1-2. Yini umuntu okumele ayenze ngaphambi kokuba abhapathizwe?

 EMINYAKENI emihlanu edlule, bangaphezu kwesigidi abantu ababhapathiziwe baba oFakazi BakaJehova. Njengomfundi wangekhulu lokuqala uThimothewu, abaningi babo bafundiswa iqiniso ‘kusukela beseyizinsana.’ (2 Thim. 3:​14, 15) Abanye bafunde ngoJehova sebekhulile, abanye sebebadala impela. Esikhathini esidlule, omunye wesifazane watadisha iBhayibheli noFakazi BakaJehova wabhapathizwa eneminyaka engu-97!

² Uma ufundelwa iBhayibheli noma ukhuliswa abazali abangoFakazi, uyacabanga yini ngokubhapathizwa? Umgomo omuhle kakhulu lowo! Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba ubhapathizwe kuzodingeka uzinikezele kuJehova. Lesi sihloko sizochaza ukuthi kuhlanganisani ukuzinikezela. Sizokusiza ubone nokuthi kungani singekho isidingo sokuba uzindele ukuthatha leso sinyathelo futhi ubhapathizwe lapho usukulungele ukwenza kanjalo.

KUYINI UKUZINIKEZELA?

3. Nikeza izibonelo eziseBhayibhelini zabantu ababezinikezele kuJehova.

³ EBhayibhelini, ukuzinikezela kusho ukuhlukaniselwa injongo engcwele. Ama-Israyeli ayeyisizwe esizinikezele kuJehova. Kodwa abanye kuleso sizwe babezinikezela kuJehova ngendlela ekhethekile. Ngokwesibonelo, u-Aroni wayegqoka “uphawu olungcwele lokuzinikezela”—ucwecwe ulucwebezelayo lwegolide ngaphambi kweduku lokushuqula. Lolo cwecwe lwegolide lwalubonisa ukuthi wayekhethwe ukuba akhonze  uJehova ngendlela ekhethekile—abe umpristi ophakeme kwa-Israyeli. (Lev. 8:9) AmaNaziri nawo ayezinikezele kuJehova ngendlela ekhethekile. Igama elithi “umNaziri,” elivela egameni lesiHebheru elithi nazirʹ, lisho “Ohlukanisiwe,” noma “Onikelwe.” AmaNaziri kwakufanele aphile ngokuvumelana nemingcele ayebekelwe yona eMthethweni kaMose.—Num. 6:​2-8.

4. (a) Lapho uzinikezela kuJehova, yini ebaluleka kakhulu kuwe? (b) Kusho ukuthini ‘ukuzidela’? (Bheka nesithombe.)

⁴ Lapho uzinikezela kuJehova, ukhetha ukuba umfundi kaJesu Kristu futhi ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu kuba yinto ebaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni kwakho. Kuhlanganisani lokho? UJesu wathi: “Uma umuntu efuna ukungilandela, makazidele.” (Math. 16:24) Igama lesiGreki elihunyushwe ngokuthi ‘ukuzidela’ lingasho “nokungabe usaziphilela wena.” Njengenceku kaJehova ezinikezele, kuyodingeka wenqabe noma yini engahambisani nentando yakhe. (2 Kor. 5:​14, 15) Lokho kuhlanganisa ukwenqaba “imisebenzi yenyama,” enjengokuziphatha kabi ngokocansi. (Gal. 5:​19-21; 1 Kor. 6:18) Ingabe ukulalela leyo mithetho kuyokwenza ukuphila kwakho kube nzima? Ngeke kube njalo uma umthanda uJehova futhi uqiniseka ngokuthi imithetho yakhe izuzisa wena. (IHu. 119:97; Isaya 48:​17, 18) Umzalwane okuthiwa uNicholas ukubeka ngale ndlela, “Ungabheka imithetho kaJehova njengezinsimbi zasejele ezikuvimbela ukuba wenze okuthandayo noma ungayibheka njengezinsimbi ezibiyele amabhubesi ezikuvikela engozini.”

