AMANYATHELO OKUYA KU-KRISTU

Ellen G. White

Copyright © 2012, Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

Table of Contents

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1. UKUTHANDWA KOMNTU NGU-THIXO

2. U-KRISTU YIMFUNEKO KUMOONI

3. INGUQUKO

4. UKUVUMA IZOONO

5. UKUZINIKELA NGOKUPHELELEYO

6. UKHOLO NOKWAMKELEKA

7. UPHAU LONGUMLAN DELI KA-KRISTU

8. UKUKHULELA KU KRISTU

9. UMSEBENZI NO-BOMI

10. UKUMAZI U-THIXO

11. ILUNGELO LOMTHANDAZO

12. OMAKWENZIWE NGENTANDABUZO

13. UKUVUYELA ENKOSINI

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This eBook is provided by the Ellen G. White Estate. It is included in the larger free Online Books collection on the Ellen G. White Estate Web site.

About the Author

Ellen G. White (1827-1915) is considered the most widely translated American author, her works having been published in more than 160 languages. She wrote more than 100,000 pages on a wide variety of spiritual and practical topics. Guided by the Holy Spirit, she exalted Jesus and pointed to the Scriptures as the basis of one’s faith.

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1. UKUTHANDWA KOMNTU NGU-THIXO

INDALO nentyilelo yeLizwi likaTixo ngokufanayo zinqhina ngothando lukaThixo. U-Bawo wethu osezulwini ungumthombo wobomi, wobulumko, nowovuyo. Khangela ukuba ngummangaliso nokuba ntle kwezinto zendalo. Cinga ngokuncamisa kwazo ukumfanela umntu nezinye izidalwa eziphilileyo ezintswelweni nokonwaba kwazo. Ilanga nemvula ezivuyisayo zihlaziye ubuso bomhlaba, iinduli, neelwandle, nemathafa; zonke ezonto zisixelela ngothando lomDali wethu. NguThixo onika izidalwa zonke oko zikusweleyo. Umdumisi, ngamazwi amnandi uthi:

“Amehlo eento zonke akhangele kuwe; wena ke uzinika ukudla kwazo ngexesha elililo; uya sivula isandla sakho, uzihluthise iinto zonke eziphilileyo ngeento ezikholekileyo.” Indumiso 145: 15, 16.

U-Thixo wamdala umntu wangcwele kanye, wonwaba kanjalo; nawo lomhlaba mhle, xa wawuphuma esandleni somDali, wawuyimpuluswa, ungenabala lakubola nasithunzi sesiqalekiso. Kukwaphulwa komthetho kaThixo — umthetho wothando — okwazisa ububi nokufa emhlabeni apha. Kanti ke noko bukhoyo obu bunzima ngenxa yesoono, uthando lukaThixo lutyhiliwe. Kubhaliwe kwathiwa, uThixo wawuqalekisa umhlaba ngenxa yomntu. (Genesis 3:17.) Imithana enameva neenkunzane — iingxakeko nezilingo ezibenza nzima ubomi bakhe — zamiselwa okwakhe ukulungelwa nokumcola, okufunekayo njengenxalenye yecebo likaThixo lokumphakamisa ekonakaleni nasekuhlazekeni okwenziwa sisoono. Nakuba umhlaba wawayo, awuzele lusizi nobubi bodwa. Endalweni apha ngokwayo kukho iindawo eziginyisa amathe nezinika ithemba nokonwaba, kuba, nasemakhakhakhakeni, nakweminye imithana enameva, ungafika kuzintyatyambo kuphela.

“U-Thixo uluthando,” oku ungakufumana kubonakala kwindalo yonke nakwincha ekhulayo. Ukutsholoza kweentaka iingoma ezimnandi, ukuqholwa komoya ngevumba elimnandi zintyatyambo ezithiwe gqabagqaba ngamabala athambileyo, ukuma kweengxilimbela zemithi yehlathi iyokozelisa ngamagqabi ayo amahle aluhlaza — zonke ezizinto zinqhina ubuzali bukaThixo, nomnqweno anawo ukuba usapho lwakhe olusithi lungonwaba.

Ilzwi likaThixo lityhila isimo sakhe. Yena ngokwakhe ulutyhilile uthando lwakhe nenceba yakhe engunaphakade. Akuthi [8] u-Moses, “Kha undibonise ubuqaqauli bakho,” waphendula uYehova wathi, “Ndiya kukudlulisa konke ukulunga kwam ebusweni bakho.” (Eksodus 33: 18, 19.) Bubo obu ke ubuqaqauli bakhe. U-Yehova wadlula phambi ko-Moses wadanduluka esithi, “U-Yehova, uYehova, uThixo onemfesane, onobabalo, ozeka kade umsindo, omninzi ngenceba nangenyaniso; olondolozela amawaka inceba, oxolela ubugwenxa, nokreqo, nesoono.” (Eksodus 34: 6, 7.) “Uzeka kade umsindo, unenceba enkulu.” (Yona 4: 2.) “Kuba yena uthanda ukwenza inceba.” (Mika 7: 18.)

U-Thixo uzibophelele kuye iintliziyo zethu ngeempau ezingenakubalwa, ezisezulwini nezisemhlabeni. Uzityhile kuthi ngezinto azidalileyo nangokumanyana okunzulu, okukhoyo phakathi kwabantu emhlabeni. Kanti noko ezizinto azithanga-nqaa ukulutyhila uthando lwakhe. Nakuba zonke ezimpau zokusithanda kwakhe zibonakala, lusuke noko utshaba lobulungisa lwazimfamekisa iingqondo zabantu; basuke bamkhangela uThixo ngokumoyika, bamcingela ukuba nguThixo olukhuni nongenakuxolela. Usuke uSatana wabakhokelela abantu ekubeni bamkhangelele ukuba uThixo lo, ungumgcini-bulungisa olukhuni, nomgwebi ongenanceba, nothi ukumphatha kwakhe umntu ange umbuza isilandu, amtshutshise. Nothi ehleli nje, kanti umntu lo umgxeleshe ngolunya, ngokunga angafumana iziphosisiso zodwa kuye, ukuze amgwebe. Wezela ke oku uYesu phakathi kwabantu, ukuze asuse elithunzi limnyama, atyhile abonise ihlabathi ubunzulu bothando lukaThixo.

U-Nyana kaThixo wehla ezulwini ukuza kwazisa ihlabathi ngoYise. “Akukho namnye wakha wambona uThixo; uNyana okuphela kwamzeleyo, lowo usesifubeni sikaYise, nguye ocacise oko.” (Johane 1: 18.) “Kanjalo akukho umaziyo uYise, kuphela nguNyana, nalowo athi uNyana athande ukumtyhilela.”(Mateyu 11: 27.) Wathi mhlenikweni omnye wabafundi bakhe wenza isicelo esithi, “Sibonise uYihlo,” waphendula uYesu wathi, “Ndinaxesha lingakanana ndinani nje, akukandazi na, Filipu? Lowo undibonileyo mna umbonile uBawo; utsho ngani na ke wena ukuthi, Sibonise uYihlo?” (Johane 14: 8, 9.)

