1. Yini okumele siyenze ukuze sijabule ngempela, futhi kungani? (Isaya 48:​17, 18)

 UBABA wethu osezulwini usithanda kakhulu futhi ufuna sikujabulele ukuphila manje nasesikhathini esizayo. (UmSh. 3:​12, 13) Lapho esidala wasenza saba namakhono amangalisayo, kodwa akasinikanga ikhono lokuba sizibuse noma lokuzinqumela ukuthi yini elungile nengalungile. (UmSh. 8:9; Jer. 10:23) Uyazi ukuthi ukuze sijabule ngempela kumele simkhonze futhi siphile ngemithetho yakhe.—Funda u-Isaya 48:​17, 18.

2. Yini uSathane afuna siyikholelwe, futhi uJehova usabele kanjani kulawo manga?

² USathane ufuna sikholelwe ukuthi singakwazi ukujabula ngaphandle kukaJehova, ukuthi abantu bangakwazi ukuphumelela lapho bezibusa. (Gen. 3:​4, 5) Ukuze afakazele ukuthi uSathane ungumqambimanga, uJehova uvumele abantu ukuba bazibuse okwesikhathi esithile. Siyibona ngokucacile imiphumela edabukisayo yokubusa kwabantu. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, iBhayibheli linezibonelo eziningi zabesilisa nabesifazane ababejabule futhi benelisekile ngenxa yokukhonza uJehova. Isibonelo esikhulu kunazo zonke uJesu Kristu. Okokuqala, ake sibheke ukuthi kungani akhetha ukukhonza uJehova. Sizobe sesihlola ukuthi kungani kufaneleka ukuba sikhonze uBaba wethu osezulwini. Ekugcineni, sizobe sesihlola ezinye zezizathu ezenza sikhethe ukukhonza uJehova.

 OKWENZA UJESU WAKHETHA UKUKHONZA UJEHOVA

3. Yini uSathane athembisa ukuyinika uJesu, futhi yini uJesu akhetha ukuyenza?

³ Ngesikhathi esemhlabeni, uJesu kwadingeka akhethe ukuthi ubani azomkhonza. Ngemva nje kokuba uJesu ebhapathiziwe, uSathane wamthembisa ukuthi wayezomnika yonke imibuso yaleli zwe uma nje enza isenzo esisodwa sokumkhulekela. UJesu wamphendula wathi: “Hamba, Sathane! Ngoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: ‘NguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho okumele umkhonze, nguye yedwa okumele unikele kuye inkonzo engcwele.’” (Math. 4:​8-10) Kungani uJesu akhetha ukwenza kanjalo? Cabanga ngezinye zezizathu zalokho.

4-5. Yiziphi ezinye izizathu ezenza uJesu wakhetha ukukhonza uJehova?

⁴ Isizathu esiyinhloko esenza uJesu wakhetha ukukhonza uJehova ukuthi uyamthanda—uJesu umthanda ngokujulile uBaba wakhe futhi akekho ongaqeda lolo thando. (Joh. 14:31) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJesu ukhonza uJehova ngoba kufanele amkhonze. (Joh. 8:​28, 29; IsAm. 4:11) Uyazi ukuthi uJehova unguMthombo wokuphila, singathembela kuye futhi uyaphana. (IHu. 33:4; 36:9; Jak. 1:17) Selokhu kwathi nhlo, uJehova ubelokhu ekhuluma iqiniso kuJesu futhi umnike konke anakho. (Joh. 1:14) Ngokuphambene nalokho, uSathane uyimbangela yokufa kwabantu. Ungumqambimanga olawulwa ubugovu nokuzicabangela yena kuphela. (Joh. 8:44) Ngenxa yokuthi uJesu uwazi kahle la maqiniso, akakaze nanini acabange ukulingisa uSathane ngokuthi avukele uJehova.—Fil. 2:​5-8.

⁵ Esinye isizathu esenza uJesu wakhetha ukukhonza uJehova ukuthi wayekulangazelela ukubona lokho okwakuyofezwa inkonzo yakhe yokwethembeka. (Heb. 12:2) Wayazi ukuthi uma ehlala ethembekile wayeyongcwelisa igama likaBaba wakhe futhi ngenxa yakhe kwakuyoqedwa konke ukuhlupheka okwakubangelwe uDeveli.

