1. Lubaluleke kangakanani ukholo? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

INGABE wake wazibuza, ‘Ingabe uJehova uyofuna ukungisindisa phakathi nosizi olukhulu?’ Umphostoli uPawulu wathi imfanelo ebaluleke kakhulu okudingeka sibe nayo ukuze sisinde ukholo. Wathi: “Ngaphandle kokholo akunakwenzeka ukumjabulisa kahle uNkulunkulu.” (Hebheru 11:6) Lokho kungase kuzwakale kulula, kodwa iqiniso liwukuthi “ukholo alulona olwabo bonke abantu.” (2 Thesalonika 3:2) Le miBhalo emibili iyasisiza siqonde indlela okubaluleke ngayo ukuqinisa ukholo lwethu.

2, 3. (a) Lubaluleke kangakanani ukholo lwethu? (b) Yini esizoxoxa ngayo manje?

² Umphostoli uPetru wakhuluma ngokholo ‘oluvivinyiwe.’ (Funda eyoku-1 Petru 1:7.) Usizi olukhulu luseduze kakhulu, futhi sifuna ukuba “uhlobo olunokholo kube ukulondwa komphefumulo.” (Hebheru 10:39) Ngakho kudingeka sizikhandle ukuze siqinise ukholo lwethu. Sifuna ukuba phakathi kwalabo abavuzwayo lapho uJesu Kristu, iNkosi yethu, ambulwa. Ngakho, njengendoda eyacela ukholo olwengeziwe kuJesu, nathi singathi: “Ngisize lapho ngidinga khona ukholo!” (Marku 9:24) Noma njengabaphostoli, nathi singathi: “Siphe ukholo olwengeziwe.”—Luka 17:5.

 ³ Kulesi sihloko, sizoxoxa ngala maphuzu alandelayo: indlela esingalwakha ngayo ukholo lwethu, indlela esingabonisa ngayo ukuthi ukholo lwethu luqinile nokuthi kungani singaqiniseka ngokuthi uNkulunkulu uyosiphendula lapho sicela ukholo olwengeziwe.

4. Izibonelo zobani ezingasishukumisela ukuba siqinise ukholo lwethu?

⁴ Ngenxa yokuthi ukholo lubalulekile, uJehova usinike izibonelo eziningi zokholo eBhayibhelini. Lezi zibonelo “zalotshelwa ukuba kufundiswe thina.” (Roma 15:4) Izibonelo ezifana nesika-Abrahama, uSara, u-Isaka, uJakobe, uMose, uRahabi, uGideyoni, uBharaki nezabanye abaningi zingasishukumisela ukuba siqinise ukholo lwethu. (Hebheru 11:32-35) Ngaphezu kwezibonelo zasendulo, sibuye sibe nezibonelo ezinhle kakhulu zokholo phakathi kwabafowethu nodadewethu namuhla. *

5. U-Eliya wabonisa kanjani ukuthi unokholo oluqinile kuJehova, futhi yini okufanele sizibuze yona?

⁵ Isibonelo esiseBhayibhelini esomprofethi u-Eliya. Njengoba uzindla ngesibonelo sakhe, phawula izimo ezinhlanu abonisa kuzo lolu kholo oluqinile kuJehova. (1) Lapho u-Eliya etshela iNkosi u-Ahabi ukuthi uJehova wayezoletha isomiso, washo ngokuqiniseka: “Kuphila kukaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli engimi phambi kwakhe, ngeke abe khona amazolo noma imvula kule minyaka.” (1 AmaKhosi 17:1) (2) U-Eliya wayekholelwa ukuthi uJehova wayeyobanika lokho ababekudinga ngesikhathi sesomiso. (1 AmaKhosi 17:4, 5, 13, 14) (3) U-Eliya wayeqiniseka nangokuthi uJehova wayengayivusa indodana yomfelokazi. (1 AmaKhosi 17:21) (4) Wayengangabazi ukuthi umlilo kaJehova wawuyowushisa umnikelo wakhe eNtabeni iKarmeli. (1 AmaKhosi 18:24, 37) (5) Ngisho nangaphambi kokuba line, u-Eliya watshela u-Ahabi ngokuqiniseka: “Khuphuka, udle uphuze; ngoba kukhona umsindo wenhlokomo yemvula.” (1 AmaKhosi 18:41) Ngakho ngemva kokuhlola lezi zigameko, singazibuza, ‘Ingabe ukholo lwami luqine njengoluka-Eliya?’

