1, 2. Kungani kuphawuleka ukuthi uJehova uzifanisa nomalusi?

UJEHOVA uzifanisa nomalusi. (Hez. 34:11-14) Kuyaphawuleka lokhu ngoba kusisiza ukuba siqonde ukuthi uJehova ungumuntu onjani. Ngokuvamile, umalusi onothando ukubheka njengomthwalo wakhe ukuqapha ukuphepha nenhlalakahle yomhlambi wezimvu awunakekelayo. Uwuholela emadlelweni nasemithonjeni yamanzi (IHu. 23:1, 2); uwuqapha ubusuku nemini (Luka 2:8); uwuvikela ezilwaneni eziyingozi (1 Sam. 17:34, 35); uthwala amawundlu asanda kuzalwa (Isaya 40:11); ucinga izimvu ezilahlekile futhi anakekele ezilimele.—Hez. 34:16.

² Ngenxa yokuthi abantu bakaJehova basendulo babehlala emphakathini ogxile ekufuyeni nasekulimeni, babekuqonda kahle ukuthi ukufanisa uJehova uNkulunkulu nomalusi onothando kuchaza ukuthini. Babazi ukuthi izimvu zidinga ukunakwa ukuze zikhule kahle. Ngomqondo ongokomoya, yilokho nabantu abakudingayo. (Marku 6:34) Abantu bayalimala uma benganakekelwa kahle ngokomoya futhi bungekho ubuholi obuhle. Baba izisulu ezilula futhi banhlanhlathe ngokokuziphatha—ngendlela ‘izimvu ezingenamalusi’ ezihlakazeka ngayo. (1 AmaKh. 22:17) Nokho, uJehova uzinakekela ngothando izidingo zabantu bakhe.

3. Sizoxoxa ngani kulesi sihloko?

³ Ukufanisa uJehova nomalusi kunencazelo ebalulekile ngisho nanamuhla. UJehova usabanakekela abantu bakhe abanjengezimvu. Ake sibone indlela aqondisa ngayo izimvu zakhe nanakekela ngayo izidingo zazo namuhla. Sizobuye sidingide nendlela izimvu okufanele zisabele ngayo othandweni uJehova azibonisa lona.

4. Iyiphi indima uJesu anayo ekunakekeleni izimvu zikaJehova?

⁴ UJehova umise uJesu njengeNhloko yebandla lobuKristu. (Efe. 1:22, 23) ‘Njengomalusi omuhle,’  uJesu unezithakazelo, izinjongo nezimfanelo ezifanayo nezikaYise. UJesu waze ‘wanikela nangomphefumulo wakhe ngenxa yezimvu.’ (Joh. 10:11, 15) Yeka ukuthi umhlatshelo wesihlengo kaKristu uyisibusiso esingakanani esintwini! (Math. 20:28) Injongo kaJehova ukuba “wonke umuntu obonisa ukholo [kuJesu] angabhubhi kodwa abe nokuphila okuphakade.”—Joh. 3:16.

5, 6. (a) Obani uJesu abamisile ukuba banakekele izimvu zakhe, futhi yini okudingeka izimvu ziyenze ukuze zizuze kuleli lungiselelo? (b) Isiphi isizathu okufanele sibe esikhulu kunazo zonke sokufuna ukulalela abadala bebandla?

⁵ Zisabela kanjani izimvu kuMalusi Omuhle, uJesu Kristu? UJesu wathi: “Izimvu zami ziyalilalela izwi lami, nami ngiyazazi, futhi ziyangilandela.” (Joh. 10:27) Ukulalela izwi likaMalusi Omuhle kusho ukulandela iziqondiso zakhe ezintweni zonke. Lokhu kuhlanganisa ukubambisana nabelusi abangaphansi abangokomoya abamisile. UJesu wabonisa ukuthi abaphostoli nabafundi bakhe kwakufanele baqhubeke nomsebenzi ayewuqalile. Kwakufanele ‘bafundise’ futhi ‘bondle amawundlu kaJesu.’ (Math. 28:20; funda uJohane 21:15-17.) Njengoba izindaba ezinhle zisakazeka nabafundi banda, uJesu wahlela ukuba kube namaKristu avuthiwe azokwelusa amabandla.—Efe. 4:11, 12.

