1. Lubaluleke kangakanani ukholo? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.)

NGABA wakha wazibuza, ‘Kazi uYehova uya kundisindisa na ngembandezelo enkulu?’ Umpostile uPawulos wathi olona phawu lufunekayo ukuze sisinde lukholo. Wathi, “ngaphandle kokholo akunakwenzeka ukumkholisa kakuhle” uThixo. (Hebhere 11:6) Oko kusenokuvakala kulula, kodwa inyaniso kukuba “ukholo asinto banayo bonke abantu.” (2 Tesalonika 3:2) Ezi zibhalo zibini zisinceda siqonde indlela ekubaluleke ngayo ukomeleza ukholo lwethu.

2, 3. (a) Lubaluleke kangakanani ukholo lwethu? (b) Siza kuthetha ngantoni kweli nqaku?

² Umpostile uPetros wathetha ngokholo ‘oluvavanyiweyo.’ (Funda eyoku-1 kaPetros 1:7.) Imbandezelo enkulu isemnyango, yaye sifuna ukuba “luhlobo olunokholo olugcina umphefumlo uphila.” (Hebhere 10:39) Ngoko kufuneka sisebenze nzima ukuze someleze ukholo lwethu. Sifuna ukuba phakathi kwabo bavuzwayo xa uKumkani wethu, uYesu Kristu, etyhilwa. Njengendoda eyabongoza uYesu icela ukholo olungakumbi, nathi sinokuthi: “Ndincede apho kufuneka khona ukholo kum!” (Marko 9:24) Okanye njengabapostile, sisenokuthi: “Sinike ukholo olungakumbi.”—Luka 17:5.

 ³ Kweli nqaku, siza kuthetha ngezi zinto zilandelayo: indlela esinokulwakha ngayo ukholo lwethu, esinokubonisa ngayo ukuba sinokholo olomeleleyo, nesizathu sokuba sinokuqiniseka ukuba uThixo uya kusiphendula xa sicela ukholo olungakumbi.

4. Yimizekelo yoobani enokusinceda someleze ukholo lwethu?

⁴ Ngenxa yokubaluleka kokholo, uYehova usinike intaphane yemizekelo yabantu ababenokholo eBhayibhileni. Le mizekelo ‘yabhalelwa ukuyalela thina.’ (Roma 15:4) Umzekelo ka-Abraham, uSara, uIsake, uYakobi, uMoses, uRahabhi, uGidiyon, uBharaki nabanye unokusikhuthaza someleze olwethu ukholo. (Hebhere 11:32-35) Ukongeza kule mizekelo yamandulo, sinemizekelo emihle yabazalwana noodade abanokholo namhlanje. * (Funda umbhalo osemazantsi.)

5. UEliya wabonisa njani ukuba unokholo olomeleleyo kuYehova, kwaye yintoni esimele sizibuze yona?

⁵ Cinga nje ngomzekelo oseBhayibhileni womprofeti uEliya. Njengoko ucamngca ngalo mzekelo wakhe, khawucinge ngezi meko zintlanu awabonisa kuzo ukholo olomeleleyo kuYehova. (1) Xa wayexelela uKumkani uAhabhi ukuba uYehova uza kuzisa imbalela, ngokuzithemba uEliya wathi: “Ephila nje uYehova uThixo kaSirayeli endimi phambi kwakhe, ebudeni bale minyaka akuyi kubakho mbethe namvula.” (1 Kumkani 17:1) (2) UEliya wayeqinisekile ukuba uYehova wayeza kunika yena nabanye oko bakudingayo ebudeni bembalela. (1 Kumkani 17:4, 5, 13, 14) (3) UEliya wayeqinisekile nokuba uYehova wayenokumvusa unyana womhlolokazi. (1 Kumkani 17:21) (4) Wayengayithandabuzi into yokuba umlilo kaYehova wawuza kulidla idini lakhe kwiNtaba yeKarmele. (1 Kumkani 18:24, 37) (5) Kwanangaphambi kokuba imvula ine, ezithembile uEliya wathi kuAhabhi: “Hamba, uye kudla usele; kuba kuvakala isandi sengxokozelo yezantyalantyala zemvula.” (1 Kumkani 18:41) Ngoko emva kokufunda ngala mava, sisenokuzibuza, ‘Ngaba ndinokholo olomelele njengolukaEliya?’

6. Yintoni ekufuneka siyicele kuYehova ukuze sakhe ukholo lwethu?

⁶ Ekubeni singenako ukuzakhela ngokwethu ukholo, sifanele sicele umoya oyingcwele kuThixo. Ngoba? Kuba ukholo yinxalenye yesiqhamo somoya oyingcwele. (Galati 5:22) Siya kuba silumkile xa sithobela isiluleko sikaYesu sokuthandazela umoya oyingcwele ongakumbi. UYesu wathembisa ukuba uYehova uya “kubanika umoya oyingcwele abo bamcelayo!”—Luka 11:13.

