1-3. (a) AmaKristu aye abonisa kanjani ukuthi ayakulangazelela ukuhlangana ndawonye? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.) (b) Sizoxoxa ngani kulesi sihloko?

LAPHO uCorinna eneminyaka engu-17 ubudala, unina waboshwa wabe esethunyelwa ekamu lokufukuza elalikude. Kamuva, noCorinna wathunyelwa eSiberia eqhele ngezinkulungwane zamakhilomitha ukusuka kubo. Lapho, wayesebenza epulazini futhi ephathwa njengesigqila. Ngezinye izikhathi wayephoqeleka ukuba asebenze ngaphandle emakhazeni ebe engenazo izingubo zokugqoka ezifudumele. Nakuba kunjalo, uCorinna nomunye udade banquma ukuthi babezokwenza konke abangakwenza ukuze baye emhlanganweni webandla.

² UCorinna wathi: “Sasuka kusihlwa endaweni esasisebenza kuyo sahamba ngezinyawo saya esiteshini sesitimela esiqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-25. Isitimela sasuka ngehora lesibili entathakusa, futhi sahamba ngaso amahora ayisithupha ngaphambi kokuba sehle, sabe sesihamba ngezinyawo amakhilomitha ayishumi saya endaweni umhlangano owawuqhutshelwa kuyo.” UCorinna wajabula kakhulu ngokuthi wathatha  lolo hambo. Wathi: “Emhlanganweni, safunda INqabayokulinda sacula nezingoma zoMbuso. Kwaba yisenzakalo esakhayo nesiqinisa ukholo kithi.” Lab’ odadewethu ababili babuyela epulazini ngemva kwezinsuku ezintathu, kodwa umnikazi wepulazi wayengabonanga ngisho nokubona ukuthi babehambile.

³ Abantu bakaJehova bebelokhu bekulangazelela ukuba ndawonye. Ngokwesibonelo, amaKristu okuqala ayekulangazelela ukuhlangana ndawonye ukuze akhulekele uJehova futhi afunde ngaye. (IzEnzo 2:42) Cishe nawe uyakulangazelela ukuya emihlanganweni. Kodwa njengabo bonke abafowenu nodadewenu, ungase ukuthole kunzima ukuba khona njalo emihlanganweni. Mhlawumbe kudingeka usebenze amahora amaningi noma unokuningi okufanele ukwenze noma uhlale ukhathele. Pho, yini eyosisiza senze konke esingakwenza ukuze sibe khona emihlanganweni? ^[1] (Bheka umbhalo osekugcineni.) Singabakhuthaza kanjani esibafundela iBhayibheli nabanye ukuba babe khona njalo emihlanganweni? Lesi sihloko sizochaza ukuthi kungani ukuba khona emihlanganweni (1) kusizuzisa, (2) kubasiza abanye, futhi (3) kumjabulisa uJehova. ^[2]—Bheka umbhalo osekugcineni.

4. Ukuhlangana ndawonye kusisiza kanjani ukuba sifunde ngoJehova?

⁴ Imihlangano iyasifundisa. Umhlangano ngamunye usisiza sifunde okwengeziwe ngoJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, amabandla amaningi asanda kufunda incwadi ethi Sondela KuJehova eSifundweni SeBhayibheli Sebandla. Wazizwa kanjani lapho sixoxa ngezimfanelo zikaJehova nalapho uzwa indlela abafowethu abazizwa ngayo ngaye? Ngokuqinisekile lokhu kwakwenza wamthanda nakakhulu uJehova. Emihlanganweni, siphinde sifunde okwengeziwe ngeBhayibheli ngokulalelisisa izinkulumo nemiboniso nokufundwa kweBhayibheli. (Nehemiya 8:8) Cabanga nangezinto eziningi esizifundayo isonto ngalinye lapho silungiselela ukufundwa kweBhayibheli futhi sizwa lokho abanye abakufundile.

