1. Yintoni uYehova afuna ibaluleke nakubakhonzi bakhe?

 UTHANDO olungagungqiyo lubaluleke kakhulu kuYehova. (Hos. 6:6) Nakubakhonzi bakhe ufuna lubaluleke kakhulu. Wathuma umprofeti uMika ukuba asixelele ukuba ‘sithande uthando olungagungqiyo.’ (Mika 6:8, umbhalo osemazantsi) Kodwa ukuze siyenze loo nto kufuneka sazi ukuba yintoni uthando olungagungqiyo.

2. Luyintoni uthando olungagungqiyo?

² Yintoni uthando olungagungqiyo? KwiNguqulelo Yehlabathi Elitsha YeZibhalo Ezingcwele kuthethwa ‘ngothando olungagungqiyo’ kayi-230. Kodwa luyintoni? “Ingcaciso yamagama eBhayibhile” ekule nguqulelo ithi “luthando oluqhutywa kukuzinikela, kukungasoleki, kukungagungqi, nakukungafuni ukwahlukana.” Olu thando lusetyenziswa xa kuchazwa indlela uYehova abathanda ngayo abantu bakhe, naxa kuthethwa ngendlela abafanele bathandane ngayo abantu. Ukuze sikwazi ukuba nothando olungagungqiyo simele sifunde kuYehova. Kweli nqaku, siza kuthetha ngendlela uYehova alubonisa ngayo uthando olungagungqiyo ebantwini. Kwelilandelayo, siza kubona ukuba abakhonzi bakaYehova banokumlinganisa njani ekuboniseni uthando olungagungqiyo kwabanye.

3. Wathini uYehova xa wayezichaza kuMoses?

³ Emva kokuba amaSirayeli ephumile eYiputa, uYehova wachazela uMoses igama lakhe neempawu anazo. Wathi: “UYehova, uYehova, uThixo onenceba novelwano, ongakhawuleziyo ukucaphuka, ophuphuma luthando olungagungqiyo nenyaniso, ozithanda ngokungagungqiyo izizukulwana  ezingamawaka, oxolela isiphoso nokunxaxha nesono.” (Eks. 34:6, 7) Ngala mazwi amnandi, uYehova wayexelela uMoses into ebalulekileyo ngothando lwakhe olungagungqiyo. Yintoni leyo?

4-5. (a) Wazichaza njani uYehova? (b) Yeyiphi imibuzo esiza kuyiphendula?

⁴ UYehova zange anele nje kukuthi unothando olungagungqiyo, kodwa wathi ‘uphuphuma luthando olungagungqiyo.’ La mazwi aphinda avele kayi-6 eBhayibhileni. (Num. 14:18; Neh. 9:17; INdu. 86:15; 103:8; Yow. 2:13; Yona 4:2) Qho evela, athetha ngoYehova, hayi abantu. Amaxesha amaninzi, uYehova xa ezichaza usebenzisa la mazwi. Ngoko kuyacaca ukuba uthando olungagungqiyo lubalulekile kuye. b Ngenxa yaloo nto, uKumkani uDavide wathi: “Owu Yehova, uthando lwakho olungagungqiyo lufikelela emazulwini . . . Luxabiseke ngeyona ndlela uthando lwakho olungagungqiyo Thixo! Oonyana babantu babalekela ethunzini lamaphiko akho.” (INdu. 36:5, 7) Ngaba nakuthi uthando lukaThixo olungagungqiyo lubaluleke njengakuDavide?

⁵ Ukuze siqonde kakuhle ukuba luthetha ukuthini uthando olungagungqiyo, masiphendule imibuzo emibini: Ulubonisa kubani uYehova uthando olungagungqiyo? Lungasinceda njani uthando lukaYehova olungagungqiyo?

6. UYehova ulubonisa kubani uthando olungagungqiyo?

⁶ Ulubonisa kubani uYehova uthando olungagungqiyo? IBhayibhile ithi zininzi izinto esinokuzithanda, ‘njengokulima,’ “iwayini neoli,” “ingqeqesho,” “ulwazi” ‘nobulumko.’ (2 Kron. 26:10; IMize. 12:1; 21:17; 29:3) Asikwazi ukubonisa uthando olungagungqiyo kwezi zinto. Sinokulubonisa ebantwini qha. Kodwa uYehova akalubonisi nakubani na uthando olungagungqiyo. Ulubonisa kwabo bangabahlobo bakhe. UThixo uthembekile kubahlobo bakhe. Ubagcinele iintsikelelo futhi soze ayeke ukubathanda.

