1. Njengobe sidalwe ngemfanekiso waNkulunkulu, nguliphi likhono lesinalo?

SISHO lesitsi: “Ludziwo lufute imbita” sivame kushiwo tikhatsi letinyenti. Ecinisweni bantfwana labanyenti bafana kakhulu nebatali babo. Phela babe namake ngibo bobabili labendlulisela lufuto kubantfwana babo. Jehova longuYise wetfu wasezulwini, unguMniki wekuphila. (Hla. 36:9) Tsine njengebantfwana bakhe sifanana naye ngelizinga lelitsite. Njengobe sidalwe ngemfanekiso wakhe, sinelikhono lekucabanga, lekufika etiphetfweni, lekwakha bangani nelekulondvolota lobo bungani.—Gen. 1:26.

2. Kungenteka njani kutsi Jehova abe nguMngani wetfu?

² Jehova angaba nguMngani wetfu lomkhulu. Lobo bungani singaba nabo ngenca yelutsandvo Nkulunkulu lanalo ngatsi nangenca yekukholwa lesinako kuye naseNdvodzaneni yakhe. Jesu watsi: “Nkulunkulu walitsandza kakhulu live kangangekutsi waze wanikela ngeNdvodzana yakhe lekuphela kwayo, kuze wonkhe umuntfu lokholwa ngiyo angabhubhi, kodvwa atfole kuphila lokuphakadze.” (Joh. 3:16) Tinyenti tibonelo tebantfu lababa nebuhlobo lobusedvute naJehova. Ase sifundze ngalababili babo.

3, 4. Catsanisa bungani Abrahama labenabo naJehova kulobo situkulwane sakhe lebesinabo naJehova.

³ Nakakhuluma nga-Abrahama uyise wema-Israyeli, Jehova watsi: ‘Abrahama umngani wami.’ (Isa. 41:8) Incwadzi yesibili  yeTikhronike 20:7 nayo ibita Abrahama ngekutsi ngumngani waNkulunkulu. Yini leyasita lendvodza leyetsembekile kutsi ibe nebungani lobucinile neMdali wayo? Yasitwa kukholwa kwayo.—Gen. 15:6; fundza Jakobe 2:21-23.

⁴ Ekucaleni, situkulwane sa-Abrahama lesaba sive sema-Israyeli sasendvulo besitsatsa Jehova njengeYise nanjengeMngani. Lokudzabukisako kutsi sagcina silahlekelwe buhlobo baso naNkulunkulu. Kwentiwa yini loko? Kungobe asizange sichubeke sitikholwa tetsembiso taJehova.

5, 6. (a) Jehova ube njani nguMngani wakho? (b) Ngumiphi imibuto lokufanele siyinake?

⁵ Nawuchubeka ufundza ngaJehova, kukholwa lonako kuye kutawucina futsi lutsandvo lwakho ngaye lutawukhula. Asewucabange ngesikhatsi lapho wafundza khona kutsi Nkulunkulu unguMuntfu mbamba, longakhona kuba nebuhlobo lobusedvute naye. Waphindze wafundza nekutsi sonkhe satalwa sinesono ngesizatfu sekungalaleli kwa-Adamu. Wabese uyacondza kutsi bonkhe bantfu behlukanisiwe naNkulunkulu. (Khol. 1:21) Wabona kutsi Babe wasezulwini lonelutsandvo akasiye umuntfu lokhashane, longenandzaba natsi. Ngesikhatsi sifundza ngelilungiselelo lakhe lemhlatjelo wenhlawulo waJesu futsi siba nekukholwa kuwo, sacala kwakha bungani naNkulunkulu.

⁶ Njengobe sibuka emuva, kungaba kuhle kutsi sitibute: ‘Buhlobo bami naNkulunkulu buyatfutfuka yini? Kucinile yini kwetsembela kwami kuJehova futsi lutsandvo lwami ngaye njengobe anguMngani lotsandzekako, luyakhula yini malanga onkhe?’ Lomunye umuntfu wasendvulo lowaba nebuhlobo lobusedvute naJehova nguGideyoni. Ase sihlolisise sibonelo sakhe lesihle bese sifundza kuso.

7-9. (a) Nguyiphi intfo lemangalisako Gideyoni layibona, futsi waba yini umphumela? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.) (b) Singaba njani bangani baJehova?