6. Yini esiyidingayo kuJehova ukuze sakhe ukholo lwethu?

⁶ Njengoba singenakukwazi ukwakha ukholo lwethu ngaphandle kosizo lukaNkulunkulu, kudingeka sicele umoya wakhe ongcwele. Ngani? Ngoba ukholo luyingxenye yesithelo somoya ongcwele. (Galathiya 5:22) Siyobe senza ngokuhlakanipha uma silandela iseluleko sikaJesu  sokuthandazela umoya ongcwele owengeziwe. UJesu wathembisa ukuthi uJehova “uyobanika umoya ongcwele labo abawucela kuye.”—Luka 11:13.

7. Chaza indlela esingagcina ngayo ukholo lwethu luqinile.

⁷ Lapho sesinalo ukholo oluqinile kuNkulunkulu, kumelwe silulondoloze. Ukholo singalufanisa nomlilo. Lapho sibasa umlilo, kungase kube nelangabi elikhulu. Nokho, uma singazifaki ezinye izinkuni, umlilo ungagcina ucishile kusale umlotha. Kodwa uma silokhu sifaka izinkuni, singawugcina uvutha. Kungokufanayo nangokholo lwethu. Uma siqhubeka sifunda futhi sitadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu nsuku zonke, uthando lwethu ngeBhayibheli nangoJehova luyokhula. Ngenxa yalokho, siyolulondoloza futhi siluqinise ukholo lwethu.

8. Yini ezokusiza wakhe ukholo lwakho futhi ululondoloze?

⁸ Akumelwe waneliswe kuphela izinto owazifunda ngaphambi kokuba ubhapathizwe. (Hebheru 6:1, 2) Ngokwesibonelo, ukufunda ngeziprofetho esezigcwalisekile kakade kuzokusiza wakhe ukholo lwakho futhi ululondoloze. Ungaphinde usebenzise iZwi likaNkulunkulu ukuze uhlole ukuthi ukholo lwakho luqine ngempela yini.—Funda uJakobe 1:25; 2:24, 26.

9, 10. Ukholo lwethu luqiniswa kanjani (a) abangani abahle? (b) imihlangano yebandla? (c) ukushumayela?

⁹ Umphostoli uPawulu wathi amaKristu ‘angakhuthazana ngokholo lwawo.’ (Roma 1:12) Kusho ukuthini lokho? Lapho sichitha isikhathi nabafowethu nodadewethu, singaqinisana okholweni. Lokhu kuyiqiniso nakakhulu lapho sichitha isikhathi nalabo abanokholo ‘oluvivinyiwe.’ (Jakobe 1:3) Abangane ababi balucekela phansi ukholo lwethu, kodwa abangane abahle bayalwakha. (1 Korinte 15:33) Yingakho selulekwa ukuba sibe khona njalo emihlanganweni. Lapho, singaqhubeka ‘sikhuthazana.’ (Funda eyamaHebheru 10:24, 25.) Ngaphezu kwalokho, imfundo esiyithola emihlanganweni iqinisa ukholo lwethu. IBhayibheli lithi “ukholo lulandela into ezwiweyo.” (Roma 10:17) Ngakho zibuze, ‘Ingabe imihlangano yobuKristu iyingxenye ebalulekile yokuphila kwami?’

