1. Indlela asithanda ngayo uThixo isenza sizive njani?

UMPOSTILE UYOHANE wathi “uThixo uluthando.” (1 Yoh. 4:8) Siyazi ukuba yonke into ephilayo yadalwa nguThixo. Le nto yathethwa nguYohane isinceda sikhumbule ukuba uthando luvela kuThixo. UYehova uyasithanda. Indlela asithanda ngayo isenza sizive sikhuselekile futhi sonwabile.

2. UMateyu 22:37-40 uthi yeyiphi imiyalelo emibini ebalulekileyo, ibe yintoni enokwenza kube nzima ukuthobela owesibini?

² Ukuba nothando ngumyalelo, ngoko amaKristu kunyanzelekile ukuba abe nalo. (Funda uMateyu 22:37-40.) Xa simazi kakuhle uYehova, kusenokuba lula ukuthobela umyalelo wokuqala. Isizathu saloo nto kukuba yena akazenzi iimpazamo. Unobubele kwaye usikhathalele. Kodwa kusenokuba nzima ukuwuthobela lo wesibini. Yintoni enokwenza kube nzima? Kaloku abazalwana noodadewethu, ethi iBhayibhile nabo ngabamelwane bethu esibathandayo, bayazenza iimpazamo. Ngamanye amaxesha basenokwenza izinto ezibonisa ukungabi nobubele nokungasikhathaleli. UYehova wayesazi ukuba siza kuba nale ngxaki, ngoko waphefumlela abanye babantu ababhala iBhayibhile ukuba basifundise ukuba yonke into esiyenzayo simele siyenze ngothando. Omnye wabo bantu yayinguYohane.​—1 Yoh. 3:11, 12.

3. Yintoni awathetha kaninzi ngayo uYohane?

³ Kwiincwadi awazibhalayo, uYohane wathetha kaninzi ngokuba amaKristu amele abe nothando. Xa wayebhala ngobomi bukaYesu, walisebenzisa kakhulu igama elithi  “uthando” kunendlela abalisebenzise ngayo abanye ababhali beencwadi zeVangeli abathathu. Wayeneminyaka emalunga neyi-100 xa wayebhala incwadi yakhe yeVangeli neeleta zakhe ezintathu. Ezi ncwadi zeBhayibhile zisifundisa ukuba yonke into masiyenze ngenxa yothando. (1 Yoh. 4:10, 11) Kodwa noYohane waba nalo kade uthando.

4. Ngaba uYohane wayesoloko ebonisa uthando?

⁴ Xa wayesengumfana, uYohane wayengasoloko ebonisa uthando. Ngokomzekelo, xa uYesu nabafundi bakhe babesiya eYerusalem, badlula eSamariya. Kwenye ilali yaseSamariya zange bamkelwe. Wathini uYohane? Yena nomntakwabo, babuza kuYesu ukuba akafuni na babize umlilo ezulwini utshabalalise yonke loo lali! (Luka 9:52-56) Kanti nakubapostile uYohane wakha akalubonisa uthando. Yena nomntakwabo uYakobi bathi kumama wabo makacele uYesu abanike izikhundla eziphezulu eBukumkanini. Bathi bakuyiva loo nto abanye abapostile bacaphuka kakhulu! (Mat. 20:20, 21, 24) Kodwa uYesu wayemthanda uYohane ngoxa wayesenza ezo mpazamo.​—Yoh. 21:7.

5. Siza kuthetha ngantoni kweli nqaku?

⁵ Kweli nqaku siza kuthetha ngezinto esinokuzifunda kuYohane nangezinye izinto awazibhalayo ngothando. Siza kutsho sibone ukuba singabonisa njani ukuba siyabathanda abazalwana noodadewethu. Siza kufunda nangezinto ezibalulekileyo ezimele zenziwe yintloko-ntsapho eyithandayo intsapho yayo.

