“Ziboniseni Ningababongayo”

“Ukuthula kukaKristu makulawule ezinhliziyweni zenu . . . Futhi ziboniseni ningababongayo.”—KOLOSE 3:15.

1. Imuphi umahluko esiwubonayo phakathi kwebandla lobuKristu nezwe elilawulwa uSathane?

EMABANDLENI oFakazi BakaJehova angu-94 600 emhlabeni wonke, sithola umoya wokubonga. Umhlangano ngamunye uqala futhi uphethe ngomthandazo ohlanganisa namazwi okubonga uJehova. Sivamile ukuzwa amazwi athi “ngiyabonga,” noma amanye anjengawo eshiwo abasha nabadala futhi eshiwo oFakazi abasanda kuhlanganyela nasebekade behlanganyela lapho bekhulekela ndawonye futhi bejabulela ubudlelwane. (IHubo 133:1) Yeka ukuthi lokhu akufani kanjani nobugovu obukwabaningi ‘abangamazi uJehova nabangazilaleli izindaba ezinhle’! (2 Thesalonika 1:8) Siphila ezweni elingabongi. Futhi akumangalisi uma sikhumbula ukuthi ubani unkulunkulu waleli zwe—uSathane uDeveli, umbhebhezeli wobugovu omkhulu kunabo bonke, omoya wakhe wokuqhosha nokuvukela ugcwele emphakathini wesintu!—Johane 8:44; 2 Korinte 4:4; 1 Johane 5:19.

2. Isiphi isixwayiso okudingeka sisilalele, futhi imiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo?

² Njengoba sizungezwe izwe likaSathane, kudingeka siqaphele singonakaliswa izimo zalo zengqondo. Ngekhulu lokuqala, umphostoli uPawulu wakhumbuza amaKristu ase-Efesu: ‘Nake nahamba kuzo ngokwesimiso sezinto saleli zwe, ngokombusi wegunya lomoya, umoya manje osebenza emadodaneni okungalaleli. Yebo, phakathi kwabo nathi sonke sake saziphatha ngokuvumelana nezifiso zenyama yethu, senza izinto ezithandwa yinyama nemicabango, futhi ngokwemvelo sasingabantwana bolaka njengoba nje benjalo bonke abanye.’ (Efesu 2:2, 3) Kunjalo ngabaningi nanamuhla. Pho, singawulondoloza kanjani umoya wokubonga? Iluphi usizo uJehova alunikezayo? Iziphi izindlela esingabonisa ngazo ukuthi siyabonga ngempela?

Izizathu Zokubonga

3. Yini eyenza ukuba simbonge uJehova?

³ NguJehova uNkulunkulu, uMdali wethu futhi  onguMniki-kuphila, okumelwe simbonge, ikakhulukazi uma sicabangela ezinye zezipho ezinkulu asiphe zona. (Jakobe 1:17) Nsuku zonke siyambonga uJehova ngokuthi siyaphila. (IHubo 36:9) Nxazonke sibona ubufakazi bomsebenzi wezandla zikaJehova, njengelanga, inyanga nezinkanyezi. Inqolobane enothile yokusansimbi okusekela ukuphila eseplanethini yethu, ingxube ewubuciko yamagesi abalulekile esemkhathini nemijikelezo eyinkimbinkimbi esendalweni, konke kufakazela izizathu esinazo zokubonga uBaba wethu osezulwini onothando. INkosi uDavide yahlabelela: “Ziningi izinto ozenzile, Jehova Nkulunkulu wami, ngisho nemisebenzi yakho emangalisayo nemicabango yakho kithi; akekho noyedwa ongaqhathaniswa nawe. Ukube bengithambekele ekulandiseni nasekukhulumeni ngayo, isibé miningi kakhulu kunalokho engingase ngikulandise.”—IHubo 40:5.

