1. Yini ebalulekile uJesu axoxa ngayo nabafundi bakhe ngobusuku bokugcina ekanye nabo?

NGOBUSUKU bokugcina ekanye nabafundi bakhe, uJesu wakhuluma ngothando izikhathi ezingaba ngu-30. Ngokuqondile watshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi kufanele ‘bathandane.’ (Joh. 15:12, 17) Indlela ababeyothandana ngayo yayiyokwenza kucace ukuthi bangabalandeli bakhe beqiniso. (Joh. 13:34, 35) Lolu thando aluyona nje into esiyisho ngomlomo. UJesu wayekhuluma ngothando lokuzidela. Wathi: “Akekho onothando olukhulu kunalolu, ukuba umuntu anikele umphefumulo wakhe ngenxa yabangane bakhe. Ningabangane bami uma nenza lokho enginiyala ngakho.”—Joh. 15:13, 14.

2. (a) Yini izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezaziwa ngayo namuhla? (b) Yimiphi imibuzo esizoyiphendula kulesi sihloko?

² Namuhla, izinceku zikaJehova zaziwa ngokuba nothando lokuzidela olungenabuzenzisi nangokuba nobunye. (1 Joh. 3:10, 11) Kusijabulisa ngempela ukwazi ukuthi kunothando phakathi kwezinceku zikaJehova kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zivela kusiphi isizwe, uhlanga, isizinda noma ukuthi zikhuluma luphi ulimi. Nokho, singazibuza: ‘Kungani uthando lubaluleke kakhulu osukwini lwethu? UJehova noJesu basibonisa kanjani uthando olusenza  sikhuthazeke? Singalubonisa kanjani uthando ukuze “sakhe” abanye?’—1 Kor. 8:1.

3. Lezi “zikhathi ezibucayi” zibathinta kanjani abantu?

³ Ngenxa yokuthi ukuphila ‘kugcwele izinkathazo’ nosizi, abantu abaningi kulezi “zikhathi ezibucayi” bahlushwa ukucindezeleka ngokomzwelo. (IHu. 90:10; 2 Thim. 3:1-5) Abaningi badikibele futhi abasiboni isidingo sokukhuthazela. Bangaphezu kuka-800 000 abantu abazibulalayo njalo ngonyaka—ngokwesilinganiso, njalo ngemva kwemizuzwana engu-40 kunomuntu ozibulalayo emhlabeni. Ngokudabukisayo, akhona namaKristu azizwa ngale ndlela futhi amanye aye azibulala.

4. Obani eBhayibhelini abathi bafisa ukufa?

⁴ Ngezikhathi zeBhayibheli, kunezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithile ezithembekile ezabhekana nezimo ezinzima kangangokuthi zaze zafisa ukufa. Ngokwesibonelo, uJobe owayebhekene nobuhlungu obukhulu, wathi ngomphefumulo wakhe: “Ngiyanengwa yiwo; mangingahlali njalo.” (Jobe 7:16; 14:13, IBhayibheli LesiZulu Elivamile) UJona owayedumele ngenxa yendlela izinto ezazenzeke ngayo, wathi: “Manje, Jehova, ngicela ususe umphefumulo wami kimi, ngoba kungcono ukufa kimi kunokuba ngophilayo.” (Jona 4:3) Ngesinye isikhathi umprofethi u-Eliya waphelelwa yithemba kangangokuthi wafisa ukufa. Wathi: “Kwanele! Manje, Jehova, susa umphefumulo wami.” (1 AmaKh. 19:4) Nokho, uJehova wayezithanda lezi zinceku ezithembekile futhi wayefuna ziqhubeke ziphila. Kunokuba azigxeke izinceku zakhe ngokuzizwa ngaleyo ndlela, wazisiza zanqoba ukufisa ukufa futhi wazibonisa uthando ukuze ziqhubeke zimkhonza ngokwethembeka.