⁶ Lapho ekhuluma nababonisi bangekhulu lokuqala ebandleni lase-Efesu, umphostoli uPawulu wathi umoya ongcwele wawubamise njengababonisi ‘ukuze beluse ibandla likaNkulunkulu.’ (IzE. 20:28) Kuyefana nangababonisi abangamaKristu namuhla, njengoba nabo bemiswa ngemva kokuhlangabezana nezimfuneko ezingokomBhalo eziphefumulelwe umoya ongcwele. Ngakho, ukulalela ababonisi abangamaKristu kubonisa ukuthi sihlonipha uJehova noJesu, aBelusi ababili abakhulu kunabo bonke. (Luka 10:16) Ngokuqinisekile, lokhu kufanele kube isizathu esikhulu kunazo zonke sokuba sifise ukuzithoba kubadala. Nokho, kukhona nezinye izizathu ezenza kube ukuhlakanipha ukuzithoba kubo.

7. Abadala bakusiza kanjani ukuba uhlale unobuhlobo obuhle noJehova?

⁷ Lapho benikeza amaKristu abakanye nawo isiqondiso, abadala banikeza isikhuthazo neseluleko esisekelwe emiBhalweni ngokwayo noma ezimisweni ezingokomBhalo. Injongo yabo yokunikeza leso siqondiso akukhona ukutshela abafowabo indlela okufanele baphile ngayo. (2 Kor. 1:24) Kunalokho, iwukunikeza amaKristu abakanye nawo iziqondiso ezingokomBhalo ezizowasiza ukuba enze izinqumo ezinhle futhi athuthukise ukuhleleka nokuthula ebandleni. (1 Kor. 14:33, 40) Abadala “baqapha imiphefumulo” ngomqondo wokuthi banesifiso sokusiza ilungu ngalinye lebandla ukuba lilondoloze ubuhlobo obuhle noJehova. Ngakho bayoshesha ukusiza lapho bebona umzalwane noma udade esezothatha noma esethathe “isinyathelo okungesona.” (Gal. 6:1, 2; Jude 22) Akuzona yini lezi izizathu ezinhle ‘zokubalalela labo abaholayo’?—Funda amaHebheru 13:17.

8. Abadala bawuvikela kanjani umhlambi kaNkulunkulu?

⁸ Umphostoli uPawulu, naye owayengumalusi ongokomoya, wabhalela abafowabo baseKolose: “Xwayani: mhlawumbe kungase kube khona oyomuka nani njengezisulu zakhe ngefilosofi nangenkohliso eyize ngokwesiko labantu, ngokwezinto zokucathula zezwe hhayi ngokukaKristu.” (Kol. 2:8) Lesi sixwayiso siqokomisa esinye isizathu esihle sokunaka iseluleko esingokomBhalo sabadala. Bavikela umhlambi ngokuxwayisa abafowabo nganoma ubani ongase azame ukwenza ukholo lwabo lube buthaka. Umphostoli uPetru waxwayisa ‘ngabaprofethi bamanga nangabafundisi bamanga’ ababeyozama ‘ukuhunga imiphefumulo engagxilile’ ukuba yenze okubi. (2 Pet. 2:1,  14) Abadala banamuhla kumelwe banikeze izixwayiso ezifanayo lapho kudingeka. Njengamadoda avuthiwe angamaKristu, banokuhlangenwe nakho ekuphileni. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngaphambi kokuba bamiswe, baye babonisa ukuthi bayiqonda ngokucacile imiBhalo nokuthi bayakufanelekela ukufundisa imfundiso enempilo. (1 Thim. 3:2; Thithu 1:9) Ukuvuthwa kwabo, ukulinganisela nokuhlakanipha kwabo okusekelwe eBhayibhelini kubenza bakwazi ukunikeza ukuqondisa okunekhono emhlambini.

