1. Yini efika engqondweni yakho lapho ucabanga ngoJehova?

 WAKE wazama yini ukucabanga ukuthi uJehova unjani? Lapho uthandaza kuye, yini efika engqondweni yakho? Nakuba uJehova engabonakali, iBhayibheli limchaza ngezindlela eziningi. UJehova ubizwa ngokuthi “uyilanga nehawu” nangokuthi “ungumlilo oqothulayo.” (Hu 84:11; Heb 12:29) Ukuba khona kwakhe kuthiwa kufana netshe lesafire, igolide elicwebezelayo elixutshwe nesiliva nothingo olugqamile. (Hez 1:​26-28) Ezinye zezindlela uJehova achazwa ngazo zingase zisishiye sibambe ongezansi noma zingase zisethuse.

2. Yini engenza abanye bangasondeli kuJehova?

² Ngenxa yokuthi uJehova asimboni kungase kube nzima ukukholelwa ukuthi uyasithanda. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi akasoze abathanda ngenxa yezinto ezabehlela. Mhlawumbe abakaze babe nobaba obathandayo. UJehova uyayiqonda imizwa enjalo nendlela esenza sizizwe ngayo. Ukuze asisize, usembulela ubuntu bakhe obuhle eZwini lakhe.

3. Kungani kufanele sifunde ngothando lukaJehova?

³ Igama elimchaza kahle kakhulu uJehova uthando. (1 Joh. 4:8) UJehova uyilo uthando. Konke akwenzayo ukwenza ngothando. Uthando lukaNkulunkulu lunamandla futhi lukhulu kangangokuba uze athande ngisho nalabo abangamthandi. (Math. 5:​44, 45) Kulesi sihloko, sizofunda ngoJehova nangothando lwakhe. Lapho sifunda ngokwengeziwe ngoNkulunkulu wethu, sizomthanda nakakhulu.

UJEHOVA USITHANDA KAKHULU

4. Uthando lukaJehova lukwenza uzizwe kanjani? (Bheka nesithombe.)

⁴ “UJehova unothando olukhulu.” (Jak. 5:11) EBhayibhelini uzifanisa nomama onothando. (Isaya 66:​12, 13) Ake ucabange ngomama onakekela umntwana wakhe ngothando. Njengoba emphethe ulokhu emgxumisa emathangeni akhe amteketise. Lapho ekhala noma ezwa ubuhlungu, umnika akudingayo.  Lapho nathi sizwa ubuhlungu singaqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uyasithanda. Umhubi wabhala: “Lapho ngikhungethwe yizinkathazo, wangiduduza wangenza ngazola.”—IHu. 94:19.

5. Lusho ukuthini kuwe uthando lukaJehova oluqotho?

⁵ UJehova uqotho. (IHu. 103:8) Akayeki ukusithanda lapho senza okungalungile. Isizwe sakwa-Israyeli samdumaza kaningi uJehova; noma kunjalo, wabonisa abantu bakhe ababephendukile uthando olungapheli ngokusho la mazwi: “Ube yigugu emehlweni ami, wadunyiswa futhi ngakuthanda.” (Isaya 43:​4, 5) Uthando lukaNkulunkulu alushintshile. Singathembela njalo kulo. Ngisho nalapho senze amaphutha amakhulu, uJehova akasilahli. Lapho siphenduka sibuyele kuye, uyobe esasithanda. Uthembisa ukuthi ‘uzosithethelela.’ (Isaya 55:7) IBhayibheli lichaza lokhu kuthethelela ngokuthi kuletha “izinkathi zokuqabuleka . . . zivela kuJehova uqobo.”—IzE. 3:19.

6. UZakariya 2:8 usifundisani ngoJehova?

⁶ Funda uZakariya 2:8. Ngenxa yokuthi uJehova uyasithanda, uyashesha ukubona indlela esizizwa ngayo futhi uzimisele ukusivikela. Lapho sizwa ubuhlungu naye uyabuzwa. Ngenxa yalokho, singathandaza kufanele sithi: “Ngiqaphe njengenhlamvu yeso lakho.” (IHu. 17:8) Iso liyilunga lomzimba elisheshayo ukuzwela neliyigugu. Ngakho lapho uJehova esifanisa nenhlamvu yeso lakhe, kufana nokuthi uthi, ‘noma ubani nje onithintayo kufana nokuthi uthinta mina.’

