1, 2. Zeziphi iingxaki abamele bajongane nazo abakhonzi bakaYehova?

KUDALA abakhonzi bakaYehova abangagungqiyo ekumkhonzeni batsala nzima, ukususela kuAbheli owayengumntu wokuqala ukuthembeka. Umpostile uPawulos wabhalela amaKristu angamaHebhere esithi, ayeye “anyamezela imbambano enkulu phantsi kweembandezelo,” ngenxa yokuba efuna ukuvuyisa uYehova kwaye efuna iintsikelelo zakhe. (Heb. 10:32-34) UPawulos wafanisa ubunzima amaKristu ajongana nabo nokuzinikela kwabadlali kwimidlalo yamaGrike enjengokubaleka, imidlalo yokulwa namanqindi. (Heb. 12:1, 4) Nathi namhlanje, sikugqatso lobomi kwaye iintshaba zethu zifuna ukuthimba ingqalelo yethu, ukusiwisa, ukusiqoba nokusenza singonwabi, size singawufumani umvuzo esiwubekelweyo.

² Okokuqala nje, sibambene ngezihlwitha noSathana nehlabathi lakhe elingendawo. (Efe. 6:12) Kubalulekile ukuba singavumi ukuphenjelelwa ‘zizinto ezinqatyisiweyo’ zeli hlabathi. Singabala kuzo iimfundiso zalo, ubulumko balo, imikhwa yalo eyonzakalisayo, enjengokulalana kwabantu abangatshatanga, ukutshaya, ukusela kakhulu nokusebenzisa iziyobisi. Kwakhona, simele singayeki ukulwa nobuthathaka bethu nokudimazeka.—2 Kor. 10:3-6; Kol. 3:5-9.

3. UThixo usiqeqesha njani ukuze silwe neentshaba zethu?

 ³ Ngaba phofu sinokukwazi ukuzoyisa ezi ntshaba zinamandla kangaka? Sinako, kodwa kuza kufuneka silwe. UPawulos wazifanisa nembethi-manqindi xa wathi: “Indlela endalathisa ngayo izithonga zam yeyokuze ndingabethi umoya.” (1 Kor. 9:26) Kanye njengokuba imbethi-manqindi iyixhimfa leyo ilwa nayo, nathi simele siziswantsulise iintshaba zethu. UYehova uyasiqeqesha ukuze sikwazi ukulwa. Usebenzisa iLizwi lakhe ukuze asinike imiyalelo esindisa ubomi. Enye indlela asinceda ngayo ziincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhileni, iintlanganiso zamaKristu, kunye neendibano zethu ezinkulu nezincinane. Ngaba uyazisebenzisa phofu izinto asifundisa zona? Ukuba akuzisebenzisi, ‘ubetha umoya,’ akulwenzi nto utshaba lwakho.

4. Sinokwenza ntoni ukuze singoyiswa bububi?

⁴ Iintshaba zethu zinokusiqubula zize zisihlasele xa singenamandla, ngoko simele sihlale sithe qwa. IBhayibhile iyasilumkisa isithi: “Musa ukuzivumela woyiswe bububi, kodwa hlala uboyisa ububi ngokulungileyo.” (Roma 12:21) Amazwi athi “musa ukuzivumela woyiswe bububi” abonisa ukuba sinako ukuboyisa ububi ukuba siqhubeka sisilwa nabo. Kwelinye icala, ukuba siyazivumela ukuba sibe sesichengeni size siyeke nokulwa, siya koyiswa nguSathana, lihlabathi lakhe elingendawo nakukungafezeki kwethu. Ungaze unikezele xa uqwetyiselwa nguSathana!—1 Pet. 5:9.

5. (a) Yintoni enokusinceda ukuze siqhubeke sisilwela iintsikelelo zikaThixo? (b) Siza kufunda ngoobani?