Uthi uYesu ngokwakhe xa axela umsebenzi awayeze kuwenza apha emhlabeni, “I-Nkosi indithambisele ukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo kumahlwempu. Indithume ukuba ndiphilise abantliziyo ityumkileyo, ndivakalise inkululeko kubathinjwa, nokubuyiselwa kokubona kwabaziimfama, ndindulule abaqobekileyo bekhululekile.” (Luka 4: 18.) Lo yayingumsebenzi wakhe. Wahamba-hamba esenza ubulungisa, ephilisa bonke abacinezelwe [9] nguSatana. Kweminye imizi bekungakhe kubekho noko amnye ogula sisifo nokuba kukuyiphina indlu; kuba, ubethi akudlula kuyo ayiphilise imilwelwe yayo. Umsebenzi wakhe ubumxelela kanye ukuba unyulwe nguThixo. Bonke ubomi bakhe babuphauleke ngothando, ngenceba, nemfesane. Ubevelana kakhulu nosapho loluntu. Wathabathela phezu kwakhe ubume bomntu, ukuze abe nokumazelelela umntu kwizinto azisweleyo. Amahlwempu nabaphantsi bebengoyiki ukusondela kuye. Nabantwana abancinane bebemthanda. Bebethanda ukukhwela phezu kwamadolo akhe, baqwalasele kobo buso bakhe buncumayo buzele luthando.

U-Yesu akazange afihle nelizwi elinye layo inyaniso, ubesithi xa ayithethayo, ayithethe ngothando. Iintetho zakhe ebantwini bezihleli ziphauleke ngokuba zezobulumko, nezengcinga, nezobubele. Ubengafumane enze, athethe ilizwi elibuhlungu, mhlaumbi enzakalise umphefumlo oxhalabileyo. Ubengavuyiswa kukubohlwaya ubulwelwe bomntu, ubesuka ayithethe inyaniso emntwini ngothando. Yona inkohliso, ukungakholwa, nenkohlakalo, ubezohlwaya ngokumhlophe. Ubezithetha ezontetho zakhe zithothisayo, zoyikekayo, elila. Wasililela isixeko asithanda kunene saseJerusalem kuba sasisuke asavuma ukumamkela, yena uyiNdlela, uyiNyaniso, ubuBomi. Bamlahla ongumSindisi, koko yena wabakhangela ngenceba, wabenzela usizi. Ubomi bakhe bonke bebu bobokuzincama, nokuvela abanye. Ubebathanda abantu bonke nakuba ebeziphethe njengoThixo, ubethanda noko ukuzenza mnye nabantu bakaThixo. Bonke abawileyo, ubebakhangelele ukuba bangumsebenzi wakhe ukubasiza.

Sasinjalo ke isimilo sikaKristu njengoko sabonakala satyhileka kubomi bakhe. Esi yayisisimilo sikaThixo kanye. Imithombo yenceba ephumela kusapho loluntu, ethe yabonakalaliswa kuKristu, yayiphuma entliziyweni yoBawo wethu. U-Yesu, umSindisi onenceba netaru, waye nguThixo “owabonakalaliswa esenyameni.” (1 Timoti 3: 16.)

Ukuva kukaYesu ubunzima nokufa, kwakunye nokudla kwakhe ubomi emhlabeni, yayi kukuze asithenge asikhulule ekufeni. Waba “yiNdoda yentsizi,” ukuze sibe ngamadlelane kunye naye ngovuyo olungunaphakade. U-Thixo wamyekelela uNyana wakhe oyintanda, ozele lubabalo nayinyaniso, ukuba alushiye uzuko lwakhe olungathethekiyo, eze kwilizwe elonakele, laqalekiswa, lancholiswa sisoono nakukufa. Wamvumela ukuba ashiye ubumnandi ebenabo, nokuzukiswa zingelosi, aze eze kuva ubunzima. ihlazo, ukuthobeka, intiyo, nokufa. “Ubetho lokuba sibe noxolo [10] thina lube phezu kwakhe; siphiliswe ngemivumbo yakhe.” (Isaya 53: 5.) Mboneni esentlango, eseGetsemane, esemnqamlezweni! Lo Nyana kaThixo ungenalo nechaphaza eli lesoono, wathabathela phezu kwakhe umthwalo wesoono. Uthe lowo ebemnye noThixo, wabuva, emphefumlweni wakhe, ubunzima nobubi bokwahlulwa komntu noThixo sisoono. Kuko kanye oku kwambangela ukuba adanduluke ngezwi elikhulu, esithi, “Thixo warn, Thixo warn, undishiye nganina?” (Mateyu 27: 46.) Yayi bubunzima besoono, ukubuqonda ubukhulu baso, ukwahlula kwaso umphefumlo kuThixo — obaphula intliziyo yoNyana kaThixo.

Kanti ke elidini likhulu kangaka, wayengalenzeli ukunyibilikisa intliziyo kaYise, ukuze, athi kuba yena Nyana emthanda umntu, asel’emvumela ukuba amsindise umntu. Hayi, kwakungenjalo! ‘‘Kuba weenze nje uThixo ukulithanda kwakhe ihlabathi, ude wancama uNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo.” (Johane 3: 16.) U-Bawo usithanda engabangwa lucamagushelo olo lwenziwayo, wasenzela ucamagushelo kuba esithanda. Wamisa uKristu ukuba abe yimpolo aya kulukhuphela ngayo uthando lwakhe olungaphele ndawo kwilizwe eliwileyo. “UThixo waye ekuKristu, elixolelanisa naye ngokwakhe ihlabathi.” (2 Korinte 5: 19.) U-Thixo weva ubunzima kunye noNyana wakhe. Lontliziyo yothando olungaphele ndawo, yalihlaula ixabiso lokuthengwa kwethu esoonweni ngako ukuva kwayo ubunzima eGetsemane, nangako ukufa kwaseKalvari.

U-Yesu, wathi, “Ngenxa yoku uBawo uya ndithanda; ngokuba mna ndibuncama ubomi bam, ukuze ndibuye ndibuthabathe.” (Johane 10: 17.) Oko kukuthi, “U-Bawo unithande kangangokuba andithande mna ngaphezulu kuba ndibunikele ubomi bam ekufeni ukuze ndinikhulule. Ndizithandise kuBawo ngokuba ndisuke ndathabatha indawo yenu, namatyala enu, nezigqitho zenu, ndaza ndanimela; kuba ngedini eli lam uThixo unokuba nobulungisa, abe ngumGwebeli walowo ukholwayo kuye uYesu.”

