1. Iyiphi indlela engeyinhle abantu abaningi abazizwa ngayo, kuhlanganise namanye amaKristu eqiniso?

 INGABE uJehova uNkulunkulu uyakuthanda wena siqu? Abanye bayavuma ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyasithanda sonke isintu, njengoba kusho uJohane 3:16. Kodwa ngesikhathi esifanayo bangase bazizwe kanje: ‘Akukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu angangithanda mina siqu.’ Ngezinye izikhathi ngisho namaKristu eqiniso angase akungabaze lokho. Enye indoda edangele yathi: “Ngikuthola kunzima kabi ukukholelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyangikhathalela.” Ingabe nawe uzizwa ngale ndlela ngezinye izikhathi?

2, 3. Ubani ofuna sikholelwe ukuthi asiyinto yalutho noma asithandeki kuJehova, futhi singalwa kanjani nalowo mbono?

² USathane ufuna ngenkani ukusenza sikholelwe ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu akasithandi futhi akasazisi. Kuyiqiniso ukuthi uSathane uvame ukusizakala ngokuzidla nokuqhosha kwabantu, bese ebayenga ngakho. (2 Korinte 11:3) Kodwa uyakujabulela nokuqeda ukuzihlonipha kwabalimala kalula. (Johane 7:47-49; 8:13, 44) Lokhu kwenzeka nakakhulu kulezi ‘zinsuku zokugcina’ ezibucayi. Abaningi namuhla bakhulela emindenini ‘engenalo uthando.’ Abanye bahlale benabantu abanonya, abangamagovu nabanenkani. (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) Kungenzeka ukuthi ukuphathwa kabi isikhathi eside, ukubandlululwa, noma ukuzondwa kwabenza bakholelwa ukuthi abayinto yalutho noma abathandeki.

³ Uma nawe unemizwa emibi kanjalo, ungalilahli ithemba. Iningi lethu lizilahla ngecala kungafanele ngezinye izikhathi. Kodwa khumbula ukuthi iZwi likaNkulunkulu ‘elokuqondisa izinto’ ‘nokugumbuqela izinto ezimbelwe ngokuqinile.’ (2 Thimothewu 3:16; 2 Korinte 10:4) IBhayibheli lithi: “Siyoqinisekisa izinhliziyo zethu phambi kwakhe ngokuqondene  nanoma yini inhliziyo yethu engase isilahle kuyo, ngoba uNkulunkulu mkhulu kunezinhliziyo zethu futhi wazi zonke izinto.” (1 Johane 3:19, 20) Ake sifunde ngezindlela ezine imiBhalo esisiza ngazo ukuba ‘siqinisekise izinhliziyo zethu’ ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda.

4, 5. Umfanekiso kaJesu wondlunkulu ubonisa kanjani ukuthi sibalulekile kuJehova?

⁴ Okuqala, iBhayibheli lifundisa ngokuqondile ukuthi uNkulunkulu ubheka inceku yakhe ngayinye njengebalulekile. Ngokwesibonelo uJesu wathi: “Ondlunkulu ababili abathengiswa yini ngohlamvu lwemali lwenani elincane? Nokho ngeke kuwele phansi namunye wabo uYihlo angazi. Kodwa ngisho nezinwele ezisemakhanda enu zibaliwe zonke. Ngakho ningesabi; nina nibaluleke ngaphezu kondlunkulu abaningi.” (Mathewu 10:29-31) Cabanga ngalokho la mazwi kaJesu akusho ezilalelini zakhe zekhulu lokuqala.

⁵ Singase sizibuze ukuthi umuntu angawuthengelani nje undlunkulu. Ngosuku lukaJesu undlunkulu wawuyinyoni eshibhe kunazo zonke ezazidayiselwa ukudliwa. Phawula ukuthi umuntu wayethola izinyoni ezimbili ngohlamvu lwemali olulodwa lwenani elincane. Kodwa kamuva uJesu wathi uma umuntu ezimisele ukuthenga ngezinhlamvu ezimbili, wayethola izinyoni ezinhlanu hhayi ezine. Le nyoni eyibhansela yayenezelwa sengathi yayingabalulekile. Mhlawumbe lab’ ondlunkulu babengento yalutho kubantu, kodwa uMdali wayebabheka kanjani? UJesu wathi: “Akukho nowodwa kubo [ngisho nalo oyibhansela] olibalekayo kuNkulunkulu.” (Luka 12:6, 7) Manje kungenzeka ukuthi sesiyaliqonda iphuzu likaJesu. Uma uJehova ewazisa kangaka undlunkulu owodwa, umazisa kangakanani-ke umuntu! Njengoba uJesu achaza, uJehova wazi yonke into ngathi. Angithi ngisho nezinwele zekhanda lethu zibaliwe!

