1-2. Yintoni amele ayenze umntu ngaphambi kokuba abhaptizwe?

 KULE minyaka iyi-5 idlulileyo, abantu abangaphezu kwemiliyoni baye babhaptizwa baza bangamaNgqina KaYehova. Abaninzi kubo bayafana noTimoti owayephila ngexesha labapostile, bayifundiswe ‘beseziintsana’ inyaniso. (2 Tim. 3:​14, 15) Abanye bafunde ngoYehova sebebadala, kanti abanye sebaluphele nokwaluphala. Elinye ibhinqa ebelifunda iBhayibhile namaNgqina KaYehova liye labhaptizwa lineminyaka eyi-97.

² Ukuba uqhutyelwa isifundo seBhayibhile okanye ukhuliswa ngabazali abangamaNgqina, ngaba uyacinga ngokubhaptizwa? Intle kakhulu loo nto! Kodwa ngaphambi kokuba ubhaptizwe umele uzinikele kuYehova. Eli nqaku liza kuchaza ukuba kuthetha ukuthini ukuzinikela. Liza kukunceda ubone nokuba kutheni ungamele woyike ukuzinikela uze ubhaptizwe, xa sowukulungele ukuyenza loo nto.

KUTHETHA UKUTHINI UKUZINIKELA?

3. Ngoobani ababezinikele kuYehova ekuthethwa ngabo eBhayibhileni?

³ EBhayibhileni, umntu ozinikele kuYehova wayebekelwa bucala ukuze amkhonze ngendlela ekhethekileyo. AmaSirayeli ayeluhlanga oluzinikele kuYehova. Kodwa amanye ayezinikele kuYehova ngendlela ekhethekileyo. Ngokomzekelo, uAron wayethwala iqhiya eyayinepleyiti yegolide emenyezelayo ngaphambili. Loo pleyiti ‘yayiluphawu olungcwele lokuzinikela.’ Yayibonisa ukuba ukhethelwe ukukhonza  uYehova ngendlela ekhethekileyo, ukuba ngumbingeleli omkhulu wamaSirayeli. (Lev. 8:9) NamaNaziri ayezinikele kuYehova ngendlela ekhethekileyo. Igama elithi “umNaziri,” nelithathwe kwelesiHebhere elithi nazirʹ, lithetha ukuthi “Umntu Obekelwe Bucala” okanye “Umntu Ozinikeleyo.” AmaNaziri ayemele athobele imiyalelo eyayibhalelwe wona kuphela, neyayikuMthetho owabhalwa nguMoses.​—Num. 6:​2-8.

4. (a) Kwenzeka ntoni emntwini xa ezinikela kuYehova? (b) Kuthetha ukuthini ‘ukuzincama’? (Jonga nomfanekiso.)

⁴ Xa uzinikela kuYehova ukhetha ukuba ngumlandeli kaYesu Kristu. Nokwenza izinto ezithandwa nguThixo kuba yeyona nto ibalulekileyo kuwe. Loo nto iza kufuna wenze ntoni? UYesu wathi: “Nabani na ofuna ukundilandela, makazincame.” (Mat. 16:24) Amagama esiGrike aguqulelwe ngokuthi “makazincame,” anokuguqulelwa nangokuthi “makazinqande.” Xa uzinikele kuYehova, kuza kufuneka uzinqande ekwenzeni nantoni na angayithandiyo. (2 Kor. 5:​14, 15) Loo nto ithetha ukuzinqanda nasekwenzeni “izinto ezenziwa ngumzimba onesono,” ezifana nokuziphatha kakubi ngesondo. (Gal. 5:​19-21; 1 Kor. 6:18) Ngaba ukuthobela le miyalelo kuza kukutsalisa nzima? Soze yenzeke loo nto xa umthanda uYehova, uqinisekile nokuba imithetho yakhe yenzelwe ukukunceda. (INdu. 119:97; Isa. 48:​17, 18) Omnye umzalwana ekuthiwa nguNicholas uthi: “Imithetho kaYehova unokuyijonga njengeentsimbi zasetrongweni, ezikwenza ungakwazi ukwenza izinto ozifunayo, okanye njengeentsimbi ezivalele ingonyama ukuze ingakwenzakalisi.”