5. (a) Uzinikezela kanjani kuJehova? (b) Uyini umehluko phakathi kokuzinikezela nokubhapathizwa? (Bheka nesithombe.)

⁵ Uzinikezela kanjani kuJehova? Uthandaza kuye umthembise ukuthi uzokhonza yena kuphela nokuthi intando yakhe izoza kuqala  ekuphileni kwakho. Empeleni, uthembisa uJehova ukuthi uzoqhubeka umthanda “ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho nangawo wonke umphefumulo wakho nangayo yonke ingqondo yakho nangawo wonke amandla akho.” (Marku 12:30) Uzinikezela ngasese, lokhu kuba phakathi kwakho noJehova. Ubhapathizo lona luhlukile, ulwenza phambi kwabantu; ubonisa abanye ukuthi usuzinikezele. Ukuzinikezela kwakho kuyisifungo esingcwele, uJehova ulindele ukuba uphile ngokuvumelana naso njengoba nje nawe ulindele ukuba wenze kanjalo.—UmSh. 5:​4, 5.

KUNGANI UZINIKEZELA KUJEHOVA?

6. Yini eyenza umuntu azinikezele kuJehova?

⁶ Isizathu esiyinhloko sokuba uzinikezele kuJehova ukuthi uyamthanda. Uthando lwakho alusekelwe emizweni kuphela. Kunalokho, lusekelwe ‘olwazini olunembile’ ‘nasekuqondeni okungokomoya’—izinto ozifunde ngoJehova ezikwenze wamthanda nakakhulu. (Kol. 1:9) Ukutadisha imiBhalo kukwenze waqiniseka ukuthi (1) uJehova ungokoqobo, (2) ukuthi iBhayibheli liyiZwi lakhe eliphefumulelwe nokuthi (3) usebenzisa inhlangano yakhe ukuze afeze intando yakhe.

7. Yini okufanele sibe sesiyenza kakade ngaphambi kokuzinikezela kuNkulunkulu?

⁷ Labo abazinikezela kuJehova kufanele bazazi izimfundiso eziyisisekelo eziseZwini likaNkulunkulu futhi baphile ngokuvumelana nemithetho yakhe. Benza konke abangakwenza ukuze baxoxele abanye ngokholo lwabo. (Math. 28:​19, 20) Sebemthanda nakakhulu uJehova, isifiso sabo esikhulu ukukhonza yena kuphela. Wena awuzizwa yini ngaleyo ndlela? Uma uthanda uJehova ngenhliziyo  yakho yonke, ngeke ubheke ukuzinikezela nokubhapathizwa njengento oyenzayo ukuze ujabulise okufundela iBhayibheli noma abazali bakho, ngeke futhi ukubheke njengento oyenzayo ukuze ufane nabangani bakho.

8. Ukubonga kukusiza kanjani wenze isinqumo sokuzinikezela kuJehova? (IHubo 116:​12-14)

⁸ Uma ucabanga ngazo zonke izinto uJehova akwenzele zona uyofuna ukuzinikezela kuye. (Funda iHubo 116:​12-14.) IBhayibheli limbiza kufanele uJehova ngokuthi unguMuphi wazo “zonke izipho ezinhle nazo zonke izipho eziphelele.” (Jak. 1:17) Isipho esikhulu kunazo zonke umhlatshelo weNdodana yakhe uJesu. Cabanga nje! Isihlengo senze wakwazi ukuba nobuhlobo obuseduze noJehova. Ukunike ithemba lokuphila phakade. (1 Joh. 4:​9, 10, 19) Ukuzinikezela kuJehova yindlela obonisa ngayo ukuthi uyambonga ngaleso senzo sothando esikhulu kunazo zonke, nangazo zonke ezinye izibusiso uJehova akubusise ngazo. (Dut. 16:17; 2 Kor. 5:15) Lokhu kubonga kugcizelelwe encwadini ethi Phila Kuze Kube Phakade! esifundweni 46, iphuzu 4, esinevidiyo yemizuzu emithathu ethi Ukunikela Izipho Zakho KuNkulunkulu.