¹⁰ Sibuye siqinise ukholo lwethu lapho sishumayela futhi sifundisa abanye izindaba ezinhle zeBhayibheli. NjengamaKristu ekhulu lokuqala, sifunda ukuthembela kuJehova futhi sikhulume ngesibindi ngaphansi kwanoma yisiphi isimo.—IzEnzo 4:17-20; 13:46.

11. Yini eyenza uKalebi noJoshuwa baba nokholo oluqinile, futhi singafana kanjani nabo?

¹¹ Ukholo lwethu kuJehova luyakhula lapho sibona indlela asisiza ngayo naphendula ngayo imithandazo yethu. Yilokho okwenzeka kuKalebi noJoshuwa. Babonisa ukholo kuJehova lapho beyohlola iZwe Lesithembiso. Njengoba isikhathi  sihamba, ukholo lwabo lwaluqina njalo lapho bebona indlela uJehova ayebasiza ngayo. UJoshuwa wayengawatshela ngokuqiniseka ama-Israyeli: “Akukho nelilodwa izwi kuwo wonke amazwi amahle uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu awakhulumile kini eliye laphutha.” Kamuva wathi: “Manje yesaba uJehova umkhonze ngokungabi naphutha nangeqiniso.” Wabe esenezela: “Kepha mina nendlu yami, sizokhonza uJehova.” (Joshuwa 23:14; 24:14, 15) Lapho sethembela kuJehova futhi sibona indlela asisiza ngayo, ukholo lwethu luyoqina nakakhulu.—IHubo 34:8.

12. Sibonisa kanjani ukuthi sinokholo oluqinile?

¹² Sibonisa kanjani ukuthi sinokholo oluqinile? Umfundi uJakobe wathi: “Mina ngizokubonisa ukholo lwami ngemisebenzi yami.” (Jakobe 2:18) Izenzo zethu ziyobonisa ukuthi sinokholo oluqinile. Ake sibone ukuthi kanjani.

13. Silubonisa kanjani ukholo lwethu lapho sishumayela?

¹³ Ukushumayela kuyindlela enhle kakhulu yokubonisa ukholo lwethu. Ngani? Ngoba lapho sishumayela, sibonisa ukuthi siyakholelwa ukuthi ukuphela kuseduze nokuthi ‘ngeke kwephuze!’ (Habakuki 2:3) Ukuze sibone ukuthi ukholo lwethu luqinile yini, singazibuza: ‘Kubaluleke kangakanani ukushumayela kimi? Ingabe ngenza konke engingakwenza ukuze ngitshele abanye ngoNkulunkulu? Ngiyazifuna yini izindlela zokwenza okwengeziwe enkonzweni kaJehova?’ (2 Korinte 13:5) Masibonise ukuthi ukholo lwethu luqinile ‘ngokuvuma obala kube yinsindiso,’ okungukuthi, ngokushumayela izindaba ezinhle.—Funda eyabaseRoma 10:10.

14, 15. (a) Singalubonisa kanjani ukholo ekuphileni kwethu kwansuku zonke? (b) Landisa ngokwenzeka kothile okubonisa ukholo oluqinile.

 ¹⁴ Sibonisa ukholo lwethu kuJehova nangokukhuthazelela izinselele zokuphila kuleli zwe. Uma sigula, sidikibele, sicindezelekile, simpofu noma sinezinye izinkinga, kumelwe sibe nokholo lokuthi uJehova noJesu ‘bazosisiza ngesikhathi esifanele.’ (Hebheru 4:16) Sibonisa ukholo kuJehova lapho simcela ukuba asisize. UJesu wathi singamcela uJehova ukuba asinike “isinkwa sethu sosuku ngokwesidingo sosuku.” (Luka 11:3) Ukulandisa okuseBhayibhelini kufakazela ukuthi uJehova angasinika noma yini esiyidingayo. Ngokwesibonelo, phakathi nesomiso esinzima esasikwa-Israyeli, uJehova wanikeza u-Eliya ukudla namanzi. IBhayibheli lithi “amagwababa ayemlethela isinkwa nenyama ekuseni nesinkwa nenyama kusihlwa, futhi wayephuza esigodini sesifufula.” (1 AmaKhosi 17:3-6) Sinokholo lokuthi uJehova angasinika nathi esikudingayo.