⁷ Sikhulu lesinguGideyoni sakhonta Jehova esikhatsini lesimatima emlandvweni wema-Israyeli, ngemuva kwekutsi lesive singene eVeni Lesetsembiso. Tikhulu sehluko 6 tisitjela kutsi ingilosi yaJehova yavakashela Gideyoni e-Ofra. Ngaleso sikhatsi, emaMidiyani lebekakhelene nema-Israyeli abewasongela kakhulu. Ngaleso sizatfu, Gideyoni wabhula kolo etjeni lekuhlutela liwayini, hhayi ebaleni lelivulekile, kute akwati kusheshe afihle lokolo. Njengobe abemangaliswe kubona lengilosi leyambita ngekutsi ‘ulichawe lelinemandla,’ Gideyoni wabuta kutsi Jehova lobekakhulule ema-Israyeli eGibhithe abetawubasita yini nanyalo. Ikhulumela uMdali, lengilosi yacinisekisa Gideyoni kutsi Jehova abemsekela mbamba.

⁸ Gideyoni watibuta kutsi angakhona njani ‘kusindzisa Israyeli esandleni semaMidiyani.’ Imphendvulo layitfola beyicondzile, Jehova watsi: “Ngitakuba nawe, wena-ke utawugadla emaMidiyani uwabulale kube sengatsi ugalela umuntfu munye.” (Khu. 6:11-16) Akungabateki kutsi Gideyoni abesolo atibuta kutsi loku kutawenteka njani, ngako wacela sibonakaliso. Naka kutsi kuloko lakusho kute lokusenta singabate kutsi Gideyoni abetsatsa Jehova njengeMuntfu mbamba.

⁹ Lokwenteka ngemuva kwaloko kwakucinisa kukholwa kwaGideyoni futsi kwamsondzeta kuNkulunkulu. Gideyoni walungisa kudla wase ukunika lengilosi. Ngesikhatsi lokudla kusha ngalokusimangaliso lapho kutsintfwa yindvuku yalengilosi, Gideyoni wabona kutsi vele lengilosi beyingummeleli waJehova. Ngesizatfu sekutsi abemangele, wababata watsi: “Hawu! Somandla Simakadze! Ngibone ingilosi yaSimakadze buso nebuso!” (Khu. 6:17-22) Kodvwa loko lokwenteka kwabuphatamisa yini buhlobo baGideyoni naNkulunkulu wakhe? Cha akuzange. Kepha kwenteka lokwehlukile. Gideyoni wamati Jehova kangangekutsi wativa anekuthula naNkulunkulu. Loku sikwati ngenca yeligama lelilati Gideyoni lalakha kuleyo  ndzawo, lelitsi Jehova-shalomu. Leligama lisho kutsi ‘Jehova ukuthula.’ (Fundza Tikhulu 6:23, 24.) Nasizindla ngaloko Jehova lasentela kona malanga onkhe, siyabona kutsi unguMngani sibili. Kuthantaza njalo kuNkulunkulu kusenta sibe nekuthula lokukhulu futsi kucinisa buhlobo betfu naye.

10. Ngekusho kweTihlabelelo 15:3, 5, yini Jehova layilindzele kitsi nangabe sifuna kuba bangani bakhe?

¹⁰ Kute Jehova abe nguMngani wetfu, kunetintfo letitsite lokudzingeka sitente. Njengobe kubhaliwe kuTihlabelelo 15, Davide wahlabela mayelana naloko lokulindzelekile kitsi kute ‘sibe nemvume yekungena ethempelini laJehova,’ lokusho kuba bangani baNkulunkulu. (Hla. 15:1) Ase sinake tintfo letimbili letidzingekako kitsi—kubalekela kunyundzela futsi sente tonkhe tintfo ngekwetsembeka. Mayelana naloku, naku Davide lakusho ngemuntfu longena ethempelini laJehova: “[Akanyundzeli] ngelulwimi lwakhe. . . . Akakwemukeli kudizelwa entele kulahla lote licala.”—Hla. 15:3, 5.

11. Kungani kufanele sikubalekele kunyundzela?

¹¹ Kulesinye sihlabelelo, Davide wecwayisa watsi: ‘Gcina lulwimi lwakho ebubini.’ (Hla. 34:13) Kwehluleka kulalela leseluleko lesiphefumulelwe kungasehlukanisa neBabe wetfu wasezulwini lolungile. Ecinisweni, kunyundzela kuyintfo sitsa lesikhulu saJehova lesinguSathane lesatiwa ngayo. Ligama lelitsi “Develi” lisuselwa egameni lesiGriki lelisho “umnyundzeli.” Kulawula loko lesikushoko ngalabanye bantfu, kungasisita sihlale sisondzelene naJehova. Loku kuliciniso kakhulu endleleni lesiwatsatsa ngayo emadvodza labekiwe ebandleni.—Fundza Hebheru 13:17; Juda 8.

12, 13. (a) Kungani kufanele setsembeke kuto tonkhe tintfo? (b) Kwetsembeka kwetfu kungase kubatsintse njani labanye?