UKULUNGELE YINI UKUZINIKEZELA NOKUBHAPATHIZWA?

9. Kungani umuntu kungafanele azizwe ecindezekile ukuba azinikezele?

⁹ Ungase ubone sengathi awukulungele ukuzinikezela nokubhapathizwa. Mhlawumbe kusenezinto okudingeka uzilungise ekuphileni kwakho ukuze uhambisane nemithetho kaJehova noma mhlawumbe udinga isikhathi esengeziwe ukuze uqinise ukholo lwakho. (Kol. 2:​6, 7) Akubona bonke abafundi abathuthuka ngezinga elifanayo, nabasebasha abakulungeli ukuzinikezela nokubhapathizwa beneminyaka efanayo. Zama ukuhlola intuthuko yakho ngokwalokho okwazi ukukwenza, ungaziqhathanisi nomunye umuntu.—Gal. 6:​4, 5.

10. Yini ongayenza uma ubona sengathi awukakulungeli ukuzinikezela nokubhapathizwa? (Bheka nebhokisi elithi “ Labo Abakhulela Eqinisweni.”)

¹⁰ Ngisho noma ubona ukuthi awukakulungeli ukuzinikezela kuJehova, qhubeka ukwenza kube umgomo wakho lokho. Thandaza ucele uJehova akusize wenze noma yiziphi izinguquko okudingeka uzenze. (Fil. 2:13; 3:16) Ungaqiniseka ngokuthi uzowuzwa umthandazo wakho futhi akusize.—1 Joh. 5:14.

OKWENZA ABANYE BANQIKAZE

11. UJehova uzosisiza kanjani sihlale sithembekile kuye?

¹¹ Abanye asebekulungele ukuzinikezela nokubhapathizwa, bayanqikaza ukwenza kanjalo. Bangase bacabange, ‘Kuthiwani uma ngemva kokubhapathizwa ngenza isono esikhulu bese ngiyasuswa?’ Uma wesaba lokho, qiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uyokunika konke okudingayo ‘ukuze uhambe ngokumfanele, ukuze umjabulise ngokugcwele.’ (Kol. 1:10) Uyokunika namandla okwenza okulungile. Baningi abantu asebasizile ukuba benze okufanele. (1 Kor. 10:13) Leso esinye sezizathu esenza babe mbalwa abantu abasuswayo ebandleni lobuKristu. UJehova usiza abantu bakhe bahlale bethembekile.

12. Singakugwema kanjani ukwenza isono esikhulu?

¹² Wonke umuntu onesono uyalingeka ukuba enze izinto ezingafanele. (Jak. 1:14) Nokho, nguwe okufanele ukhethe ukuthi uzokwenzani lapho ulingwa—isinqumo sakho. Iqiniso liwukuthi nguwe olawula indlela ozophila ngayo. Nakuba abanye abantu bengase bangavumelani nalokho, ungakwazi  ukufunda ukulawula izifiso ezingafanele. Ngisho noma izifiso ezingafanele ziphinde zibuya, ungakhetha ukungenzi ngokuvumelana nazo. Ukuze wenze kanjalo, thandaza nsuku zonke. Lifunde njalo iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Yiba khona emihlanganweni yobuKristu. Xoxa nabanye ngokholo lwakho. Ukwenza lezi zinto njalo kuyokwenza ukwazi ukuphila ngokuvumelana nesifungo sakho sokuzinikezela. Ungalokothi ukhohlwe ukuthi uJehova uzokusiza wenze kanjalo.—Gal. 5:16.