¹⁵ Siyaqiniseka ukuthi lapho sisebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibheli, siyokwazi ukunakekela izidingo zemindeni yethu. URebecca, udade oshadile wase-Asia, uchaza indlela yena nomndeni wakhe abasebenzisa ngayo izimiso ezikuMathewu 6:33 nezAga 10:4. Uthi umyeni wakhe wayenomuzwa wokuthi umsebenzi wakhe wawuzobulimaza ubuhlobo babo noJehova. Ngakho wawuyeka. Kodwa  babenezingane ezine okwakudingeka bazinakekele, ngakho baqala ukupheka ukudla ababezokudayisa. Ngenxa yokuzikhandla kwabo, babehlale bethola imali eyanele yokunakekela izidingo zomndeni. Uthi: “Saba nomuzwa wokuthi uJehova akakaze asishiye. Asikaze silale singadlile.” Ingabe wake wabhekana nesimo esifanayo esaqinisa ukholo lwakho?

16. Kuyokwenzekani uma sithembela kuNkulunkulu?

¹⁶ Akufanele nanini singabaze ukuthi uma silandela isiqondiso sikaJehova, uzosisiza. UPawulu wacaphuna amazwi kaHabakuki lapho ethi: “Olungileyo uyophila ngenxa yokholo.” (Galathiya 3:11; Habakuki 2:4) Yingakho kufanele sibe nokholo oluqinile kuLowo ongasisiza ngempela. UPawulu usikhumbuza ukuthi uNkulunkulu ‘nguye, ngokwamandla akhe asebenza kithi, ongenza okungaphezu kakhulu kwazo zonke izinto esizicelayo noma esizicabangelayo.’ (Efesu 3:20) Izinceku zikaJehova zenza konke okusemandleni azo ukuze zenze intando kaNkulunkulu, kodwa ziyazi nokuthi azinakwenza yonke into. Siyabonga ngokuthi uNkulunkulu unathi nokuthi uyibusisa yonke imizamo yethu.

17. (a) UJesu wabaphendula kanjani abaphostoli? (b) Kungani singalindela ukuba uJehova aphendule izicelo zethu zokholo olwengeziwe?

¹⁷ Ngokwalokhu esesixoxe ngakho, singase sizizwe ngendlela abaphostoli ababezizwa ngayo lapho becela uJesu, bethi: “Siphe ukholo olwengeziwe.” (Luka 17:5) UJesu wabaphendula ngendlela ekhethekile abaphostoli ngePhentekoste lonyaka ka-33, lapho bamukela umoya ongcwele futhi bekwazi ukuyiqonda ngokugcwele injongo kaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwaqinisa ukholo lwabo. Waba yini umphumela? Baqalisa umkhankaso omkhulu kunayo yonke eyayike yaba khona kuze kube yileso sikhathi. (Kolose 1:23) Singalindela yini ukuba izicelo zethu zokholo olwengeziwe ziphendulwe? UJehova uthembisa ukuthi singakulindela lokho lapho ‘sicela ngokwentando yakhe.’—1 Johane 5:14.

18. UJehova ubabusisa kanjani labo abakha ukholo lwabo?

¹⁸ Uma sithembela ngokuphelele kuJehova, uyojabula ngathi. Uyoziphendula izicelo zethu zokuba nokholo olwengeziwe, futhi ukholo lwethu luyoqina nakakhulu, okuyokwenza ‘siwufanelekele uMbuso kaNkulunkulu.’—2 Thesalonika 1:3, 5.