6. Kungani siqiniseka ukuthi uJesu wayengenzi ihaba uma ethi izinwele zekhanda lethu zibaliwe?

⁶ Izinwele zethu zibaliwe? Abanye bangase bathi uJesu  wayenza ihaba. Kodwa ake ucabange nje ngethemba lovuko. Yeka ukuthi uJehova kumele ukuba usazi kahle kangakanani ukuze aphinde asidale! Kuye sibaluleke kakhulu kangangokuthi ukhumbula yonke into ngathi, kuhlanganise nezici zethu zofuzo nazo zonke izinkumbulo nokuhlangenwe nakho kwethu esikuqongelele eminyakeni edlule. a Bekuyini-ke ukubala izinwele zethu—ezingaba ngu-100 000 ekhanda.

7, 8. (a) Yiziphi ezinye izimfanelo uJehova ajabulayo uma ezithola lapho ehlola izinhliziyo zabantu? (b) Yimiphi eminye imisebenzi esiyenzayo uJehova ayazisayo?

⁷ Okwesibili, iBhayibheli liyasifundisa ukuthi yini uJehova ayazisayo ezincekwini zakhe. Kalula nje, uyazijabulela izimfanelo zethu ezinhle nemizamo esiyenzayo. INkosi uDavide yatshela indodana yayo uSolomoni: “UJehova uhlola zonke izinhliziyo, futhi uqonda yonke imicabango nezifiso.” (1 IziKronike 28:9) Lapho uNkulunkulu ehlola izinhliziyo zabantu eziyizigidi eziyizinkulungwane kuleli zwe elinobudlova neligcwele inzondo, kumele ukuba ujabula kakhulu uma ethola inhliziyo ethanda ukuthula, iqiniso nokulunga! Kwenzekani lapho uNkulunkulu ethola inhliziyo emthanda ngothando oluchichimayo, efuna ukufunda ngaye nefuna ukuxoxela abanye ngalolo lwazi? UJehova usitshela ukuthi uyabaqaphela labo abaxoxela abanye ngaye. ‘Unanencwadi yenkumbulo’ yabo bonke “labo abesaba uJehova nalabo abacabanga ngegama lakhe.” (Malaki 3:16) Ziyigugu kuye izimfanelo ezinjalo.

⁸ Yimiphi eminye imisebenzi emihle uJehova ayazisayo? Ngokuqinisekile uyayazisa imizamo yethu yokulingisa iNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu. (1 Petru 2:21) Umsebenzi osemqoka  uNkulunkulu awazisayo ukusakaza izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso wakhe. KweyabaseRoma 10:15 siyafunda: “Ave zizinhle izinyawo zalabo abamemezela izindaba ezinhle zezinto ezinhle!” Singase singacabangi ukuthi izinyawo zethu esingazibukela phansi zinhle. Kodwa lapha zifanekisela imizamo eyenziwa izinceku zikaJehova ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle. Yonke leyo mizamo mihle futhi iyigugu kuye.—Mathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20.

9, 10. (a) Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyakwazisa ukukhuthazela kwethu lapho sibhekene nobunzima obuhlukahlukene? (b) Yimiphi imicabango eyiphutha ngezinceku zakhe ezithembekile engamfikeli uJehova?

⁹ UJehova uyakwazisa nokukhuthazela kwethu. (Mathewu 24:13) Khumbula ukuthi uSathane ufuna umshiye uJehova. Usuku ngalunye ohlala ngalo uthembekile kuJehova usuke usizile ekuphenduleni ukukloloda kukaSathane. (IzAga 27:11) Ngezinye izikhathi akulula ukukhuthazela. Izinkinga zempilo, zezimali, ukucindezeleka ngokomzwelo nezinye izithiyo kungenza usuku ngalunye lube umqansa. Ukuhlehliswa kwezinto ezilindelwe nakho kungakudikibalisa. (IzAga 13:12)  Ukukhuthazela naphezu kwezinkinga ezinjalo kuyigugu nakakhulu kuJehova. Yingakho nje iNkosi uDavide yacela uJehova ukuba agcine izinyembezi zayo ‘esigujini sesikhumba,’ yabe isinezela ngokuqiniseka: “Azilotshiwe yini encwadini yakho?” (IHubo 56:8) Yebo, uJehova uyazazisa futhi uyazikhumbula zonke izinyembezi nokuhlupheka esikukhuthazelelayo sibe sihlala sithembekile kuye. Nazo ziyigugu kuye.