7. UYehova ubonise njani ukuba uyabathanda bonke abantu?

⁷ UYehova ubonise ukuba uyabathanda bonke abantu. UYesu wathi kuNikodemo: “UThixo walithanda kakhulu ihlabathi [abantu] kangangokuba wanikela ngoNyana wakhe ekuphela kwamzeleyo, ukuze wonke umntu ozikholelwayo  izinto azifundisayo aze azenze, angatshabalali, kodwa afumane ubomi obungunaphakade.”​—Yoh. 3:1, 16; Mat. 5:44, 45.

8-9. (a) Kutheni uYehova ebonisa uthando olungagungqiyo kubakhonzi bakhe? (b) Yintoni esiza kuthetha ngayo?

⁸ Besekutshiwo ukuba uYehova ulubonisa kubakhonzi bakhe uthando olungagungqiyo. Le nto siyibona kumazwi awathethwa nguKumkani uDavide nomprofeti uDaniyeli. Ngokomzekelo, uDavide wathi: “Qhubeka ubathanda ngokungagungqiyo abo bakwaziyo.” “Uthando olungagungqiyo lukaYehova luhlala ngonaphakade kwabo bamoyikayo.” Yena uDaniyeli wathi: ‘Owu yhini Yehova Thixo wokwenene, ubathanda ngokungagungqiyo abo bakuthandayo nabathobela imithetho yakho.’ (INdu. 36:10; 103:17; Dan. 9:4) La mazwi aphefumlelweyo athetha ukuthi uYehova ubonisa uthando olungagungqiyo kubakhonzi bakhe kuba bemazi, bemoyika, bemthanda futhi bethobela imithetho yakhe. Uthanda abantu abamkhonza ngendlela ayifunayo.

⁹ Ngaphambi kokuba sikhonze uYehova, wayesithanda njengabo bonke abantu abasemhlabeni. (INdu. 104:14) Kodwa ngoku singabakhonzi bakhe, usithanda nangokungagungqiyo. Phofu uthi: “Soze ndiyeke ukunithanda ngokungagungqiyo.” (Isa. 54:10) UDavide wayenyanisile xa wayesithi, “UYehova uza kumphatha ngendlela ekhethekileyo lowo unamathelayo kuye.” (INdu. 4:3) Le nto ifanele isenze sizimisele ukwenza ntoni? Umdumisi wathi: “Nabani na osisilumko uza kuziqaphela ezi zinto aze acingisise ngezinto ezenziwe nguYehova kuba enothando olungagungqiyo.” (INdu. 107:43) Eli cebiso lihle livela kuYehova. Ngoku siza kuthetha ngeendlela ezintathu uYehova alubonisa ngazo uthando olungagungqiyo nendlela olusinceda ngayo.

10. Uthando olungagungqiyo lukaYehova oluhlala lukho lusinceda njani? (INdumiso 31:7)

¹⁰ Uthando lukaThixo olungagungqiyo lukho ngonaphakade. La mazwi avela kayi-26 kwiNdumiso 136. Ivesi yokuqala ithi:  “Bulelani kuYehova, kuba ulungile, uthando lwakhe olungagungqiyo lukho ngonaphakade.” (INdu. 136:1) Kwivesi 2 ukuya ku-26, kukho amazwi athi “uthando lwakhe olungagungqiyo lukho ngonaphakade.” Xa sifunda iivesi zokugqibela zale ndumiso, sivele simangaliswe ziindlela ezininzi uYehova abonisa ngazo uthando olungagungqiyo. Ukuphinda-phindwa kwamazwi athi “uthando lwakhe olungagungqiyo lukho ngonaphakade” kusenza siqiniseke ukuba indlela abathanda ngayo abakhonzi bakhe ayitshintshi. Kuchukumisa nyhani ukwazi ukuba uYehova akakhawulezi ayeke ukubathanda abakhonzi bakhe! Akasoze abashiye, ingakumbi xa besentlungwini. Indlela esincedakala ngayo: Ukwazi ukuba uYehova uba kunye nathi kusenza sivuye sibe namandla okunyamezela iingxaki size singayeki ukumkhonza.—Funda iNdumiso 31:7.

