1. Yisiphi isifiso esingokwemvelo sonke esinaso futhi sihlanganisani?

UZIZWA kanjani lapho umuntu omaziyo nomhloniphayo ekhohlwa igama lakho noma engakukhumbuli nhlobo? Lokho kungakwenza udikibale. Kungani? Ngenxa yokuthi ngamunye wethu unesifiso esingokwemvelo sokwamukelwa abanye. Sifuna abantu bangagcini nje ngokusibona kodwa sifuna bazi ukuthi singobani nokuthi yini esiyifezile.—Num. 11:16; Jobe 31:6.

2, 3. Yini engenzeka esifisweni sethu sokufuna ukwaziwa nokuthandwa? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

² Nokho, njengazo zonke ezinye izifiso ezingokwemvelo, isifiso sethu sokufuna ukwaziwa nokuthandwa singonakaliswa ukungapheleli kwethu. Lokho kungabangela ukuba seqise endleleni esifuna ukwaziwa ngayo. Izwe likaSathane libhebhethekisa isifiso sokufuna ukuvelela okubangela ukuba abantu bangamkhonzi uBaba wethu osezulwini, uJehova uNkulunkulu, okunguye ofanelwe ukudunyiswa.—IsAm. 4:11.

³ Ngosuku lukaJesu, abaholi benkolo abathile babenombono oyiphutha ngokwaziwa. UJesu waxwayisa abalandeli  bakhe: ‘Qaphelani ababhali abafisa ukuhambahamba begqoke izivatho futhi abathanda ukubingelelwa ezigcawini nasezihlalweni ezingaphambili emasinagogeni nasezindaweni ezivelele kunazo zonke ezidlweni zakusihlwa.’ Waqhubeka wathi: “Laba bayokwamukela isahlulelo esinzima ngokwengeziwe.” (Luka 20:46, 47) Ngokuphambene nalokho, uJesu wancoma umfelokazi ompofu owanikela ngemali encane okungenzeka ayizange iqashelwe abanye. (Luka 21:1-4) Kuyacaca ukuthi umbono kaJesu ngokuqashelwa wawuhluke kakhulu kowabanye. Lesi sihloko sizosisiza sibe nombono ofanele, owamukelwa uJehova uNkulunkulu.

4. Ufuna ukwaziwa nokuthandwa ubani futhi kungani?

⁴ Ukwaziwa ubani okungcono kakhulu? Lokhu kwaziwa akukona lokho abantu abazama ukukuthola kwezemfundo, kwezamabhizinisi nakwezokuzijabulisa zaleli zwe. Kunalokho, cabanga ngohlobo lokwaziwa uPawulu akhuluma ngakho kula mazwi: “Njengoba senimazi uNkulunkulu, noma kunalokho njengoba senaziwa nguNkulunkulu, kwenzeka kanjani ukuba niphinde nibuyele ezintweni zokucathula ezibuthakathaka neziwubala nifune ukubuye nibe izigqila zazo futhi?” (Gal. 4:9) Ngempela leli yilungelo elimangalisayo! ‘Ukwaziwa nguNkulunkulu,’ uMbusi Ophakeme wamazulu nomhlaba. UJehova uzimisele ukusondelana nathi, abe umngane wethu oseduze. Kunjengoba kwasho esinye isazi esathi, “Siba yimpahla yakhe ekhethekile.” Lapho uJehova esazi noma esibheka njengabangane bakhe, ukuphila kwethu kuba nenjongo.—UmSh. 12:13, 14.

5. Yini esingayenza ukuze saziwe uNkulunkulu?

⁵ UMose wasithola leso sibusiso. Lapho ecela uJehova ukuba amvumele azi izindlela zaKhe ngokugcwele, uJehova wathi kuye: “Nale nto futhi, okhulume ngayo, ngizoyenza, ngoba uthole umusa emehlweni ami futhi ngikwazi ngegama.” (Eks. 33:12-17) Nathi singathola izibusiso ezinhle lapho uJehova esazi ngegama. Kodwa yini esingayenza ukuze uJehova asazi? Singamthanda futhi sinikezele ukuphila kwethu kuye.—Funda eyoku-1 Korinte 8:3.

6, 7. Yini engaqeda ubungane bethu noJehova?