Bekungekho ubenako ukuwufeza umsebenzi wokuthengwa kwethu ngaphandle koNyana kaThixo; kuba inguye yedwa obengathi kuba ubenaye uYise, abe nako ukumtyhila. Ibi nguye yedwa obengathi, kuba ebazi ubunzulu nokuphakama kothando lukaThixo, abe nako ukulutyhila. Bekungekhonto ibingade igqithe idini likaKristu, alenzele umntu owileyo, ukutyhila nokubonisa uthando lukaYise lokuthanda uluntu olulahlekileyo.

“Weenze nje ke uThixo ukulithanda kwakhe ihlabathi, ude wancama uNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo.” Wamnikela uNyana wakhe kuluntu oluwileyo, kungekuko ukuba ahlale pha- [11] kathi kwalo, athwale izoono zalo, afele ukulucamagushela kodwa; ikukuba abe sisipho sakhe kulo. U-Kristu wanikelwa ukuba abe mnye nabantu, avelane nabo kwiingxakeko nakwiintswelo zabo. Yena lowo wayemnye nje noThixo, wasuke wazimanya nosapho loluntu ngezintya ezingenakuze ziqhaulwe nto. U-Yesu “akanazintloni ukubabiza ukuba ngabazalwana.” (Hebere 2: 11.) OliDini lethu, umThetheleli wethu, umKhuluwe wethu, uthe, ebuthabathele phezu kwakhe ubume bethu, wema phambi kwetrone yoYise, nakuwo onke amaphakade, wazenza mnye noluntu alufelayo, ewe wanguNyana womntu. Konke oku wakwenzela ukuze abe nako ukumphakamisa umntu ekonakaleni nasebuphantsini esithe isoono samhlisela kubo; aze abe nokubonakalalisa uthando lukaThixo, abe nesabelo kolovuyo lobungcwalisa bakhe.

Ixabiso elihlaulelwe inkululo yethu, ukuncama uNyana wakhe koBawo wethu osemazulwini ukuba asifele, ezonto bezifanele ukusinika ingcinga ephakamileyo yento esingaba yiyo ngaye uKristu. Um-Postile uJohane wathi, ngokubona ukuphakama, ubunzulu, nobubanzi, bothando loYise ngakuluntu olutshabalalayo, wasuka waphelelwa ngamazwi nayintetho angabonga ngayo, adumise, axele ngayo ubukhulu bolothando: wasel’esuka esithi kwilizwe: “Bonani uthando olungaka asenzele Iona uYise, olu lokuba sibizwe ngokuba singabantwana bakaThixo.” (1 Johane 3: 1.) Oku kumnike ixabiso elikhulu umntu, kuba ngenxa yokugqitha umthetho, oonyana boluntu bebephantsi kwegunya likaSatana. Ke namhla, ngalo ukholo kwidini likaKristu elisihlauleleyo, oonyana bakaAdam bangaba ngoonyana bakaThixo.

Olu luthando olungenakulinganiswa nanto. Ukude kuthiwe “Lusapho loKumkani wezulu! kukuthetha ngedinga elinqabileyo, kukucinga into eyendeleyo. Ukude luthi uthando olugabadeleyo lukaThixo, lwenzelwe ilizwe ebelingamthandi yena!” Leyo yingcinga esuke iwoyise umphefumlo, ithi nengqondo iyithimbele kwimvume kaThixo. Okukhona sisiqwalaselayo isimilo sikaThixo ngokusingisele emnqamlezweni, kokukhona siya siyibona inceba, ukuncendezela, nokuxolela kwakhe kubandakanywe ngokulungeleleneyo nobulungisa bakhe; kokukhona sisiziqonda ngokucacileyo, iimpau ezingenakubalwa zothando lwakhe olungunaphakade, nenceba yakhe egqithe lee kweyomzalikazi ophongomele ukubuya komntwana wakhe odungudeleyo [12] [13]

2. U-KRISTU YIMFUNEKO KUMOONI

UMNTU lo kwasemvelweni, wanikwa amandla amakhulu nengqondo ephilileyo. Wadalwa wafezeka wavana noThixo. Iingcamango zakhe zazinyulu, nezigqibo zakhe zingcwele. Uthe ngokugqitha umthetho, asuka amandla akhe agqwetheka, kwathi ukuzithanda kwathabatha indawo yothando. Buthe ubume bakhe, ngokuswela amandla kukwaphula kwakhe umthetho, babetha kwayinkohla kanye ukuba, ngamandla akhe, abe nokumelana namandla enkohlakalo. Wathinjwa nguSatana, ke ngewaye hleli koko kuthinjwa unaphakade ukuba ubengathanga uThixo amhlangule. Injongo kamTyholi yayi kukuphazamisa icebo lomDali ekumdaleni umntu, nokuwuzalisa umhlaba uphela ngokonakala nobubi. Wayefuna ukuze amana ukwalatha kulenkohlakalo, esithi iveliswe nguThixo, ngokusuke adale umntu.

Okuya umntu wayengekabi nasoono, waye nobudlelane nalowo “ekufihlwe kuye bonke ubutyebi bobulumko nobokwazi.” (Kolose 2:3.) Emva kokuba ewile, akabanga nakuyolelwa bungcwalisa, wasel’esuka ngoko ebuzimela ubuso bukaThixo. Sisenjalo ke nanamhla isimo somntu ongekaguquki. Akavani noThixo, engayolelwa nokuyolelwa kukuba nobudlelane naye. Umooni akangeze onwatyiswe kukuhlala noThixo, angoyika ukuqhelana neziqu ezingcwele. Angafanelana ekhe wavunyelwa ukuba alingene izulu, akangeze afumane konwaba khona. Lamoya wothando olukhululekileyo ulaula khona — obabunye bungunaphakade baabo bakhona noThixo — ezonto akangeze avane nazo. Iingcinga neminqweno yakhe, zingasuka ziphambane kanye nezo zaabo bangenasoono bakhona. Kwiingoma ezimnandi zezulu, yena angafana nomntu oyilozayo. Izulu kuye lingafana nendawo yembandezelo; angasuka anga angafihlwa kuloThixo ukukukhanya kwalo, nosisazulu sovuyo lwalo. Ngoko akungethiwa yimphatho embi, le yokuba uThixo emise umthetho wokuba okhohlakeleyo angalingeni izulu: kuba, uvalelwe kukungalifaneli kwakhe, nakukungafaneli kuhlala naabo bakhona. Uzuko lukaThixo kwaabo banjalo, belungasuka lube ngumlilo odlayo. Bebengasuka bakuvuyele ukufa ngokunga bangazimela ubuso balowo wafela ukubathenga.