5. (a) Uzinikela njani kuYehova? (b) Ukuzinikela kwahluke njani ekubhaptizweni? (Jonga nomfanekiso.)

 ⁵ Uzinikela njani kuYehova? Ngokuthandaza, umthembise ukuba uza kukhonza yena yedwa, nokwenza izinto azithandayo kuza kuba yeyona nto ibalulekileyo ebomini bakho. Ngoko, umthembisa ukuba uza kuqhubeka umthanda “ngentliziyo yakho yonke, ngomphefumlo wakho wonke, ngengqondo yakho yonke nangamandla akho onke.” (Marko 12:30) Xa uzinikela kuYehova, uthetha naye ngomthandazo uwedwa. Kodwa ukubhaptizwa yinto oyenza phambi kwabantu ukuze ubonise ukuba uzinikele kuye. Isifungo osenza xa uzinikela singcwele. NoYehova ulindele ukuba uphile ngokuvumelana naso, njengokuba nawe uzimisele ukwenza loo nto.​—INtshu. 5:​4, 5.

KUTHENI UMELE UZINIKELE KUYEHOVA?

6. Yintoni eyenza umntu azinikele kuYehova?

⁶ Eyona nto ikwenza uzinikele kuYehova kukuba uyamthanda. Le ayiyondlela nje oziva ngayo. Izinto ozifundileyo ngaye zikuncede ‘wamazi ngendlela echanileyo nomoya wakhe wakunceda waziqonda,’ watsho waya umthanda. (Kol. 1:9) Izinto ozifunde eBhayibhileni zikwenze waqiniseka ukuba uYehova ukhona, iBhayibhile liLizwi Lakhe aliphefumleleyo, nokuba usebenzisa intlangano yakhe ukuze enze izinto azifunayo.

7. Yintoni esimele siyenze ngaphambi kokuba sizinikele kuThixo?

⁷ Abantu abazinikela kuYehova bafanele bazazi iimfundiso ezilula ezikwiLizwi LikaThixo, bayithobele nemithetho yakhe. Benza  konke abanokukwazi ukukwenza ukuze baxelele abantu ngezinto abazikholelwayo. (Mat. 28:​19, 20) Bamthanda kakhulu uYehova kunakuqala, bafuna nokukhonza yena yedwa. Ngaba kunjalo nakuwe? Xa umthanda ngale ndlela uYehova, awuzukufuna ukuzinikela kuye uze ubhaptizwe kuba ufuna ukuvuyisa umntu okufundisa iBhayibhile, abazali bakho, okanye kuba ulinganisa abahlobo bakho.

8. Ukuba nombulelo kukunceda njani uzinikele kuYehova? (INdumiso 116:​12-14)

⁸ Xa ucinga ngazo zonke izinto uYehova akwenzele zona, iyazenzekela into yokufuna ukuzinikela kuye. (Funda INdumiso 116:​12-14.) Kaloku iBhayibhile ithi: “Nasiphi na isipho esihle nesigqibeleleyo” sivela kuye. (Yak. 1:17) Esizodlula zonke lidini loNyana wakhe, uYesu. Khawuyicinge le nto! Ngenxa yokuzinikela kukaYesu, uyakwazi ngoku ukuba ngumhlobo kaYehova. Ukunike nethemba lokuphila ngonaphakade. (1 Yoh. 4:​9, 10, 19) Ukuzinikela kuye yenye yezona ndlela onokumbonisa ngazo ukuba uyambulela ngokuncama uNyana wakhe, nangazo zonke ezinye izinto ezintle akwenzele zona. (Dut. 16:17; 2 Kor. 5:15) Loo nto ivezwe kakuhle kwisifundo 46, sencwadi ethi Phila Obomi Obumnandi Ngonaphakade!, isiqendu 4 esinevidiyo yemizuzu eyi-3 ethi Ukunika Izipho UThixo.

UKULUNGELE UKUZINIKELA KUYEHOVA NOKUBHAPTIZWA?

