1-2. (a) Ngokwencwadi yezAga 16:31, kufanele sibabheke kanjani asebekhulile abathembekile? (b) Lesi sihloko sizophendula miphi imibuzo?

ABANTU abavakashela ipaki lase-Arkansas, e-U.S.A., bangase bazitholele amadayimane ezigingqikela phansi. Nokho, lawo madayimane asuke engamatshe nje angapholishiwe ukuze abe ubucwebe. Ngenxa yalokho, abaningi abawabonayo bangase bawadlule nje, bangaqapheli ukuthi babona into eyigugu.

² Ngandlela thile, asebekhulile abathembekile bafana nalawo madayimane, bawumcebo oyigugu. IZwi likaNkulunkulu lifanisa izinwele zabo ezimpunga nomqhele. (Funda izAga 16:31; 20:29) Nokho, kungalula ukuba singawuboni lowo mcebo. Intsha eqaphelayo ukuthi asebekhulile bayigugu kangakanani ingazuza okuthile okwedlula ingcebo engokoqobo. Kulesi sihloko, sizophendula imibuzo emithathu: Kungani uJehova ebheka asebekhulile abathembekile njengabayigugu? Banayiphi indima enhlanganweni kaJehova? Yini esingayenza ukuze sizuze ngokugcwele esibonelweni sabo?

3. Ngokuvumelana neHubo 92:12-15, kungani asebekhulile abathembekile beyigugu kuJehova?

³ Asebekhulile abathembekile bayigugu kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Ubona lokho abayikho ngaphakathi, futhi wazisa nezimfanelo zabo ezinhle. Uyajabula lapho bedlulisela kwabasebasha ukuhlakanipha abakuthole phakathi nenkonzo yabo yokwethembeka. (Jobe 12:12; IzAga 1:1-4) UJehova uyakwazisa nokukhuthazela kwabo. (Mal. 3:16) Ziningi izinkinga ababhekane nazo ekuphileni; kodwa ukholo lwabo kuJehova alukaze  luntengantenge. Ithemba labo ngekusasa seliqine kakhulu kunangesikhathi abathola ngaso iqiniso. UJehova uyabathanda ngoba bayaqhubeka bememezela igama lakhe “ngisho noma sebegugile.”—Funda iHubo 92:12-15.

4. Yini okufanele iduduze abafowethu nodadewethu asebekhulile?

⁴ Uma nawe usukhulile, qiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uyawukhumbula umsebenzi omenzele wona. (Heb. 6:10) Kuyamjabulisa uBaba wethu osezulwini ukuthi uwusekele ngentshiseko umsebenzi wokushumayela. Ukhuthazelele izinkinga eziningi—ngisho nezinzima kakhulu—wagcina imithetho yeBhayibheli elungile, wafeza izibopho ezisindayo onazo, futhi waqeqesha abanye. Wenze konke okusemandleni akho ukuze uhambisane nenhlangano kaJehova ehamba ngesivinini esikhulu. Uye wasekela futhi wakhuthaza labo abasenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. UJehova uNkulunkulu ukuthanda kakhulu ngoba uqotho. Uthembisa ukuthi “ngeke abashiye abantu bakhe abaqotho”! (IHu. 37:28) Ukunika lesi siqinisekiso: ‘Ngiyoqhubeka ngikusekela kuze kube yilapho izinwele zakho sezimpunga.’ (Isaya 46:4) Ngakho, ungacabangi ukuthi njengoba usukhulile awusenayo indima ebalulekile enhlanganweni kaJehova. Usabalulekile!

5. Yini asebekhulile okufanele bayikhumbule?

⁵ Kuningi asebekhulile abangasiza kukho. Nakuba kungenzeka abasenawo amandla ababenawo, banengcebo eningi yolwazi abebelokhu beluqongelela njengoba iminyaka ihamba. UJehova angaqhubeka ebasebenzisa ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene, njengoba izibonelo ezilandelayo zangesikhathi esidlule nezamanje zibonisa.

6-7. Yisho izibonelo eziseBhayibhelini zabathembekile asebekhulile ababusiswa ngenxa yokukhonza uJehova ngobuqotho.

⁶ Singathola izibonelo ezinhle eBhayibhelini zabathembekile abaqhubeka bekhonza uJehova ngisho noma sebebadala. Ngokwesibonelo, uMose wayeneminyaka engaba ngu-80 lapho eqala ukuba umprofethi kaJehova nommeleli wesizwe sakwa-Israyeli. Ngisho  nalapho uDaniyeli cishe eseneminyaka engaphezu kwengu-90, uJehova wayesamsebenzisa njengomkhulumeli waKhe. Umphostoli uJohane naye cishe wayeneminyaka engaphezu kuka-90 lapho ephefumulelwa ukuba abhale incwadi yesAmbulo.