⁵ Abantu abalwa idabi kufuneka bangasilibali isizathu sokuba babe sedabini ukuba bafuna ukuphumelela. UThixo uya kubamkela aze abasikelele ukuba bahlala becinga ngamazwi esiwafumana kumaHebhere 11:6, athi: “Lowo uzayo kuThixo umele akholwe ukuba ukho nokuba ungumvuzi wabo bamfuna ngenyameko.” Isenzi sesiGrike esiguqulelwe ngokuthi “bamfuna ngenyameko” sibonisa ukuba le nto ifuna umntu azibhokoxe kwaye akhuthale. (IZe. 15:17) KwiZibhalo sifunda ngamadoda namabhinqa awazibhokoxayo ekufuneni iintsikelelo zikaYehova. UYakobi, uRakeli, uYosefu noPawulos bajongana neengxaki ezabashiya bedimazekile kwaye bediniwe, kodwa umzekelo wabo ubonisa ukuba ekunyamezeleni kukho umvuzo. Singenza njani ke ukuze nathi sifane nala magorha?

6. Yintoni eyanceda uYakobi wanyamezela, ibe wavuzwa njani? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.)

⁶ UYakobi walwa idabi waza wanyamezela ngenxa yokuba emthanda uYehova, ebuxabisile ubuhlobo bakhe naye, kwaye engayithandabuzi into yokuba uYehova wayeza kuyisikelela inzala yakhe. (Gen. 28:3, 4) Yiloo nto eyenza ukuba xa wayesele esondele kwiminyaka eyi-100 enze konke okusemandleni akhe ukuze afumane iintsikelelo kuye; wada wabambana nengelosi. (Funda iGenesis 32:24-28.) Ngaba uYakobi wayenawo na amandla okunyamezela ukuze abambane nengelosi enamandla? Akunjalo! Kunoko wayeligorha elingoyiki ngakoyikiswa, ibe akazange anikezele! Wavuzwa ngokunyamezela kwakhe. Lalimfanele igama awalithiywayo elithi Sirayeli, (elithetha “Osukuzana NoThixo,” okanye “UThixo Uyasukuzana”). UYakobi wawufumana lo mvuzo siwufunayo nathi, ukuvuyisa uYehova nokufumana iintsikelelo zakhe.

7. (a) Yeyiphi imeko ebuhlungu awajongana nayo uRakeli? (b) Waqhubeka njani esilwa de wasikelelwa?

 ⁷ Inkosikazi kaYakobi, uRakeli, nayo yayinomdla wokubona ukuba uYehova wayeza kusizalisekisa njani isithembiso awayesenze kumyeni wakhe. Kodwa kwakubonakala ngathi kukho umqobo oxabileyo. Wayengenabantwana. Ngelo xesha, kwakubuhlungu kakhulu ukungabi nabantwana. URakeli wawafumana phi amandla okuqhubeka esilwa nemeko eyayimdimaza neyayingaphaya kwamandla akhe? Akazange alilahle ithemba. Kunoko, waqhubeka esilwa ngokuthandaza nangakumbi. UYehova waziva izibongozo zikaRakeli zokukhalela uncedo, ibe ekugqibeleni wamsikelela ngabantwana. Yiloo nto ngeny’ imini uRakeli wavuya kuba elwe umlo ‘oqobayo waza waphumelela’!—Gen. 30:8, 20-24.

8. Yeyiphi ingxaki enzima neyathath’ ixesha awayejongene nayo uYosefu, ibe singafunda ntoni kwindlela awasabela ngayo?

⁸ Asiyithandabuzi into yokuba umzekelo omhle owamiselwa nguYakobi noRakeli waba namandla kunyana wabo uYosefu, waphembelela indlela awazisingatha ngayo iimvavanyo. Xa uYosefu wayeneminyaka eyi-17 ubudala, ubomi bakhe batshintsha baba yenye into. Abakhuluwa bakhe bamthengisa njengekhoboka, bebhuqwa ngumona ke phofu. Kamva kwafuneka anyamezele ukuvalelwa kwintolongo yaseYiputa engenzanga nto. (Gen. 37:23-28; 39:7-9, 20-21) UYosefu akazange atyhafe; kwangaxeshanye akazange abe nenzondo aze afune ukubuyis’ izitya. Kunoko, wayesoloko ecinga ngobuhlobo bakhe noYehova. (Lev. 19:18; Roma 12:17-21) Sifanele sifunde kuYosefu. Ngokomzekelo, kwanokuba sakhula kabuhlungu okanye imeko yethu ngoku ayiniki themba, kufuneka singayeki ukulwa nokunyamezela. Ukuba asiyeki, uYehova uya kusisikelela.—Funda iGenesis 39:21-23.