9. Kutheni umntu emele angaziva enyanzelekile ukuba azinikele kuYehova?

⁹ Usenokuba uzibona ungekakulungeli ukuzinikela kuThixo uze ubhaptizwe. Mhlawumbi kusekho izinto ekusafuneka uzitshintshe ukuze uphile ngendlela efunwa nguYehova, okanye usadinga ixesha ukuze uqinise ukholo lwakho. (Kol. 2:​6, 7) Abantu abafundelwa iBhayibhile abafani. Abanye basenokukhawuleza bamthande uYehova, kanti abanye basenokuthatha ixesha. Ayifani neminyaka abaye bakulungele ngayo abantu abasebatsha ukuzinikela kuThixo baze babhaptizwe. Zama ukujonga ukuba ziintoni omele uzilungise, uze wenze loo nto ukwaziyo ukuyenza, ungazithelekisi nomnye umntu.​—Gal. 6:​4, 5.

10. Xa ubona ukuba awukakulungeli ukuzinikela nokubhaptizwa, yintoni onokuyenza? (Jonga nebhokisi ethi “ Abantwana Abakhuliswa NgamaNgqina.”)

¹⁰ Nokuba ubona ungekakulungeli ukuzinikela kuYehova, ukuzinikela kuye makuhlale kuyinto ozimisele ukuyenza. Cela uYehova akuncede ukwazi ukutshintsha nantoni na omele uyitshintshe ebomini bakho. (Fil. 2:13; 3:16) Qiniseka ukuba uza kukuva aze akuncede.​—1 Yoh. 5:14.

KUTHENI ABANYE ABANTU BESOYIKA?

11. Uza kusinceda njani uYehova sihlale sithembekile kuye?

¹¹ Abanye baye boyike nangona bekulungele ukuzinikela nokubhaptizwa. Basenokuzibuza, ‘Ndiza kuthini ukuba ndenza isono esinzulu ndize ndikhutshelwe ngaphandle?’ Ukuba nawe woyika loo nto, qiniseka ukuba uYehova uza kukunika yonke into oyidingayo ukuze ‘wenze izinto ngendlela afuna ngayo uze umvuyise ngokupheleleyo.’ (Kol. 1:10) Uza kukunika namandla okwenza izinto ezilungileyo. Baninzi abantu asele ebancede ngaloo ndlela. (1 Kor. 10:13) Yiloo nto bembalwa abantu abakhutshelwa ngaphandle. UYehova uyabanceda abantu bakhe ukuze bahlale bethembekile kuye.

12. Yintoni enokusinceda singenzi isono esinzulu?

 ¹² Bonke abantu abanesono bakhe banqwenele ukwenza izinto ezingafanelekanga. (Yak. 1:14) Kodwa nguwe ekufuneka ukhethe ukuba uza kuyenza na loo nto ingafanelekanga uyinqwenelayo. Inyaniso kukuba nguwe ozikhethelayo ukuba uza kubuphila njani ubomi bakho. Nangona abanye abantu bengayikholelwa le nto, ungakwazi ukuzibamba, ungazenzi izinto ezingafanelekanga ozinqwenelayo. Zikhona nezinye izinto eziza kukunceda ungamoni uYehova. Ngokomzekelo, thandaza yonke imihla. Lifundisise yonke imihla iLizwi LikaThixo. Yiya kwiintlanganiso, uze uthethe nabanye abantu ngezinto ozikholelwayo. Ukuzenza qho ezi zinto kuza kukunika amandla okuhlala uthembekile kuYehova. Mayingaphumi engqondweni yakho nento yokuba uYehova uza kukunceda uyenze loo nto.​—Gal. 5:16.