¹⁰ Kodwa inhliziyo ezilahla ngecala ingase ibenqabe lobo bufakazi bokuthi sibalulekile kuNkulunkulu. Ingase ibelesele ithi: ‘Kodwa baningi nje abayisibonelo kakhudlwana kunami. Kumele ukuba akeve edumala uJehova uma engiqhathanisa nabo!’ UJehova akaqhathanisi; futhi akacabangi ngendlela engaboneleli noma enesihluku. (Galathiya 6:4) Izinhliziyo zethu uzifunda ngobuciko obukhulu futhi uyabazisa ubuhle obukuzo—ngisho noma bubuncane kakhulu.

11. Yini esingayifunda ngoJehova endleleni asingatha ngayo indaba ka-Abhiya?

¹¹ Okwesithathu, lapho uJehova esihlola, uyahlungisisa afune okuhle. Ngokwesibonelo, ngenkathi uJehova enquma ukuba kubulawe bonke abendlu yasebukhosini beNkosi uJerobowamu oyisihlubuki, wayala ukuba eyodwa yamadodana akhe, u-Abhiya, ingcwatshwe kahle. Kungani? ‘UJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli uthole kuye okuthile okuhle.’ (1 AmaKhosi 14:1, 10-13) Kunjengokungathi uJehova wahlunga enhliziyweni yaleyo nsizwa, wathola “okuthile okuhle” kuyo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwakukuncane noma kuwubala kangakanani lokho okuhle, uJehova wabona kufaneleka ukuba akuveze eZwini lakhe. Ngenxa yalokho okuhle, waze walivuza, walibonisa isihe esifanele lelo lungu elilodwa lomndeni wesihlubuki.

12, 13. (a) Indaba yeNkosi uJehoshafati ibonisa kanjani ukuthi uJehova ubheka okuhle kithi ngisho nalapho sona? (b) Ngokuqondene nemisebenzi yethu nezimfanelo zethu ezinhle, yini uJehova ayenzayo ebonisa ukuthi unguMzali onothando?

¹² Isibonelo esivelele nakakhulu esenkosi enhle uJehoshafati.  Lapho le nkosi yenza isenzo sobuwula, umprofethi kaJehova wathi kuyo: “Ngenxa yalokhu uJehova ukuthukuthelele.” Yeka amazwi asangulukisayo! Kodwa umyalezo kaJehova awugcinanga lapho. Waqhubeka: “Noma kunjalo, kukhona izinto ezinhle ezitholakale kuwe.” (2 IziKronike 19:1-3) Ngakho intukuthelo kaJehova yokulunga ayizange imenze ukuba angakuboni okuhle kuJehoshafati. Ave engafani nabantu abanesono! Uma abanye besicasulile, singase singakuboni okuhle kubo. Futhi lapho sona, indumalo, amahloni, nesazela kungase kusenze singakuboni okuhle kithi. Kodwa khumbula, uma siphenduka ezonweni zethu bese silwa kanzima ukuba singaziphindi, uJehova uyasithethelela.

¹³ Lapho uJehova ekuhlunga, uyazilahla izono ezinjalo, njengoba nje nomuntu ohlwaya igolide ewalahla amatshe amancane angenamsebenzi. Kuthiwani ngezimfanelo zakho nemisebenzi yakho emihle? Lokho-ke ‘kuyizigaxa zegolide’ azigcinayo! Wake waphawula ukuthi abazali abanothando bayazisa kangakanani imidwebo yezingane zabo noma imisebenzi yazo yesikole, ngisho sekudlule isikhathi eside izingane zayilibala? UJehova unguMzali onothando kunabo bonke. Uma nje sihlala sithembekile kuye, akalokothi ayikhohlwe imisebenzi yethu nezimfanelo zethu  ezinhle. Eqinisweni, angakubheka njengokuwukungalungi ukuyikhohlwa, kuyilapho akayena ongalungile. (Hebheru 6:10) Uyasihlunga nangenye indlela.

14, 15. (a) Kungani ukuba nesono kungamenzi uJehova angakuboni okuhle kithi? Fanekisa. (b) Yini uJehova ayoyenza ngezinto ezinhle azithola kithi, futhi ubabheka kanjani abantu bakhe abathembekile?

