1. Sazi kanjani ukuthi uJehova uyafuna ukusondela kithi?

 UJEHOVA usimema ukuba sisondele kuye. (Jak. 4:8) Ufuna ukuba nguNkulunkulu wethu, uBaba wethu noMngane wethu. Uphendula imithandazo yethu, asisize ezikhathini ezinzima. Usebenzisa nenhlangano yakhe ukuze asifundise futhi asivikele. Kodwa yini thina okumelwe siyenze ukuze sisondele kuJehova?

2. Singasondela kanjani kuJehova?

² Singasondela kuJehova ngokuthandaza nangokufunda iZwi lakhe sizindle ngalo. Njengoba silifunda futhi sizindla ngalo, simthanda futhi simazise nakakhulu. Lokho kusenza simlalele futhi simnike udumo olumfanele. (IsAm. 4:11) Lapho simazi kangcono uJehova, siyomethemba nakakhulu, sethembe nenhlangano ayimisile ukuze isisize.

3. UDeveli uzama kanjani ukusihlukanisa noJehova, kodwa yini ezosisiza singalokothi sishiye uNkulunkulu wethu nenhlangano yakhe? (IHubo 31:13, 14)

³ Nokho, uDeveli uzama ukusihlukanisa noJehova, ikakhulukazi lapho sinezinkinga. Yimaphi amaqhinga awasebenzisayo? Kancane kancane uzama ukusenza siyeke ukuthembela kuJehova nasenhlanganweni yakhe. Kodwa singalwa namaqhinga akhe. Uma ukholo lwethu luqinile futhi simethemba uJehova, ngeke simshiye uNkulunkulu wethu nenhlangano yakhe.​—Funda iHubo 31:13, 14.

4. Sizoxoxa ngani kulesi sihloko?

⁴ Kulesi sihloko, sizoxoxa ngezinselele ezintathu ezingase zivele ngaphandle kwebandla, zisenze singabe sisamethemba uJehova nenhlangano yakhe. Lezi zinselele zingasihlukanisa  kanjani noJehova? Yini esingayenza ukuze silwe nemizamo kaSathane?

5. Izinkinga zingasenza kanjani singamethembi uJehova nenhlangano yakhe?

⁵ Ngezinye izikhathi siba nezinkinga​—njengokuphikiswa umndeni noma ukuphelelwa umsebenzi. Izinkinga ezinjalo zingasenza kanjani singayethembi inhlangano kaJehova futhi zisihlukanise naye? Lapho sikhuthazelela ubunzima isikhathi eside, singase siphelelwe ithemba futhi sicindezeleke. USathane akawayeki amathuba anjalo, uzama ukusenza singabaze ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda. UDeveli ufuna sicabange ukuthi nguJehova noma inhlangano yaKhe esibangela ukuba sihlupheke. Kwenzeka into efanayo kwamanye ama-Israyeli eGibhithe. Ekuqaleni, ayekholelwa ukuthi uJehova wayemise uMose no-Aroni ukuze awakhulule ebugqilini. (Eks. 4:29-31) Kodwa kamuva lapho uFaro esiqinisa nakakhulu isandla, asola uMose no-Aroni ngezinkinga zawo, athi kubo: “Nenze uFaro nezinceku zakhe basenyanya, nabeka nenkemba esandleni sabo ukuze basibulale.” (Eks. 5:19-21) Asola izinceku zikaNkulunkulu eziqotho. Kwakudabukisa ngempela! Uma ubulokhu ukhuthazelela izinkinga isikhathi eside, ungaqhubeka kanjani umethemba uJehova nenhlangano yakhe?