7. Khawuchaze indlela esinokulugcina lomelele ngayo ukholo lwethu.

 ⁷ Xa sinokholo olomeleleyo kuThixo, simele silugcine. Oku singakufanisa nomlilo. Xa siqala ukubasa umlilo, usenokuvutha kakhulu. Sekunjalo, ukuba asiwukhwezeli, ekugqibeleni usenokucima ube luthuthu nje olubandayo. Xa siqhubeka siwuphemba ngeenkuni, unokuhlala uvutha. Kunjalo ke nangokholo lwethu. Ukuba siqhubeka silifunda qho iLizwi likaThixo, siya kuyithanda ngakumbi iBhayibhile noYehova. Loo nto iza kusenza silugcine size silomeleze ukholo lwethu.

8. Yintoni enokukunceda ulwakhe uze ulugcine lomelele ukholo lwakho?

⁸ Awufanele waneliswe kuphela ziimfundiso ezisisiseko owazifunda ngaphambi kokuba ubhaptizwe. (Hebhere 6:1, 2) Ngokomzekelo, ukufunda ngeziprofeto zeBhayibhile esele zizalisekile kuza kukunceda ulwakhe uze ulugcine lomelele ukholo lwakho. Usenokusebenzisa neLizwi likaThixo ukuze uhlole ukuba lomelele na ukholo lwakho.—Funda uYakobi 1:25; 2:24, 26.

9, 10. Ukholo lwethu lomelezwa njani (a) ngabahlobo abalungileyo? (b) ziintlanganiso zamaKristu? (c) kukushumayela?

⁹ Umpostile uPawulos wathi amaKristu ‘anokukhuthazana elukholweni.’ (Roma 1:12) Kuthetha ukuthini oko? Xa sichitha ixesha kunye nabazalwana noodade, sinokomelezana elukholweni. Le nto inokwenzeka nangakumbi xa sichitha ixesha nabo banokholo ‘oluvavanyiweyo.’ (Yakobi 1:3) Abahlobo ababi bayalonakalisa ukholo, kodwa abalungileyo bayalwakha. (1 Korinte 15:33) Yiyo le nto sibongozwa ukuba siye qho kwiintlanganiso. Kulapho ‘sikhuthazana’ khona. (Funda amaHebhere 10:24, 25.) Ukongezelela, imiyalelo esiyifumana kwiintlanganiso iyalomeleza ukholo lwethu. IBhayibhile ithi “ukholo lulandela oko kuviweyo.” (Roma 10:17) Ngoko zibuze, ‘Ngaba ndiya qho kwiintlanganiso?’

¹⁰ Enye indlela esomeleza ngayo ukholo lwethu kukushumayela nokufundisa abanye iindaba ezilungileyo eziseBhayibhileni. NjengamaKristu okuqala, sifunda ukuthembela ngoYehova nokuthetha ngenkalipho naphantsi kweziphi iimeko.—IZenzo 4:17-20; 13:46.

11. Yintoni eyanceda uKalebhi noYoshuwa baba nokholo olomeleleyo, ibe sinokufana njani nabo?

¹¹ Ukholo lwethu kuYehova lukhula nangakumbi xa sibona indlela asinceda nayiphendula ngayo imithandazo yethu. Yiloo nto kanye eyenzekayo kuKalebhi noYoshuwa. Babonisa ukholo kuYehova xa babehlola iLizwe Lesithembiso. Njengokuba ixesha lalihamba, ukholo lwabo lwalusiya lusomelela ngenxa yokubona indlela uYehova abanceda ngayo. UYoshuwa wayenokutsh’ umlomo ugcwale  kumaSirayeli ukuba: “Akusilelanga nalinye ilizwi kuwo onke amazwi alungileyo uYehova uThixo wenu awathethileyo kuni.” Kamva wathi: “Yaye ngoku yoyikani uYehova nize nimkhonze ngokungenasiphoso nangenyaniso.” Waphinda wathi: “Ke mna nendlu yam, siya kukhonza uYehova.” (Yoshuwa 23:14; 24:14, 15) Xa sithembela ngoYehova size sibone indlela anceda ngayo ngamnye wethu, ukholo lwethu lomelela ngakumbi.—INdumiso 34:8.

12. Sibonisa njani ukuba sinokholo olomeleleyo?

¹² Sibonisa njani ukuba sinokholo olomeleleyo? Umfundi uYakobi wathi: “Mna ndokubonisa ukholo lwam ngemisebenzi yam.” (Yakobi 2:18) Zizenzo zethu ezibonisa ukuba sinokholo olomeleleyo. Makhe sibone ukuba sikwenza njani oku.

13. Sibonisa njani ukuba sinokholo xa sishumayela?

¹³ Ukushumayela yeyona ndlela ibalaseleyo esilubonakalisa ngayo ukholo lwethu. Ngoba? Kaloku xa sishumayela, sibonisa ukuba siyakholelwa ukuba isiphelo sisemnyango kwaye asiyi “kufika emva kwexesha.” (Habhakuki 2:3) Ukuze sazi ukuba sinokholo olomeleleyo, sisenokuzibuza: ‘Kubaluleke kangakanani ukushumayela kum? Ngaba ndenza konke okusemandleni ukuxelela abanye ngoThixo? Ngaba ndikhangela iindlela zokwenza okungakumbi ekukhonzeni uYehova?’ (2 Korinte 13:5) Masibonise ukholo olomeleleyo ngokwenza “uvumo lwasesidlangalaleni losindiso,” ngamany’ amazwi, sishumayele iindaba ezilungileyo.—Funda amaRoma 10:10.