Kunqabile kanye, kuthi ngokwethu, ukuwusaba lomnxhuma wesoono sitshone kuwo. Intliziyo zethu zisisoono, asinako ukuziguqula. “Ngubanina ongakhupha okuhlambulukileyo koko ku- [14] yinqambi? akukho nokuba abemnye.” (Jobi 14: 4.) “Ngokuba ukunyameka kwenyama kububutshaba kuThixo: kuba umthetho kaThixo kungawululameli, kuba kungenako nokuba nako ukwenzanjalo.” (Roma. 8: 7.) Imfundo, ukukhuliswa kakuhle, ukusebenzisa ingqondo, imigudu yonke yobuntu; zonke ezonto zinendawo yazo eziyifaneleyo. Zingade kambe zimenze aziphathe kakuhle umntu ngaphandle, kodwa azinako ukuyiguqula intliziyo, zize ziwuhlambulule umthombo wobomi. Umntu kufuneka esetyenzwe ngamandla avela ngaphakathi, azuze ubomi obutsha obuvela phezulu, phambi kokuba aphume esoonweni angene ebungcweleni. Lomandla ke nguKristu. Lubabalo lwakhe lodwa olunokuphilisa iingqondo ezifileyo zomphefumlo, luze luwutsalele kuThixo nase bungcweleni.

UmSindisi wathi, “Ukuba akathanga umntu azalwe phezulu,” oko kukuthi azuze intliziyo entsha, iminqweno emitsha, izigqibo neengcinga ezintsha, ezimkhokelela kubomi ubutsha,—“akanako ukububona ubukumkani bukaThixo.” (Johane 3: 3.) Olu luvo lokokuba kuphela kwento enokwenziwa ngumntu, kukuphembelela okuyakulunga wavela nako ngendalo, luyinkohliso enkulu. “Owemvelo ke umntu akazamkeli izinto zoMoya kaThixo kuba zibubudenge kuye; kanjalo akanakuzazi kuba ziphicothwa ngokoMoya.” (1 Korinte 2: 14.) “Musa ukumangaliswa kukuba ndithe kuwe, nimelwe kukuthi nizalwe ngokutsha.” (Johane 3: 7.) Kubhaliwe kwathiwa ngoKristu, “Kuye kwakukho ubomi, baye ubomi obo bulukhanyiselo lwabantu,” (Johane 1:4.) — kuba akukho “gama limbi phantsi kwezulu, linikiweyo phakathi kwabantu, esimele ukusindiswa ngalo.” ( Izenzo 4: 12.)

Akwanele ukuba umntu abone ububele bukaThixo obungathethekiyo, isisa, nenceba yesimilo sakhe sobuzali. Akwanele ukuba aqonde ubulumko nokulunga komthetho wakhe — ukubona ukuba usekwe phezu kothando olungunaphakade. Umpostile uPaulos wakubona oku, wathi, “Ndivumelana nomthetho ukuba mhle.” “Umyalelo okunene ungcwele; nomthetho ungcwele, unobulungisa, ulungile.” Ubuye walekela — ebukrakreni, ebuhlungwini nasekuncameni komphefumlo — ngelithi, “Ke mna ndingowenyama; kuthengiswe ngam, ndaba phantsi kwesoono.” (Roma 7: 16, 12, 14.) Walangazelela ukucoceka nobulungisa awayengenamandla yena ngokwakhe okubufikelela, waza wadanduluka wathi, “Athi ke mna, mntu uludwayi! Azi ngubanina oya kundikhulula kulomzimba woku kufa?” (Roma. 7: 24.) Kuwo onke amazwe namaphakade, sibe njalo isikhalo esiya kuThixo siphuma kwiintliziyo eziva ubunzima besoono. Kanti kuzo [15] zonke, impendulo inye, yile ithi, “Naantso imVana kaThixo ethwala isuse isoono sehlabathi.” (Johane 1: 29.)

U-Moya kaThixo uyityhila lenyaniso ngemifanekiso emininzi, uyicacisa kuyo yonke imiphefumlo enga ingakhululwa kubunzima betyala. Wathi uYakobi akuzimela kowabo, emva kwesoono sakhe sokukhohlisa ulsake, waziva esindwa bubunzima betyala lakhe. Uthe namhla kuba eyindlondlo nelolo, sisuke isoono sakhe samahlula kwabebathanda; wangenelwa yingcinga yokoyika ukuba esisoono sakhe, simahlule nakuThixo, samenza ukuba alahlwe ezulwini. Uthe ekolosizi wahlwelwa, wasel’esuka elala phantsi emhlabeni ukuba aphumle. Wayezungulezwe ziinduli ezize ngawo onke amacala, isisibhakabhaka esiqaqambiswe zinkwenkwezi ngaphezu kwakhe. Uthe elele njalo wabona umbono oqaqambileyo; wabona kwelothafa libanzi wayelele kulo, ileli ende emabanga athabathele emhlabeni ada esa kusango lezulu kanye, zabe izithunywa zikaThixo zinyuka zisihla ngawo, kwabe kanjalo kumana ukuvakala phezulu ilizwi likaThixo elinika intuthuzelo nethemba. Oku konke yayi kukwazisa uYakobi ukuba inye into efanele umphefumlo wakhe — ngumSindisi yedwa. Uthe akuyibona ityhilwe ngoluhlobo indlela angasindiswa abuyiselwe ngayo umooni ebudlelaneni bukaThixo, wasuka wavuya ngovuyo olukhulu. Loo leli wayibona kwelophupha lakhe yayityhila uYesu, ixela ukuba nguye kuphela onokuhlanganisa umntu noThixo.

Yayi kwanguwo loomfanekiso, Iowa uKristu wathetha ngawo kwincoko yakhe no-Nataniyeli, okuya wathi, “Niya kulibona izulu livulekile, nezithunywa zikaThixo zinyuka zisihla phezu koNyana womntu.” (Johane 1: 51.) Ekuweni kwakhe umntu, wazahlula yena ngokwakhe kuye uThixo, wasuka nomhlaba wahluka kulo izulu. Kuthe ngenxa yalomsantsa akwabikho budlelana phakathi komhlaba nezulu. Ke namhla, ngenxa kaKristu, umhlaba ubuye wamanywa nezulu. U-Kristu uthe ngezenzelelelo zakhe wabuya wawuvala lomsantsa wawenziwe sisoono, ukuze izithunywa zikaThixo zibuye zibe nobudlelane naye umntu. U-Kristu udibanise umntu owileyo, onobulwelwe, nongenako ukuzinceda, kunye noThixo omandla angaphele ndawo.

Akungencedi lutho ukuqhubela phambili komntu, nokuzama kwakhe ukuphakamisa olunye uluntu, ukuba uthe akamsa so uThixo olithemba noncedo loluntu oluwileyo. “Sonke isipho esilungileyo naso sonke isipho esigqibeleleyo, sihla sivela kuThixo.’’ (Yakobi 1: 17.) Akukho similo sihle singaphumi kuye, yabe nendlela eya kuThixo ingoKristu kuphela. Uthi, “Indlela, inyaniso, [16] ubomi, ndim; akukho namnye uzayo kuBawo engezi ngam.” (Johane 14: 6.)