⁷ Baningi abanye abathembekile ababengadumile, okwakungaba lula ukuba banganakwa. Noma kunjalo, uJehova wayebanakile futhi wabanika umvuzo ngobuqotho babo. Ngokwesibonelo, uSimeyoni, owayeyindoda ‘elungile neyesaba uNkulunkulu,’ kukhulunywa ngaye kancane eBhayibhelini, kodwa uJehova wayemazi futhi wamnika ilungelo elikhethekile lokubona usana olunguJesu nelokuprofetha ngalo nonina walo. (Luka 2:22, 25-35) Cabanga nangomprofethikazi u-Ana, owayengumfelokazi. Wayeneminyaka engu-84, kodwa “wayengakaze aphuthe ethempelini.” Wathola umvuzo ocebile ngokuba khona kwakhe njalo “emihlanganweni,” lapho ngelinye ilanga naye ebona usana olunguJesu. Bobabili uSimeyoni no-Ana babeyigugu kuJehova.—Luka 2:36-38.

8-9. Abafelokazi baqhubeka kanjani bewusizo?

⁸ Ezikhathini zethu, baningi asebekhulile abathembekile abayizibonelo ezinhle kwabasebasha. Cabanga ngokwenzeka kuDadeweth’ uLois Didur. Wayeneminyaka engu-21 nje kuphela lapho eqala ukuba yiphayona elikhethekile eCanada. Ngemva kwalokho, yena nomyeni wakhe uJohn bachitha iminyaka eminingi emsebenzini wokujikeleza. Kamuva bakhonza iminyaka engaphezu kuka-20 eBethel yaseCanada. Lapho uLois ena-58, yena noJohn bathola isabelo sokuyokhonza e-Ukraine. Babezokwenzenjani? Ingabe babezophetha ngokuthi sebekhule kakhulu ukuba bangakhonza kwelinye izwe? Basamukela isabelo, uJohn wamiswa njengelungu leKomiti Yegatsha. Lapho uJohn eshona ngemva kweminyaka engu-7, uLois wanquma ukuqhubeka nesabelo sakhe. Manje uLois useneminyaka engu-81, uyaqhubeka enza umsebenzi omuhle eBethel yase-Ukraine futhi uthandwa kakhulu.

⁹ Abafelokazi abafana noLois bangase banganakwa ngendlela ababenakwa ngayo ngesikhathi abayeni babo besaphila; noma kunjalo, ukuba abafelokazi akubenzi bangabe besabaluleka. UJehova ubazisa kakhulu odade abaye basekela abayeni babo iminyaka eminingi futhi abaqhubeka bemkhonza ngokwethembeka namanje. (1 Thim. 5:3) Ngaphezu kwalokho, bayisikhuthazo kwabasebasha.

10. UTony wabeka siphi isibonelo esihle?

¹⁰ Asebekhulile abathembekile abaningi abahlala ezindaweni ezinakekela asebekhulile, nabo bawumcebo oyigugu. Ngokwesibonelo, umzalwane okuthiwa uTony naye manje uhlala kwenye yalezo zindawo. Wabhapathizwa ePennsylvania, e-U.S.A., ngo-Agasti 1942 eneminyaka engu-20. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, wabizelwa empini kodwa ngenxa  yokuthi wenqaba waboshwa iminyaka emibili nohhafu. Yena nomkakhe uHilda, basiza izingane zabo ezimbili zamukela iqiniso. UTony wakhonza njengombonisi owengamele (manje owaziwa ngokuthi umxhumanisi wabadala) emabandleni amathathu, wakhonza nanjengombonisi womhlangano wesigodi. Kunejele elithile ayevame ukuya kulo ukuze aqhube imihlangano nezifundo zeBhayibheli. Manje uTony useneminyaka engu-98 kodwa usaqhubeka esebenzela uJehova ngokuzimisela. Wenza konke okusemandleni ukuze akhonze uJehova futhi asebenzelane eduze nebandla!

11. Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi siyabazisa labo abahlala ezindaweni zokunakekela asebekhulile?

¹¹ Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi siyabazisa abantu abadala abahlala ezindaweni zokunakekela asebekhulile? Abadala bangenza konke okusemandleni ukuze babasize babe nengxenye ezintweni ezenziwa ebandleni. Singabonisa ukuthi sibanakile ngokubavakashela noma ngokuxhumana nabo ngevidiyo. Kumelwe sibanake ngokukhethekile asebekhulile abahlala endaweni eqhelelene nebandla ababekulo. Uma singaqaphile singase singabanaki laba asebekhulile. Kwabanye kungase kungabi lula ukuxoxa ngokuphila kwabo noma bakubone kungafaneleki. Kodwa singazuza kakhulu uma sizinika isikhathi sokubabuza imibuzo nokubalalela njengoba besitshela ngenjabulo abayithole enhlanganweni kaJehova.