11. INdumiso 86:5 ithi yintoni eyenza uYehova axolele?

¹¹ Uthando olungagungqiyo lukaThixo lumenza axolele. Xa uYehova ebona umoni oguqukileyo, ongasafuni nokuzibona izono ebezenza, uthando lwakhe olungagungqiyo lumenza amxolele. Umdumisi uDavide wathi ngoYehova: “Akenzanga kuthi ngokwezono zethu, engasohlwayanga nangokweziphoso zethu.” (INdu. 103:8-11) UDavide wayesazi ukuba kunjani ukusindwa sisono nokutyiwa sisazela. Kodwa wafunda nokuba uYehova “usoloko efuna ukuxolela.” Yintoni eyenza uYehova axolele? Impendulo ikwiNdumiso 86:5. (Yifunde.) UDavide wathi xa wayethandaza, uYehova uxolela kuba uthando lwakhe olungagungqiyo luyaphuphuma kwabo bacela uxolo kuye.

12-13. Yintoni eza kusinceda xa sityhafiswa zizono esazenzayo?

¹² Xa siye senza isono, senza kakuhle xa sizisola. Ukuzisola kunokusinceda sicele uThixo asixolele size sitshintshe. Kodwa abanye abakhonzi bakaYehova bazibeka ityala ngenxa yeempazamo ababezenzile. Bacinga ukuba uYehova soze abaxolele nokuba bangacela uxolo, baguquke. Ukuba nawe ucinga loo nto, khumbula ukuba uYehova ufuna ukubonisa ukuba ukuthanda ngokungagungqiyo.

 ¹³ Indlela esincedakala ngayo: Nokuba siye samona kangakanani uThixo, sinako ukumkhonza sikhululekile. Kaloku ‘igazi loNyana wakhe uYesu lihlamba zonke izono zethu.’ (1 Yoh. 1:7) Xa utyhafiswa kukucinga ngesono owawusenzile, khumbula ukuba uYehova ukufuna nyhani ukukuxolela ukuba uguqukile. Jonga indlela uDavide awakufanisa ngayo ukuxolelwa nothando olungagungqiyo. Wathi: “Kuba uthando lwakhe olungagungqiyo luyaphuphuma kwabo bamoyikayo, lukhulu njengokuphakama kwamazulu kunomhlaba. Uzibhekelisele kude nathi izono zethu, njengokuba kude kwempumalanga entshonalanga.” (INdu. 103:11, 12) Nyhani, uYehova ufuna ‘ukusixolela kakhulu.’— Isa. 55:7.

14. UDavide wathi lusikhusela njani uthando olungagungqiyo lukaThixo?

¹⁴ Uthando lukaThixo olungagungqiyo lukhusela ukholo lwethu. UDavide wathandaza kuThixo wathi: “Wena uyindawo yam yokuzifihla, uza kundikhusela xa ndisebunzimeni. Ndiza kujikelezwa yintswahla yovuyo ngenxa yokuba undisindisa. . . . Lowo uthembele ngoYehova uphahlwe luthando lwakhe olungagungqiyo.” (INdu. 32:7, 10) Ngamaxesha okubhalwa kweBhayibhile iindonga ezijikeleze isixeko zazikhusela abantu baso kwiintshaba. Uthando olungagungqiyo lukaThixo, lufana neendonga ezisikhusela kwizinto ezinokusenza siyeke ukumthanda. Enye into, olu thando lumenza asitsalele kuye.​—Yer. 31:3.