14, 15. (a) Singalubonisa njani ukholo kubomi bethu bemihla ngemihla? (b) Balisa amava abonisa ukholo olomeleleyo.

 ¹⁴ Sibonakalisa ukuba sinokholo kuYehova kwanaxa sinyamezela iimvavanyo zobomi kweli hlabathi. Xa sigula, sidimazekile, sidandathekile, singamahlwempu okanye sinezinye iingxaki, simele sibe nokholo lokuba uYehova noYesu baya kusinceda “ngexesha elifanelekileyo.” (Hebhere 4:16) Sibonisa ukholo kuYehova xa simcela ukuba asincede. UYesu wathi sinokumcela uYehova ukuba asiphe “isonka sethu sale mini ngokwemfuneko yemini le.” (Luka 11:3) Iingxelo zeBhayibhile zingqina ukuba uYehova angasinika nantoni na esiyidingayo. Ngokomzekelo, ngexesha lembalela kwaSirayeli, uYehova wanika uEliya ukutya namanzi. IBhayibhile ithi “amahlungulu ayemzisela isonka nenyama kusasa, isonka nenyama ngokuhlwa, yaye waqhubeka esela entlanjeni.” (1 Kumkani 17:3-6) Sinokholo lokuba nathi uYehova unokusinika izinto esizidingayo.

¹⁵ Siqinisekile ukuba xa sisebenzisa imigaqo yeBhayibhile, siya kukwazi ukuzinyamekela thina nentsapho yethu. URebecca, udade otshatileyo waseAsia, uchaza indlela ekwamnceda ngayo yena nentsapho yakhe ukusebenzisa umgaqo okuMateyu 6:33 neMizekeliso 10:4. Uthi umyeni wakhe wayevakalelwa kukuba umsebenzi wakhe wawubeka  ulwalamano lwabo noYehova engozini. Ngoko umyeni wakhe wawuyeka loo msebenzi. Kodwa babe nabantwana abane ekwakufuneka bebanyamekele, ngoko baqalisa ukuthengisa ukutya. Ngenxa yokusebenza nzima kwabo, babesoloko benemali eyaneleyo yokunyamekela intsapho yabo. Uthi: “Sasivakalelwa kukuba uYehova akasilahlanga. Zange singabi nakutya.” Ngaba nawe wakha wanawo amava afana nala omeleza ukholo?

16. Yintoni eza kwenzeka xa sithembele ngoThixo?

¹⁶ Singaze sithandabuze ukuba xa silandela ulwalathiso lukaYehova, uya kusinceda. UPawulos ucaphula amazwi kaHabhakuki xa esithi: “Lowo ulilungisa uya kuphila ngenxa yokholo.” (Galati 3:11; Habhakuki 2:4) Yiloo nto kufuneka sibe nokholo olomeleleyo kulowo unokusinceda. UPawulos usikhumbuza ukuba uThixo ngulowo “unako ukwenza ngaphezu koko sikucelayo nesikuthelekelelayo ngamandla akhe asebenzayo kuthi.” (Efese 3:20) Abakhonzi bakaYehova benza konke okusemandleni ukwenza ukuthanda kukaThixo, kodwa bayazi nokuba basikelwe umda. Sinombulelo kuThixo kuba enathi kwaye esikelela yonke imigudu yethu.

17. (a) UYesu wabaphendula njani abapostile? (b) Kutheni sinokulindela ukuba nathi uYehova uya kuziphendula izicelo zethu zokholo olungakumbi?

¹⁷ Ngokusuka koko sikufundileyo, sisenokuvakalelwa njengabapostile abacela kuYesu bathi: “Sinike ukholo olungakumbi.” (Luka 17:5) UYesu wabaphendula ngendlela ekhethekileyo ngePentekoste ka-33, xa bafumana umoya oyingcwele baza bayiqonda nzulu injongo kaThixo. Oku kwalomeleza ukholo lwabo. Waba yintoni umphumo? Baqalisa elona phulo likhulu lokushumayela ngelo xesha. (Kolose 1:23) Ngaba sinokulindela ukuba xa sicela ukholo olungakumbi, nathi siza kuphendulwa? UYehova uthembisa ukuba unokusiphendula, xa sicela “ngokuvumelana nokuthanda kwakhe.”—1 Yohane 5:14.

18. UYehova ubasikelela njani abo bakha ukholo lwabo?

¹⁸ Xa simthemba ngokupheleleyo uYehova, uya kukholiswa sithi. Uya kuziphendula izicelo zethu zokholo olungakumbi, ukholo lwethu luya komelela ngakumbi kwaye siya ‘kufanelwa bubukumkani bukaThixo.’—2 Tesalonika 1:3, 5.