⁶ Nokho, kudingeka sibulondoloze ubuhlobo bethu obuyigugu noBaba wethu osezulwini. NjengamaKristu aseGalathiya uPawulu awabhalela incwadi, nathi kudingeka sigweme ukuba yizigqila zezinto “zokucathula ezibuthakathaka neziwubala” zaleli zwe, kuhlanganise nokufuna udumo lwezwe. (Gal. 4:9) Lawo maKristu angekhulu lokuqala ayesefinyelele ezingeni lokwaziwa uNkulunkulu. Nokho, uPawulu wathi wona la maKristu ‘ayebuyele ezintweni’ eziwubala. Empeleni uPawulu wayethi: “Ngemva kokuba senizikhandle kangaka, kungani niphindela ezintweni eziwubala, ezingelusizo lwalutho enizishiye ngemuva?”

⁷ Ingabe nathi singazithola sisesimweni esifanayo namuhla? Yebo. NjengoPawulu kungenzeka ukuthi ngesikhathi siqala ukwazi uJehova, sayeka ukufuna ukuvelela kuleli zwe likaSathane. (Funda eyabaseFilipi 3:7, 8.) Mhlawumbe sayeka amathuba okuthola imfundo ephakeme, noma kungenzeka senqaba isikhundla emsebenzini noma ithuba lokwenza imali eningi kwezamabhizinisi. Ikhono lethu lokucula noma elokudlala umdlalo othile lalingasilethela udumo nengcebo kodwa sakuyeka konke lokho. (Heb. 11:24-27) Kungaba ubuwula ngempela uma manje singazisola, sibheke lezo zinqumo  ezinhle esazenza ‘njengamathuba asilahlekela!’ Ukucabanga okunjalo kungasenza sigijimise lokho esazi kahle ukuthi yizinto “ezibuthakathaka neziwubala” zaleli zwe. *

8. Yini ezosenza sizimisele ukufuna ukwaziwa nokuthandwa uJehova?

⁸ Yini ezosenza sizimisele ukufuna ukwaziwa nokuthandwa uJehova hhayi izwe? Ukuze senze lokho, kudingeka sikhumbule amaqiniso amabili abalulekile. Elokuqala, uJehova uhlale ebaqaphela labo abamkhonza ngokwethembeka. (Funda eyamaHebheru 6:10; 11:6) Uzithanda kakhulu zonke izinceku zakhe futhi ukubheka ‘njengokungalungile’ ukungabanaki abantu abathembekile kuye. “UJehova uyabazi abangabakhe.” (2 Thim. 2:19) “Uyayazi indlela yabalungile” futhi uyayazi indlela yokubakhulula ekulingweni.—IHu. 1:6; 2 Pet. 2:9.

9. UJehova uye wabonisa kanjani ukuthi uyabathanda abantu bakhe? Nikeza izibonelo.

⁹ Ngezinye izikhathi, uJehova uye waveza ukuthi uyabanda abantu bakhe ngezindlela ezimangalisayo. (2 IziKr. 20:20, 29) Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngendlela uJehova asindisa ngayo abantu bakhe oLwandle Olubomvu lapho bejahwa uFaro nebutho lakhe elinamandla. (Eks. 14:21-30; IHu. 106:9-11) Lesi senzakalo sasibabazeka kangangokuthi abantu kuleyo ndawo babesakhuluma ngaso ngisho nangemva kweminyaka engu-40 senzeka. (Josh. 2:9-11) Yeka indlela okusikhuthaza ngayo ukukhumbula izenzakalo ezifana nalezi, ezibonisa uthando namandla kaJehova njengoba sizobhekana nokuhlasela kukaGogi wakwaMagogi okwabikezelwa kudala! (Hez. 38:8-12) Ngaleso sikhathi, siyojabula kakhulu ngokwazi ukuthi safuna ukwaziwa uNkulunkulu, hhayi izwe.

10. Yini okumelwe siyikhumbule mayelana nendlela uJehova abonisa ngayo ukuthi uyasithanda?

¹⁰ Kudingeka sikhumbule neqiniso lesibili elibalulekile: UJehova angabonisa ukuthi uyasithanda ngezindlela ebesingazilindele. Labo abenza izenzo ezinhle ukuze nje babonwe abantu iBhayibheli lithi uJehova ngeke abavuze nhlobo. Kungani? Kungenxa yokuthi umvuzo wabo bawuthola ngesikhathi bedunyiswa abantu. (Funda uMathewu 6:1-5.) Nokho, uJesu wathi uYise ubabuka ‘esekusithekeni’ labo abangakutholi ukunconywa okubafanele ngenxa yezinto ezinhle abazenzela abanye. Uyayibona imisebenzi yabo futhi uyovuza umuntu ngamunye ngendlela efanele. Nokho, ngezinye izikhathi uJehova usivuza ngezindlela esingazilindele. Ake sihlole izibonelo ezimbalwa.

11. UJehova wabonisa kanjani ukuthi uyamazi uMariya?

¹¹ Lapho kufika isikhathi sokuba iNdodana kaNkulunkulu izalwe ibe umuntu, uJehova wakhetha intombi nto eyayithobekile, uMariya, ukuba ibe ngumama wengane ekhethekile. UMariya wayehlala edolobheni eliphansi elibizwa ngokuthi yiNazaretha, leli dolobha laliqhelile eJerusalema nasethempelini lalo elihle. (Funda uLuka 1:26-33.) Kungani kwakhethwa uMariya? Ingelosi uGabriyeli yathi kuye, “Uthole umusa kuNkulunkulu.” UMariya wabonisa ukuthi wayenobuhlobo obuseduze noJehova lapho kamuva ekhuluma nesihlobo sakhe u-Elizabethe. (Luka 1:46-55) Yebo, uJehova  wayelokhu embhekile uMariya futhi wamnika ilungelo ayengalilindele ngenxa yokwethembeka kwakhe.

12, 13. UJehova wabonisa kanjani ukuthi uyamazi uJesu lapho ezalwa nangemva kwezinsuku ezingu-40 ngesikhathi uMariya eya naye ethempelini?

¹² Lapho uMariya ezala uJesu, uJehova akazange azitshele izikhulu ezivelele noma ababusi eJerusalema noma eBhetlehema ngalokho okwakwenzekile. Kunalokho, izingelosi zabonakala kubelusi abaphansi ababenakekela izimvu emadlelweni ngaphandle kweBhetlehema. (Luka 2:8-14) Laba belusi base behamba beyobona usana. (Luka 2:15-17) Yeka indlela uMariya noJosefa abamangala ngayo lapho bebona uJesu edunyiswa ngale ndlela! Cabanga umehluko okhona phakathi kwendlela uJehova enza ngayo izinto nendlela uDeveli enza ngayo izinto. Lapho uSathane ethumela ababhula ngezinkanyezi ukuba bavakashele uJesu nabazali bakhe, bonke eJerusalema bakhungatheka lapho bezwa ukuthi uJesu uzelwe. (Math. 2:3) Lesi saziso esenziwa obala sokuzalwa kukaJesu sabangela ukuba kubulawe izingane eziningi ezingenacala.—Math. 2:16.

¹³ Ngemva kwezinsuku ezingu-40 uJesu ezelwe, uMariya kwadingeka enze umhlatshelo kuJehova ethempelini eJerusalema elaliqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-9 eBhetlehema. (Luka 2:22-24) Njengoba uMariya ehamba noJosefa noJesu, kungenzeka wayezibuza ukuthi umpristi owengamele lapho wayezokhuluma yini ngendima ekhethekile uJesu ayezoyidlala esikhathini esizayo. UJesu waqashelwa, kodwa hhayi ngendlela uMariya ayeyilindele. Kunalokho, uJehova wasebenzisa uSimeyoni, indoda ‘eyayilungile futhi inenhlonipho,’ kanye nomfelokazi oneminyaka engu-84, umprofethikazi u-Ana, ukuba babone ukuthi le ngane yayizoba uMesiya othenjisiwe noma uKristu.—Luka 2:25-38.