6. Sifundani kumprofethi uHabakuki ngendlela yokubhekana nezinkinga? (Habakuki 3:17-19)

⁶ Thulula isifuba sakho kuJehova ngomthandazo futhi uncike kuye ukuze akusekele. Umprofethi uHabakuki wabhekana nezinkinga eziningi. Kunesikhathi lapho acabanga ukuthi uJehova akasenandaba naye. Ngakho, wathulula isifuba sakhe kuJehova ngomthandazo. Wathi: “O Jehova, kuyoze kube nini, ngikhala ngicela usizo kodwa ungezwa? . . . Kungani ubekezelela ukucindezela?” (Hab. 1:2, 3) UJehova wawuphendula umthandazo osuka enhliziyweni wenceku yakhe eqotho. (Hab. 2:2, 3) Ngemva kokuzindla ngendlela uJehova asindisa ngayo abantu bakhe, uHabakuki waphinde wajabula. Waqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyamkhathalela nokuthi wayezomsiza akhuthazelele noma yiluphi uvivinyo. (Funda uHabakuki 3:17-19.) Sifundani kulokhu? Lapho unezinkinga, thandaza kuJehova umtshele indlela ozizwa ngayo. Ncika kuye ukuze akusekele. Uma wenza kanjalo, ungaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzokunika amandla owadingayo ukuze ukhuthazele. Lapho umbona ekusekela, ukholo lwakho luyoqina nakakhulu.

7. Izihlobo zikaShirley zazama ukwenzani, futhi yini eyamsiza waqhubeka ethembele kuJehova?

⁷ Qhubeka wenza izinto ezikusondeza kuJehova. Cabanga ngendlela okwamsiza ngayo ukwenza kanjalo uShirley, udade wasePapua New Guinea, lapho ebhekene nezinkinga. * Umndeni kaShirley wawuhlupheka futhi ngezinye izikhathi wawungakwazi ukuthola ukudla okwanele. Isihlobo sakhe sazama ukumenza angabe esamethemba uJehova. Sathi: “Wena ulokhu uthi umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu uyakusiza, pho luphi lolo sizo? Umndeni usahlupheka. Uzidlalela ngesikhathi nje ngokulokhu ushumayela.” UShirley uyavuma: “Ngazibuza: ‘Ingabe uNkulunkulu uyasikhathalela noma akanandaba nathi?’ Ngakho, ngokushesha ngathandaza kuJehova ngamtshela konke okwakusenhliziyweni yami. Angiyekanga ukufunda iBhayibheli nezincwadi zethu futhi ngaqhubeka ngishumayela ngiya nasemihlanganweni.” Ngokushesha waqaphela ukuthi uJehova wayevele ewunakekela umndeni wakhe. Umndeni  wakhe wawungakaze ulambe futhi wawujabule. UShirley uthi: “Ngabona ukuthi uJehova uyiphendulile imithandazo yami.” (1 Thim. 6:6-8) Uma unamathela ezintweni ezikusondeza kuJehova, nawe ngeke uvumele izinkinga noma ukungabaza kukuhlukanise noJehova.

8. Yini engenzeka kubazalwane abaholayo enhlanganweni kaJehova?

⁸ Ngemithombo yezindaba nezingosi zokuxhumana, izitha zethu zisakaza amanga ngabazalwane abaholayo enhlanganweni kaJehova. (IHu. 31:13) Abanye abazalwane baye baboshwa futhi bagwetshwa. AmaKristu angekhulu lokuqala abhekana nesimo esifanayo lapho umphostoli uPawulu emangalelwa ngamanga futhi eboshwa. Yini ayenza lawo maKristu?

9. Yini eyenziwa amanye amaKristu lapho umphostoli uPawulu eboshiwe?

⁹ Amanye amaKristu angekhulu lokuqala ayeka ukusekela umphostoli uPawulu ngesikhathi eboshiwe eRoma. (2 Thim. 1:8, 15) Kungani? Ingabe ayenamahloni ngoPawulu ngenxa yokuthi umphakathi wawumbheka njengesigebengu? (2 Thim. 2:8, 9) Noma ingabe ayesaba ukuthi nawo ayezoshushiswa? Noma ngabe sasiyini isizathu, cabanga nje ukuthi uPawulu wazizwa kanjani. Wayekhuthazelele izinkinga eziningi, waze ngisho wafaka ukuphila kwakhe engozini ngenxa yawo. (IzE. 20:18-21; 2 Kor. 1:8) Kwangathi singelokothe sifane nalabo abamlahla umphostoli uPawulu ngesikhathi edinga usizo! Yini okufanele siyikhumbule lapho abazalwane abaholayo beshushiswa?

10. Yini okufanele siyikhumbule lapho abazalwane abaholayo beshushiswa futhi kungani?

¹⁰ Khumbula ukuthi kungani sishushiswa nokuthi ubani oyimbangela yako. Eyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:12 ithi: “Bonke labo abafisa ukuphila ngokuzinikela kuNkulunkulu kanye noKristu Jesu nabo bayoshushiswa.” Ngakho, akufanele kusimangaze ukuthi uSathane uhlasela abazalwane abaholayo. Inhloso yalokho kuhlasela ukubenza baphule ubuqotho babo nokwenza nathi sesabe.​—1 Pet. 5:8.