¹² Tinceku taJehova tatiwa ngekwetsembeka, hhayi kusitakala ngalabanye. Umphostoli Pawula wabhala: “Chubekani nisithantazela, ngobe setsemba kutsi sinanembeza lomsulwa, njengobe sifisa kutiphatsa ngekwetsembeka kuto tonkhe tintfo.” (Heb. 13:18) Njengobe sitimisele “kutiphatsa ngekwetsembeka kuto tonkhe tintfo,” siyakubalekela kusitakala ngebazalwane betfu. Nasi sibonelo: Nangabe sibacashile, siyaciniseka kutsi sibaphatsa kahle futsi sibabhadala ngendlela lebesivumelene ngayo. Njengobe singemaKhristu, siyetsembeka kulabo lesibacashile nakubo bonkhe labanye bantfu. Nangabe sicashwe ngumKhristu, siyaciniseka kutsi asisitakali ngaye ngekulindzela kutsi asentele tintfo letikhetsekile.

¹³ Etikhatsini letinyenti, sihlale siva kubonga lokushiwo bantfu balelive ngekusebentelana kwabo naBoFakazi BaJehova. Nasi sibonelo: Umcondzisi walenye inkampani lenkhulu leyakhako wabona kutsi BoFakazi BaJehova bayawagcina emavi abo. Watsi: “Nihlale nikwenta loko lenivume kutsi nitakwenta.” (Hla. 15:4) Kutiphatsa lokunjalo kuyasisita kutsi sihlale sibangani baJehova. Ngetulu kwaloko, kudvumisa Babe wetfu wasezulwini lonelutsandvo.

14, 15. Emsebentini wetfu wekushumayela, singabasita njani labanye kutsi babe bangani baJehova?

¹⁴ Nanobe bantfu labanyenti lesibatfola ensimini bakholelwa kutsi Nkulunkulu ukhona, abamtsatsi njengeMngani wabo lomkhulu. Singabasita njani? Cabanga ngeticondziso Jesu latinika bafundzi bakhe labangu-70 ngesikhatsi abatfuma ngababili kutsi bayewushumayela, watsi: “Kunobe nguyiphi indlu leningena  kuyo nibocale nitsi: ‘Shengatsi lendlu ingaba nekuthula.’ Nangabe kulendlu kunemuntfu lotsandza kuthula, kuthula kwenu akwehlele kuye. Kodvwa nakute, kuthula kwenu akubuyele kini.” (Luk. 10:5, 6) Singenta bantfu bakhangwe liciniso ngekutsi sibe nebungani. Loku kungasita labasiphikisako kutsi bacedze inzondo labanayo futsi kuvule indlela yekutsi basemukele kahle ngalesinye sikhatsi.

¹⁵ Nasihlangana nebantfu lababanjwe yinkholo yemanga nobe labalandzela emasiko langahambisani neliBhayibheli, kufanele sichubeke sibaphatsa ngebungani nangekuthula. Emihlanganweni yetfu, sibemukela kahle bonkhe bantfu labakhatsatwa timo letikhona lamuhla futsi labanesifiso sekufundza kabanti ngaNkulunkulu lesimkhontako. Tihloko letiseluchungechungeni lolutsi “LiBhayibheli Liyakugucula Kuphila” tinetibonelo letinyenti letinhle.

16. Singatsatfwa njengebangani baJehova ‘nanjengetisebenti letikanye naye’ ngamuphi umcondvo?

¹⁶ Bantfu labasebenta ndzawonye bavame kuba bangani labakhulu. Bonkhe labatinikele kuJehova banelitfuba lekutsatfwa njengebangani bakhe ‘nanjengetisebenti letikanye naye.’ (Fundza 1 Khorinte 3:9.) Nasenta umsebenti wekushumayela newekwenta bafundzi, sibucondza kahle bunguye lobumangalisako baBabe wetfu wasezulwini. Siyayibona indlela umoya wakhe longcwele losisita ngayo kutsi siwente kahle umsebenti wekushumayela tindzaba letimnandzi.