Intliziyo kaThixo ilulilela usapho lwakhe olusemhlabeni ngo-thando olunamandla kunokufa. Usinike isipho esilizulu liphela ngokusinika uNyana wakhe. Ubomi nokufa komSindisi, ukusithethelela kwakhe, ulungiselelo lwezithunywa, uthelelo loMoya oyiNgcwele, ukusebenza koBawo phezulu kubo bonke, ukunonelela okungaphele ndawo kweziqu ezisezulwini — zonke ezonto zimiselwe ukusebenzela inkululeko yomntu.

Makhe sicamange ngelodini lingummangaliso salenzelwayo! Masilinge ukubuqonda ubukhulu balomsebenzi siwenzelwa lizulu, wona ngowokusisindisa, nokubuyisela endlwini kaBawo oko kulahlekileyo. Izinto ezigqithe ezi ukulunga nokuba namandla bezingeze zisetyenziswe. Imivuzo emikhulu kangaka yokwenza ubulungisa, ukudliwa kobumnandi bezulu, ubunye nezithunywa zezulu, ubudlelane nothando lukaThixo noNyana wakhe, ukuphakanyiswa kwawo onke amandla ethu, kuwo onke amaphakade — ezizinto bezingafanele kusomeleza zisinyanzele na ukuba umDali nomKhululi wethu simnike inkonzo yothando oluphuma entliziyweni? Ke, ngelinye icala, izigwebo zikaThixo ngakuso isoono, impindezelo eyakubakho, ukonakala kwesimilo sethu, ukutshatyalaliswa kwethu ekupheleni; zonke ezozinto zixelwa eLizwini likaThixo, ukuze zilumkise thina ngakuyo inkohlakalo kaSatana.

Lenceba inkulu kangaka kaThixo asiyi kuyikhathalela na? Ube ngade asenzele ntonina ebingagqitha kule? Masivane naloThixo usithande ngothando olunje ukuba ngummangaliso. Masilwamkele ulungiselelo asenzele Iona, ukuze siguqulwe sifane naye, nokuze sibuyiselwe ebudlelaneni bezithunywa zakhe, nakubunye bobudlelane boYise noNyana. [17]

3. INGUQUKO

ANGATHININA umntu ukuba lilungisa phambi koThixo? Angathinina umooni ukuba lilungisa? Ku ngoKristu yedwa esinokwenziwa ukuba sivane noThixo size sibe ngcwele. Kodwa sothinina ukuze size kuKristu? Baninzi nanamhla ababuza kwalaambuzo njengendimbane ngomhla wePentekoste, yona yathi yakugwebeka siso isoono yadanduluka isithi, “Sithinina?” Ilizwi lokuqala likaPetros lathi, “Guqukani.” Ngelinye ixesha, kamsinya emveni koko, ubuye wathi, “Guqukani ke ngoko, nibuye, ukuze zicinywe izoono zenu.” (Izenzo 3: 19.)

Inguquko le kukuba nosizi ngenxa yesoono, nokubuya kuso. Asingesilahli isoono singadange sibubone ubusoono baso; akungeze kubekho nguquko iyinene singadange sisishiye isoono ngentliziyo.

Baninzi abangayiqondiyo inguquko eyinene. Isininzi sililiswa kuba soonile, side sizithomalalise ngokubonakala kakuhle ngaphandle, kuba sisoyika ukuba ukoona kwaso kuya kusihlisela ubunzima obukhulu. Le ke asiyiyo inguquko esiyixelelwa ziziBhalo. Aabo banjalo balilela ubunzima, abaliliswa sisoono. Lwalunialo usizi lukaEsau, akubona ukuba ulahlekiwe bubuzubulo bakhe ngonaphakade. Wathi uBileham ngokoyika isithunywa esafika samthintela endleleni sinekrele, wasel’esuka elivuma ityala lakhe ngokoyika ukufa. Kwakungekho nguquko yenene kuye ngenxa yesoono, kwakungekho kweyiseka kwentliziyo nokuthiya ububi benkohlakalo ekuye. Wathi uJudas Sikariyoti, emva kokuyinikela iNkosi yakhe, wazohlwaya ngelithi, “Ndonile, kuba ndinikele igazi elingenatyala.” (Mateyu 27: 4.)

Ukulivuma ityala elo lakhe wenziwa kukoyika ukugwetywa, nangokungcangcazeliswa ngumgwebo owoyikekayo awayewulindele. Uthe kukoyikiswa zizinto ezingathi zimhlele emva kwesisenzo, wasel’esivuma isoono sakhe. Kodwa kwakungekho buhlungu bunzulu baphula intliziyo emphefumlweni wakhe, bokuba emnikele uNyana kaThixo engenalo nechaphaza lesoono, waza wamkhanyela oyiNgcwele kaSirayeli. Wathi uFaro akuva ubunzima bezohlwayo zikaThixo, wasivuma isoono sakhe ngokunga akangebuye ohlwaywe. Uthe zakususwa izibetho ezo wabuyela kwasebulukhunini bakhe bangaphambili. Bonke ke aaba, baliliswa kukoyika izohlwayo eziya kulandela isoono sabo, babengaliliswa lusizi, nabububi besoono sabo ngokwas. [18] [19]

Ithi ke yona intliziyo, yakoyiseka zimpembelelo zoMoya kaThixo, sisuke isazela sivuseleleke siphile, asuke nomooni aqale ukubuqiqa ubunzulu, nokucoceka komthetho kaThixo ongcwele, nokusiqonda isiseko solaulo lwakhe olusezulwini nasemhlabeni. Luthi “ukhanyiso olubakhanyiselayo abantu bonke abeza ehlabathini” (Johane 1:9) lusuke lukhanyisele amagumbi onke omphefumlo, zithi izinto zobumnyama ezifihlakeleyo zityhileke ngokusekuhleni. Isuke igwebeke ingqondo nentliziyo. Asuke umooni onganyelwe bubulungisa bukaYehova, oyikiswe kukuya kubonakala phambi komPhengululi weentliziyo, enje ukunchola, nokuba netyala kwakhe. Usuke alubone uthando lukaThixo, abubone ubuhle bobungcwele bakhe, nobumnandi bokuhlambuluka; asel’esuka enga angahlanjululwa, abuyiselwe ebudlelaneni balo izulu.

Lomthandazo wawenzayo uDavide emva kokuwa kwakhe esoonweni, ngowona ubonisa into eba yiyo inguquko yenene kuso isoono. Inguquko yakhe yayinzulu inyanisekile. Akazange enze migu yokulifihla ityala lakhe, kwaye nomthandazo awazithandazela ngawo, ungazange uqhutywe kukoyika kwakhe umgwebo owawuza kumhlela. U-Davide wabubona ubukhulu besigqitho sakhe, wasithiya wasicaphukela isoono sakhe. Akathandazelanga ukuba axolelwe kuphela, wathandazela nokuba intliziyo yakhe ihlanjululwe. Walangazelela ukunga angangcwele, ukunga angabuyiselwa ebudlelaneni boThixo wakhe. Yaba yile intetho yomphefumlo wakhe:

“Hayi uyolo lwakhe olukreqo luxolelweyo, osoono siselelweyo! Hayi uyolo lomntu, angabubaleliyo uYehova ubugwenxa kuye, ekungekho kukhohlisa emloyeni wakhe.” Indumiso 32: 1, 2.