5. Imihlangano ikusize kanjani ukuba usebenzise okufunde eBhayibhelini nokuba uthuthukise indlela oshumayela ngayo?

⁵ Imihlangano isifundisa ukuba sikusebenzise ekuphileni kwethu lokho esikufunda eBhayibhelini. (1 Thesalonika 4:9, 10) Ngokwesibonelo, sikhona yini iSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda esakwenza wafuna ukwenza okwengeziwe enkonzweni kaJehova, wafuna ukuthuthukisa imithandazo yakho noma wafuna ukuthethelela umzalwane noma udade? Umhlangano esiba nawo phakathi nesonto ungasifundisa indlela yokushumayela izindaba ezinhle nendlela yokusiza abanye baqonde iqiniso eliseBhayibhelini.—Mathewu 28:19, 20.

6. Imihlangano yethu isikhuthaza futhi isisize kanjani ukuba sihlale siqinile?

⁶ Imihlangano iyasikhuthaza. Izwe likaSathane lizama ukwenza buthaka ukholo lwethu futhi lingasenza sizizwe sicindezelekile  futhi sidikibele. Kodwa imihlangano yethu iyasikhuthaza futhi isinike amandla okuqhubeka sikhonza uJehova. (Funda izEnzo 15:30-32.) Ngokuvamile sixoxa ngendlela iziprofetho eziseBhayibhelini ezigcwaliseke ngayo. Lokhu kungasenza siqiniseke nakakhulu ngokuthi izithembiso zikaJehova ngekusasa zizogcwaliseka. Abafowethu nodadewethu abagcini nje ngokusikhuthaza lapho benikeza izinkulumo, kodwa nalapho benikeza izimpendulo, nalapho bedumisa uJehova ngokuhlabelela ngokusuka enhliziyweni. (1 Korinte 14:26) Kanti lapho sixoxa nabo ngaphambi nangemva kwemihlangano, sizizwa siqabulekile ngoba sinabangane abaningi abasikhathalela ngempela.—1 Korinte 16:17, 18.

7. Kungani kubaluleke kangaka ukuba khona emihlanganweni yethu?

⁷ Emihlanganweni, sithola usizo lomoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu. UJesu usebenzisa lo moya ongcwele ukuze ahole amabandla. Empeleni, wasitshela ukuthi kufanele ‘sizwe lokho umoya okushoyo emabandleni.’ (IsAmbulo 2:7) Umoya ongcwele ungasisiza simelane nesilingo futhi sishumayele ngesibindi. Ungasisiza nokuba senze izinqumo ezinhle. Yingakho kumelwe senze konke esingakwenza ukuze sibe khona emihlanganweni futhi samukele usizo lomoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu.

8. Bazuza kanjani abafowethu lapho besibona emihlanganweni, nalapho besizwa siphendula futhi sicula? (Bheka nebhokisi elithi “ Uhlale Ehamba Esezizwa Engcono.”)

⁸ Emihlanganweni, sinamathuba okubonisa abafowethu nodadewethu ukuthi siyabathanda. Abaningi emabandleni ethu bakhuthazelela ubunzima obukhulu. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Masicabangelane.” (Hebheru 10:24, 25) Singabonisa ukuthi siyabakhathalela abafowethu ngokuhlangana ndawonye ukuze sikhuthazane. Lapho siya emihlanganweni, sibonisa abafowethu ukuthi sifuna ukuba nabo, sikhulume nabo nokuthi sinendaba nokuthi bazizwa kanjani. Siyabakhuthaza nalapho besizwa siphendula nalapho sihlabelela ngokusuka enhliziyweni.—Kolose 3:16.

9, 10. (a) Chaza ukuthi amazwi kaJesu alotshwe kuJohane 10:16 asisiza kanjani ukuba siqonde ukuthi kungani kubalulekile ukuhlangana nabafowethu. (b) Uma siba khona njalo emihlanganweni, singamsiza kanjani umuntu olahlwe umndeni wakhe?