12. Singathola abantu abanjani ebandleni esikulo?

¹² Kungase kusimangaze ukuthola ukuthi kunezibonelo ezinhle kakhulu zabathembekile asebekhulile khona kanye ebandleni esikulo. Udade okuthiwa uHarriette wakhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka amashumi eminyaka ebandleni lakubo eNew Jersey, e-U.S.A. Ngemva kwalokho wathutha wayohlala nendodakazi yakhe. Abazalwane ebandleni lakhe elisha bazinika isikhathi sokumazi, bathola ukuthi ungumcebo oyigugu. Wabaxoxela izindaba ezikhuthazayo zalokho okwakwenzeka ensimini ngesikhathi eqala ukufunda iqiniso ngawo-1920. Ngaleso sikhathi wayehlal’ ephethe isixubho uma eyoshumayela—ukuze ezosisebenzisa uma kwenzeka eboshwa. Empeleni ngo-1933 waboshwa kabili, isikhathi ngasinye wahlala iviki ejele. Phakathi nalezo zikhathi umyeni wakhe ongeyena uFakazi, owayemsekela, wayenakekela izingane zabo ezintathu. Asebekhulile abathembekile abanjengoHarriette kufanele sibabheke njengabayigugu ngempela!

13. Sifundeni ngendima asebekhulile abanayo enhlanganweni kaJehova?

¹³ Abafowethu nodadewethu asebekhulile banendima ebalulekile enhlanganweni kaJehova. Baye babona uJehova ebabusisa ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene, ebusisa nenhlangano yakhe. Bafunde izifundo ezibalulekile emaphutheni abawenza. Funda kulokho ababhekana nakho futhi ubabheke ‘njengomthombo wokuhlakanipha.’ (IzAga 18:4) Uma uzinika isikhathi sokubazi, ukholo lwakho luyoqina futhi kuningi oyokufunda kubo!

14. UDuteronomi 32:7 ukhuthaza abasha ukuba benzeni?

¹⁴ Yenza umzamo wokuxoxa nasebekhulile. (Funda uDuteronomi 32:7.) Kuyiqiniso ukuthi amehlo abo awasaboni kahle, abasakwazi ukushesha, futhi sebekhulumela phansi, kodwa basafisa ukwenza konke okusemandleni futhi baye bazenzela “igama elihle” noJehova. (UmSh. 7:1) Khumbula ukuthi kungani uJehova ebabheka njengabayigugu. Qhubeka ubazisa. Yiba njengo-Elisha. Wayezimisele ukungamshiyi u-Eliya ngosuku lwabo lokugcina bendawonye. Kathathu u-Elisha  wathi: “Ngeke ngikushiye.”—2 AmaKh. 2:2, 4, 6.

15. Yimiphi imibuzo esingase siyibuze asebekhulile?

¹⁵ Bonisa ukuthi uyabakhathalela asebekhulile ngokuxoxa nabo ngomusa, ubabuze imibuzo. (IzAga 1:5; 20:5; 1 Thim. 5:1, 2) Ungababuza imibuzo efana nale: “Ngesikhathi usemusha, yini eyakwenza waqiniseka ngokuthi uthole iqiniso?” “Izinto oye wabhekana nazo zikusize kanjani wasondela nakakhulu kuJehova?” “Yini ekusize wakwazi uhlala ujabule enkonzweni kaJehova?” (1 Thim. 6:6-8) Lalelisisa lapho bexoxa.

16. Lapho osekhulile nosemusha bexoxa, bangazuza kanjani bobabili?

¹⁶ Lapho osekhulile nosemusha bexoxa, bobabili bayazuza. (Roma 1:12) Osemusha uzoyazisa nakakhulu indlela uJehova anakekela ngayo izinceku zakhe ezithembekile, kanti osekhulile uzozizwa ethandwa. Osekhulile uyokujabulela ukukuxoxela ngezibusiso azithole kuJehova.

17. Kungani sithi asebekhulile abathembekile baba bahle nakakhulu njengoba iminyaka iqhubeka?

¹⁷ Njengoba umuntu ekhula, ubuhle bangaphandle buyaphela kancane kancane, kodwa labo abaqotho kuJehova baba bahle nakakhulu njengoba iminyaka iqhubeka. (1 Thes. 1:2, 3) Kungani? Yingoba baye bavumela ukuba umoya kaNkulunkulu ubabumbe, ubasize babe nezimfanelo ezinhle. Njengoba sizama ukubazi kangcono abafowethu nodadewethu asebekhulile abayigugu, sibabonisa ukuthi siyabazisa, futhi sifunda esibonelweni sabo, siyokwazi ngempela ukubabheka njengomcebo oyigugu!

18. Sizoxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁸ Ukuze ibandla liqine nakakhulu, abasebasha kufanele babheke asebekhulile njengabayigugu, kodwa nasebekhulile kufanele babazise abasebasha. Esihlokweni esilandelayo, sizoxoxa ngokuthi asebekhulile bangabonisa kanjani ukuthi bayabazisa abasebasha.