1-2. Buba bhetele njani ubomi bomntu emva kokuba ebhaptiziwe?

 SIYAVUYA xa siye sabhaptizwa saza saba kwintsapho kaYehova. Abantu abafumene loo nyhweba bayavumelana nomdumisi uDavide owathi: “Wonwabile umntu omkhethileyo waza wamsondeza ukuze ahlale eyadini yakho.”​—INdu. 65:4.

² UYehova akavele nje angenise nokuba ngubani eyadini yakhe. Njengokuba sifundile kwinqaku elidlulileyo, uye asondele kwabo babonisa ukuba bafuna ukuba ngabahlobo bakhe. (Yak. 4:8) Xa uzinikela kuYehova uze ubhaptizwe, uba ngumhlobo wakhe ngendlela ekhethekileyo. Unokuqiniseka ukuba emva kokuba ubhaptiziwe uza ‘kuqongqothela phezu kwakho intsikelelo kude kungabikho nto uyidingayo.’​—Mal. 3:10; Yer. 17:​7, 8.

3. Yintoni ekufuneka ayenze amaKristu azinikele kuYehova aza abhaptizwa? (INtshumayeli 5:​4, 5)

³ Ukubhaptizwa sisiqalo nje. Emva kokuba ubhaptiziwe, uza kufuna ukuzama ngamandla akho onke ukugcina isifungo osenzileyo sokukhonza uYehova nokuhlala uthembekile kuye, naxa ulingelwa ukwenza into erongo okanye usezingxakini. (Funda iNtshumayeli 5:​4, 5.) Emva kokuba ubhaptiziwe uza kuzama ngandlela zonke ukulinganisa uYesu, uze uthobele imiyalelo yakhe. (Mat. 28:​19, 20; 1 Pet. 2:21) Eli nqaku liza kukunceda ukwazi ukuyenza loo nto.

 “QHUBEKA ULANDELA” UYESU NOKUBA UNEENGXAKI OKANYE UYALINGWA

4. Abalandeli bakaYesu basithwala njani isibonda sokungcungcutheka? (Luka 9:23)

⁴ Ukubhaptizwa akuthethi kuthi awuzukuba nazo iingxaki. Kaloku noYesu wayenza yacaca loo nto xa wathi abalandeli bakhe babeza ‘kuthwala isibonda sokungcungcutheka.’ Loo nto ke babeza ‘kuqhubeka’ beyenza. (Funda uLuka 9:23.) Ngaba wayethetha ukuthi abalandeli bakhe babeza kuhlala beneengxaki? Wayengathethi loo nto. Wayefuna ihlale isezingqondweni zabo into yokuba nangona babeza kusikelelwa, babeza kuba nazo iingxaki. Ezinye zazo zazisenokuba nzima kakhulu.​—2 Tim. 3:12.

5. UYesu wathi baza kufumana ntoni abantu abaye bancama izinto kuba befuna uBukumkani bube yeyona nto ibalulekileyo kubo?

⁵ Kusenokwenzeka ukuba uye awafunwa kowenu ngenxa yokuba ukhonza uYehova, okanye uncame ukuba nemali eninzi nezinye izinto ukuze uBukumkani bube yeyona nto ibalulekileyo kuwe. (Mat. 6:33) Ukuba kunjalo, qiniseka ukuba uYehova uyayibona imisebenzi oyenza kuba uthembekile kuye. (Heb. 6:10) Mhlawumbi yenzekile kuwe into eyathethwa nguYesu esithi: “Akukho mntu ushiye ikhaya lakhe, abantakwabo, oodadewabo, umama wakhe, utata wakhe, abantwana bakhe okanye amasimi akhe ngenxa yam nangenxa yeendaba ezilungileyo ongazukufumana ngokuphindwe kayi-100 izindlu, abantakwabo, oodadewabo, oomama, abantwana, amasimi kunye neentshutshiso ngoku, nobomi obungunaphakade kwihlabathi elizayo.” (Marko 10:​29, 30) Izinto akwenzele zona uYehova zinkulu ngaphezu kwayo nantoni na ekuye kwafuneka uyincame.​—INdu. 37:4.