11. Sifundani esibonelweni sika-Onesiforu? (2 Thimothewu 1:16-18)

 ¹¹ Qhubeka ubasekela abafowenu futhi ube qotho kubo. (Funda eyesi-2 Thimothewu 1:16-18.) UmKristu wangekhulu lokuqala okuthiwa u-Onesiforu wenza ngendlela ehlukile lapho uPawulu eboshiwe. “Akabanga namahloni ngokuba semaketangeni [kukaPawulu].” Kunalokho, u-Onesiforu wamfuna uPawulu futhi lapho emthola wazama ukuthola izindlela ayengamsiza ngazo. Ngokwenza kanjalo, u-Onesiforu wafaka ukuphila kwakhe engozini. Sifundani kulokhu? Akumelwe sivumele ukwesaba abantu kusesabise noma kusivimbe ekusekeleni abafowethu abashushiswayo. Kunalokho, masenze okusemandleni ukuze sibasize. (IzAga 17:17) Kudingeka sibasekele futhi sibathande.

12. Sifundani kubafowethu nodadewethu baseRussia?

¹² Cabanga ngendlela abafowethu nodadewethu baseRussia abaye basiza ngayo abafowabo ababathandayo ababoshiwe. Lapho kuqulwa amacala abanye, abafowethu nodadewethu abaningi baba khona ezinkantolo ukuze babasekele. Sifundani kulokhu? Lapho abazalwane abaholayo behlanjalazwa, beboshwa noma beshushiswa, ningesabi. Bathandazeleni, nisize imindeni yabo, nithole nezinye izindlela eningabasekela ngazo.​—IzE. 12:5; 2 Kor. 1:10, 11.

13. Ukugconwa kungasenza kanjani singabe sisamethemba uJehova nenhlangano yakhe?

¹³ Izihlobo ezingakholwa, esisebenza nabo noma esifunda nabo bangase basigcone ngenxa yokushumayela noma ngenxa yokuthi siphila ngemithetho kaJehova ephakeme yokuziphatha. (1 Pet. 4:4) Bangase bathi: “Uyazi wena ungumuntu okahle, kodwa inkolo yenu inemithetho eqine kakhulu futhi iyisidala.” Abanye bangase basigxeke ngenxa yendlela esiphatha ngayo abasusiwe ekuhlanganyeleni, bathi: “Ningasho kanjani nje ukuthi ninothando?” Izinkulumo ezinjengalezi zingasenza siqale ukungabaza. Singase siqale ukuzibuza: ‘Ingabe uJehova ufuna okungaphezu kwamandla ami? Ingabe inhlangano yakhe inemithetho eqine kakhulu?’ Uma ubhekene nesimo esinjalo, ungahlala kanjani usondelene noJehova nenhlangano yakhe?

14. Yini okufanele siyenze lapho abanye besigcona ngenxa yokuthi siphila ngemithetho kaJehova? (IHubo 119:50-52)

¹⁴ Zimisele ukuphila ngemithetho kaJehova. UJobe waphila ngemithetho kaJehova nakuba ayegconwa ngenxa yokwenza kanjalo. Omunye wabangane bamanga bakaJobe wazama ngisho nokumenza acabange ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayengenandaba nokuthi uJobe uyayigcina noma akayigcini yini imithetho yaKhe. (Jobe 4:17, 18; 22:3) Kodwa uJobe akazange awakholelwe lawo manga. Wayazi ukuthi imithetho kaJehova yokulungile nokungalungile ayinaphutha futhi wayezimisele ukuyigcina. Akavumelanga abanye bamenze alahle ubuqotho bakhe. (Jobe 27:5, 6) Sifundani kulokhu? Ungavumeli ukugconwa kukwenze ungabaze imithetho kaJehova. Cabanga ngalokho osekwenzeke ekuphileni kwakho. Awuzange yini ubone ngokuphindaphindiwe ukuthi imithetho kaJehova ilungile futhi iyakuzuzisa? Zimisele ukuqhubeka usenhlanganweni esekela leyo mithetho. Uma wenza kanjalo, akukho ukugconwa okuyokuhlukanisa noJehova​—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kuvelaphi.​—Funda iHubo 119:50-52.