4. Kungani kufanele simbonge uJehova ngobudlelwane obakhayo esibujabulela emabandleni esikuwo?

⁴ Nakuba zisekude nepharadesi elingokoqobo, izinceku zikaJehova namuhla zijabulela ukuphila epharadesi elingokomoya. EmaHholo ethu OMbuso nasemihlanganweni yethu yesigodi neyesifunda, sibona izithelo zomoya kaNkulunkulu kwesikholwa nabo. Ngempela, lapho beshumayela kubantu abanolwazi oluncane ngenkolo noma abangenalo nhlobo, abanye oFakazi bababonisa lokho uPawulu akuchaza encwadini yakhe eya kwabaseGalathiya. Baqale bababonise “imisebenzi yenyama” bese bebabuza ukuthi yini bona abayibonile. (Galathiya 5:19-23) Abaningi bavuma kalula ukuthi unje umphakathi wesintu namuhla. Lapho beboniswa incazelo yezithelo zomoya kaNkulunkulu nalapho bemenyelwa eHholo LoMbuso elisendaweni yakubo ukuze bazibonele ngawabo ubufakazi balokhu, abaningi bavuma ngokushesha: “Ngempela uNkulunkulu uphakathi kwenu.” (1 Korinte 14:25) Lokhu akubi seHholo LoMbuso lakuleyo ndawo kuphela. Ngisho noma ungayaphi, uma uhlangana nabanye boFakazi BakaJehova abangaphezu kwezigidi eziyisithupha, uthola umoya ofanayo wokwenama nokujabula. Ngempela, lobu budlelwane obakhayo buyisizathu sokumbonga uJehova, onikeza umoya wakhe ukuze kwenzeke lokhu.—Zefaniya 3:9; Efesu 3:20, 21.

5, 6. Singazibonisa kanjani singababongayo ngesipho sikaNkulunkulu esikhulu kunazo zonke, isihlengo?

⁵ Isipho esikhulu kunazo zonke, esiphelele  kunazo zonke uJehova aphane ngaso, yiNdodana yakhe, uJesu, okwenziwa ngayo umhlatshelo wesihlengo. Umphostoli uJohane wabhala: “Uma kuyile ndlela uNkulunkulu asithanda ngayo, khona-ke nathi ngokwethu singaphansi kwesibopho sokuthandana.” (1 Johane 4:11) Yebo, sizibonisa singababongayo ngomhlatshelo hhayi nje kuphela ngokubonisa uthando nokubonga kuJehova kodwa futhi nangokuphila ukuphila kwethu ngendlela ebonisa uthando ngabanye.—Mathewu 22:37-39.

⁶ Singafunda okwengeziwe maqondana nokubonisa ukubonga ngokuhlola indlela uJehova asebenzelana ngayo nama-Israyeli asendulo. NgoMthetho awanika wona esebenzisa uMose, uJehova wawafundisa izifundo eziningi. Ngokusebenzisa ‘uhlaka lolwazi nolweqiniso eMthethweni,’ kuningi esingakufunda okuzosisiza silandele iseluleko sikaPawulu: “Ziboniseni ningababongayo.”—Roma 2:20; Kolose 3:15.

Izifundo Ezintathu EziseMthethweni KaMose

7. Ilungiselelo lokukhipha okweshumi lawanika kanjani ama-Israyeli ithuba lokubonisa ukubonga kwawo uJehova?

⁷ EMthethweni KaMose, uJehova wamisa izindlela ezintathu ama-Israyeli ayengabonisa ngazo ukwazisa kwawo okuqotho ngobuhle bakhe. Okokuqala, kwakukhona ukukhishwa kokweshumi. Okweshumi komkhiqizo wezwe, kanye ‘nokweshumi komhlambi wezinkomo nomhlambi wezimvu nezimbuzi,’ kwakufanele kube “yinto engcwele kuJehova.” (Levitikusi 27:30-32) Lapho ama-Israyeli elalela, uJehova wayewabusisa ngokucebile. “‘Lethani konke okweshumi enqolobaneni, ukuze kube khona ukudla endlini yami; ngiyanicela ukuba ningivivinye kulesi sici,’ kusho uJehova wamabutho, ‘ukuthi ngeke yini nginivulele amasango ezikhukhula asemazulwini empeleni ngithululele phezu kwenu isibusiso kuze kungabikho ukuswela.’”—Malaki 3:10.

8. Yini eyayenza iminikelo yokuzithandela ihluke ekukhipheni okweshumi?

⁸ Okwesibili, ngaphezu kwemfuneko yokukhipha okweshumi, uJehova walungiselela ukuba ama-Israyeli enze iminikelo yokuzithandela. Wayala uMose ukuba atshele ama-Israyeli: “Ekufikeni kwenu ezweni enginiyisa kulo, kumelwe kuthi lapho nidla noma yisiphi isinkwa sezwe, nenze umnikelo kuJehova.” Olunye lolibo ‘lomgqakazo wawo ongamaqebelengwane amise okwesongo’ kwakumelwe lunikelwe “njengomnikelo oya kuJehova” kuzo zonke izizukulwane zawo. Phawula ukuthi lolu libo lwalunganqunyelwe nani. (Numeri 15:18-21) Kodwa ama-Israyeli ayeqinisekisiwe ngesibusiso esivela kuJehova uma eletha umnikelo ebonga. Kwakunelungiselelo elifanayo ngokuqondene nethempeli lombono kaHezekeli. Siyafunda: “Okokuqala kwalo lonke ulibo oluvuthiwe lwayo yonke into nayo yonke iminikelo yayo yonke into kuyo yonke iminikelo yenu—kuyoba ngokwabapristi; ulibo lomgqakazo wenu niyolunika umpristi, ukuze kuhlale isibusiso phezu kwendlu yakho.”—Hezekeli 44:30.