6. Kutheni kuseza kufuneka ulwe ‘neminqweno yomzimba onesono’ emva kokuba ubhaptiziwe?

⁶ Emva kokuba ubhaptiziwe kuseza kufuneka ulwe ‘neminqweno yomzimba onesono.’ (1 Yoh. 2:16) Kaloku useza kube usenaso isono. Ngamanye amaxesha usenokuziva ngendlela umpostile uPawulos awayeziva ngayo. Wathi: “Ndiyavuyiswa ngumthetho kaThixo ngenxa yomntu endinguye ngaphakathi, kodwa ndibona omnye umthetho emzimbeni wam usilwa nomthetho wengqondo yam. Loo mthetho sisono esisemzimbeni wam yaye siyandilawula.” (Roma 7:​22, 23) Usenokutyhafiswa yiminqweno engafanelekanga ekufuneka ulwe nayo. Kodwa xa ucinga ngento owawumthembise yona uYehova xa wawuzinikela kuye, uza kuba namandla okungagungqi xa ulingelwa ukwenza into erongo. Inyaniso kukuba isifungo owasenzayo xa wawuzinikela, siza kukunceda xa ulingwa. Iza kwenzeka njani loo nto?

7. Ukuzinikela kuYehova kuza kukunceda njani uhlale uthembekile kuye?

⁷ Xa uzinikela kuYehova uyazincama. Le nto ithetha ukuba awuzenzi izinto ozinqwenelayo ezingazukumvuyisa uYehova. (Mat. 16:24) Ngoko xa ulingwa akuzukufuneka ukhe ucinge ukuba mawenze ntoni, kuba uza kube sowusenzile isigqibo sokuba uza kuhlala uthembekile kuYehova. Uza kuhlala uzimisele ukumvuyisa. Xa usenza loo nto uza kufana noYobhi. Kaloku nangona wayeneengxaki ezinzima kakhulu wathi: “Andizukuyeka ukuba msulwa!”​—Yobhi 27:5.

8. Ukucinga ngomthandazo owenzileyo xa ubuzinikela kuYehova kuza kukunceda njani umelane nezilingo?

⁸ Xa ucinga ngomthandazo owenzileyo xa ubuzinikela kuYehova, uza kukwazi ukumelana naso nasiphi na isilingo esivelayo. Ngokomzekelo, ngaba ungancwasa umntu otshate nomnye umntu? Ngokuqinisekileyo soze  uyenze loo nto. Uza kube sele umthembisile uYehova ukuba soze uyenze into enjalo. Xa ungayivumeli iminqweno engafanelekanga ukuba ikhule, akuzukufuneka ube ujijisana nayo. Uza ‘kuhambela kude endleleni yabantu abangalunganga.’​—IMize. 4:​14, 15.

9. Ukucinga ngomthandazo owenzileyo xa ubuzinikela kuYehova kuza kukunceda njani wenze ukumkhonza kuhlale kuyeyona nto ibalulekileyo kuwe?

⁹ Uza kuthini xa ufumana umsebenzi oza kukwenza ungakwazi ukuya qho kwiintlanganiso? Uza kuyazi into omawuyenze. Kaloku ngaphambi kokuba uwufumane loo msebenzi uza kube sowusenzile isigqibo sokuba soze uwuthathe umsebenzi oza kukwenza ungakwazi ukuya kwiintlanganiso. Ngoko awuzukufuna ukuwamkela, uze ucinge ukuba uza kuzama ezinye iindlela zokwenza uYehova abe ngoyena ubalulekileyo kuwe. Ukucinga ngendlela uYesu awayezimisele ngayo ukumvuyisa uTata wakhe kuza kukwenza ukhawuleze uyikhabe ngawo omane nantoni na oyaziyo ukuba ayizukumvuyisa uThixo ozinikele kuye.​—Mat. 4:10; Yoh. 8:29.

10. Emva kokuba ubhaptiziwe, uYehova uza kukunceda njani uqhubeke ulandela uYesu?

¹⁰ Iingxaki nezilingo zikunika ithuba lokubonisa ukuba uzimisele ‘ukuqhubeka ulandela’ uYesu. Xa uzimisele ukuqhubeka umlandela, qiniseka ukuba uYehova uza kukunceda. IBhayibhile ithi: “UThixo uthembekile, ibe akazukuniyekela nilingwe ngento eningenakumelana nayo, kodwa uza kuninika indlela yokuphuma kweso silingo ukuze nikwazi ukusinyamezela.”​—1 Kor. 10:13.