OKWENZA UJEHOVA AKUFANELEKELE UKUBA SIMKHONZE

6-7. Kungani abantu abaningi namuhla bengamkhonzi uJehova, kodwa kungani ekufanelekela ukuba simkhonze?

⁶ Abantu abaningi namuhla abamkhonzi uJehova ngenxa yokuthi abazazi izimfanelo zakhe ezinhle futhi abaziqapheli zonke izinto abenzele zona. Kwakunjalo nangalabo umphostoli uPawulu abashumayeza e-Athene.—IzE. 17:​19, 20, 30, 34.

⁷ UPawulu wachazela abantu ababemlalele ukuthi uNkulunkulu weqiniso “unika bonke abantu ukuphila nomoya nazo zonke izinto.” Wenezela: “Ngaye siyaphila, siyanyakaza futhi sikhona.” UNkulunkulu unguMdali, ‘owenza zonke izizwe zabantu ngomuntu oyedwa,’ ngakho uyakufanelekela ukuba simkhonze.—IzE. 17:​25, 26, 28.

8. Yini uJehova angasoze ayenza? Chaza.

⁸ NjengoMdali noMbusi wendawo yonke, uJehova ubengabaphoqa abantu ukuba bamkhonze. Nokho, uJehova akasoze akwenza lokho. Kunalokho, usinika ubufakazi bokuthi ukhona nokuthi uthanda ngamunye wethu ngokusuka enhliziyweni. Ufuna abantu abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka babe abangani bakhe phakade. (1 Thim. 2:​3, 4) Ngenxa yalokho, uJehova usiqeqeshe ukuba sifundise abanye ngezinjongo zakhe, sibatshele nangezinto ezinhle azozenzela abantu. (Math. 10:​11-13; 28:​19, 20) Usihlele saba amabandla futhi usilungiselele abadala abanothando ukuba basinakekele.—IzE. 20:28.

9. UJehova ubonise kanjani ukuthi uthanda bonke abantu?

 ⁹ Uthando lukaJehova olumangalisayo lubonakala ngokucacile endleleni aphatha ngayo labo abangafuni ukukholelwa ukuthi ukhona. Cabanga ngalama qiniso: Kuwo wonke umlando wesintu, izigidigidi zabantu zikhethe ukuzinqumela zona ukuthi yini elungile nengalungile. Noma kunjalo, ngomusa uJehova ubanike lokho abakudingayo ukuze baphile futhi bakujabulele ukuphila. (Math. 5:​44, 45; IzE. 14:​16, 17) Ubenze bakwazi ukujabulela ukuba nomndeni nabangani, ukukhulisa abantwana nokujabulela izinzuzo zokusebenza kanzima. (IHu. 127:3; UmSh. 2:24) Ubufakazi bubonisa ngokucacile ukuthi uBaba wethu wasezulwini uthanda bonke abantu. (Eks. 34:6) Manje, ake sizikhumbuze ezinye zezizathu ezenze sakhetha ukukhonza uJehova nokuthi yini ayenzayo kulabo abakhetha ukumkhonza.

OKWENZA SIKHETHE UKUKHONZA UJEHOVA

10. (a) Yisiphi isizathu esiyinhloko esisenza sikhonze uJehova? (Mathewu 22:37) (b) Kukuzuzise kanjani ukubekezela kukaJehova? (IHubo 103:​13, 14)

¹⁰ NjengoJesu, ngokuyinhloko sikhonza uJehova ngoba simthanda ngokujulile. (Funda uMathewu 22:37.) Sizizwa sisondelene noJehova lapho sifunda ngezimfanelo zakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngendlela uJehova asibekezelela ngayo. Ngesikhathi ama-Israyeli engalaleli, wawancenga wathi: “Ngicela nishiye izindlela zenu ezimbi.” (Jer. 18:11) UJehova uyakhumbula ukuthi sinesono, ukuthi siluthuli. (Funda iHubo 103:​13, 14.) Lapho uzindla ngokubekezela kukaJehova nangezinye izimfanelo zakhe ezinhle lokho akukwenzi yini ufune ukumkhonza phakade?