5. Kungani abafowethu nodadewethu beludinga ngokukhethekile uthando lwethu?

⁵ Ngisho noma abafowethu nodadewethu bengapheli amandla, abaningi namuhla babhekene nezimo ezicindezelayo futhi badinga ukuboniswa uthando ukuze bakhuthazeke. Abanye bakhuthazelela ukushushiswa nokugconwa. Abanye bayagxekwa noma kukhulunywe kabi ngabo emsebenzini. Abanye bakhathele ngenxa yokusebenza isikhathi esengeziwe noma ukuhlangabezana nesikhathi esibekiwe sokuqeda umsebenzi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abanye babhekene nezinkinga zasekhaya ezibashiya bekhandlekile, njengokugxekwa umuntu abashade naye ongakholwa. Ngenxa yalobu bunzima nobunye, abaningi ebandleni bazizwa betubekile emzimbeni nangokomzwelo. Ubani ongabaqinisa abadikibele ukuze baqhubeke bekhuthazela?

6. UJehova uzikhuthaza kanjani izinceku zakhe ngothando?

⁶ UJehova ukhuthaza izinceku zakhe ngokuziqinisekisa ngokuthi uyohlala ezithanda. Kumelwe ukuba kwawakhuthaza ama-Israyeli athembekile ukuzwa uJehova ethi: “Ubulokhu uyigugu emehlweni ami, uye wabhekwa njengonodumo, futhi mina ngokwami ngikuthandile. . . . Ungesabi, ngoba nginawe”! (Isaya 43:4, 5) Njengenceku kaJehova, ungaqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova ukuthanda kakhulu. * Nakhu okuthenjiswa yiZwi likaNkulunkulu ngokuphathelene nalabo abamkhonza ngendlela emsulwa: “NjengoNamandla, uyosindisa. Uyokwethaba ngawe ngokwethaba okukhulu.”—Zef. 3:16, 17.

7. Uthando lukaJehova lufana kanjani nolukamama onakekela usana? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

 ⁷ Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi abantu bakhe babhekana nabuphi ubunzima, uJehova uthembisa ukubasekela nokubaduduza. “Ngokuqinisekile niyoncela. Niyothwalwa ohlangothini, niwotwe emadolweni. Njengomuntu unina aqhubeka emduduza, kanjalo mina ngokwami ngiyoqhubeka nginiduduza.” (Isaya 66:12, 13) Cabanga nje indlela usana oluzizwa luphephe ngayo lapho lugonwe unina noma lapho eludlalisa! Lokhu kubonisa indlela uJehova azithanda ngayo izinceku zakhe ezithembekile. Qiniseka ngokuthi uyigugu kuJehova futhi ukuthanda kakhulu.—Jer. 31:3.

8, 9. Uthando lukaJesu lungasiqinisa kanjani?

⁸ Nasi esinye isizathu esenza siqiniseke ngokuthi uJehova uyasithanda: “UNkulunkulu walithanda izwe kangangokuba waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, ukuze wonke umuntu obonisa ukholo kuyo angabhubhi kodwa abe nokuphila okuphakade.” (Joh. 3:16) Ngokunikela ngokuphila kwakhe, uJesu naye wabonisa ukuthi uyasithanda. Lolu thando luyasiqinisa ngempela! IZwi likaNkulunkulu lithembisa ukuthi ngisho ‘nosizi noma ukucindezeleka’ ngeke ‘kusihlukanise nothando lukaNkulunkulu olukuKristu.’—Roma 8:35, 38, 39.

⁹ Lapho sibhekene nezinkinga ezisitubayo, zisikhandle ngokomzwelo noma zenze singakujabuleli ukukhonza uJehova, uthando lukaKristu lungasinika amandla okukhuthazela. (Funda eyesi-2 Korinte 5:14, 15.) Uthando lukaJesu lungasisekela, lusisize ukuze singaphelelwa amandla ngisho nalapho sibhekana nezinhlekelele, ukushushiswa, ukudumazeka noma ukukhathazeka.

10, 11. Ubani onomthwalo wokukhuthaza abafowethu abadikibele? Chaza.

¹⁰ Enye indlela uJehova asikhuthaza ngayo ngothando yibandla lobuKristu. Sonke singalingisa uthando lwakhe ngokuqinisa abafowethu nodadewethu ngokomoya nangokomzwelo. (1 Joh. 4:19-21) Umphostoli uPawulu wakhuthaza amaKristu: “Qhubekani niduduzana futhi nakhana, njengoba nje eqinisweni nenza.” (1 Thes. 5:11) Akubona abadala kuphela okumelwe benze lokhu—sonke ebandleni singalingisa uJehova noJesu ngokududuza nokuqinisa  abafowethu nodadewethu.—Funda eyabaseRoma 15:1, 2.