INTO ONOKUYENZA UKUZE UQHUBEKE ULANDELA UYESU

11. Yeyiphi enye yezona zinto zinokukunceda uqhubeke umlandela uYesu? (Jonga nomfanekiso.)

¹¹ UYesu wayemkhonza ngentliziyo yakhe  yonke uYehova futhi wayehlala ethetha naye ngomthandazo. (Luka 6:12) Enye yezona zinto zinokukunceda uqhubeke umlandela uYesu nasemva kokuba ubhaptiziwe kukuhlala usenza izinto eziza kukusondeza kuYehova. IBhayibhile ithi: “Ngokwenqanaba esele sihambele phambili ngalo, masiqhubeke sihamba ngaloo ndlela.” (Fil. 3:16) Uza kumana usiva ngabazalwana noodade abaye bakhetha ukusebenzela uYehova nangezinye iindlela. Mhlawumbi abanye baye kwiSikolo Sabavangeli BoBukumkani okanye baye kukhonza kwindawo enabavakalisi abambalwa. Ukuba iimeko zakho ziyakuvumela, nawe unokuyenza loo nto. Abantu bakaYehova bafuna ukumkhonza nangezinye iindlela. (IZe. 16:9) Kodwa uza kuthini ukuba ezakho iimeko azikakuvumeli? Ungacingi ukuba loo nto ikwenza ungabaluleki kunabo zibavumelayo iimeko. Kaloku into ebalulekileyo kukuba umKristu anyamezele. (Mat. 10:22) Ungaze uyidele indlela ekubaluleke ngayo ukukhonza uYehova ngamandla onawo nangendlela evumelana neemeko zakho. Le yinto ebalulekileyo enokukwenza uqhubeke umlandela uYesu emva kokuba ubhaptiziwe.​—INdu. 26:1.

12-13. Ukuba awusakhuthalanga njengakuqala, yintoni onokuyenza? (1 Korinte 9:​16, 17) (Jonga nebhokisi ethi “ Hlala Uselugqatsweni.”)

¹² Uza kuthini xa ubona ngathi imithandazo yakho ayisasuki ntliziyweni okanye akusakuvuyisi njengakuqala ukushumayela? Mhlawumbi ukufunda iBhayibhile akusemnandanga njengakuqala. Ukuba uye waziva ngale ndlela emva kokuba ubhaptiziwe, sukucinga ukuba umoya kaYehova awusasebenzi kuwe. Kaloku unesono, ngoko indlela oziva ngayo inokutshintshatshintsha. Ukuba uzibona ngathi awusakhuthalanga njengakuqala, cinga ngompostile uPawulos. Ngoxa wayezama ukulinganisa uYesu, wayesazi  ukuba ngamanye amaxesha wayengazukuba nawo ncam umdla wokwenza izinto ekufuneka azenze. (Funda ama-1 Korinte 9:​16, 17.) Wathi: “Nokuba [ndizenza] ndingafuni, uThixo undinike umsebenzi endifanele ndiwenze.” Ngamanye amazwi, uPawulos wayezimisele ukuwenza umsebenzi awayewuthunyiwe nokuba wayeziva njani.

¹³ Ngendlela efanayo, izigqibo ozenzayo mazingaxhomekeki kwindlela oziva ngayo. Zimisele ukwenza le nto ilungileyo nokuba awufuni ncam ukuyenza. Xa usenza loo nto, ekuhambeni kwexesha isenokutshintsha indlela oziva ngayo. Okwangoku, izinto eziza kukunceda uqhubeke umlandela uYesu emva kokuba ubhaptiziwe kukungayeki ukufundisisa, ukuthandaza, ukuya kwiintlanganiso nokushumayela. Loo nto inokubakhuthaza nabanye abazalwana noodade.​—1 Tes. 5:11.

‘HLALANI NIZIHLOLA’

14. Yintoni esimele sihlale siyijonga? Kutheni kufuneka senze loo nto? (2 Korinte 13:5)

¹⁴ Emva kokuba ubhaptiziwe, iza kukunceda nento yokuba uhlale uzijonga ukuba uqhuba njani. (Funda ama-2 Korinte 13:5.) Ngamanye amaxesha khawuzijonge ukuba uyazenza na ezi zinto: Ukuthandaza yonke imihla, ukufunda iBhayibhile, ukuya kwiintlanganiso nokushumayela. Zama ukukhangela indlela onokuzenza zibe mnandi ngayo ezi zinto, zitsho zikuncede. Ngokomzekelo, nantsi imibuzo onokuzibuza yona: ‘Ndingakwazi ukumcacisela omnye umntu iimfundiso ezilula zeBhayibhile? Zikhona izinto endinokuzenza ukuze kube mnandi nakakhulu ukushumayela? Ndingqala kangakanani xa ndithandaza? Ngaba imithandazo yam ibonisa ukuba ndithembele ngoYehova ngentliziyo yam yonke? Ngaba ndiya qho kwiintlanganiso? Yintoni endinokuyenza ukuze ndikwazi ukumamela kakuhle kwiintlanganiso nokuze zingaphumi ndingaphendulanga?’

15-16. Into eyenzeka kuRobert ikufundisa ntoni ngokungavumi xa ulingwa?

¹⁵ Kuza kukunceda ke nokujonga ukuba ziintoni ongaqhubi kakuhle kuzo. Omnye umzalwana onguRobert ubalisa into eyakhe yenzeka kuye nesinceda siyibone indlela ebaluleke ngayo le nto. Uthi: “Xa ndandineminyaka epha koo-20, ndafumana umsebenzi. Ngenye imini, xa sasitshayisa emsebenzini, intombi endandisebenza nayo yandimemela kwikhaya layo. Yathi iza kube isithi sobabini qha, futhi ‘kuza kuba mnandi.’ Ndaqala ndathetha into engavakaliyo, kodwa ekugqibeleni ndala, ndiyichazela nesizathu.” Siyayincoma into yokuba uRobert engazange avume. Kodwa  ekuhambeni kwexesha wacinga ngale nto yenzekileyo, wabona ukuba ikhona into angayenzanga kakuhle. Uthi: “Zange ndifane noYosefu ongazange alibazise ukuthi hayi kumfazi kaPotifare. (Gen. 39:​7-9) Yandothusa ke nendlela ekwakunzima ngayo kum ukwala. Le nto yandinceda ndabona ukuba ndimele ndisebenzele ukumthanda kakhulu uYehova.”

¹⁶ Kungakunceda ukukhe uzijonge, njengokuba wenzayo uRobert. Nokuba khange uvume xa ubulingelwa ukwenza into erongo, khawuzibuze, ‘Kundithathe ixesha elingakanani ukwala?’ Xa ubona ukuba kusekho into ekufuneka uyilungise, mayingakutyhafisi loo nto. Mayikuvuyise into yokuba ngoku uzazi ukuba umele ulungise phi. Yithandazele le nto, uze wenze izinto eziza kukwenza uzimisele nyhani ukuthobela uYehova.​—INdu. 139:​23, 24.

17. Kwenzeka ntoni kwigama likaYehova ngenxa yento awayenzayo uRobert?

¹⁷ Ikhona nenye into esiyifundayo kwibali likaRobert. Uthi: “Emva kokuba ndingazange ndivume xa ndandimenywa yilaa ntombi ndandisebenza nayo, yathi, ‘Upasile!’ Ndayibuza ukuba ithetha ukuthini. Yathi yayixelelwe ngomnye umhlobo wayo owayekade eliNgqina ukuba onke amaNgqina angabantu abasebatsha ayazenza izinto ezirongo xa kungekho mntu uwabonayo, ngoko yathi kumhlobo wayo ifuna ukubona ukuba ndinjalo na mna. Yandivuyisa nyhani into yokuba ndiye ndalizukisa igama likaYehova.”

18. Uzimisele ukwenza ntoni emva kokuba ubhaptiziwe? (Jonga nebhokisi ethi “ Amanqaku Oza Kuwathanda.”)

¹⁸ Xa uzinikela kuYehova uze ubhaptizwe, ubonisa ukuba ufuna ukulingcwalisa igama lakhe nokuba sekumnyam’ entla. Unokuqiniseka nokuba uYehova uzazi zonke iingxaki nezilingo ekuye kufuneke umelane nazo. Uza kukusikelela xa uzama ukuhlala uthembekile kuye. Qiniseka ukuba uza kukunika amandla okuyenza loo nto esebenzisa umoya wakhe oyingcwele. (Luka 11:​11-13) UYehova uza kukunceda uqhubeke umlandela uYesu emva kokuba ubhaptiziwe.