“Taru, Thixo, ngokwenceba yakho. Ngokobuninzi benceba yakho cima ureqo lwam; ... Ngokuba ndiya lwazi mna ukreqo lwam, nesoono sam siphambi kwa ngamaxesha onke. ... Ndihlambulule isoono ngehisope, ndihlambuluke. Ndixovule ndibemhlophe kunekhepu; ... Dala phakathi kwam, Thixo, intliziyo ehlambulukileyo, uhlaziye umoya oqinisekileyo phakathi kwam. Musa ukundilahla ebusweni bakho. U-Moya wakho oyiNgcwele ungamsusi kum. Buyisela kum imihlali yosindiso lwakho, undixhase ngomoya wentumekelelo. Ndihlangule emagazini, Thixo, Thixo ondisindisayo; lomemelela ngobulungisa bakho ulwimi lwam.” Indumiso 51: 1-14.

Inguquko enje ngayo le, yengaphaya kokuba ingafunyanwa emandleni omntu ngokwakhe; kuphela yona inokufunyanwa kuKristu yedwa, yena wathi enyuke waya phezulu waba nokupha izipho ebantwini. [20]

Baninzi abaphosisa apha kanye, abathi ngenxa yoko bangabi nako ukuluzuza oluyancedo uKristu anga angabanika. Basuke bona babe abanakuza kuKristu, bengakange baguquke kuqala, babe besiba inguquko le, ibalungiselela indlela yokuba zixolelwe izoono zabo. Kuyinene ukuba inguquko yandulela uxolelo lwezoono, kuba iyintliziyo eyaphukileyo netyumkileyo yodwa efuna umSindisi. Ke ufanele ukuhlala na ade aguquke umooni, phambi kokuba eze kuKristu? Inguquko le ifanele ukwenziwa isithintelo na, phakathi komooni nomSindisi?

I-Baibile ayifundisi ukuba makakhe aguquke umooni phambi kokuba aluphulaphule umemo lukaKristu oluthi, “Yizani kum nonke nina nibulalekayo, nisindwayo ngumthwalo, ndoninika ukuphumla.” Mateyu 11: 28. “Ngamandla aphuma kuKristu yedwa anako ukukhokelela kwinguquko eyinene. U-Petros wayicacisa lendawo kwintetho yakhe kumaSirayeli, okuya wathi, “Yena lowo uThixo wamphakamisa ngesandla sakhe sokunene, wangumThetheleli nomSindisi, ukuze amnike uSirayeli inguquko noxolelo lwezoono.” Izenzo 5: 31. Asinako ukuguquka ngaphandle kokuba uMoya kaKristu uvuselele isazela sethu; asinako ukuxolelwa ngaphandle kukaKristu.

U-Kristu ungumthombo wazo zonke iimpembelelo ezilungileyo. Nguye yedwa onako ukutyala intiyo-soono entliziyweni yomntu. Imiqondiso ebonisa ukuba uMoya wakhe uyasebenza ezintliziyweni zethu, kukuthanda inyaniso nentlambululeko, nokweyiseka sisoono sethu.

U-Yesu wathi, “Mna ke, ukuba ndithe ndaphakanyiswa emhlabeni, ndiya kubatsalela bonke kum.” Johane 12: 32. U-Kristu ufanele ukutyhilwa kumooni njengomSindisi owafela izoono zehlabathi; sothi sakuyibona imVana kaThixo isemnqamlezweni eKalvari, iqale ukutyhileka ezingqondweni zethu imfihlelo yokusithenga kwakhe. buthi ubulungisa bukaThixo busikhokelele enguqukweni. Ekubafeleni kwakhe abooni uKristu wabonisa uthando olungaphezu kwembhaliso; uthi nanamhla umooni akuluqonda oluthando, isuke intliziyo yakhe inyibilike, ingqondo yakhe izaliswe lulo, uze usuke umphefumlo wakhe uzaliswe lusizi olukhulu olunzulu.

Kuyinene ukuba abantu ngamanye amaxesha bakhe babe nentloni ziindlela zabo ezikhohlakeleyo, bade bayilahle inxalenye yemikwa yabo emibi, phambi kokuba beve ukuba batsalelwa kuKristu. Xa sukuba besenza imigudu yobuyo ngokunga bangenza okulungileyo, sukuba betsalwa ngamandla kaKristu. Kusebenza impembelelo abangayaziyo emphefumlweni wabo. sisuke isazela [21] sabo siphiliswe, buthi nobomi babo bangaphandle bulunge. Uthi uKristu akuwatsalela emnqamlezweni amehlo abo, bakumkhangela lowo bamhlabaniselayo ngezoono zabo, usuke umthetho wakhe use usizalisa isazela sabo. Ukukhohlakala kobom babo, ukwendela kwesoono emphefumlweni wabo; zisuke ezonto zityhileke kubo. Basuke baqale ukubuqonda ubulungisa bukaKristu, bavakale besithi, “Siyintonina isoono ukuba side sifune idini elingaka lokukhulula umooni? Be kungade khona kufuneke uthando olungaka, nobunzima obungaka, nokuthobeka okunje na ukuze singatshabalali, kodwa sibe nobomi obungunaphakade?”

Angade umooni aluchase oluthando, angade angavumi ukuba atsalelwe kuKristu, kodwa ukuba uthe akachasa, uyakuziva etsaleleke kuKristu. Ukulazi kwakhe icebo losindiso kuya kumkhokelela elunyaweni lwomnqamlezo, aze aguquke kwezo zoono zakhe zambangela ubunzima neentlungu uNyana othandekileyo kaThixo.

Kwa wona loomandla kaThixo asebenza kwizinto zendalo, ikwa ngawo athetha neentliziyo zabantu, aze avuselele ulangazelelo lwabo. U-Moya kaThixo uzamana nabo, ukuba bafune ezonto zodwa zinako ukunika uxolo nokonwaba — ubabalo lukaKristu novuyo lokubangcwele. Ngeempembelelo ezibonwayo nezingabonwayo, umSindisi wethu uzama futhi ukuzitsala iingqondo zabantu kwezo ziyolo zesoono zingahluthisiyo; abe ezitsalela kwiintsikelelo ezingathethekiyo abanokuzifumana kuye. Kuyo yonke loomiphefumlo ifumane ifune ukusela kulomaqula aqhekekileyo elihlabathi, uthi, “Lowo unxaniweyo makeze; lowo uthandayo makawathabathe amanzi obomi ngesisa.” isiTyhilelo 22: 17.