6. Yintoni ayenzileyo uYehova ebonisa indlela asithanda ngayo?

⁶ Sisenokucinga ukuba xa ungenangxaki nomntu okanye usoloko uthetha kamnandi naye uyamthanda. Kodwa ukuba umthanda nyhani umntu, umele ubonakale ngezinto ozenzayo. (Thelekisa uYakobi 2:17, 26.) Ngokomzekelo, uYehova uyasithanda. (1 Yoh. 4:19) Loo nto siyibona ngezinto ezivuyisayo asixelela zona eBhayibhileni. (INdu. 25:10; Roma 8:38, 39) Ayizozinto azithethayo qha ezisenza sibone ukuba uyasithanda, sibona nakwizinto azenzayo. UYohane wathi: “UThixo wasibonisa ukuba uyasithanda ngokuthumela unyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo ehlabathini, ukuze sifumane ubomi ngaye.” (1 Yoh. 4:19) UYehova wamyeka uNyana wakhe amthandayo weva iintlungu waza wafa ngenxa yethu. (Yoh. 3:16) Ngoko, ngaba singayithandabuza into yokuba uYehova usithanda nyhani?

7. UYesu wabonisa njani ukuba uyasithanda?

 ⁷ UYesu wabenza baqiniseka abafundi bakhe ukuba uyabathanda. (Yoh. 13:1; 15:15) Wabonisa indlela awayebathanda nasithanda ngayo ngezinto awazithethayo nawazenzayo. Wathi: “Akakho umntu onothando ukogqitha umntu oncama ubomi bakhe, ebuncamela abahlobo bakhe.” (Yoh. 15:13) Xa sicinga izinto esizenzelwe nguYehova noYesu simele sifune ukwenza ntoni?

8. U-1 Yohane 3:18 uthi yintoni esimele siyenze?

⁸ Indlela esibonisa ngayo ukuba uYehova noYesu siyabathanda, kukwenza izinto abathi masizenze. (Yoh. 14:15; 1 Yoh. 5:3) UYesu wasiyalela ukuba sithandane. (Yoh. 13:34, 35) Asimele sitsho ngemilomo qha ukuba siyabathanda abazalwana noodadewethu, kodwa bamele babone nakwizinto esizenzayo. (Funda u-1 Yohane 3:18.) Ziintoni ke esinokuzenza ukuze babone ukuba siyabathanda?

9. Yintoni eyenziwa nguYohane ngenxa yothando?

⁹ UYohane wayenokuhlala notata wakhe benze imali kwishishini lakowabo lokuloba iintlanzi. Kodwa wakhetha ukuchitha ubomi bakhe enceda abantu bafunde ngoYehova noYesu. Yayingebobomi bulula ke obo. Watshutshiswa wade wathinjwa sele elixhego. (IZe. 3:1; 4:1-3; 5:18; ISityhi. 1:9) Xa wayevalelwe etrongweni ngenxa yokuba eshumayela ngoYesu, wenza into ebonisa ukuba uyawathanda amanye amaKristu. Ngokomzekelo, xa wayekwisiqithi sasePatmos, wabhala incwadi yeSityhilelo waza wayithumela emabandleni ukuze azazi izinto “ezimele zenzeke kungekudala.” (ISityhi. 1:1) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba incwadi yakhe yeVangeli ethetha ngoYesu nomsebenzi wakhe wokushumayela wayibhala emva kokuba ekhululwe ePatmos. Wabhala neeleta ezintathu ezazikhuthaza nezazisomeleza abazalwana noodade. Sinokuyilinganisa njani indlela awazincama ngayo uYohane?

10. Unokubonisa njani ukuba uyabathanda abantu?

¹⁰ Into okhetha ukuyenza ngobomi bakho ibonisa indlela obathanda ngayo abantu. Eli hlabathi likaSathana lifuna ucinge ngesiqu sakho qha, uzame ukuzenzela imali nodumo. Kodwa emhlabeni wonke amaKristu achitha ixesha lawo elininzi eshumayela iindaba ezilungileyo, enceda abantu bamthande uYehova. Kanti amanye ngumsebenzi wawo ukushumayela nokufundisa.