9. Yintoni esifanele sizame ukuyenza ukuze sisikelelwe nguYehova njengoYakobi, uRakeli noYosefu?

⁹ Khawucinge ngemeko ojongene nayo nesenokuba isisilingo kuwe. Mhlawumbi udlelw’ indlala ngandlel’ ithile, uyacalulwa okanye kuhlekiswa ngawe. Okanye ke mhlawumbi utyholwa ngento ongayenzanga ngumntu okumonelayo. Kunokuba unikezele, khumbula into eyanceda uYakobi, uRakeli noYosefu baqhubeka bekhonza uYehova bevuya. UThixo wabomeleza waza wabasikelela kuba beye baqhubeka bebuxabisa ubuhlobo babo naye. Baqhubeka besenza umzamo kwaye besenza ngokuvumelana nemithandazo yabo. Sele sisondele kwisiphelo sale nkqubo; ngenxa yoko, sinezizathu ezibambekayo zokubambelela nkqi kwithemba elibekwe phambi kwethu! Ngaba ukulungele ukulwa ngamandla akho onke ukuze uYehova avuyiswe nguwe?

10, 11. (a) Zeziphi ezinye iimeko ezinokufuna ukuba sizilwele iintsikelelo zikaThixo? (b) Yintoni enokusinceda senze ukhetho oluhle size siphumelele xa sisilwa nokudimazeka neziphazamiso?

¹⁰ Zeziphi ezinye iimeko ezinokufuna ukuba sizilwele iintsikelelo zikaThixo? Enye imeko abaninzi abaye bajongana nayo kukulwa nobuthathaka benyama. Abanye kuye kwafuneka ukuba bakhuphe nawokugqibela amandla abo ukuze bayithande intsimi. Mhlawumbi wena kufuneka unyamezele impilo enkenenkene okanye ubulolo. Masingalibali ke ukuba kunzima kwabanye abantu ukuxolela umntu obacaphukisileyo okanye obonileyo.  Kungakhathaliseki ukuba sinexesha elingakanani sikhonza uYehova, sonke simele silwe nezinto ezixaba phambi kwethu xa sikhonza uThixo, obavuzayo abo bathembekileyo.

¹¹ Ngeliphandle, akululanga ukwenza ukhetho oluhle nokulandela indlela yobuKristu. Kuba nzima nangakumbi xa intliziyo yethu enenkohliso isityhalela kwelinye icala. (Yer. 17:9) Ukuba uvakalelwa kukuba ezi zinto ngandlel’ ithile ziyakuphazamisa, thandaza ucele umoya oyingcwele. Umthandazo nomoya oyingcwele zinokukunika amandla okuphila ngendlela efanelekileyo nenokusikelelwa nguYehova. Ungathandazeli le wakugqiba wenze leyaa. Zama ukufunda iBhayibhile suku ngalunye, uziphe ixesha lokufundisisa neloNqulo Lwentsapho.—Funda iNdumiso 119:32.

12, 13. AmaKristu amabini ancedwa yintoni ukuze alawule iminqweno engafanelekanga?

¹² Mininzi imizekelo ebonisa ukuba iLizwi likaThixo, umoya wakhe neencwadi zethu ziye zawanceda amaKristu ayoyisa iminqweno emibi. Omnye umfana wafunda inqaku elithi, “Unokuyixhathisa Njani Iminqweno Engafanelekanga?” elalikuVukani! kaDisemba 8, 2003. Uthi lamnceda njani? “Ndizama ngandlela zonke ukulawula iingcinga ezingafanelekanga. Ndathi ndakufunda kweli nqaku ukuba ‘kwabaninzi, ukuzama ukoyisa iminqweno engafanelekanga ngumlo onzima kakhulu,’ ndaziva nam ndiyinxalenye yebandla. Ndabona ukuba andindedwa.” Lo mfana  wancedwa nalinqaku elithi, “Indlela Yokuphila Eyahlukileyo—Ngaba UThixo Uyakholiswa Yiyo?” elaphuma kuVukani! kaOktobha 8, 2003. Wafunda ukuba kwabanye eli dabi lifana ‘neliva enyameni.’ (2 Kor. 12:7) Ngoxa beqhubeka besilwela ukuziphatha ngendlela efanelekileyo, baba nethemba xa becinga ngekamva. Wathi: “Ngenxa yoko, okukhona ixesha lihamba, ndiya ndivakalelwa kukuba ndinako ukuhlala ndithembekile. Ndiyambulela uYehova ngokusebenzisa intlangano yakhe ukusinceda simelane nosuku ngalunye kweli hlabathi lingendawo.”

¹³ Nanga amanye amava odade waseMerika. Ubhala athi: “Mandinibulele ngokusoloko nisondla kanye ngokutya esikudingayo nangexesha elililo. Iba ngathi la manqaku abhalelwe mna. Sekuyiminyaka ngoku ndisilwa nokunqwenela into ayithiyileyo uYehova. Ngamany’ amaxesha ndiye ndifune ukuncama, ndinikezele. Ndiyazi ukuba uYehova unenceba kwaye uyaxolela, kodwa ngenxa yalo mnqweno ndinawo nangenxa yokuba ndingawuthiyanga, ndivakalelwa kukuba akanakukwazi ukundinceda. Oku kubethabethana kweengcinga kuchaphazele zonke iinkalo zobomi bam. . . . Emva kokuba ndifunde inqaku elikwiMboniselo kaMatshi 15, 2013, elithi ‘Ngaba Unayo “Intliziyo Yokwazi” UYehova?’ ndabona ukuba uYehova ufuna ngokwenene ukundinceda.”

14. (a) UPawulos wayewajonga njani amadabi awayewalwa? (b) Sinokuboyisa njani ubuthathaka bethu?

¹⁴ Funda amaRoma 7:21-25. UPawulos wayeyazi kuye into yokuba kunzima ukulwa neminqweno nobuthathaka obubangelwa kukungafezeki. Kodwa ke wayengayithandabuzi nakancinane into yokuba wayenako ukuliphumelela idabi awayelilwa xa ethembele kuYehova naxa enokholo kwidini lentlawulelo likaYesu. Kuthekani ngathi? Nathi sinokuphumelela ekulweni nobuthathaka bethu. Njani? Ngokuxelisa uPawulos, ngokuthembela kuYehova kungekhona kumandla ethu, nangokuba nokholo kwintlawulelo.

15. Kutheni umthandazo unokusinceda sihlale sithembekile kwaye sinyamezele?

¹⁵ Ngamanye amaxesha uThixo unokusivumela sibonise ukuba isixhalabisa kangakanani na loo nto isikhathazayo. Ngokomzekelo, ubuya kuthini ukuba wena (okanye isalamane sakho) ubugula kakhulu okanye uphethwe kakubi? Ubuya kumthemba ngokupheleleyo uYehova uze uthandaze kuye umbongoza ukuba akunike amandla ukuze uhlale uthembekile, uvuya kwaye unobuhlobo obuhle naye. (Fil. 4:13) Izinto ezenzeke kubantu abaninzi, abexesha likaPawulos nabaphila kule mihla, zingqina ukuba umthandazo unokusinceda sihlaziye amandla ethu kwaye sikwazi ukuqhubeka sinyamezele.

16, 17. Yintoni ozimisele ukuyenza?

¹⁶ UMtyholi angathanda ukukubona uncama yaye unikezela. Zimisele ‘ukubambelela nkqi koko kuhle.’ (1 Tes. 5:21) Siyakuqinisekisa ukuba unako ukumoyisa uSathana, ihlabathi lakhe kunye naso nasiphi na isono. Loo nto unokuyenza ngokumthemba ngokupheleleyo uThixo ukuba, uza kukwazi ukukomeleza.—2 Kor. 4:7-9; Gal. 6:9.

¹⁷ Ungayeki ke ukulwa. Qhubeka uzama. Sukuzana nazo iingxaki zakho. Unganikezeli. Mthembe uYehova ukuba uza ‘kuqongqothela phezu kwakho intsikelelo kude kungasweleki nto.’—Mal. 3:10.