17. Kondliwa lesikutfola emihlanganweni yesifundza, lekhetsekile neyesigodzi kuveta njani kutsi Jehova unguMngani wetfu?

¹⁷ Nasiwenta ngekutimisela umsebenti wekwenta bafundzi, sitiva sisondzele kakhulu kuJehova. Sibonelo saloku kutsi siyayibona indlela Jehova labajabhisa ngayo labo labasiphikisako. Ase sicabange ngaloko lokwenteke eminyakeni lembalwa leyendlulile. Asikayiboni yini ngalokucacile indlela Nkulunkulu lasicondzisa ngayo? Iyasimangalisa indlela lachubeka asondla ngayo. Imihlangano yesigodzi, yesifundza nalekhetsekile iveta indlela Babe wetfu laticondza ngayo ngelutsandvo tinkinga netidzingo tetfu. Encwadzini lomunye umndeni lowayibhala nawubonga ngemhlangano wesigodzi, watsi: “Loluhlelo lwatitsintsa kakhulu tinhlitiyo tetfu. Sayibona indlela Jehova lasitsandza ngayo sonkhe nekutsi ufuna siphumelele.” Ngemuva kwekuya emhlanganweni wesigodzi lokhetsekile e-Ireland, labanye labashadene baseJalimane babonga kakhulu ngendlela labemukelwa kahle ngayo nalabanakekelwa ngayo, base batsi: “Kodvwa sibonga kakhulu kuJehova naseNkhosini lenguJesu Khristu. Basimeme kutsi sibe yincenye yalesive lesinebunye sibili. Asigcini nje ngekukhuluma ngebunye kodvwa sibujabulela malanga  onkhe. Loko lesikubone kulomhlangano wesigodzi lokhetsekile eDublin kutawuhlale kusikhumbuta ngelilungelo leliligugu lesinalo lekukhonta Nkulunkulu wetfu lomkhulu sikanye nani nonkhe.”

18. Yini lesingase sitibute yona mayelana nendlela lesikhulumisana ngayo naJehova?

¹⁸ Bungani buyacina nangabe kunekukhulumisana lokuhle. Tinhlelo tekuchumana te-Internet kanye nemilayeto yabomahlalekhikhini, kutintfo letivame kakhulu kulesikhatsi se-Internet netebucwepheshe. Sikhulumisana kangakanani neMngani wetfu lomkhulu longuJehova nasicatsanisa nendlela lesisebentisa ngayo tebucwepheshe? Kuliciniso kutsi ‘uyayiva imithandazo.’ (Hla. 65:2) Kodvwa siyatinika yini sikhatsi sekukhuluma naye?

19. Nguluphi lusito lesinalo nasikutfola kumatima kutfulula sifuba kuBabe wetfu wasezulwini?

¹⁹ Letinye tinceku taNkulunkulu tikukhandza kumatima kutfulula tifuba nekuveta imiva yato. Kodvwa nguloko Jehova lafuna sikwente nasithantaza. (Hla. 119:145; Sil. 3:41) Ngisho nobe singakutfola kumatima kuchaza imiva yetfu, kukhona lokungasisita. Pawula wabhalela emaKhristu aseRoma watsi: “Sisuke singati kutsi singathantazela ini, kepha umoya uyasincengela ngekulila kwetfu lokungekhatsi. Kodvwa loyo lohlola tinhlitiyo uyati kutsi umoya usho kutsini, ngobe wona uncengela labangcwele ngekuvumelana nentsandvo yaNkulunkulu.” (Rom. 8:26, 27) Kuzindla ngemavi latfolakala encwadzini yaJobe, yeTihlabelelo, kanye neyeTaga kungasisita kutsi sikhone kuveta imiva yetfu kuJehova.

20, 21. Nguyiphi indvudvuto lesiyitfola emavini aPawula lakuFiliphi 4:6, 7?

²⁰ Nasisetimeni leticindzetelako, kufanele silalele seluleko saPawula lesiphefumulelwe lasitjela baseFiliphi, lesitsi: “Ningakhatsateki ngalutfo, kodvwa kuko konkhe ticelo tenu atatiwe nguNkulunkulu ngekuthantaza, ngekuncusa nangekubonga.” Kukhulumisana ngekukhululeka ngalendlela neMngani wetfu lomkhulu kutawusidvudvuta futsi kusikhutsate, ngobe Pawula uchubeka atsi: “Kuthula kwaNkulunkulu lokwendlula konkhe kucondza kutawulondza tinhlitiyo netingcondvo tenu ngaKhristu Jesu.” (Fil. 4:6, 7) Shengatsi singahlale sikutsatsa njengalokuligugu “kuthula kwaNkulunkulu” lokumangalisako lokulondza tinhlitiyo netingcondvo tetfu.

²¹ Umthantazo uyasisita kutsi sibe bangani baJehova. Ngako-ke ‘asihlale sithantaza.’ (1 Thes. 5:17) Shengatsi lesihloko singabucinisa buhlobo betfu lobuligugu naNkulunkulu kanye nekutimisela kwetfu kwenta loko lakufunako kitsi. Shengatsi singatinika sikhatsi sekuzindla ngetibusiso lesitijabulelako ngenca yekutsi Jehova unguBabe wetfu, Nkulunkulu wetfu kanye neMngani wetfu sibili.