11. AmaKristu amaninzi abonisa njani ukuba ayamthanda uYehova, nabazalwana noodade?

¹¹ AmaKristu amaninzi ayaphangela ukuze ondle iintsapho zawo. Ephangela enjalo, ayancedisa nakwimisebenzi yentlangano kaThixo ngazo zonke iindlela anokukwazi ngazo. Ngokomzekelo, amanye ancedisa kwimisebenzi eyenziwa xa kwehle intlekele, amanye aye ancedise kwizakhiwo zentlangano, kanti onke ayanikela kumsebenzi owenziwa emhlabeni wonke. Zonke ezi zinto azenza kuba ethanda uThixo nabantu. Qho ngeveki, sibonisa ukuba siyabathanda abazalwana noodadewethu ngokuya kwiintlanganiso size siphendule. Siyaya kwiintlanganiso nokuba sidiniwe. Siyaphendula nokuba siyoyika. Ngoxa sonke sinazo iingxaki, siyakhuthazana ngaphambi kokuba ziqale iintlanganiso kanti naxa ziphumile. (Heb. 10:24, 25) Siwubulela nyhani umsebenzi owenziwa ngabazalwana noodade.

12. Yeyiphi enye indlela uYohane awabonisa ngayo ukuba uyabathanda abazalwana noodade?

 ¹² UYohane wabonisa ukuba uyabathanda abazalwana noodade ngokubancoma nangokubalungisa xa kufuneka njalo. Ngokomzekelo, kwiileta zakhe, wabancoma ngenxa yokholo ababenalo nangemisebenzi yabo emihle. Kodwa wathetha nabo kabukhali ngesono. (1 Yoh. 1:8–2:1, 13, 14) Nathi, simele sibancome abazalwana noodade ngezinto ezintle abazenzayo. Kodwa ukuba omnye wenza izinto ezinokumxabanisa noYehova, ngobuchule sinokumbonisa apho amele alungise khona. Kufuna isibindi ukulungisa umhlobo, kodwa iBhayibhile ithi umhlobo wenyani uyamlola okanye uyamlungisa umhlobo wakhe.​—IMize. 27:17.

13. Yintoni esingamele siyenze?

¹³ Ngamanye amaxesha sibonisa ukuba siyabathanda abazalwana noodadewethu ngokungakhawulezi sicatshukiswe zizinto abazithethayo. Ngokomzekelo, khawucinge ngento eyakha yenzeka kwiintsuku ezimbalwa ngaphambi kokuba uYesu afe. Waxelela abafundi bakhe ukuba ukuze bafumane ubomi kwakufuneka batye inyama yakhe, basele negazi lakhe. (Yoh. 6:53-57) Loo mazwi abothusa, kangangokuba abaninzi bamshiya. Kodwa uYohane nabanye abahlobo bakaYesu, zange bamshiye. Babengayiqondi into eyayithethwa nguYesu, mhlawumbi nabo yabamangalisa. Kodwa bengayiqondi benjalo, zange bacaphuke kuba becinga ukuba uthetha into embi. Babemthembile, besazi ukuba uthetha inyaniso. (Yoh. 6:60, 66-69) Ngoko kubalulekile ukuba singakhawulezi sicatshukiswe zizinto ezithethwa ngabazalwana noodadewethu. Masibanike ixesha lokuba bayicacise into abayithethayo.​—IMize. 18:13; INtshu. 7:9.

14. Kutheni singamele sibacaphukele abazalwana noodadewethu?

¹⁴ UYohane wasikhuthaza nangokuba singabacaphukeli abazalwana noodadewethu. Ukuba asimmameli, siza kuba zizisulu zikaSathana. (1 Yoh. 2:11; 3:15) Ekupheleni kwexesha labapostile, le nto yenzeka kwabanye. USathana wazama ngandlela zonke ukwenza abakhonzi bakaThixo bangathandani, lwaza alwabikho umanyano. Xa uYohane wayebhala iileta zakhe, kwakungene abantu ababesebenzisana noSathana ebandleni. Ngokomzekelo, kwelinye ibandla uDiyotrefe  wayeluphelisa umanyano kubantu bakaThixo. (3 Yoh. 9, 10) Wayengabahloniphi abadala abathunywe liqumrhu elilawulayo. Wade wazama nokuwagxotha ebandleni amaKristu awayesamkela abantu angabafuniyo. Wayengaziva likratshi. Nangoku, uSathana usazama zonke iindlela zokwahlukanisa abantu bakaThixo. Singaze sibacaphukele abazalwana noodadewethu, kuba loo nto iza kusenza singamanyani.