9. UJesu uliqondisa futhi alondle kanjani ibandla lobuKristu namuhla?

⁹ Ngenhlangano yakhe, uJehova ulungiselela insada yokudla okungokomoya kwabo bonke abazalwane emhlabeni wonke. Izeluleko eziningi ezingokomBhalo zitholakala ngezincwadi zethu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngezinye izikhathi inhlangano ibanikeza ngokuqondile abadala bamabandla isiqondiso, kungaba ngezincwadi ebabhalela zona noma ngeziyalezo ezidluliselwa ngababonisi abajikelezayo. Ngalezi zindlela, izimvu zithola isiqondiso esicacile.

10. Imuphi umthwalo abelusi abangokomoya abanawo ngalabo asebedukelene nomhlambi?

¹⁰ Ngomqondo ongokomoya, ababonisi banomthwalo wokuvikela, ukunakekela nokukhathalela impilo yamalungu ebandla, ikakhulu lawo azilimazile noma agulayo ngokomoya. (Funda uJakobe 5:14, 15.) Kungenzeka ukuthi abanye  balaba bantu sebedukelene nomhlambi futhi abasahlanganyeli emisebenzini yebandla. Esimweni esinjena, umdala onakekelayo ubengeke yini enze konke okusemandleni akhe ukuba acinge imvu ngayinye elahlekile, futhi ayinxuse ukuba ibuyele emhlambini, okungukuthi ebandleni? Ngempela ubeyokwenza kanjalo! UJesu wachaza: “Akuyona into efiselekayo kuBaba osezulwini ukuba kushabalale noyedwa walaba abancane.”—Math. 18:12-14.

11. Kungani abanye bengase bakuthole kuyinselele ukulandela ukuhola kwabadala?

¹¹ UJehova noJesu bangaBelusi abaphelele. Nokho, abelusi abangaphansi abangabantu ababaphathise ukunakekela amabandla bona abaphelele. Leli qiniso lingenza kubonakale kuyinselele kwabanye ukulandela ukuhola kwabadala. Abantu abanjalo bangase bacabange: ‘Bangabantu abangaphelele njengathi nje. Kungani kufanele silalele iseluleko sabo?’ Yiqiniso, abadala abaphelele. Nokho, kudingeka sibe nombono ofanele ngamaphutha nobuthakathaka babo.

12, 13. (a) Yini engase ishiwo ngamaphutha abathile uJehova aye wabasebenzisa ukuba bahole abantu bakhe? (b) Kungani amaphutha amadoda anomthwalo wemfanelo elotshiwe eBhayibhelini?

¹² ImiBhalo iwabika ngobuqotho amaphutha alabo uJehova abasebenzisa ekuholeni abantu bakhe esikhathini esidlule. Ngokwesibonelo, uDavide wagcotshwa njengenkosi nomholi wakwa-Israyeli. Noma kunjalo, wawela esilingweni futhi waba necala lokuphinga nokubulala. (2 Sam. 12:7-9) Cabanga nangesibonelo somphostoli uPetru. Nakuba ayephathiswe umthwalo wemfanelo omkhulu ebandleni lobuKristu lekhulu lokuqala, wenza amaphutha amakhulu. (Math. 16:18, 19; Joh. 13:38; 18:27; Gal. 2:11-14) Ngaphandle kukaJesu, abekho abanye abantu ngemva ku-Adamu no-Eva ababa abaphelele.

¹³ Kungani uJehova ayala abalobi beBhayibheli ukuba babhale ngamaphutha amadoda ayewathumile? Phakathi kokunye, uNkulunkulu wayenzela ukubonisa ukuthi angabasebenzisa abantu abangaphelele ukuba bahole abantu bakhe. Eqinisweni, ubelokhu enza kanjalo. Ngenxa yalokho, akufanele sisebenzise amaphutha alabo abaholayo phakathi kwethu namuhla njengezaba zokububula ngabo noma zokungalinaki igunya labo. UJehova ulindele ukuba sibahloniphe laba bazalwane futhi sibalalele.—Funda u-Eksodusi 16:2, 8.

14, 15. Yini esingayifunda endleleni uJehova axhumana ngayo nabantu bakhe esikhathini esidlule?