15. Uthando olungagungqiyo lukaYehova lufana njani nendawo ekhuselekileyo?

¹⁵ UDavide waphinda wenza omnye umzekelo ukuze abonise indlela uYehova abakhusela ngayo abantu bakhe. Wathi: “UThixo uyindawo yam ekhuselekileyo yokubalekela, uThixo ondithanda ngokungagungqiyo.” Waphinda wathi ngoYehova: “Unothando olungagungqiyo ibe uyindawo yam ekhuselekileyo, uyindawo endibalekela kuyo nomsindisi wam, ulikhaka lam nomkhuseli wam.” (INdu. 59:17; 144:2) Kwakutheni ukuze uDavide afanise uthando lukaYehova olungagungqiyo nendawo ekhuselekileyo? Nokuba sikweyiphi indawo emhlabeni, ukuba singabakhonzi bakaYehova, uza kusikhusela size sihlale singabahlobo bakhe. INdumiso 91 nayo isenza siqiniseke ngale nto. Umbhali wale ndumiso wathi: “Ndiza kuthi kuYehova: ‘Uyindawo yam yokubalekela nekhusi lam.’” (INdu. 91:1-3, 9, 14) NoMoses wayichaza ngendlela efanayo indawo yokubalekela. (INdu. 90:1, umbhalo osemazantsi) Ngaphambi kokuba asweleke, waphinda wachaza indawo yokubalekela ngamazwi amnandi. Wathi: “UThixo uyindawo yokubalekela ekudala ikho, iingalo zakhe zikanaphakade ziyakuxhasa.” (Dut. 33:27) Amazwi athi “iingalo zakhe zikanaphakade ziyakuxhasa” asixelela ntoni ngoYehova?

16. Zeziphi iindlela ezimbini uYehova asinceda ngazo? (INdumiso 136:23)

¹⁶ Xa simthembile ukuba uza kusikhusela uYehova, siyakhululeka. Kodwa ngamanye amaxesha sisenokutyhafa, sikhathazeke kakhulu. Unokusinceda njani uYehova xa kunjalo? (Funda iNdumiso 136:23.) Uza kusiphakamisa ngeengalo zakhe, siyeke ukukhathazeka. (INdu. 28:9; 94:18) Indlela esincedakala ngayo: Siyazi ukuba sinokumthemba uYehova. Loo nto isinceda ngeendlela ezimbini. Eyokuqala, nokuba siphi, siyazi ukuba uYehova uza kusikhusela. Eyesibini, uTata wethu wasezulwini usikhathalele nyhani.

17. Uthando olungagungqiyo lukaYehova, lunokusenza siqiniseke ngantoni? (INdumiso 33:18-22)

¹⁷ Sesivile ukuba xa sisebunzimeni, uYehova uza kusinceda sihlale sithembekile kuye. (2 Kor. 4:7-9) Umprofeti uYeremiya wathi: “Kungenxa yothando lukaYehova olungagungqiyo le nto singafikelelanga esiphelweni, kuba iinceba zakhe azipheli.” (IZili. 3:22) Sinokuqiniseka ukuba uYehova uza kuhlala ebonisa uthando olungagungqiyo kuthi. Kaloku iBhayibhile ithi “ilihlo likaYehova lihlala libagadile abo bamoyikayo, abo bathembele kuthando lwakhe olungagungqiyo.”​—Funda iNdumiso 33:18-22.

18-19. (a) Yintoni esifanele sihlale siyikhumbula? (b) Siza kuthetha ngantoni kwinqaku elilandelayo?

¹⁸ Yintoni esifanele sihlale siyikhumbula? Ekuqaleni, uYehova wayesithanda njengabo bonke abanye abantu. Kodwa kuba singabakhonzi bakhe ngoku ubonisa nothando lwakhe olungagungqiyo kuthi. Kuba esithanda, usikhusela ngeengalo zakhe. Uza kusinceda sihlale singabahlobo bakhe aze asenzele izinto asithembise zona. Ufuna siphumelele! (INdu. 46:1, 2, 7) Ngoko nokuba yeyiphi ingxaki esinayo, uYehova uza kusinceda siyinyamezele ukuze sihlale sithembekile kuye.

¹⁹ Siyibonile indlela uYehova alubonisa ngayo uthando olungagungqiyo kubakhonzi bakhe. Nathi ke ufuna sibonise kwaolu thando kwabanye abantu. Singayenza njani loo nto? Inqaku elilandelayo, liza kuthetha ngaloo nto.