9. Yini uJehova ayifundisa ngelungiselelo lokukhothoza?

 ⁹ Okwesithathu, uJehova wenza ilungiselelo lokukhothoza. UNkulunkulu wayala: “Lapho nivuna isivuno sezwe lenu, akumelwe nivune ngokuphelele emaphethelweni ensimu yenu, futhi ungawubuthi umkhothozo wesivuno sakho. Ungazibuthi izinsalela zesivini sakho, futhi ungazibuthi izithelo ezivuthukile zesivini sakho. Kufanele uzishiyele ohluphekile nomfokazi. NginguJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.” (Levitikusi 19:9, 10) Nalapha futhi, kwakungekho nani elimisiwe. KwakukumIsrayeli ngamunye ukunquma ukuthi uzobashiyela okungakanani abaswele. Inkosi ehlakaniphile uSolomoni yachaza kahle: “Ombonisa umusa ophansi uboleka uJehova, futhi Yena uyombuyisela ngempatho yakhe.” (IzAga 19:17) Ngaleyo ndlela uJehova wafundisa ukuba baboniswe isihawu futhi bacatshangelwe abahluphekayo.

10. Yayiba yini imiphumela lapho abantu bakwa-Israyeli behluleka ukuzibonisa bengababongayo?

¹⁰ UJehova wayewabusisa ama-Israyeli lapho elalela eletha okweshumi, ekhipha iminikelo yokuzithandela futhi ebashiyela okuthile abampofu. Kodwa lapho abantu bakwa-Israyeli behluleka ukuzibonisa bengababongayo, babelahlekelwa umusa kaJehova. Lokhu kwaholela enhlekeleleni nasekudingisweni ekugcineni. (2 IziKronike 36:17-21) Yini-ke thina esiyifundayo?

Izindlela Esibonisa Ngazo Ukubonga

11. Iyiphi indlela eyinhloko esingabonisa ngayo ukubonga kwethu uJehova?

¹¹ Ngokufanayo, indlela eyinhloko esingamdumisa ngayo uJehova futhi sibonise ukubonga kwethu ihilela “umnikelo.” Yiqiniso, njengamaKristu, asikho ngaphansi koMthetho KaMose, osibopha ukuba senze iminikelo yezilwane noma yesivuno. (Kolose 2:14) Noma kunjalo, umphostoli uPawulu wakhuthaza amaKristu angamaHebheru: “Masinikele ngaso sonke isikhathi kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo wokudumisa, okuwukuthi, isithelo sezindebe ezivuma obala igama lakhe.” (Hebheru 13:15) Ngokusebenzisa amakhono nezimali zethu ukuze silethe umnikelo wokudumisa uJehova, kungaba senkonzweni yasobala noma ‘ezihlweleni ezibuthene’ ezingamanye amaKristu, singabonisa ukubonga kwethu okusuka enhliziyweni kuBaba wethu wasezulwini onothando, uJehova uNkulunkulu. (IHubo 26:12) Lapho senza kanjalo, yini esingayifunda ezindleleni ama-Israyeli okwakumelwe abonise ngazo ukubonga kwawo uJehova?

12. Ngokuqondene nesibopho sethu sobuKristu, yini esingayifunda elungiselelweni lokukhipha okweshumi?

¹² Okokuqala, njengoba sesibonile, kwakungekho ukwenza ngenye indlela elungiselelweni lokukhipha okweshumi; umIsrayeli ngamunye wayenesibopho kulokhu. NjengamaKristu, sinesibopho sokuhlanganyela enkonzweni nokuba khona emihlanganweni yobuKristu. Akukho ukwenza ngenye indlela kulezi zinto. Esiprofethweni sakhe esikhulu esiphathelene nesikhathi sesiphelo, uJesu washo ngokucacile: “Lezi zindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiwe ngenjongo yobufakazi ezizweni zonke; khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika.” (Mathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20) Ngokuqondene nemihlangano yobuKristu, umphostoli uPawulu waphefumulelwa ukuba abhale: “Masicabangelane ukuze sivuselelane uthando nemisebenzi emihle, singakuyeki ukuhlangana kwethu ndawonye, njengoba kungumkhuba wabanye, kodwa sikhuthazane, futhi ikakhulu njengoba nibona usuku lusondela.” (Hebheru 10:24, 25) Sisuke sibonisa ukubonga kwethu uJehova lapho sisamukela ngenjabulo isibopho sethu sokushumayela nokufundisa kanye nokuhlangana nabafowethu njalo emihlanganweni yebandla, futhi sikubheka njengelungelo lokhu.

13. Isiphi isifundo esitholakala elungiselelweni leminikelo yokuzithandela nelokukhothoza?

¹³ Ngaphezu kwalokho, singazuza ngokuhlola lawa amanye amalungiselelo amabili ama-Israyeli ayengabonisa ngawo ukwazisa kwawo—iminikelo yokuzithandela nokukhothoza. Ngokungafani nokukhipha okweshumi, okwakuyimfuneko eyayihambisana nesibopho esishiwo ngokucacile, iminikelo yokuzithandela  nelungiselelo lokukhothoza kwakunganqunyelwe nani. Kunalokho, kwakuvula ithuba lokuba inceku kaJehova ithathe isinyathelo ishukunyiswa ukwazisa okusenhliziyweni yayo. Ngendlela efanayo, nakuba siqonda ukuthi ukuhlanganyela enkonzweni nokuba khona emihlanganweni yobuKristu kuyisibopho esiyisisekelo senceku kaJehova ngayinye, ingabe lokhu sikwenza ngenhliziyo yonke nangomoya ovumayo? Ingabe sikubheka njengethuba lokubonisa ukwazisa kwethu okusuka enhliziyweni ngakho konke uJehova asenzele khona? Ingabe sihlanganyela ngokungazigodli kule misebenzi, ngezinga izimo zethu ngabanye ezisivumela ngalo? Noma ingabe konke lokhu sikubheka nje njengento esiphoqelekile ukuba siyenze? Yiqiniso, lena yimibuzo okumelwe siyiphendule thina siqu. Umphostoli uPawulu wakubeka ngale ndlela: “Yilowo nalowo makahlole umsebenzi wakhe siqu, khona-ke uyoba nesizathu sokwethaba ngokuqondene naye yedwa, hhayi ngokuziqhathanisa nomunye umuntu.”—Galathiya 6:4.

14. Yini uJehova ayilindele enkonzweni yethu eya kuye?

¹⁴ UJehova uNkulunkulu uzazi kahle izimo zethu. Uyakwazi ukulinganiselwa kwethu. Uyayazisa iminikelo emikhulu nemincane izinceku zakhe eziyinikela ngokuzithandela. Akalindele ukuba sonke simnike okulinganayo, futhi asinakukwazi. Lapho ekhuluma ngokuphana ngezinto ezibonakalayo, umphostoli uPawulu watshela amaKristu aseKorinte: “Uma ukulungela kukhona kuqala, kwamukeleka ngokukhethekile ngokwalokho umuntu anakho, hhayi ngokwalokho umuntu angenakho.” (2 Korinte 8:12) Lesi simiso sisebenza ngokufanayo enkonzweni yethu eya kuNkulunkulu. Okwenza inkonzo yethu yamukeleke kuJehova akunqunywa ubungako balokho esikwenzayo kodwa kunqunywa indlela esikwenza ngayo—ngenjabulo nangomphefumulo wonke.—IHubo 100:1-5; Kolose 3:23.

Yakha Futhi Ulondoloze Umoya Wokuphayona

15, 16. (a) Inkonzo yokuphayona ihlangana kanjani nokubonga? (b) Labo abangenakukwazi ukuphayona bangawubonisa kanjani umoya wokuphayona?

¹⁵ Indlela eyanelisayo yokubonisa ukubonga kwethu kuJehova ukungenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. Zishukunyiswa uthando ngoJehova  nawukubonga ngomusa wakhe ongafanelwe, izinceku eziningi ezizinikezele zenze izinguquko ezinkulu ekuphileni kwazo ukuze zibe nesikhathi esengeziwe sokukhonza uJehova. Ezinye zikwazi ukuba amaphayona avamile, zichithe isilinganiso samahora angu-70 inyanga ngayinye zishumayela izindaba ezinhle futhi zifundisa abantu iqiniso. Ezinye, okungenzeka ukuthi zivinjwa izimo ezahlukahlukene, ngezikhathi ezithile zihlela ukuba amaphayona asizayo zisebenza amahora angu-50 ngenyanga zishumayela.

¹⁶ Kodwa kuthiwani ngezinceku zikaJehova eziningi ezingenakukwazi ukuba amaphayona avamile noma asizayo? Zingabonisa ukubonga ngokwakha nangokulondoloza umoya wokuphayona. Kanjani? Ngokukhuthaza labo abakwaziyo ukuphayona, ngokutshala ezinganeni zazo isifiso sokungenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele, nangokuhlanganyela ngenkuthalo ekushumayeleni kuye ngezimo zazo. Lokho esinikela ngakho enkonzweni yethu kuya kakhulu ngokuthi kujule kangakanani ukwazisa esinakho ezinhliziyweni zethu ngalokho uJehova asenzele khona, asenzela khona nasazosenzela khona.

Ukubonisa Ukubonga ‘Ngezinto Zethu Zenani Elikhulu’

17, 18. (a) Singakubonisa kanjani ukubonga ‘ngezinto zethu zenani elikhulu’? (b) UJesu wawubheka kanjani umnikelo womfelokazi, futhi ngani?

¹⁷ “Dumisa uJehova ngezinto zakho zenani elikhulu nangolibo lwawo wonke umkhiqizo wakho,” kusho izAga 3:9. Izinceku zikaJehova akusadingeki zikhiphe okweshumi. Kunalokho, uPawulu wabhalela ibandla laseKorinte: “Yilowo nalowo makenze njengoba nje enqumile enhliziyweni yakhe, kungabi ngokungathandi noma ngaphansi kokucindezelwa, ngoba uNkulunkulu uthanda umuphi onamileyo.” (2 Korinte 9:7) Ukwenza iminikelo yokuzithandela ukuze sisekele umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso owenziwa emhlabeni wonke nakho kubonisa ukubonga kwethu. Ukwazisa okusuka enhliziyweni kusishukumisela ukuba sikwenze njalo lokhu, mhlawumbe sibeke eceleni okuthile masonto onke, njengoba kwakwenza amaKristu okuqala.—1 Korinte 16:1, 2.

¹⁸ Akubona ubungako balokho esikunikelayo obubonisa ukubonga kwethu uJehova. Kunalokho, kuboniswa umoya esinikela ngawo. Yilokho uJesu akuqaphela lapho ebukele abantu bephonsa izipho zabo emabhokisini eminikelo ethempelini. Lapho uJesu ebona umfelokazi oswele ephonsa “izinhlamvu zemali ezimbili ezincane ezinenani elincane kakhulu,” wathi: “Nginitshela iqiniso, Lo mfelokazi, nakuba empofu, uphonse okungaphezu kokuphonswe yibo bonke. Ngoba bonke laba baphonse izipho ezivela enaleni yabo, kodwa lona wesifazane ekusweleni kwakhe uphonse konke abenakho abeziphilisa ngakho.”—Luka 21:1-4.

19. Kungani kukuhle ukuba sizihlole kabusha izindlela esibonisa ngazo ukubonga kwethu?

¹⁹ Sengathi lesi sifundo sendlela esingazibonisa ngayo singababongayo singasishukumisela ukuba sizihlole kabusha izindlela esibonisa ngazo ukubonga kwethu. Singakwazi yini mhlawumbe ukwandisa umnikelo wethu wokudumisa uJehova kanye nokusekela kwethu ngezinto ezibonakalayo umsebenzi wokushumayela owenziwa emhlabeni wonke? Singaqiniseka ukuthi uBaba wethu onothando futhi ophanayo, uJehova, uyojabula ngokuthi sizibonisa singababongayo ngalelo zinga esikwenza ngalo.

Uyakhumbula?

• Iziphi izizathu okufanele simbonge ngazo uJehova?

• Iziphi izifundo esizifunda ekukhipheni okweshumi, eminikelweni yokuzithandela nasekukhothozeni?

• Siwakha kanjani umoya wokuphayona?

• Singazisebenzisa kanjani ‘izinto zethu zenani elikhulu’ ekubongeni uJehova?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Izithombe ekhasini 15]

“Zonke izipho ezinhle nazo zonke izipho eziphelele zivela phezulu”

[Izithombe ekhasini 16]

Iziphi izifundo ezintathu eziseMthethweni eziboniswe lapha?

[Izithombe ekhasini 18]

Imiphi iminikelo esingayenza?