15. Yintoni emele ingayilibali intloko-ntsapho?

¹⁵ Eyona ndlela intloko-ntsapho ibonisa ngayo ukuba iyayithanda intsapho yayo kukuqiniseka ukuba iyazifumana izinto ezidingayo. (1 Tim. 5:8) Kodwa imele ingalibali ukuba eyona nto ibalulekileyo kukuyinceda imthande uYehova. (Mat. 5:3) Khawubone into ezimele ziyifunde iintloko-ntsapho kuYesu. Incwadi kaYohane ithi nangona uYesu wayesifa kwisibonda sokungcungcutheka, wayesacinga ngentsapho yakowabo. Ngelo xesha, uYohane nomama kaYesu uMariya, babeme kufutshane naye. Esezintlungwini, uYesu wayaleza uYohane ukuba ahoye umama wakhe uMariya. (Yoh. 19:26, 27) Babekho abantwana bakuloYesu ababeza kumhoya, kodwa bonke babengekabi ngobafundi ngelo xesha. Xa wayemyaleza kuYohane, wayefuna ukuqiniseka ngomntu owayeza kuhoya umamakhe, amncede angayeki ukuba ngumhlobo kaYehova.

16. Yeyiphi imisebenzi awayenayo uYohane?

¹⁶ UYohane wayenemisebenzi emininzi. Ekubeni wayengumpostile, kwakufuneka akhuthale kumsebenzi wokushumayela. Mhlawumbi wayetshatile, ngoko kwakufuneka aqiniseke ukuba intsapho yakhe iyazifumana izinto ezidingayo kwaye nokholo lwayo luqinile. (1 Kor. 9:5) Yintoni eziyifundayo iintloko-ntsapho kule nto?

17. Yintoni ebalulekileyo ekufuneka iyenze kunye nentsapho yayo intloko-ntsapho, ibe loo nto iza kuyinceda njani intsapho?

¹⁷ Umzalwana onentsapho usenokuba nemisebenzi emininzi ekufuneka ayenze. Ngokomzekelo, kufuneka akhuthale kwindawo aqeshwe kuyo ukuze alimele kakuhle igama likaYehova. (Efe. 6:5, 6; Tito 2:9, 10) Mhlawumbi ebandleni ngumdala okanye isicaka solungiselelo.  Ngoko kufuneka aluse abantu bakaThixo aze aye nabo entsimini. Kubalulekile nokuba ayifunde qho iBhayibhile nentsapho yakhe. Ngumsebenzi wakhe ukugcina intsapho yakhe isempilweni, yonwabile kwaye ukholo lwayo luqinile. Xa izenza ezi zinto, intsapho yakhe iza kumbulela kakhulu.​—Efe. 5:28, 29; 6:4.

18. Yintoni awayeqiniseke ngayo uYohane?

¹⁸ UYohane waphila ixesha elide, ibe zininzi izinto ezivuyisayo ezenzeka ebomini bakhe. Waba nazo neengxaki ezininzi ezazinokulwenza lungaqini ukholo lwakhe. Kodwa wayezama ngazo zonke iindlela ukuthobela imiyalelo kaYesu, njengalo uthi masithande abazalwana noodadewethu. Loo nto yamenza waqiniseka ukuba uYehova noYesu bayamthanda ibe baza kumnika amandla okuzinyamezela iingxaki awayenazo. (Yoh. 14:15-17; 15:10; 1 Yoh. 4:16) Ayikho into eyayinokwenziwa nguSathana nehlabathi lakhe eyayinokwenza uYohane angabathandi abazalwana noodadewabo. Indlela awayebathanda ngayo wayibonisa ngezinto awayezithetha nawayezenza.

19. U-1 Yohane 4:7 usikhuthaza ukuba senze ntoni, ibe kutheni?

¹⁹ NjengoYohane, nathi siphila kwihlabathi elilawulwa nguthixo walo, uSathana, ongabathandiyo tu abantu. (1 Yoh. 3:1, 10) Nokuba angazama kangakanani ukuba singabathandi abazalwana noodadewethu, ayinakwenzeka loo nto ukuba asimvumeli. Masizimisele ukubathanda abazalwana noodadewethu, silubonise olo thando ngezinto esizithethayo nesizenzayo. Loo nto iza kusenza sikuvuyele ukuba kwintsapho yabantu bakaYehova, size siphile kamnandi.​—Funda u-1 Yohane 4:7.