¹¹ Abanye ebandleni abanesifo sokucindezeleka bangase badinge usizo lodokotela futhi bathole nemithi. (Luka 5:31) Abadala kanye nabanye ebandleni ngokuthobeka bayaqaphela ukuthi ababona odokotela. Noma kunjalo, banendima ebalulekile abayifezayo ‘yokukhuluma ngokududuzayo nemiphefumulo ecindezelekile, nokusekela ababuthakathaka, nokubabekezelela bonke.’ (1 Thes. 5:14) Wonke amaKristu kudingeka abonise uzwela nesineke, akhulume ngendlela eduduzayo ukuze akhuthaze labo abadikibele. Ingabe ungumthombo wenduduzo nesikhuthazo? Ukwazi ukuthi ungabasiza kanjani abanye kungenza imizamo yakho iphumelele nakakhulu.

12. Yisho isibonelo sothile owasizwa uthando aluthola ebandleni.

¹² Uthando lwethu lungabaqinisa kanjani labo abacindezelekile? Udade waseYurophu uthi: “Ngezinye izikhathi ngiye ngicabange ukuzibulala. Kodwa nginabantu abangisizayo. Ibandla engihlanganyela kulo likusindisile ukuphila kwami. Abazalwane nodade bahlale bengikhuthaza futhi bayangithanda. Ngisho noma bembalwa abazi ukuthi nginesifo sokucindezeleka, bonke ebandleni bahlale bengisekela. Enye indoda nomkayo bangiphathisa okwengane yabo. Bayanginakekela futhi bahlale bekulungele ukungisiza nganoma yisiphi isikhathi.” Kuyiqiniso ukuthi asikwazi ukusiza abanye ngendlela efanayo. Kodwa ukubasekela ngokusuka enhliziyweni labo abacindezelekile kungenza umehluko omkhulu. *

13. Yini esemqoka lapho sifuna ukududuza abanye?

¹³ Yiba yisilaleli esihle. (Jak. 1:19) Ukulalela abanye ngozwela kuyisenzo sothando. Ungase ubuze imibuzo ngokuhlakanipha nangomusa ukuze uqonde indlela ocindezelekile azizwa ngayo. Lokho kuyokusiza ubonise uzwela futhi umqinise umKristu ocindezelekile. Ubuso bakho kumelwe bubonise ukuthi uqotho nokuthi uyamthanda. Uma okhuluma naye efisa ukuchaza imininingwane eminingi, yiba nesineke ugweme ukumngena emlonyeni. Lapho ulalela ngesineke cishe uyoyiqonda indlela azizwa ngayo. Lokho kuyobangela ukuba umzalwane noma udade ocindezelekile akwethembe, okuyomenza akulalele njengoba uzama ukumqinisa. Lapho ubonisa ukuthi uyamkhathalela ngempela, uthando ombonisa lona luyomduduza ngempela.

14. Kungani kumelwe sikugweme ukugxeka abanye?

¹⁴ Gwema ukuba ogxekayo. Ukuzwakala sengathi siyabagxeka abacindezelekile kungabazwisa ubuhlungu nakakhulu futhi kubenze bangayiboni imizamo yethu yokubabonisa uthando. “Kukhona ophahluka njengokuhlaba kwenkemba, kodwa ulimi lwabahlakaniphile lungukuphulukisa.” (IzAga 12:18) Ngokuvamile ‘asibahlabi’ ngamabomu abacindezelekile ngamazwi abuhlungu. Kodwa ngisho noma umuntu ‘simhlabe’ singahlosile, angezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu. Ukuze sikhuthaze abanye kumelwe sibonise uzwela, sizame ukukuqonda kahle lokho ababhekene nakho.—Math. 7:12.