¹⁴ UJehova ubheka ngale kwamaphutha ethu, abone lokho esinamandla okukwenza. Ngokwesibonelo: Abantu abathanda imisebenzi yobuciko bangenza konke okusemandleni ukuze bavuselele imidwebo noma eminye imisebenzi yobuciko eyonakele kakhulu. Ngokwesibonelo, ngenkathi umuntu othile edubula umdwebo kaLeonardo da Vinci obiza amaRandi ayizigidi ezingu-340 eHholo Lesizwe Lemisebenzi Yobuciko eLondon eNgilandi, akukho muntu owasikisela ukuthi njengoba sewonakele, awulahlwe. Kwaqalwa khona manjalo ukulungisa lo mdwebo omuhle owawusuneminyaka ecela kwengu-500 ukhona. Kungani? Ngoba wawuyigugu kubathandi bobuciko. Wena awubalulekile yini ukwedlula umdwebo kashoki nomsizi? Ubaluleke ngempela kuNkulunkulu—noma ngabe isono osizuze njengefa senze umonakalo ongakanani kuwe. (IHubo 72:12-14) UJehova uNkulunkulu, uMdali wabantu oyiciko, uyokwenza lokho okudingekayo ukuze ababuyisele esimweni sokungabi nasono bonke abakwamukelayo ukunakekela kwakhe kothando.—IzEnzo 3:21; Roma 8:20-22.

¹⁵ Yebo, uJehova ubona okuhle kithi thina esingase singakuboni. Futhi njengoba simkhonza, uyokukhulisa lokho okuhle kuze kube yilapho sesingenaso isono ekugcineni. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi izwe likaSathane liye lasiphatha kanjani, uJehova wazisa izinceku zakhe ezithembekile njengeziyigugu.—Hagayi 2:7.

16. Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhulu kunabo bonke bokuthi uJehova uyasithanda, futhi sazi kanjani ukuthi lesi sipho siqondene nomuntu ngamunye?

¹⁶ Okwesine, kuningi uJehova akwenzayo ukuze afakazele ukuthi uyasithanda. Umhlatshelo wesihlengo kaKristu uwaphikisa  ngendlela ephumelela kakhulu amanga kaSathane athi asiyinto yalutho noma asithandeki. Akufanele neze sikhohlwe ukuthi ukufa okubuhlungu kukaJesu esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa nobuhlungu obukhulu nakakhulu uJehova abuzwa lapho ebukela iNdodana yakhe ayithandayo ifa kuwubufakazi bokuthi bayasithanda. Kuyadabukisa ukuthi abantu abaningi bakuthola kunzima ukukholelwa ukuthi lesi sipho siqondene nabo ngqo. Banomuzwa wokuthi asibafanele. Nokho, khumbula ukuthi umphostoli uPawulu wayekade engumshushisi wabalandeli bakaKristu. Kodwa wabhala: ‘INdodana kaNkulunkulu yangithanda futhi yazinikela ngenxa yami.’—Galathiya 1:13; 2:20.

17. UJehova usidonsela kanjani kuye naseNdodaneni yakhe?

¹⁷ UJehova ufakazela ukuthi uyasithanda ngokusiza umuntu ngamunye ukuba azuze emhlatshelweni kaKristu. UJesu wathi: “Akekho umuntu ongeza kimi ngaphandle kokuba uBaba ongithumile emdonsa.” (Johane 6:44) Yebo, nguJehova uqobo lwakhe osidonsela eNdodaneni yakhe nasethembeni lokuphila okuphakade. Kanjani? Ngomsebenzi wokushumayela othinta umuntu ngamunye oshunyayezwayo, nangomoya wakhe ongcwele, uJehova awusebenzisayo ukuze asisize siqonde amaqiniso angokomoya bese siwasebenzisa naphezu kokulinganiselwa nokuba nesono kwethu. Ngakho uJehova angasho okufanayo ngathi njengoba asho ngo-Israyeli: “Ngikuthande ngothando olungapheli. Yingakho ngikudonse ngothando oluqotho.”—Jeremiya 31:3.

18, 19. (a) Iyiphi indlela esithinta kunazo zonke uJehova abonisa ngayo ukuthi uyasithanda, futhi yini ebonisa ukuthi uzibambela mathupha lokhu? (b) IZwi likaNkulunkulu lisiqinisekisa kanjani ngokuthi uJehova uyisilaleli esinozwela?