14. Yiziphi izibusiso uMariya azithola kuJehova?

¹⁴ Kuthiwani ngoMariya? Ingabe uJehova wamvuza ngenxa yokunakekela nokukhulisa iNdodana yakhe ngokwethembeka? Yebo. UNkulunkulu wabangela ukuba izenzo namazwi kaMariya kulotshwe eBhayibhelini. Kubonakala sengathi izimo zazingavumi ukuba uMariya ahambe noJesu phakathi neminyaka emithathu nengxenye yenkonzo yakhe. Mhlawumbe njengoba ayengumfelokazi, uMariya kwakudingeka ahlale eNazaretha. Ngisho noma uMariya alahlekelwa amalungelo amaningi, wakwazi ukuba noJesu ngesikhathi efa. (Joh. 19:26) Nokho, kamuva, uMariya wayeseJerusalema kanye nabafundi ezinsukwini ezandulela iPhentekoste lapho kuthululwa umoya ongcwele. (IzE. 1:13, 14) Kungenzeka ukuthi naye wagcotshwa kanye nabanye ababekhona lapho. Uma kunjalo, lokhu kusho ukuthi wanikwa ithuba lokuba aphile noJesu ezulwini kuze kube phakade. Yeka umvuzo omuhle wenkonzo yakhe yokwethembeka!

15. Ngesikhathi uJesu esemhlabeni, uJehova wabonisa kanjani ukuthi uyamamukela?

¹⁵ UJesu akazange afise ukudunyiswa abaholi benkolo noma abaholi bezombusazwe bangosuku lwakhe. Kodwa yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba wakhuthazeka ngayo lapho uJehova ebonisa ukuthi uyamamukela ngokukhuluma ngokuqondile esezulwini izikhathi ezintathu. Ngemva nje kokuba uJesu ebhapathiziwe eMfuleni iJordani, uJehova wathi: “Lo yiNdodana yami ethandekayo, engiyamukele.” (Math. 3:17) Ngaphandle kukaJesu, kubonakala  sengathi nguJohane uMbhapathizi kuphela owezwa lawo mazwi. Kusasele unyaka ngaphambi kokuba uJesu afe, abaphostoli bakhe abathathu bezwa uJehova ethi ngoJesu: “Lo yiNdodana yami, ethandekayo, engiyamukele; mlaleleni.” (Math. 17:5) Ekugcineni, ngaphambi nje kwezinsuku ezimbalwa uJesu afe, uJehova waphinda wakhuluma neNdodana yakhe esezulwini.—Joh. 12:28.

16, 17. UJehova wamvuza kanjani uJesu ngendlela engalindelekile?

¹⁶ Ngisho noma uJesu ayazi ukuthi wayezofa ngendlela ehlazisayo nokuthi wayezobizwa ngomhlambalazi, wathandaza wacela ukuba kwenzeke intando kaJehova hhayi eyakhe. (Math. 26:39, 42) “Wakhuthazelela isigxobo sokuhlushwa,” efuna ukuthandwa uYise, hhayi izwe. (Heb. 12:2) UJehova wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayemthanda ngokujulile?

¹⁷ Ngesikhathi esemhlabeni, uJesu waveza isifiso sakhe sokubuyela enkazimulweni ayenayo ezulwini noYise. (Joh. 17:5) Akukho lutho olubonisa ukuthi uJesu wayefisa okungaphezu kwalokho. Wayengalindele ukukhushulelwa isikhundla ezulwini. Yini uJehova ayenza? Wavuza uJesu ngendlela ayengayilindele ngokumvusela “esikhundleni esiphakeme” nokumnika into okwakungekho muntu owayenayo—ukungafi! * (Fil. 2:9; 1 Thim. 6:16) Yeka indlela enhle amvuza ngayo uJesu ngenkambo yakhe yokwethembeka!

18. Yini ezosisiza sigweme ukufuna ukuthandwa yileli zwe?

¹⁸ Yini ezosisiza sigweme ukufuna ukuthandwa yileli zwe? Khumbula ukuthi uJehova uyazazi izinceku zakhe ezithembekile nokuthi ngokuvamile uzivuza ngezindlela ezingalindelekile. Asazi ukuthi silindelwe izibusiso ezinjani esikhathini esizayo. Okwamanje, njengoba sikhuthazelela ubunzima nezinkinga zaleli zwe elibi, masikhumbule njalo ukuthi leli zwe liyadlula kanye nakho konke elingase lisithembise kona. (1 Joh. 2:17) UBaba wethu onothando, uJehova, ‘akayena ongalungile ukuba akhohlwe umsebenzi wethu nothando esalubonisa kulo igama lakhe.’ (Heb. 6:10) Yebo, uyosibonisa umusa—mhlawumbe nangezindlela esingenakuzicabanga manje!