7. Kungani kungase kudingeke siziqinisekise ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda?

⁷ UJehova ufuna siqiniseke ukuthi uthanda ngamunye wethu. Kodwa uyazi ukuthi ngenxa yezinto ezasehlela esikhathini esidlule, singase sizibuze ukuthi kungenzeka ngempela yini asithande. Noma kungenzeka njengamanje sibhekene nezimo ezisenza singabaze ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda. Yini ezosenza siqiniseke ukuthi uyasithanda? Ukufunda ngendlela uJehova abonisa ngayo uthando kuJesu, abagcotshiwe nakithi sonke.

INDLELA UJEHOVA ABONISA NGAYO UTHANDO

8. Kungani uJesu ayeqiniseka ukuthi uBaba wakhe uyamthanda?

⁸ Kwaphela iminyaka eminingi, uJehova neNdodana yakhe bethandana ngokujulile.  Babendawonye isikhathi eside ukwedlula noma yibaphi abanye abantu. UJehova washo ngokucacile ukuthi uyamthanda uJesu, njengoba sifunda kuMathewu 17:5. UJehova wayengamane athi nje, ‘Lona ngimamukele.’ Nokho, wayefuna sazi ukuthi umthanda kangakanani uJesu, ngakho wathi ‘Ndodana yami, ethandekayo.’ UJehova wayeziqhenya ngoJesu nangalokho ayesazokwenza. (Efe. 1:7) UJesu wayengangabazi nakancane ukuthi uBaba wakhe uyamthanda. Uthando lukaJehova ngoJesu lwalulukhulu kangangokuba uJesu wayeluzwa ngaphakathi ekujuleni. Washo ngokuphindaphindiwe nangokuqiniseka ukuthi uBaba wakhe uyamthanda.—Joh. 3:35; 10:17; 17:24.

9. Yimaphi amazwi achaza ukuthi uJehova uyabathanda abagcotshiwe? Chaza. (Roma 5:5)

⁹ UJehova uthi uyabathanda nabagcotshiwe. (Funda eyabaseRoma 5:5.) Phawula igama elithi ‘thulula.’ Enye incwadi echaza iBhayibheli ithi “lugelezela kithi njengomfula.” Waze wanamandla lomfanekiso ogcizelela ukuthi uJehova ubathanda kakhulu kangakanani abagcotshiwe! Abagcotshiwe bayazi ukuthi ‘uNkulunkulu uyabathanda.’ (Jude 1) Umphostoli uJohane washo indlela azizwa ngayo lapho ebhala: “Bonani ukuthi luhlobo luni lothando uBaba asinike lona, ukuba sibizwe ngokuthi singabantwana bakaNkulunkulu!” (1 Joh. 3:1) UJehova uthanda abagcotshiwe kuphela yini? Cha, uJehova usithanda sonke.

10. Yisiphi isenzo esikhulu kunazo zonke esibonisa ukuthi uJehova uyakuthanda?

¹⁰ Yisiphi isenzo esikhulu kunazo zonke esisiqinisekisa ngokuthi uJehova uyasithanda? Isihlengo—yisenzo esikhulu kunazo zonke ezulwini nasemhlabeni. (Joh. 3:16; Roma 5:8) UJehova wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe eyigugu, wayivumela ukuba ifele bonke abantu ukuze sithethelelwe izono futhi sibe abangani baKhe. (1 Joh. 4:10) Lapho sizindla ngokwengeziwe ngalokho uJehova noJesu abakudela, siyokuqonda nakakhulu ukuthi basithanda kangakanani. (Gal. 2:20) Isihlengo asikhokhelwanga ukufeza isivumelwano esingokomthetho esingasho lutho. Siyisipho esibonisa uthando. UJehova ubonise ukuthi uyasithanda ngokunikela okuyigugu kunakho konke kuye—uJesu. UJehova wavumela ukuba iNdodana yakhe izwe ubuhlungu futhi ife ngenxa yethu.

11. Yini esiyifunda kuJeremiya 31:3?

¹¹ UJehova akagcini nje ngokusithanda, kodwa uyasitshela nokuthi uyasithanda. (Funda uJeremiya 31:3.) UJehova usidonsele kuye ngenxa yokuthi uyasithanda. (Qhathanisa noDuteronomi 7:​7, 8.) Akukho lutho futhi akukho muntu oyosehlukanisa nalolo thando. (Roma 8:​38, 39) Lukwenza uzizwe kanjani wena lolu thando? Funda iHubo 23, ubone ukuthi uthando nokukhathalela kukaJehova kwaba namuphi umphumela kuDavide nokuthi kungaba namuphi umphumela kithi.