¹⁸ Mhlawumbe ilungelo lomthandazo yilo elisenza sikuzwe ngendlela esithinta kunazo zonke ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda. IBhayibheli limema ngamunye wethu ukuba ‘athandaze njalo’ kuNkulunkulu. (1 Thesalonika 5:17) Uyalalela. Uze achazwe nangokuthi ‘ulalela imithandazo.’ (IHubo 65:2) Akasiphathisanga muntu lesi sikhundla, ngisho neNdodana yakhe. Cabanga nje: UMdali wendawo yonke usinxusa ukuba  size kuye ngomthandazo, ngenkululeko yokukhuluma. Uyisilaleli esinjani? Esingenamizwa, esingenandaba nesingakhathaleli? Cha.

¹⁹ UJehova unozwela. Luyini uzwela? Omunye umKristu osekhulile othembekile wathi: “Uzwela luwubuhlungu okubo wena engibuzwa enhliziyweni yami.” Ingabe uJehova uyabuzwa ngempela ubuhlungu esikubo? Ngokuqondene nokuhlupheka kwabantu bakhe, u-Israyeli, siyafunda: “Phakathi nakho konke ukucindezeleka kwabo wayecindezelekile naye.” (Isaya 63:9) UJehova akagcinanga ngokubona izinkathazo zabo; wabazwela. Ukuthi uJehova uzwela kakhulu kangakanani kuboniswa amazwi akhe siqu awasho ezincekwini zakhe: “Othinta nina uthinta inhlamvu yeso lami.” b (Zakariya 2:8) Akuve kungaba buhlungu lokho! Yebo, uJehova uyasizwela. Uma sizwa ubuhlungu, naye uyabuzwa.

20. Yikuphi ukucabanga okubonisa ukungahluzeki okumele sikugweme uma silalela iseluleko esikweyabaseRoma 12:3?

²⁰ Akekho umKristu ohluzekile engqondweni ongathatha lobo bufakazi bokuthi uNkulunkulu uyasithanda futhi uyasazisa abenze izaba zokuqhosha noma zokuzikhukhumeza. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Ngomusa omkhulu enginikwe wona, ngitshela wonke umuntu lapho phakathi kwenu ukuba angazicabangi emkhulu kunalokho okudingeka akucabange, kodwa acabange ukuze abe nengqondo ehluzekile, yilowo nalowo njengoba uNkulunkulu emnike isilinganiso esithile sokholo.” (Roma 12:3) Enye inguqulo ithi: “Kini nonke ngithi umuntu makangazibeki ngaphezu kwalokho ayikho ngempela, kodwa makazihlaziye ngokuhluzeka.” (A Translation in the Language of the People, kaCharles B. Williams) Ngakho njengoba sithokomele othandweni lukaBaba wethu wasezulwini, masihluzeke engqondweni sikhumbule ukuthi akukho lutho  esiyolwenza oluyosenza sifanelwe uthando lukaNkulunkulu.—Luka 17:10.

21. Yimaphi amanga kaSathane okumele siqhubeke siwenqaba, futhi yiliphi iqiniso laphezulu okumele siqhubeke siqinisekisa ngalo izinhliziyo zethu?

²¹ Ngamunye wethu makawenqabe ngamandla akhe onke wonke amanga kaSathane, kuhlanganise namanga athi asiyinto yalutho futhi asithandeki. Uma izinto obhekane nazo ekuphileni ziye zakufundisa ukuthi uyinkinga enkulu kakhulu ukuba uthando olukhulu kakhulu lukaNkulunkulu luyinqobe, noma ukuthi imisebenzi yakho emihle iwubala kakhulu ukuba amehlo akhe abona yonke indawo ayibone, noma ukuthi izono zakho ziningi kakhulu ukuba ukufa kweNdodana yakhe eyigugu kuzisibekele, ufundiswe amanga. Wenqabe ngenhliziyo yakho yonke lawo manga! Masiqhubeke siqinisekisa izinhliziyo zethu ngeqiniso elikula mazwi kaPawulu aphefumulelwe: “Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi nakufa nakuphila nazingelosi nahulumeni nazinto ezikhona manje nazinto ezizayo namandla nakuphakama nakujula nanoma iyiphi enye indalo ngeke kukwazi ukusihlukanisa nothando lukaNkulunkulu olukuKristu Jesu iNkosi yethu.”—Roma 8:38, 39.