11. Yiziphi ezinye izizathu ezenza sikhethe ukukhonza uBaba wethu osezulwini?

¹¹ Okunye okusenza sifune ukukhonza uJehova ukuthi kuyinto efanele ukuba siyenze. (Math. 4:10) Ngaphezu kwalokho, siyazi ukuthi yiziphi izinto ezinhle eziyokwenzeka uma sikhonza uJehova ngobuqotho. Lapho simkhonza ngokwethembeka, sisiza ekungcweliseni igama likaJehova, sifakazela ukuthi uDeveli ungumqambimanga futhi senza uBaba wethu ajabule. Uma sikhetha ukukhonza uJehova manje, siba nethuba lokumkhonza kuze kube phakade!—Joh. 17:3.

12-13. Sifundani kulokho okwenzeka kuJane noPam?

¹² Lapho sisebasha, singakwazi ukuthanda uJehova ngokujulile, uthando oluyoqhubeka lukhula njengoba nathi sikhula. Cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka kuJane nodadewabo uPam. a La mantombazanyana ayeneminyaka engu-11 nengu-10 lapho eqala ukutadisha iBhayibheli. Nakuba abazali bawo babengathandi ukutadisha iBhayibheli, banika uJane noPam imvume yokutadisha iBhayibheli noFakazi BakaJehova uma nje babezoya esontweni nomndeni wakubo ngempelasonto. UJane uthi, “Lokho oFakazi abangifundisa kona eBhayibhelini, kwangisiza ngakwazi ukumelana nokucindezelwa ontanga bami ukuba ngisebenzise izidakamizwa futhi ngiziphathe kabi ngokocansi.”

¹³ Ngemva kweminyaka embalwa uJane noPam baba abamemezeli. Kamuva baba amaphayona, ngesikhathi esifanayo benakekela abazali babo asebekhulile. Lapho ecabanga ngokuphila kwabo, uJane uthi: “Ngizibonele mathupha ukuthi uJehova uhlale ebanakekela abangani bakhe nokuthi njengoba eyesi-2 Thimothewu 2:19 isho, ‘uJehova uyabazi abangabakhe.’” Akungabazeki ukuthi uJehova uyabanakekela labo abakhetha ukumthanda nokumkhonza!

14. Esikushoyo nesikwenzayo kusiza kanjani ekulweleni igama likaJehova? (Bheka nezithombe.)

 ¹⁴ Sifuna ukusiza abantu bazi ukuthi zonke izinto ezimbi ezishiwo ngoJehova azilona iqiniso. Cabanga ngalesi sibonelo: Unomngani onomusa, ophanayo nothethelelanayo. Ngelinye ilanga uzwa umuntu emangalela umngani wakho ngokuthi unonya futhi akathembekile. Yini oyenzayo lapho uzwa lokho? Uyamlwela. Ngendlela efanayo, lapho uSathane nalabo abathonywe nguye bezama ukungcolisa igama likaJehova ngokusakaza amanga ngaye, thina sitshela abantu iqiniso ngoJehova, silwele igama laKhe ngentshiseko. (IHu. 34:1; Isaya 43:10) Sibonisa ngalokho esikushoyo nangalokho esikwenzayo ukuthi sifuna ukukhonza uJehova ngomphefumulo wonke.

15. Kwamzuzisa kanjani umphostoli uPawulu ukushintsha imigomo yakhe? (Filipi 3:​7, 8)

¹⁵ Ngokuzithandela sishintsha imigomo yethu ukuze sikwazi ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela ayamukelayo noma simkhonze ngokugcwele. Ngokwesibonelo, umphostoli uPawulu wakhetha ukudela isikhundla esibalulekile emphakathini ukuze akwazi ukulandela uKristu futhi akhonze uJehova. (Gal. 1:14) Ngenxa yalokho waphila ukuphila okujabulisayo, wathola nethuba lokubusa noKristu ezulwini. Akakaze azisole ngesinqumo sakhe sokukhonza uJehova, nathi ngeke sizisole.—Funda eyabaseFilipi 3:​7, 8.