¹⁴ Kubalulekile ukulalela labo abaholayo phakathi kwethu namuhla. Cabanga ngendlela uJehova axhumana ngayo nabantu bakhe ngezikhathi ezibucayi esikhathini esidlule. Lapho abantu bakwa-Israyeli bephuma eGibhithe, uNkulunkulu wabanikeza iziyalezo ngoMose nango-Aroni. Ukuze asinde enhluphweni yeshumi, ama-Israyeli kwakudingeka alalele iziyalezo zokwenza isidlo esikhethekile, ukubheca igazi lemvu ezinsikeni zeminyango nasemakhothameni ezindlu zawo. Leso siqondiso asilethwanga ngezwi elivela ezulwini. Kwadingeka ukuba alalele amadoda amadala akwa-Israyeli, ayethole iziyalezo eziqondile kuMose. (Eks. 12:1-7, 21-23, 29) Kulezo zimo, uMose namadoda amadala basebenza njengabaphathi beziyalezo zikaJehova esizweni sakhe. Namuhla abadala abangamaKristu bafeza indima ebaluleke ngokufanayo.

¹⁵ Cishe ungakhumbula ezinye izikhathi eziningi emlandweni weBhayibheli lapho uJehova asebenzisa khona abameleleli abangabantu noma abayizingelosi ukuze adlulisele iziqondiso ezisindisa ukuphila. Kuzo zonke lezo zimo, uNkulunkulu wakubona  kufaneleka ukuphathisa abanye igunya. Lezo zithunywa zakhuluma egameni lakhe futhi zatshela abantu bakhe lokho okwakudingeka bakwenze ukuze basinde esimweni esithile esibucayi. Asicabangi yini ukuthi uJehova angenza into efanayo e-Armagedoni? Bonke abadala namuhla abanikezwe imithwalo yemfanelo yokumelela uJehova nenhlangano yakhe kumelwe ngokukhethekile baqaphe ukuba bangalokothi basebenzise kabi igunya abaliphathisiwe.

16. Yiliphi “izwi” okumelwe silinake?

¹⁶ Abantu bakaJehova bakha ‘umhlambi owodwa’ ngaphansi ‘kukamalusi oyedwa,’ uJesu Kristu. (Joh. 10:16) UJesu wabonisa ukuthi uyoba nabafundi bakhe “izinsuku zonke kuze kube isiphelo sesimiso sezinto.” (Math. 28:20) NjengeNkosi esezulwini, uziqondisa ngokugcwele zonke izenzakalo eziyoholela ekukhishweni kwesahlulelo ezweni likaSathane. Ukuze sihlale simunye futhi sivikelekile emhlambini kaNkulunkulu, kudingeka silalele ‘izwi esilizwa ngemva kwethu,’ elisitshela indlela okufanele sihambe ngayo. Leli “zwi” lihlanganisa lokho okushiwo umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu njengoba sikuthola kulo lonke iBhayibheli nalokho uJehova noJesu abakushoyo besebenzisa labo abababeke ukuba babe abelusi abangaphansi.—Funda u-Isaya 30:21; IsAmbulo 3:22.

17, 18. (a) Iyiphi ingozi esongela umhlambi, kodwa yini esingaqiniseka ngayo? (b) Sizoxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁷ USathane uchazwa ngokuthi uhambahamba “njengengonyama ebhongayo, efuna engamshwabadela.” (1 Pet. 5:8) Njengesilwane sasendle esiyingozi esilambile, ucathamela umhlambi, efuna ithuba lokubhozomela abangaqaphile noma abadukayo. Yingakho kumelwe ukuba sihlale sisondelene nawo wonke umhlambi kanye ‘nomalusi nombonisi wemiphefumulo yethu.’ (1 Pet. 2:25) Ngokuphathelene nabasinde osizini olukhulu, isAmbulo 7:17 sithi: “Iwundlu [uJesu] . . . liyobelusa, futhi liyobaqondisa emithonjeni yamanzi okuphila. UNkulunkulu uyosula zonke izinyembezi emehlweni abo.” Sikhona yini isithembiso esingadlula lesi?

¹⁸ Njengoba sesifunde ngendima ebaluleke kakhulu yabadala bebandla njengabelusi abangaphansi, kuhle ukuba sizibuze, La madoda amisiwe angaqiniseka kanjani ukuthi aphatha izimvu zikaJesu ngendlela efanele? Sizoxoxa ngalo mbuzo esihlokweni esilandelayo.