UTHANDO LUKAJEHOVA LUKWENZA UZIZWE KANJANI?

12. Ungalifingqa kanjani iHubo 23?

¹² Funda iHubo 23:​1-6. IHubo 23 liyingoma uDavide ayesho kuyo ukuthi uyaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyamthanda futhi uyamkhathalela. UDavide, umbhali waleli hubo, uchaza isibopho esiqinile esasikhona phakathi kwakhe noMalusi wakhe, uJehova. UDavide wayezizwa ephephile lapho evumela uJehova ukuba amqondise futhi wayencike kuye ngokuphelele. UDavide wayazi ukuthi uJehova wayeyomthanda ukuphila kwakhe konke. Yini eyayimenza aqiniseke kangaka?

13. Kungani uDavide ayeqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uzomnakekela?

¹³ “Ngeke ngiswele lutho.” UDavide wayezizwa  enakekelwe kahle ngoba uJehova wayemnikeza njalo izinto azidingayo. UDavide waphinde wajabulela ukuba umngani kaJehova nokwamukelwa nguye. Yingakho ayeqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uzoqhubeka ezinakekela zonke izidingo zakhe, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ikusasa limphatheleni. Ngenxa yokuthi uDavide wayazi ukuthi uJehova uyamthanda futhi uzomnakekela akazange akhathazeke, kunalokho wayejabule futhi enelisekile.—IHu. 16:11.

14. UJehova angase asibonise kanjani ukuthi uyasikhathalela?

¹⁴ UJehova uyasikhathalela, ikakhulukazi lapho sehlelwa izinto ezimbi. UClaire, a oseneminyaka engaphezu kuka-20 ekhonza eBethel, wayengazi ukuthi enzenjani lapho umndeni wakubo wehlelwa izinto ezibuhlungu zilandelana. Ubaba wakhe waba nesifo sohlangothi esamshiya ekhubazekile, omunye wodadewabo wasuswa, umndeni wakubo walahlekelwa ibhizinisi elincane nomuzi wakubo. UJehova wababonisa kanjani ukuthi uyabathanda? UClaire uthi: “UJehova wayeqikelela ukuthi umndeni wakithi wawuhlale unakho owawukudinga usuku ngalunye. UJehova wayelokhu esinika okungaphezu kwalokho esasikudinga! Ngivame ukucabanga ngezikhathi uJehova angibonisa ngazo uthando futhi ngeke ngizikhohlwe lezo zikhathi. Ukukhumbula lezo zikhathi kungisizile ngaqhubeka ngikhonza uJehova nalapho ngivivinywa.”

15. Kungani uDavide azizwa enamandla? (Bheka nesithombe.)

¹⁵ “Ungipha amandla.”  Ngezinye izikhathi, uDavide wayezizwa ecindezelekile ngenxa yazo zonke izinkinga novivinyo ayebhekene  nalo. (IHu. 18:​4-6) Noma kunjalo, uthando nokukhathalela kukaJehova kwamnika amandla. UJehova wayisa umngani wakhe okhathele “emadlelweni aluhlaza” ‘nasezindaweni zokuphumula ezinamanzi anele.’ Ngenxa yalokho, uDavide wathola amandla wakwazi ukuqhubeka ekhonza uJehova.—IHu. 18:​28-32.

16. Wena uwathole kanjani amandla ngenxa yothando lukaJehova?

¹⁶ Ngokufanayo namuhla, “ngenxa yothando lukaJehova oluqotho asizange sishabalale” lapho sishikiliswa izinkinga zokuphila. (IsiL. 3:22; Kol. 1:11) Cabanga ngesibonelo sikaRachel. Wahlukumezeka kakhulu lapho umyeni wakhe emshiya, eshiya noJehova ngesikhathi sobhubhane lwe-COVID-19. Yini uJehova amenzela yona? Uthi: “UJehova waqiniseka ukuthi ngizizwa ngithandwa. Wayenza kuhlale kunabafowethu nodadewethu abachitha isikhathi nami, bangilethele ukudla, bangithumelele imiyalezo nemibhalo, bangenze ngihleke, bangikhumbuze nokuthi uJehova uyangikhathalela. Ngimbonga angiqedi uJehova ngokungipha umndeni omkhulu onothando.”