 ⁹ Lapho siya emihlanganweni, sisiza ibandla ukuba lihlale lisondelene. (Funda uJohane 10:16.) UJesu wazifanisa nomalusi, kwathi abalandeli bakhe wabafanisa nomhlambi wezimvu. Cabanga ngalokhu: Uma izimvu ezimbili zisegqumeni, ezinye ezimbili zisemhosheni kanti eyodwa ikwenye indawo, ingabe lezo zimvu ezinhlanu ziwumhlambi? Cha, ngoba umhlambi wezimvu uba ndawonye futhi ulandela umalusi. Ngokufanayo, akufanele siqhelelane nabafowethu ngokungezi emihlanganweni. Kudingeka sihlangane ndawonye ukuze sibe yingxenye ‘yomhlambi owodwa’ futhi silandele ‘umalusi oyedwa.’

¹⁰ Imihlangano yethu isisiza ukuba sibe munye njengomndeni onothando. (IHubo 133:1) Abanye ebandleni baye balahlwa amalungu emindeni yabo aseduze, njengabazali noma abafowabo noma odadewabo. Kodwa uJesu wathembisa ukubanika umndeni ozobathanda nozobanakekela. (Marku 10:29, 30) Uma uba khona njalo emihlanganweni, ungaba njengobaba, umama, umfowabo noma udadewabo wothile ebandleni. Lapho sicabanga ngalokho, sifuna ukwenza konke esingakwenza ukuze sibe khona kuyo yonke imihlangano.

11. Ukuba khona emihlanganweni kusisiza kanjani ukuba sinike uJehova okumfanele?

¹¹ Emihlanganweni, sinika uJehova okumfanele. Njengoba enguMdali wethu, kufanele simbonge, simhloniphe futhi  simdumise. (Funda isAmbulo 7:12.) Lokhu singakwenza emihlanganweni lapho sithandaza kuJehova, simhlabelelela nalapho sikhuluma ngaye. Yeka ithuba elimangalisayo esinalo lokukhulekela uJehova isonto ngalinye!

12. Uzizwa kanjani uJehova lapho silalela umyalo wakhe wokuba khona emihlanganweni?

¹² UJehova wasidala futhi kufanele simlalele. Wasiyala ukuba siqhubeke sihlangana ndawonye, ikakhulukazi njengoba sisondela ekupheleni. Ngakho lapho silalela lowo myalo, uJehova uyajabula. (1 Johane 3:22) Uyaqaphela ukuthi sifuna ngempela ukuba khona emihlanganweni futhi uyayazisa yonke imizamo esiyenzayo ukuze sibe khona.—Hebheru 6:10.

13, 14. Sisondela kanjani kuJehova nakuJesu lapho sisemihlanganweni?

¹³ Lapho siya emihlanganweni, sibonisa uJehova ukuthi sifuna ukusondelana naye neNdodana yakhe. Emihlanganweni, sitadisha iBhayibheli futhi sifundiswe uJehova lokho okufanele sikwenze nendlela okufanele siphile ngayo. (Isaya 30:20, 21) Ngisho nalapho abanye abangamkhonzi uJehova beza emihlanganweni yethu, bayaqaphela ukuthi siqondiswa nguNkulunkulu. (1 Korinte 14:23-25) UJehova uqondisa imihlangano yethu ngomoya wakhe ongcwele, futhi lokho esikufunda kuyo kuvela kuye. Ngakho, lapho siya emihlanganweni, silalela lokho uJehova akushoyo, sibone indlela asithanda ngayo futhi sisondelane nakakhulu naye.

¹⁴ UJesu, iNhloko yebandla, wathi: “Lapho kukhona khona ababili noma abathathu bebuthene ndawonye ngegama lami, ngikhona lapho phakathi kwabo.” (Mathewu 18:20) IBhayibheli libuye lithi uJesu ‘uhamba phakathi’ kwamabandla. (IsAmbulo 1:20–2:1) Kusobala ukuthi uJehova noJesu bakanye nathi futhi bayasiqinisa emihlanganweni yethu. Ucabanga ukuthi uJehova uzizwa kanjani lapho ebona ukuthi wenza konke ongakwenza ukuze usondelane naye neNdodana yakhe?