15. Kungani uBrizit agconwa?

¹⁵ Cabanga ngesibonelo sikadade waseNdiya, uBrizit. Umndeni wakhe wawumgcona  ngenxa yokholo lwakhe. Ngokushesha ngemva kokubhapathizwa ngo-1997, umyeni wakhe ongeyena uFakazi waphelelwa umsebenzi. Ngakho umyeni wakhe wanquma ukuthi yena noBrizit kanye namadodakazi abo kufanele bathuthe bayohlala nabazali bakhe, ababehlala kwelinye idolobha. Kodwa uBrizit wayesazobhekana nezinselele ezinkulu ngisho nakakhulu. Ngenxa yokuthi umyeni wakhe wayengasebenzi, kwakuzomelwe asebenze zonke izinsuku ukuze asekele umndeni wakhe. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ibandla eliseduze laliqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-350. Ngokudabukisayo, abasemzini bamphikisa ngenxa yokholo lwakhe. Isimo saba sibi kangangokuba umndeni kaBrizit kwadingeka uphinde uthuthe. Kwabe sekushona umyeni wakhe kungalindelekile. Kamuva, enye yamadodakazi akhe yashona ngenxa yomdlavuza, ineminyaka engu-12 nje kuphela. Okwenza izinto zaba zimbi nakakhulu ukuthi izihlobo zikaBrizit zasola yena ngazo zonke lezi zinto. Zathi ukube akabanga omunye woFakazi BakaJehova ngabe azibehlelanga zonke lezi zinhlekelele. Noma kunjalo, waqhubeka ethembele kuJehova, wahlala eseduze nenhlangano yakhe.

16. UBrizit wabusiswa kanjani ngokunamathela kuJehova nasenhlanganweni yakhe?

¹⁶ Ngenxa yokuthi uBrizit wayehlala kude nebandla, umbonisi wesigodi wamkhuthaza ukuba ashumayele endaweni ayehlala kuyo, aqhube nemihlangano emzini wakhe. Ekuqaleni, wayenomuzwa wokuthi kungaphezu kwamandla akhe. Kodwa wasilandela isiqondiso. Washumayela izindaba ezinhle, waqhuba imihlangano emzini wakhe, wenza nesikhathi sokuba nokukhulekela komkhaya namadodakazi akhe. Waba yini umphumela? UBrizit wakwazi ukuqala nokuqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli eziningi futhi iningi labantu ayebafundela labhapathizwa. Ngo-2005 waqala ukukhonza njengephayona elivamile. Ukuthembela kwakhe kuJehova nokuba qotho enhlanganweni yakhe kwavuzwa. Manje, amadodakazi akhe akhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka futhi sekunamabandla amabili kuleyo ndawo! UBrizit uyaqiniseka  ukuthi nguJehova owamnika amandla okubhekana nezinkinga zakhe nawokukhuthazelela ukugconwa umndeni.

17. Yini okufanele sizimisele ukuyenza?

¹⁷ USathane ufuna sikholelwe ukuthi uJehova uyasilahla lapho sibhekene nezinkinga nokuthi ukusekela inhlangano kaJehova kuzokwenza ukuphila kube nzima nakakhulu. USathane ufuna sesabe lapho abazalwane abaholayo behlanjalazwa, beshushiswa noma beboshwa. Usebenzisa nokugconwa ukuze asenze singayethembi imithetho kaJehova nenhlangano yaKhe. Noma kunjalo, siwazi kahle amaqhinga akhe amabi futhi asikhohliseki. (2 Kor. 2:11) Zimisele ukwenqaba amanga kaSathane, uqhubeke uqotho kuJehova nasenhlanganweni yaKhe. Khumbula, uJehova akasoze akulahla. (IHu. 28:7) Ngakho, ungavumeli lutho lukuhlukanise noJehova!​—Roma 8:35-39.

18. Sizoxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁸ Kulesi sihloko, sixoxe ngezinselele esingase sibhekane nazo ngaphandle kwebandla. Kodwa ukwethemba kwethu uJehova nenhlangano yakhe kungavivinywa nayizinselele ezivela ngaphakathi ebandleni. Singazinqoba kanjani? Sizoxoxa ngalokhu esihlokweni esilandelayo.