17. Kungani uDavide ‘ayengesabi lutho olubi’?

¹⁷ “Angesabi lutho olubi, ngoba wena unami.” Izikhathi eziningi ukuphila kukaDavide kwakusengozini futhi wayenezitha eziningi ezinamandla. Noma kunjalo, uthando lukaJehova lwamenza wazizwa ephephile futhi evikelekile. UDavide wayezwa ukuthi uJehova uyamsekela kuzo zonke izimo futhi lokho kwamqinisa idolo. Yingakho ahlabelela wathi: ‘[UJehova] ungikhulule kukho konke engikwesabayo.’ (IHu. 34:4) UDavide wayesaba izinto okwakufanele azesabe, kodwa uthando lukaJehova lwalunamandla kunalezo zinto ayezesaba.

18. Ukwazi ukuthi uJehova uyakuthanda kungakunika kanjani amandla lapho wesaba?

¹⁸ Ukwazi ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda kusinika kanjani amandla lapho sibhekene nezimo ezesabisayo? USusi oyiphayona uchaza indlela yena nomyeni wakhe abazizwa ngayo lapho indodana yabo izibulala: “Ukwehlelwa inhlekelele ungalindele kukushiya ukhungathekile futhi uzizwa ungenamandla. Kodwa uthando lukaJehova lusenze sazizwa silondekile futhi sivikelekile.” URachel, okukhulunywe ngaye ekuqaleni uyakhumbula: “Ngelinye ilanga ebusuku lapho inhliziyo yami ibuhlungu, ngikhathazeke kakhulu futhi ngesaba, ngathandaza kuJehova ngidinda isililo. Ngaso leso sikhathi ngezwa ukuthi uJehova uyayithoba inhliziyo yami futhi ungenza ngizole, njengomama eshushuzela ingane yakhe,  ngabe sengizumeka. Angisoze ngasikhohlwa leso sikhathi.” Umdala okuthiwa uTasos waboshwa iminyaka emine ejele ngoba enqaba ukujoyina ibutho lezempi. Wabona kanjani ukuthi uJehova uyamthanda futhi uyamkhathalela? Uthi: “UJehova wanginika okungaphezu kwengangikudinga. Lokhu kwangenza ngaqiniseka nakakhulu ukuthi ngingathembela kuye ngokuphelele. Wangisiza nangomoya wakhe ngajabula nakuba ngangisendaweni engenza ngicindezeleke. Lokhu kwangiqinisekisa ngokuthi uma ngethembela ngokwengeziwe kuJehova, ngiyoluzwa nakakhulu uthando lwakhe. Ngakho ngaqala ukukhonza njengephayona elivamile ngesikhathi ngisejele.”

SONDELA KUNKULUNKULU WAKHO ONOTHANDO

19. (a) Ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyasithanda kuyoyithinta kanjani indlela esithandaza ngayo? (b) Yikuphi okuthanda kakhulu endleleni okuchazwe ngayo uthando lukaJehova? (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ Amazwi Asisiza Siluzwe Uthando LukaJehova Olufudumele.”)

¹⁹ Izinto esixoxe ngazo ezehlele abanye zonke zibonisa ukuthi uJehova, “uNkulunkulu wothando,” unathi! (2 Kor. 13:11) Uyathanda ukwazi ukuthi kwenzekani kumuntu ngamunye. Siyaqiniseka ngokuthi ‘sivikelwe uthando lwaKhe oluqotho.’ (IHu. 32:10) Lapho sizindla ngokwengeziwe ngezindlela asibonisa ngazo uthando, uba ngokoqobo nakakhulu kithi futhi sisondelana naye nakakhulu. Singakhuluma naye noma nini, simtshele indlela esiludinga ngayo uthando lwakhe. Singamtshela zonke izinto ezisikhathazayo, siqiniseka ngokuthi uyasiqonda nokuthi uyakulangazelela ukusisiza.—IHu. 145:​18, 19.

20. Uthando lukaJehova lusenza kanjani sisondele nakakhulu kuye?

²⁰ Njengoba nje ngosuku olubandayo sikuthanda ukuba seduze komlilo ukuze sifudumale, uthando lukaJehova olufudumele lusidonsela kuye ngendlela efanayo. Uthando lukaJehova lunamandla kakhulu. Ngakho jabula ngokuthi uJehova uyakuthanda. Kwangathi sonke singalwamukela uthando lwakhe ngokuthi sithi: “Ngiyamthanda uJehova”!—IHu. 116:1.