Nina balangazelela ngeentliziyo zenu izinto ezilunge ngaphezu kwezi zelilizwe, qondani ukuba olo lulangazelelo lulilizwi likaThixo ethetha nemiphefumlo yenu. Mceleni ukuba aniphe inguquko, amtyhile uKristu kuni ehlambulukile ezele luthando olungunaphakade. Ebomini bomSindisi wethu, ezona nyaniso zinkulu zomthetho kaThixo zatyhileka ngokuphandle, zona ezi — uthando kuThixo nakumntu. Isisa nothando olungenantshiyela, zazi ngumoongo kanye wobomi bakhe. Kuxa sithe sakhanyiselwa ngumSindisi, esithi sibenako ukukubona ukukhohlakala kweentliziyo zethu.

Singade sibe siziqokoqa njengoNikodimo, ngelithi, thina sithe gca ukuhamba, nesimilo sethu silungile; side sicinge ukuba asinamfanelo yokuba singade sizigobe phambi koThixo njengabanye abooni; kanti ke, xa kona ukukhanya kukaKristu kuthe kwa- [22] khanya emiphefumlweni yethu, siya kuqala sizibone ukunchola kwethu; siqale siziqonde ukungabinto kwethu, nobutshaba bethu ngakuye uThixo, siqonde ukuba buncholise yonke into yobomi bethu. Siya kuqala ukwazi kananjalo ukuba ubulungisana bethu bungamajacu, sazi ukuba igazi likaKristu lilo lodwa elinako ukusihlambulula kuso isoono, lize lizihlaziye iintliziyo zethu zifane naye.

Umtha omnye wobungcwalisa bukaThixo, ukukhanya okunye kokuhlambuluka kukaKristu, kuthi xa kuthe kwatyhutyha umphefumlo kuwenze onke amabala okunchola ukuba adandalaze, buthi ubugosogoso nobuqhonqa besimilo somntu busuke bube phandle. Kusuke ukungakholwa kwakhe, neminqweno yakhe engengcwele, kunye namazwi omlomo wakhe akhohlakeleyo, kubhenceke. Izenzo ezingakholekileyo zomooni zokuphuthisa umthetho kaThixo, zisuke zibe semhlotsheni, uthi nomoya wakhe ubandezeleke phantsi kwempembelelo egquthagquthayo yoMoya kaThixo. Usuke azicaphukele akubona isimilo sikaKristu esinyulu, nesingenabala.

Wathi uDanyeli akubona uzuko olwalungqonge isithunywa sezulu esasithunywe kuye, wasuke wonganyelwa bubulwelwe nakukungafezeki kwakhe. Xa atyhila lombono ungummangaliso, uthi, “Ndaphelelwa ngamandla, nebala lobuso bam lasuka lajika, Ioonakala kum, ndaphelelwa ngamandla.” Danyeli 10: 8. Umphefumlo ochukumiseke njalo usuke ukuthiye ukuzithanda, ukuze uthi, ngobulungisa bukaKristu, ufune ukuhlambululeka kwentliziyo okulungelene nomthetho kaThixo, nesimilo sikaKristu.

U-Paulos uthi, “Ngokobulungisa obo basemthethweni”— ngokwezenzo zangaphandle — waye “ngongenakusoleka” (Filipu 3: 6); kodwa wathi akusiqonda isimilo esibumoya somthetho, wazifumana engumooni. Uthe akuzilinga ngesikali sokugcina umthetho ngembonakalo yangaphandle, wazifumana engenasoono; kodwa uthe akuqwalasela ebunzulwini beemfundiso zawo ezingcwele, akuzibona njengoko uThixo ambona ngako, wasuka wawa walivuma ityala lakhe. Uthi, “Mna ke bendifudula ndiphilile, ungekho umthetho; uthe ke wakufika umthetho. sabuya saphila isoono, ndafa ke mna.” (Roma 7: 9.) Oko kukuthi uthe akububona ubume obubumoya basemthethweni, sasuka iseono sabonakala ngobubi baso obuyinene, kwathi nokuzingca kwakhe kwapkela.

U-Thixo akazikhangelele ukuba zonke izoono ezi ziyalingana ngobukhulu; kukho ukugqithana kwamatyala ekucingeni kwakhe, njengoko kunjalo nasekucingeni kwabantu; kodwa nokuba [23] esi nesiya isenzo esikhohlakeleyo sincinane kangakananina emehlweni abantu akukho soono sincinane emehlweni kaThixo. Ukugweba komntu kucalanye, akufezekile; kanti yena uThixo into zonke uzimisa njengoko zinjalo. Inxila yinto edelwe kakhulu, nemana ukuxelelwa ukuba isoono salo siyakulivalela kulo izulu; kanti bona oomakratshi, nookuzithanda, noominqweno, abakhangelelwe nto yakonto. Zonke ezizoono zichaseke kakhulu kuThixo, kuba zichasene neso similo sakhe sokuthandana nokulunga, kwanelozulu liluthando luyintabalala. Angade owe kwizoono ezikhulu ezibi adane azive eswele ubulungisa efuna ubabalo lukaKristu; ikratshi lona, kuba lingeva kuswela nto, lisuke liyivale intliziyo kwiintsikelelo aze kuzinika uKristu.

Lambuthi werafu wathandaza wathi, “Thixo, yiba netaru kum, mna mooni” (Luka 18: 13), wayeziva ukuba uyindoda ekhohlakeleyo, babe nabanye babemkhangelele njalo. Waziva ukuba unento ayisweleyo, wasel’esiza kucela itaru kuThixo, edanile, enomthwalo wetyala lakhe. Intliziyo yakhe yayivulekile ukuba umoya kaThixo usebenze kuyo, umkhulule emandleni aso isoono. Umthandazo womFarisi wokuzingca nokuziqhayisa, wabonisa ukuba intliziyo yakhe ivaliwe ngakuzo iimpembelelo zoMoya Oyingcwele. Uthe, kuba wayemgama noThixo, akakubona ukunchola kwakhe, xa buthelekiswa nokufezeka kukaThixo ebungcwaliseni. Waziva engaswele nto, waza ngoko akamkela nto.

Yithi wakuziqonda ukuba ungumooni, ungalindi ukuthi mawude ulunge. Baninzi kangakananina abazilibazise ngokumana besithi asikalungi ngokokude size kuKristu. Uthi gxebe wode ulunge ngemigudu yakho na? “UmKushi unokulunguqula na ulusu lwakhe, nengwe inokuwaguqula na amabala ayo? ningaba ke ninako ukulungisa nani, baqhele ukwenza okubi.” Jeremiya 13: 23. Uncedo lwethu Iona lukuThixo yedwa. Masingalindi ukoyiswa ziinto ezinamandla, silinde amathuba amahle, nokuba side sibe nezimilo ezingcwele. Asinakuzenzela nto thina ngokwethu. Masize kuKristu njengoko sinjalo.