16. Sifundani esibonelweni sikaJulia? (Bheka nezithombe.)

¹⁶ Uma sigxile ekukhonzeni uJehova, singaba nokuphila okujabulisayo manje nasesikhathini esizayo. Cabanga ngesibonelo sikadade okuthiwa uJulia. Ngaphambi kokuba afunde iqiniso,  uJulia wayecula ekwayeni yesonto kusukela eseyintombazanyana. Umculi we-opera okhokhelwayo waliqaphela ikhono lakhe wabe esemqeqesha. Ngokushesha uJulia waba umculi odumile futhi wayesecula ezindaweni eziphambili. Ngesikhathi esesikoleni somculo esidumile, ayefunda naye waqala ukumxoxela ngoNkulunkulu, wamchazela nokuthi uNkulunkulu unegama elithi Jehova. Ngemva kwesikhashana nje bexoxile, uJulia waqala ukutadisha iBhayibheli kabili ngeviki. Ekugcineni wanquma ukugxila ekukhonzeni uJehova kunokuba abe umculi we-opera. Kwakungelula ukwenza leso sinqumo. Uthi, “Abantu abaningi babengitshela ukuthi ngidlala ngesipho sami, kodwa ngangifuna ukukhonza uJehova ngokugcwele.” Uzizwa kanjani namuhla ngesinqumo asenza eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-30 edlule? Uthi, “Nginokuthula kwengqondo futhi ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyokwanelisa zonke izifiso zami esikhathini esizayo.”—IHu. 145:16.

QHUBEKA UKHONZA UJEHOVA

17. Ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina, kubathinta kanjani labo abakhethe ukukhonza uNkulunkulu nalabo abangakamkhonzi?

¹⁷ Siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Ngoba kusele ‘isikhathi esincane kakhulu,’ futhi ‘lowo ozayo uzofika, ngeke alibale.’” (Heb. 10:37) Kusithinta kanjani lokho? Sincane isikhathi esisele sokuba abantu bakhethe ukukhonza uJehova. (1 Kor. 7:29) Uma kuwukuthi sesisenzile kakade isinqumo  sokukhonza uNkulunkulu, siyazi ukuthi nakuba kuzodingeka sikhuthazelele uvivinyo siyolukhuthazelela “isikhathi esincane kakhulu.”

18. Yini uJehova noJesu abafuna siyenze?

¹⁸ UJesu wakhuthaza abafundi bakhe ukuba bangagcini nje ngokuba abalandeli bakhe, kodwa baqhubeke bemlandela. (Math. 16:24) Ngakho uma besilokhu sikhonza uJehova iminyaka eminingi, kwangathi singazimisela ukuqhubeka simkhonza. Kumele sisebenze kanzima ukuze siqhubeke siphila ngokuvumelana nesinqumo sokukhonza uJehova. Kungase kungabi lula, kodwa ziningi izibusiso nenjabulo esingayithola ngisho kwamanje!—IHu. 35:27.

19. Sifundani kulokho okwenzeka kuGene?

¹⁹ Abanye banomuzwa wokuthi uma bekhonza uJehova ngeke bajabule. Uma usemusha, ingabe unomuzwa wokuthi ukuphila kwakho ngeke kube mnandi uma ukhonza uJehova? Umzalwane osemusha okuthiwa uGene uthi: “Nganginomuzwa wokuthi ukuba ngomunye woFakazi BakaJehova kwakungivimbela ukuba ngenze izinto eziningi. Kwakubonakala sengathi kwakudingeka ngichithe isikhathi sami emihlanganweni yebandla nasenkonzweni yasensimini, kuyilapho izingane engangikhula nazo zijabulela izinto ezinjengokuya emaphathini, ukujola noma imidlalo yamavidiyo enobudlova.” Ukucabanga ngale ndlela kwamthinta kanjani uGene? Uthi, “Ngaqala ukuphila ukuphila okumbaxambili futhi okwesikhashana ngangijabule. Kodwa leyo njabulo yasheshe yaphela. Ngaqala ukucabanga ngamaqiniso eBhayibheli engangikhethe ukungawanaki, ngabe senginquma ukukhonza uJehova ngenhliziyo yami yonke. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, kubonakala sengathi uJehova uyiphendule yonke imithandazo yami.”

20. Yini okufanele sizimisele ukuyenza?

²⁰ Umhubi waculela uJehova wathi: “Uyajabula umuntu omkhethayo, bese umsondeza ukuze ahlale emagcekeni akho.” (IHu. 65:4) Kwangathi singaqhubeka sizimisela ukukhonza uJehova njengoJoshuwa owathi: “Mina nomndeni wami, sizokhonza uJehova.”—Josh. 24:15.