni sakhe lesiphakeme, Jesu utawutitfoba entsandvweni yeYise, futsi natsi kufanele sente lokufanako. (1 Khor. 15:28) Ngayiphi indlela? Ngekutsi siwusekele ngenhlitiyo yonkhe umsebenti lesitjelwe kutsi siwente, ‘wekwenta bantfu bato tonkhe tive babe bafundzi.’ (Mat. 28:19) Ngetulu kwaloko, sifuna ‘kwenta lokuhle kubo bonkhe,’ sente lokuhle kubomakhelwane betfu nakulabo lesikholwa nabo.—Gal. 6:10.

19. Yini lokufanele sitimisele kuyenta?

¹⁹ Kusijabulisa kakhulu kwati kutsi Jehova usikhumbuta kutsi sigcine tingcondvo tetfu tinake tintfo tasezulwini. Kudzingeka “siwugijime ngekucinisela umncintiswano losembikwetfu” kudzimate kube sekugcineni. (Heb. 12:1) Shengatsi sonkhe singasebenta ‘ngemphefumulo wonkhe kube shengatsi sentela Jehova,’ futsi Babe wetfu wasezulwini utasinika umvuzo ngemetamo yetfu.—Khol. 3:23, 24.