13. Yisiphi isibonelo esihle uJosefa asibekela sona?

¹³ Kuzoba lula ukuphila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwakho uma unquma kusengaphambili ukuthi uzokwenzenjani lapho ubhekana nesilingo. IBhayibheli lisitshela ngabantu abaningana abenza kanjalo nakuba nabo babenesono. Ngokwesibonelo, umkaPotifari wazama ukuyenga uJosefa ngokuphindaphindiwe. Kodwa uJosefa wayengangabazi ukuthi yini azoyenza. IBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi “wenqaba,” wathi: “Ngingabenza kanjani lobu bubi obukhulu kangaka ngone kuNkulunkulu?” (Gen. 39:​8-10) Ngokusobala, ngisho nangaphambi kokuba umkaPotifari azame ukumlinga, uJosefa wayazi ukuthi yini azoyenza. Lokho kwenza izinto zaba lula lapho esebhekene nesilingo.

14. Yini engasisiza singenzi izinto ezingafanele?

¹⁴ Ungamlingisa kanjani uJosefa? Unganquma manje ukuthi yini ozoyenza uma ubhekana nesilingo. Funda ukuzenqaba ngokushesha izinto uJehova azizondayo, ungavumi ngisho ukucabanga ngazo. (IHu. 97:10; 119:165) Uma wenza kanjalo ngeke wone lapho ulingwa. Uyobe sewazi ukuthi yini ozoyenza lapho ulingwa. Uyokwazi oyokwenza.

15. Umuntu angabonisa kanjani ukuthi ‘umfuna ngobuqotho’ uJehova? (Hebheru 11:6)

¹⁵ Kungenzeka uyazi ukuthi uthole iqiniso futhi ufuna ukukhonza uJehova ngenhliziyo yakho yonke kodwa kunokuthile okukuvimba ukuba uzinikezele futhi ubhapathizwe. Ungalingisa isibonelo seNkosi uDavide. Ungancenga uJehova: “O Nkulunkulu ngihlole, wazi inhliziyo yami. Ngihlole, wazi imicabango yami engikhathazayo. Bheka ukuthi ikhona yini indlela elimazayo kimi, ungihole ngendlela yaphakade.” (IHu. 139:​23, 24) UJehova uyababusisa “labo abamfuna ngobuqotho.” Ukusebenzela ukufinyelela umgomo  wokuzinikezela nokubhapathizwa kumbonisa ukuthi wenza lokho kanye.—Funda eyamaHebheru 11:6.

QHUBEKA USONDELA KUJEHOVA

16-17. UJehova ubadonsa kanjani labo abakhulela eqinisweni? (Johane 6:44)

¹⁶ UJesu wathi abafundi bakhe badonswa uJehova. (Funda uJohane 6:44.) Cabanga ukuthi kuyinto emangalisa kanjani leyo nokuthi kusho ukuthini kuwe. UJehova ubona okuhle kumuntu ngamunye amdonsela kuye. Ubheka umuntu ngamunye ‘njengempahla yakhe ekhethekile,’ noma “ifa lakhe eliyigugu.” (Dut. 7:6; mbhw.) Nawe ukubheka ngaleyo ndlela.

¹⁷ Nokho, kungenzeka ungumuntu osemusha okhulela eqinisweni. Ungase ubone sengathi ukhonza uJehova kuphela ngoba abazali bakho bemkhonza, hhayi ngoba uJehova ekudonsele kuye. Kunoma yikuphi, iBhayibheli lithi: ‘Sondela kuNkulunkulu, naye uyosondela kuwe.’ (Jak. 4:8; 1 IziKr. 28:9) Lapho usondela kuJehova, naye uyosondela kuwe. UJehova akamane nje akubheke njengengxenye yeqembu. Udonsa umuntu ngamunye—kuhlanganise nokhulela eqinisweni. Lapho lowo muntu esondela kuJehova, noJehova wenza lokho okushiwo umbhalo kaJakobe 4:8.—Qhathanisa neyesi-2 Thesalonika 2:13.

18. Sizoxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo? (IHubo 40:8)

¹⁸ Lapho uzinikezela kuJehova futhi ubhapathizwa ulingisa uJesu. Ngokuzithandela wazinikela kuYise ukuba enze noma yini amcela ukuba ayenze. (Funda iHubo 40:8; Heb. 10:7) Esihlokweni esilandelayo, sizoxoxa ngokuthi yini ezokusiza uqhubeke ukhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka ngemva kokubhapathizwa.