15. Ukuba khona emihlanganweni kumbonisa kanjani uNkulunkulu ukuthi sifuna ukumlalela?

¹⁵ Lapho siya emihlanganweni, sibonisa uJehova ukuthi sifuna ukumlalela. UJehova akaphoqi muntu ukuba enze lokho akushoyo. (Isaya 43:23) Ngakho lapho sikhetha ukulalela umyalo wakhe wokuba khona emihlanganweni, simbonisa ukuthi siyamthanda nokuthi sikholelwa ukuthi unalo ilungelo lokusitshela lokho okufanele sikwenze. (Roma 6:17) Ngokwesibonelo, siyokwenzenjani lapho umqashi wethu elindele ukuba sisebenze njalo kangangokuba singasakwazi ukuba khona njalo emihlanganweni? Noma mhlawumbe uhulumeni uthi uma noma ubani ehlangana nabathile ukuze bakhulekele uJehova, kuyodingeka ahlawule, aboshwe noma athole isijeziso esinzima nakakhulu. Okukanye  ngezinye izikhathi singase simane sifise ukwenza enye into esikhundleni sokuya emihlanganweni. Esimweni ngasinye kulezi, kumelwe sinqume ukuthi sizokwenzani. (IzEnzo 5:29) Kodwa isikhathi ngasinye lapho sikhetha ukulalela uJehova, siyamjabulisa.—IzAga 27:11.

16, 17. (a) Sazi kanjani ukuthi imihlangano yayibaluleke kakhulu kumaKristu ekhulwini lokuqala? (b) UMfoweth’ uGeorge Gangas wayezizwa kanjani ngemihlangano yobuKristu?

¹⁶ Ngemva kokuhlangana ndawonye ngePhentekoste lonyaka ka-33, amaKristu aqhubeka ehlangana njalo ukuze akhulekele uJehova. ‘Aqhubeka ezinikela ekufundiseni kwabaphostoli nasekuhlanganeni ndawonye.’ (IzEnzo 2:42) Futhi awazange ayeke ukuhlangana ndawonye ngisho nalapho eshushiswa uhulumeni wamaRoma nangabaholi benkolo bamaJuda. Nakuba kwakungelula, enza konke ayengakwenza ukuze aqhubeke ehlangana ndawonye.

¹⁷ Nanamuhla, izinceku zikaJehova ziyazisa kakhulu imihlangano futhi ziyakujabulela ukuba kuyo. UGeorge Gangas, owaba yilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo iminyaka engaphezu kwengu-22, wathi: “Ukuhlangana nabafowethu kungenye yezinto ezingijabulisa kakhulu futhi kungumthombo wesikhuthazo. Uma kungenzeka, ngithanda ukuba phakathi kwabafika kuqala eHholo LoMbuso, nohamba nabokugcina. Ngijabula kakhulu lapho ngixoxa nabantu bakaNkulunkulu. Lapho ngiphakathi kwabo ngizizwa ngisekhaya, epharadesi elingokomoya.” Wanezela: “Into engihlale ngicabanga ngayo neyisifiso sami esijulile, ukuba khona emihlanganweni.”

18. Uzizwa kanjani ngemihlangano yethu futhi yini ozimisele ukuyenza?

¹⁸ Ingabe nawe uzizwa ngaleyo ndlela ngokukhulekela uJehova? Uma kunjalo, yenza konke ongakwenza ukuze ube kanye nabafowenu emihlanganweni, ngisho noma kunzima. Bonisa uJehova ukuthi ngempela uzizwa njengeNkosi uDavide, eyathi: “Jehova, ngiyithandile indawo yokuhlala yendlu yakho.”—IHubo 26:8.