15. Yimaphi amathuluzi abalulekile esingawasebenzisa ukuze siduduze abanye?

 ¹⁵ Duduza abanye ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu. (Funda eyabaseRoma 15:4, 5.) IBhayibheli linamazwi amaningi aduduzayo. Lilotshwe “uNkulunkulu onika ukukhuthazela nenduduzo.” Ngaphezu kwalokho sinezincwadi eziningi ezisisiza sicwaninge. Sine-Watch Tower Publications Index kanye Ne-Ncwadi Yokucwaninga YoFakazi BakaJehova. Singasebenzisa lezi zincwadi ukuze sithole imiBhalo engasikhuthaza ukuze sikwazi ukubhekana nazo zonke izinhlobo zezinkinga. Zingasisiza sikwazi ukuzwelana nabanye futhi sibaduduze ngokuphumelelayo.

16. Yiziphi izimfanelo esizidingayo lapho sikhuthaza umKristu ocindezelekile?

¹⁶ Yiba nobubele ube mnene. Lezi yizici zothando olungenabugovu esilubonisa lapho sikhuthaza futhi siqinisa othile. UJehova uthi ‘unguYise wesihe noNkulunkulu wenduduzo yonke’ futhi ‘unobubele’ ngezinceku zakhe. (Funda eyesi-2 Korinte 1:3-6; Luka 1:78; Roma 15:13) UPawulu wasibekela isibonelo esihle kulokhu, wabhala: “Saba mnene kini, njengalapho umdlezane enakekela abantwana bakhe ngozwela. Kanjalo, njengoba sasinothando lomzwelo ngani, sakujabulela kakhulu ukungadluliseli kini nje kuphela izindaba ezinhle zikaNkulunkulu, kodwa futhi nemiphefumulo yethu uqobo, ngoba nathandeka kithi.” (1 Thes. 2:7, 8) Lapho sinobubele futhi simnene, singaba yimpendulo yemithandazo yomuntu ocindezelekile.

17. Yimuphi umbono ofanele ngabafowethu ongasisiza sibakhuthaze?

¹⁷ Ungalindeli ukuba abafowenu bangawenzi amaphutha. Yiba nombono olinganiselayo ngabafowenu nodadewenu. Kuwukuzikhohlisa ukulindela ukuba abafowenu bangawenzi amaphutha futhi lokho kungabangela ukuba udumale. (UmSh. 7:21, 22) Khumbula ukuthi uJehova ulindele ukuba izinceku zakhe zenze lokho ezinamandla okukwenza. Uma silingisa isibonelo sakhe siyokwazi ukubekezelela amaphutha abanye. (Efe. 4:2, 32) Kunokuba ubenze bazizwe sengathi abakwenzayo akwanele, yenza umzamo wokubancoma ngalokho abakwenzile. Lokho kungabakhuthaza. Ukuncoma abanye ngobuqotho kungabaqinisa futhi kubasize bathole ‘isizathu sokwethaba’ njengoba benza inkonzo engcwele. Kungcono kakhulu ukwenza kanjalo kunokuqhathanisa imizamo yabo neyabanye.—Gal. 6:4.

18. Kungani sifuna ukubonisana uthando ukuze sakhane?

¹⁸ Imvu ngayinye kaJehova ibalulekile kuye nakuJesu owazinikela waba umhlatshelo wesihlengo. (Gal. 2:20) Sibathanda kakhulu abafowethu nodadewethu. Sifuna ukubanakekela ngomusa nangothando. Ukuze sibe umthombo wokuqabuleka, “masiphishekele izinto ezibangela ukuthula nezinto ezakhayo komunye nomunye.” (Roma 14:19) Sibheke phambili ePharadesi, esikhathini lapho singeke sibe naso isizathu sokudikibala! Ngeke kusaba khona ukugula, izimpi, ukufa esakuzuza njengefa, ukushushiswa, imibango yasekhaya kanye nokudumazeka. Ngemva kweMinyaka Eyinkulungwane, abantu bayokwenziwa baphelele. Labo abayonqoba ekuvivinyweni kokugcina bayoba amadodana asemhlabeni kaJehova uNkulunkulu, babe “nenkululeko ekhazimulayo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.” (Roma 8:21) Kwangathi sonke singaqhubeka sibonisa uthando oluqinisa abanye futhi sisizane ukuze singene ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu.