Ukwamukelwa UNkulunkulu Kuholela Ekuphileni Okuphakade

“Wena, Jehova, uyobusisa noma ngubani olungile; uyobaphahla ngokwamukeleka, njengokungathi ngesihlangu esikhulu.”—IHU. 5:12.

1, 2. Yini u-Eliya ayicela kumfelokazi waseZarefati, futhi wamnikeza siphi isiqinisekiso?

OWESIFAZANE nendodana yakhe kanye nomprofethi kaNkulunkulu babefa indlala. Njengoba lona wesifazane ongumfelokazi waseZarefati ayelungiselela ukubasa ukuze apheke, umprofethi u-Eliya wamcela amanzi nesinkwa. Wayezimisele ukumphuzisa, kodwa ukudla ayenakho ‘kwakuyinkeshezana kafulawa embizeni enkulu namafutha amancane embizeni encane.’ Waba nomuzwa wokuthi ukudla ayenakho kwakukuncane kakhulu ukuba angakunikeza nomprofethi futhi wamtshela lokho.—1 AmaKh. 17:8-12.

² U-Eliya waphikelela: “Kokulapho yenzela mina kuqala iqebelengwana eliyindilinga, ulilethe kimi, futhi kamuva ungazenzela wena nendodana yakho. Ngoba yilokhu uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli akushilo, ‘Imbiza enkulu kafulawa ngeke iphele, nembiza encane yamafutha ngeke iphele.’”—1 AmaKh. 17:13, 14.

3. Iyiphi inselele ebalulekile esibhekene nayo?

³ Inselele umfelokazi ayebhekene nayo yayingaphezu kokunquma ukuthi yini ayezoyenza ngokudlana kwakhe okwakusele. Ingabe wayeyomethemba uJehova ukuthi uzomsindisa yena nendodana yakhe, noma ingabe wayeyobeka izidingo zakhe ezingokwenyama kuqala kunokuzuza ukwamukelwa uNkulunkulu nokuba umngane wakhe? Nathi sibhekene nesinqumo esifanayo. Ingabe siyokhathalela kakhulu ukuzuza ukwamukelwa uJehova ngaphezu kokufuna ukulondeka ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo? Sinezizathu ezizwakalayo zokumethemba nokumkhonza uNkulunkulu. Kunezinyathelo esingazithatha ukuze sifune futhi sithole ukwamukelwa nguye.

 ‘Uyakufanelekela Ukukhulekelwa’

4. Kungani uJehova ekufanelekela ukuba simkhulekele?

⁴ Kuyafaneleka ukuba uJehova alindele ukuthi abantu bayomkhonza ngendlela ayamukelayo. Iqembu lezidalwa zakhe zasezulwini lakuqinisekisa ngobunye lokhu: “Uyakufanelekela, Jehova, yebo Nkulunkulu wethu, ukwamukela inkazimulo nodumo namandla, ngoba wadala zonke izinto, nangenxa yentando yakho zaba khona zadalwa.” (IsAm. 4:11) UJehova uyakufanelekela ukuba simkhulekele ngenxa yokuthi unguMdali.

5. Kungani uthando lukaNkulunkulu kufanele lusishukumisele ukuba simkhonze?

⁵ Esinye isizathu esenza sikhonze uJehova, uthando olungenakuqhathaniswa analo ngathi. IBhayibheli lithi: “UNkulunkulu wabe esemdala umuntu ngomfanekiso wakhe, wamdala ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu; wabadala kwaba owesilisa nowesifazane.” (Gen. 1:27) Umuntu uyisidalwa esinenkululeko yokuzikhethela nesinekhono esilinikwe uNkulunkulu lokucabanga nelokwenza izinqumo. UJehova wasinika ukuphila, ngakho unguBaba wesintu. (Luka 3:38) Njenganoma imuphi ubaba omuhle, wenze konke ukuze ahlinzeke amadodana namadodakazi akhe ngalokho akudingayo ukuze ajabulele ukuphila. ‘Wenza ilanga lakhe liphume nemvula ine,’ ukuze iplanethi engumhlaba ibe yinhle futhi isikhiqizele inala yokudla.—Math. 5:45.

6, 7. (a) U-Adamu wayilimaza kanjani yonke inzalo yakhe? (b) Yini umhlatshelo kaKristu oyoyenzela labo abafuna ukwamukelwa uNkulunkulu?

⁶ UJehova uye wasikhulula nasemiphumeleni ebuhlungu yesono. Ukona kuka-Adamu kwamenza wafana nomuntu oweba imali yomkhaya wakhe ayogembula ngayo. Ngokuvukela uJehova, u-Adamu walahlekisela abantwana bakhe ithuba ababenalo—injabulo yaphakade. Ubugovu bakhe baholela isintu ekugqilazweni inkosi enonya, ukungapheleli. Ngakho, bonke abantu abakwazi ukugwema ukugula, ukudabuka nokufa ekugcineni. Ukukhulula isigqila kudinga inkokhelo, futhi uJehova uye wakhokha okwakudingeka ukuze asikhulule kuleyo miphumela ebuhlungu. (Funda amaRoma 5:21.) Enza ngokuvumelana nentando kaYise, uJesu Kristu wanikela ‘ngomphefumulo wakhe ukuze ube yisihlengo sabaningi.’ (Math. 20:28) Maduze labo abamukelwa uNkulunkulu bazothola izinzuzo ezigcwele zaleso sihlengo.

⁷ UMdali wethu, uJehova, uye wenza okungaphezu kwalokho okungenziwa yinoma ubani ukuze siphile ukuphila okujabulisayo nokunenjongo. Uma esamukela, siyokwazi ukubona indlela ayolungisa ngayo wonke umonakalo uhlanga lwesintu oluye lwabhekana nawo. UJehova uyoqhubeka ebonisa umuntu ngamunye indlela aba ngayo “umvuzi walabo abamfuna ngobuqotho.”—Heb. 11:6.

“Abantu Bakho Bayozinikela Ngokuzithandela”

8. Indaba ka-Isaya isifundisani ngokukhonza uNkulunkulu?

⁸ Ukuze samukelwe uNkulunkulu kudingeka siyisebenzise kahle inkululeko yethu yokuzikhethela. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi uJehova akaphoqi muntu ukuba amkhonze. Ngosuku luka-Isaya, wabuza: “Ngizothuma bani, ubani ozosiyela?” UJehova wamhlonipha lo mprofethi ngokuqaphela ilungelo lakhe lokuzinqumela. Cabanga indlela okumelwe ukuba u-Isaya wayejabule ngayo lapho ethi: “Nangu mina! Thuma mina.”—Isaya 6:8.

9, 10. (a) Kufanele simkhonze ngasiphi isimo sengqondo uNkulunkulu? (b) Kungani kufaneleka ukuba sikhonze uJehova ngomphefumulo wonke?

⁹ Abantu bakhululekile ukumkhonza noma ukungamkhonzi uNkulunkulu. UJehova ufuna simkhonze ngokuzithandela. (Funda uJoshuwa 24:15.) Noma ubani okhulekela uNkulunkulu engathandi akanakumthokozisa; futhi akakwamukeli ukuzinikela kwalabo abanhloso yabo yangempela iwukujabulisa abanye abantu. (Kol. 3:22) UNkulunkulu ngeke asamukele uma sinikela inkonzo engcwele ‘ngokunqikaza,’ ngokuvumela iminako yezwe ukuba iphazamise ukukhulekela kwethu. (Eks. 22:29) UJehova uyazi ukuthi ukumkhonza ngomphefumulo wonke kuyasizuzisa. UMose wanxusa ama-Israyeli ukuba akhethe ukuphila ‘ngokuthanda uJehova uNkulunkulu wawo, ngokulalela  izwi lakhe nangokunamathela kuye.’—Dut. 30:19, 20.

¹⁰ Inkosi yakwa-Israyeli wasendulo, uDavide, yahlabelelela uJehova: “Abantu bakho bayozinikela ngokuzithandela ngosuku lwempi yakho. Ebukhazikhazini bobungcwele, kusukela esibelethweni sokuntwela kokusa, uneqembu lakho lezinsizwa elinjengamaconsi amazolo.” (IHu. 110:3) Abantu abaningi namuhla baphilela injabulo nokulondeka ngokwezimali. Nokho, labo abathanda uJehova benza inkonzo yabo engcwele ize ngaphambi kwanoma yini enye. Intshiseko abashumayela ngayo izindaba ezinhle ibonisa ukuthi yiziphi izinto eziza kuqala kubo. Baqiniseka ngokugcwele ngokuthi uJehova uyakwazi ukwanelisa izidingo zabo zansuku zonke.—Math. 6:33, 34.

Imihlatshelo Eyamukelwa UNkulunkulu

11. Yini ama-Israyeli ayenethemba lokuyizuza ngokunikela imihlatshelo kuJehova?

¹¹ Ngaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho, abantu bakaNkulunkulu babenikela imihlatshelo eyamukelekayo ukuze abamukele. ULevitikusi 19:5 uthi: “Uma nihlabela uJehova umhlatshelo wenhlanganyelo, kufanele niwuhlabele ukuzitholela ukwamukelwa.” Kuyo le ncwadi sifunda la mazwi: “Uma kungenzeka nihlabele uJehova umhlatshelo wokubonga, kufanele niwenze ukuze nizizuzele ukwamukelwa.” (Lev. 22:29) Lapho ama-Israyeli enikela imihlatshelo yezilwane efanele e-altare likaJehova, umusi owawenyuka wawuba ‘njengephunga elizolisayo’ kuNkulunkulu weqiniso. (Lev. 1:9, 13) Lokho kubonakaliswa kothando kwabantu bakhe kwakumthoba futhi kumenze aqabuleke. (Gen. 8:21) Kunesimiso esisasebenza nanamuhla esisithola kulezi zici zoMthetho. UJehova uyabamukela labo abanikela imihlatshelo eyamukelekayo. Hlobo luni lwemihlatshelo ayamukelayo? Asicabangele izici ezimbili zokuphila: ukuziphatha kwethu namazwi ethu.

12. Imiphi imikhuba engenza ‘ukunikela imizimba yethu njengomhlatshelo’ kunengeke kuNkulunkulu?

¹² Encwadini ayibhalela abaseRoma, umphostoli uPawulu wathi: “[Nikelani] imizimba yenu ingumhlatshelo ophilayo, ongcwele, owamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu, inkonzo engcwele ngamandla enu okucabanga.” (Roma 12:1) Ukuze umuntu amukelwe uNkulunkulu kudingeka agcine umzimba wakhe wamukeleka kuYe. Uma engase azingcolise ngogwayi, i-betel nut, izidakamizwa ezingemthetho noma ngokusebenzisa kabi utshwala, lowo mnikelo wawuyoba ize. (2 Kor. 7:1) Ngaphezu kwalokho, njengoba umuntu ‘ofebayo ona owakhe umzimba,’ ukuziphatha okubi kwanoma iluphi uhlobo kwenza umhlatshelo wakhe unengeke kuJehova. (1 Kor. 6:18) Ukuze ajabulise uNkulunkulu, umuntu kumelwe ‘abe ngcwele kukho konke ukuziphatha kwakhe.’—1 Pet. 1:14-16.

13. Kungani kufaneleka ukuba sidumise uJehova?

¹³ Omunye umhlatshelo uJehova awujabulelayo uphathelene nendlela esisebenzisa ngayo ulimi lwethu. Labo abathanda uJehova ngaso sonke isikhathi bakhuluma kahle ngaye obala  nalapho bebodwa emizini yabo. (Funda iHubo 34:1-3.) Funda amaHubo 148-150, uphawule indlela womathathu asikhuthaza kaningi ngayo ukuba sidumise uJehova. Ngempela, “kwabaqotho ukudumisa kuyafaneleka.” (IHu. 33:1) UJesu Kristu, iSibonelo sethu, naye wagcizelela ukubaluleka kokudumisa uNkulunkulu ngokushumayela izindaba ezinhle.—Luka 4:18, 43, 44.

14, 15. UHoseya wanxusa ama-Israyeli ukuba anikele ngaluphi uhlobo lwemihlatshelo, futhi uJehova wasabela kanjani?

¹⁴ Ngokushumayela ngentshiseko, sinikeza ubufakazi bokuthi siyamthanda uJehova futhi sifisa ukwamukelwa nguye. Ngokwesibonelo, cabangela indlela umprofethi uHoseya anxusa ngayo ama-Israyeli ayeseqhuba ukukhulekela kwamanga futhi eselahlekelwe umusa kaNkulunkulu. (Hos. 13:1-3) UHoseya wawatshela ukuba ancenge uJehova ngala mazwi: “Kwangathi ungaxolela isiphambeko; wamukele okuhle, futhi njengembuyiselo sizonikela kuwe ngamaduna ezinkomo ezindebe zethu.”—Hos. 14:1, 2.

¹⁵ Inkunzi yayiyisilwane esibiza kakhulu umIsrayeli ayengasinikela kuJehova. Ngakho, “amaduna ezinkomo ezindebe zethu” ayebhekisela emazwini aqotho, acatshangelwe kahle okudumisa uNkulunkulu weqiniso. UJehova wasabela kanjani kulabo abenza leyo mihlatshelo? Wathi: “Ngizobathanda ngokuzithandela.” (Hos. 14:4) Labo abanikela leyo mihlatshelo yokudumisa, uJehova wabathethelela, wabamukela futhi wabenza abangane bakhe.

16, 17. Lapho ukholo kuNkulunkulu lushukumisela umuntu ukuba ashumayele izindaba ezinhle, uJehova ukwamukela kanjani lokho kumdumisa?

¹⁶ Ukudumisa uJehova obala bekulokhu kuyingxenye evelele yokukhulekela kweqiniso. Ukukhazimulisa uNkulunkulu weqiniso kwakubaluleke kakhulu kumhubi kangangokuthi wancenga uNkulunkulu: “O Jehova, ngicela uyijabulele iminikelo yokuzithandela yomlomo wami.” (IHu. 119:108) Kuthiwani namuhla? Ekhuluma ngesixuku esikhulu sabantu bosuku lwethu, u-Isaya waprofetha: “Bayokwazisa izindumiso zikaJehova. . . . [Izipho zabo] ziyoza phezu kwe-altare lami [likaNkulunkulu] ngokwamukelwa.” (Isaya 60:6, 7) Izigidi zigcwalisa lesi siprofetho ngokunikela kuNkulunkulu “umhlatshelo wokudumisa, okuwukuthi, isithelo sezindebe ezivuma obala igama lakhe.”—Heb. 13:15.

¹⁷ Kuthiwani ngawe? Ingabe unikela kuNkulunkulu imihlatshelo eyamukelekayo? Uma kungenjalo, ingabe uzokwenza ushintsho oludingekayo bese uqala ukudumisa uJehova obala? Lapho ukholo lukushukumisela ukuba uqale ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle, umnikelo wakho ‘uyothandeka kakhulu kuJehova kunenkunzi.’ (Funda iHubo 69:30, 31.) Qiniseka ukuthi ‘iphunga elizolisayo’ lomhlatshelo wakho wokudumisa liyofinyelela kuJehova nokuthi uzokwamukela. (Hez. 20:41) Injabulo oyoyithola ayinakuqhathaniswa.

“UJehova Uyobusisa Noma Ngubani Olungile”

18, 19. (a) Abantu abaningi namuhla banamuphi umbono ngokukhonza uNkulunkulu? (b) Ukulahlekelwa umusa kaNkulunkulu kuholelaphi?

¹⁸ Namuhla, abantu abaningi bafinyelela esiphethweni esifanayo njengoba kwenza abanye osukwini lukaMalaki: “Akusizi ngalutho ukukhonza uNkulunkulu; futhi kunanzuzoni ukuthi sigciné umyalo wakhe?” (Mal. 3:14, An American Translation) Beqhutshwa ukuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo, babheka injongo kaNkulunkulu njengengafinyeleleki nemithetho yakhe njengengasasebenzi. Kubo, ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle kuwukuchitha isikhathi nento ecasulayo.

 ¹⁹ Amandla ashukumisa imibono enjalo aqala emuva ensimini yase-Edene. NguSathane owathonya u-Eva ukuba ayishaye indiva inzuzo yangempela yokuphila okumangalisayo uJehova ayemnike kona futhi akubukele phansi ukwamukelwa nguYe. Namuhla, uSathane ugqugquzela abantu ukuba bakholelwe ukuthi akukho lutho abayoluzuza ngokwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. Nokho, u-Eva nomyeni wakhe bathola ukuthi ukulahlekelwa umusa kaNkulunkulu kwakusho ukulahlekelwa ukuphila kwabo. Labo namuhla abalandela isibonelo sabo esibi maduze bazolithola leli qiniso elibuhlungu.—Gen. 3:1-7, 17-19.

20, 21. (a) Yini eyenziwa umfelokazi waseZarefati, futhi wazuzani ngalokho? (b) Singamlingisa kanjani umfelokazi waseZarefati, futhi kungani kufanele simlingise?

²⁰ Bona umahluko okhona phakathi kwesiphetho esidabukisayo sika-Adamu no-Eva nomphumela wendaba ka-Eliya nomfelokazi waseZarefati okukhulunywe ngayo ekuqaleni. Ngemva kokuzwa amazwi ka-Eliya akhuthazayo, lona wesifazane wabe esenzela umprofethi iqebelengwane lesinkwa kuqala. UJehova wabe esegcwalisa isithembiso ayesenze ngo-Eliya. Ukulandisa kuthi: “Waqhubeka edla, yena kanye naye nendlu yakhe, izinsuku eziningi. Imbiza enkulu kafulawa ayizange iphele nembiza encane yamafutha ayizange iphele, ngokwezwi likaJehova ayelikhulume ngo-Eliya.”—1 AmaKh. 17:15, 16.

²¹ Umfelokazi waseZarefati wenza okuthile okungabantu abambalwa ezigidini zezigidi eziphila manje abazimisele ukukwenza. Wathembela ngokuphelele kuNkulunkulu wensindiso, futhi akazange amshiye dengwane. Lokhu kulandisa nokunye okuseBhayibhelini kusiqinisekisa ngokuthi uJehova uyakufanelekela ukuba simethembe. (Funda uJoshuwa 21:43-45; 23:14.) Ukuphila koFakazi BakaJehova banamuhla kunikeza ubufakazi obengeziwe bokuthi akasoze abalahla labo abamukelayo.—IHu. 34:6, 7, 17-19. *

22. Kungani kuphuthuma ukuba sifune ukwamukelwa uNkulunkulu ngaphandle kokulibala?

²² Seluseduze kakhulu usuku lukaNkulunkulu lokwahlulela “bonke abahlala kuwo wonke umhlaba.” (Luka 21:34, 35) Ngeke ibe khona indlela yokulubalekela. Ingcebo noma izinto ezibonakalayo azisoze zasondela nakusondela enjabulweni eyolethwa ukuzwa umaHluleli kaNkulunkulu omisiwe ethi: “Wozani, nina enibusiswe nguBaba, nizuze ifa lombuso enawulungiselelwa.” (Math. 25:34) Yebo, ‘uJehova uyobusisa noma ngubani olungile; uyobaphahla ngokwamukeleka, njengokungathi ngesihlangu esikhulu.’ (IHu. 5:12) Uyabona yini ukuthi kungani kufanele sifune ukwamukelwa uNkulunkulu?

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Uyakhumbula?

• Kungani uJehova ekufanelekela ukuba simkhulekele ngokusuka enhliziyweni?

• Imiphi imihlatshelo uJehova ayamukelayo namuhla?

• Inkulumo ethi “amaduna ezinkomo ezindebe zethu” ibhekisele kuphi, futhi kungani kufanele sinikele ngawo kuJehova?

• Kungani kufanele sifune ukwamukelwa uNkulunkulu?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Isithombe ekhasini 13]

Iyiphi inselele ebalulekile umprofethi kaNkulunkulu ayibekela umama othile owayeswele?

[Isithombe ekhasini 15]

Sizuzani ngokunikela kuJehova umhlatshelo wokudumisa?

[Isithombe ekhasini 17]

Awusoze wajabha ngokuthembela kuJehova ngobuqotho