13. Yintoni awayenzayo uYosefu?

¹³ Kuza kuba lula ukuhlala uthembekile ukuba uyazi kwangoku into oza kuyenza xa ulingelwa ukuba wenze into engafanelekanga. IBhayibhile isixelela ngabantu ekubonakala ukuba bayenza loo nto nangona babenesono. Ngokomzekelo, umfazi kaPotifare wazama kaninzi ukwenza uYosefu alale naye. Kodwa uYosefu wayeyazi into amele ayenze. IBhayibhile ithi “wala,” waza wathi: “Ndingathini ukwenza into embi kangaka ndize ndone uThixo?” (Gen. 39:​8-10) Kucacile ukuba uYosefu wayazi ngaphambi kokuba alingwe into amele ayenze. Loo nto yenza kwalula ukwenza into elungileyo xa wayelingwa.

14. Yintoni enokusinceda singavumi ukwenza izinto ezingafanelekanga?

¹⁴ Unokumlinganisa njani uYosefu? Unokucinga kwangoku ngento oza kuyenza xa ulingelwa ukuba wenze into engafanelekanga. Ziqhelise ukukhawuleza ungavumi ukwenza izinto uYehova angazifuniyo, ungacingi nokucinga ngazo. (INdu. 97:10; 119:165) Loo nto iza kukunceda unganikezeli xa ulingwa. Uza kube sowuyazi into omele uyenze.

15. Yintoni anokuyenza umntu ukuze abonise ukuba ‘umfuna ngokuzimisela’ uYehova? (Hebhere 11:6)

¹⁵ Mhlawumbi wena uyabona ukuba uyifumene  inyaniso futhi ufuna ukumkhonza ngentliziyo yakho yonke uYehova, kodwa kukho le nto ikwenza ungade uzinikele uze ubhaptizwe. Unokwenza into eyenziwa nguKumkani uDavide, owacenga uYehova esithi: “Ndigocagoce Thixo, uyazi intliziyo yam. Ndihlolisise, uzazi izinto endizicingayo ezindenza ixhala. Khawujonge ukuba akukho nto inokundenzakalisa na apha kum, uze undikhokelele endleleni kanaphakade.” (INdu. 139:​23, 24) UYehova uyabasikelela abantu ‘abamfuna ngokuzimisela.’ Xa usebenzela ukuba ude uzinikele kuye uze ubhaptizwe, ubonisa ukuba nawe wenza kanye loo nto.​—Funda amaHebhere 11:6.

QHUBEKA USONDELA KUYEHOVA

16-17. UYehova ubatsala njani abantwana abanabazali abangamaNgqina? (Yohane 6:44)

¹⁶ UYesu wathi nguYehova otsale abafundi bakhe. (Funda uYohane 6:44.) Awuvuyi xa ucinga ngaloo nto, nangokuba ithetha ukuthini kuwe? UYehova ubona into entle kumntu ngamnye amtsalela kuye. Loo mntu ‘ukhethekile’ kuye okanye ‘ulilifa lakhe elikhethekileyo.’ (Dut. 7:6; umbhalo osemazantsi.) Loo mntu ke nguwe.

¹⁷ Kusenokwenzeka ukuba abazali bakho ngamaNgqina KaYehova. Loo nto isenokukwenza ucinge ukuba wena awutsalwanga nguYehova, inyaniso uyazi kuba abazali bakho bengamaNgqina. Kodwa yona iBhayibhile ithi: “Sondelani kuThixo, naye uza kusondela kuni.” (Yak. 4:8; 1 Kron. 28:9) Xa wena usondela kuYehova, naye uye asondele kuwe. Akakujongi njengomntu ohamba neqela. Utsala umntu ngamnye, nkqu nalowo ukhulele enyanisweni. Xa loo mntu esondela kuYehova, noYehova uye asondele kuye, njengokuba kusitshiwo kuYakobi 4:8.​—Thelekisa ama-2 Tesalonika 2:13.

18. Yintoni ekuza kuthethwa ngayo kwinqaku elilandelayo? (INdumiso 40:8)

¹⁸ Xa uzinikela kuYehova uze ubhaptizwe, ulinganisa uYesu. Wazinikela kuTata wakhe ukuze enze nantoni na athi makayenze. (Funda iNdumiso 40:8; Heb. 10:7) Inqaku elilandelayo, liza kuthetha ngezinto eziza kukunceda uhlale uthembekile kuYehova emva kokuba ubhaptiziwe.