Makungabikho namnye uzikhohlisayo ngokuthi, wothi uThixo, ngenxa yothando nenceba yakhe enkulu, abuye abaxolele nabona balahli bobabalo lwakhe. Ukukhohlakala kwesoono kungaqondwa kuphela xa ethe umntu weza emnqamlezweni. Abantu abangaba bathi ukuthetha, uThixo ulunge kakhulu akangede amlahle umooni, bafanele ukukhe bakhangele eKalvari. Kwakungokuba kwakungekho ndlela yimbi anokusindiswa ngayo umntu. kwakungokuba ngaphandle kwelidini lwalungenako ukusindiswa uluntu, lwalungenako ukuwasaba amandla ancholisayo aso isoo- [24] no, luze lubuyiselwe ebudlelaneni bazo iziqu ezingcwele; kwakungokuba lwalungenako kanjalo uluntu, ukuba lubuye lube ngamadlelana abo ubomi obungcwele — awathi uKristu wathabathela phezu kwakhe ityala labangevayo, waza weva ubunzima endaweni yomooni. Uthando, ukuva iintlungu, nokufa koNyana kaThixo, zezonanto zinqhina ukoyikeka nobukhulu besoono; zityhila ukuba akukho kusinda emandleni aso, akukho themba labomi baphezulu, ngaphandle kokuzigoba komphefumlo kuKristu.

Abahedeni bakholisa ukuzithethelela ngokumana begxeka amaKristu, besithi, “Akasidluli nganto, afana nathi, akasigqithi ngokuzikhanyeza nangokugcina izimilo zawo. Afana nathi ukuthanda iziyolo nokuzilahlela kwimikwa emibi.” Ngalendlela balahla ezabo iimfanelo bazithethelele ngeziphoso zabanye. Kanti ke izoono ezo zabanye, azibathetheleli nangentwana encinane, kuba uThixo akatshongo ukuthi masibonele kwabanye abantu, sibenze umzekelo wethu. Sinikwe uNyana omsulwa kaThixo ukuba abe ngumzekelo wethu; ke, aabo bagxeka ihambo embi yamaKristu, bebefanele ukukhe bawabekele umfuziselo omhle wehambo nempilo yomKristu. Ukuba banje kanye ukuyiqonda into afanele ukuba yiyo umKristu, akukhona singaphezulu na ke esabo isoono? Bayakwazi okulungileyo, kanti noko abavumi ukukwenza.

Kulumkele ukunditha. Musa ukumana ukuwubekela ingomso umsebenzi wokuzilahla izoono zakho, nowokuluna ngoYesu ukuhlambululeka kwentliziyo yakho. Ngamawakawaka asel’ede ayakutshona ekulahlekelweni kwanaphakade ngokumana esenza lento. Andiyikuthetha khona ngobufutshane nokungaqiniseki kwalento ibubomi; kodwa kukho ingozi eyoyikekayo — ingozi engaqondwa kakuhle, le yokuba amana ukuzilazila umntu, endaweni yokoyiseka zizibongozo zoMoya Oyingcwele kaThixo, aphume kube kanye kuso isoono. Isoono singafanelana sisincinane kangakananina, ngokusenza kodwa ungalahleka unaphakade. Oko singenako ukukweyisa, kuya kweyisa thina kusitshabalalise.

U-Adam noEva bazikhohlisa ngokuthi, ayingede ithi intwana encinane kangaka, enje ngokudla kulamthi bekuthiwe ize bangawudli, ide ibahlisele izibetho ezikoyikeka njengezo zaxelwa nguThixo. Babelibele ukuba lentwana ingaka ukuba ncinane kwayo, ikukugqitha umthetho ongenakuguqulwa nongcwele kaThixo, yaza ke, yabahlula kuye uThixo, yavula amasango okufa nobubi obungathethekiyo kulo lonke ilizwe lethu. Unanamhla sisaphethe iinyembezi, indalo yonke iyagula inenimba, ngenxa [25] yokungeva komntu. Nezulu ngokwalo libuvile ububi bokuvukelwa kukaThixo nguye umntu. I-Kalvari imi, isisikhumbuzo sedini elingummangaliso elenzelwa ukuthenga umntu olahleke ngokwaphula umthetho kaThixo. Isoono, ke ngoko, masingasenzi into engeyakonto.

Konke ukugqitha umthetho, konke ukungakhathali lubabalo lukaKristu, kuya kubuye kubuyele kuwe; kuba kuyenza lukhuni intliziyo yakho, konakalise imvume, kushwabanise ingqondo, kumenze umntu asel’eba yingqola engakhathaliyo nazizicengo zoMoya kuThixo.

Baninzi abathuthuzela uvalo lwabo ngokumana besithi bona bosuke bayiyeke inkohlakalo bakuthanda; bothi noko bafeketha ngomemo lwenceba ngoku, lobuye lubachukumise. Bacinga ukuba emva kokuwudela kwabo uMoya wobabalo lukaThixo, emva kokuncedisa kwabo uSatana, bothi ngemini yobubi nengozi babuye baguquke. Ayilula lonto ukwenzeka kunje. Amava, nemfundo, yexesha lokuphila, ezonto zisuke zathi ukusimisa isimilo sabantu, zenza ukuba babembalwa kakhulu, abathi ngamaxesha anjalo banqwenele ukwamkela umfuziselo kaYesu.

Ufanelana umnye umkwa okhohlakeleyo esimilweni somntu, umnye umnqweno okhohlakeleyo, ethe ezonto wajokisa ukuhlala kuzo, zosuke emva kwexesha ziwaphithizelise onke amandla eGospile. Wonke umkwa okhohlakeleyo uya usomeleza umphefumlo ekuchaseni uThixo. Umntu othi abonakale eyingqola, engakhathali nokukhathala yinyaniso kaThixo, sukuba evuna oko akuhlwayeleyo. Kuyo yonke iBaibile, akukho siyalo njengeso sisingiswa sisilumko kwaabo bafeketha ngenkohlakalo. Sithi, xa sithetha ngomooni, “Ubugwenxa bakhe bumthi hlasi ongendawo, abanjiswe zimbophelelo zesoono sakhe.” (Imizek. 5: 22.)

U-Kristu uhleli evuma ukusikhulula esoonweni, kodwa akasinyanzeli. Ukuba ngokugqitha kwethu umthetho okufuthi, ide imvume yethu yatyekela esoonweni, sada asakunqwenela ukukhululwa kuso; ukuba asivumi ukulwamkela ubabalo lwakhe; sithi makade athinina? Sizitshabalalisile ngokwethu ngokuphikela ukulugiba uthando lwakhe. “Yabonani, lingoku ixesha elamkeleke kakuhle; yabonani ungoku umhla wosindiso.” (2 Korinte 6: 2.) “Namhla, ukuba nithe naliva ilizwi lakhe, musani ukuzenza lukhuni iintliziyo zenu.” (Hebere 3:7, 8.)

“Ngokuba umntu ukhangela umphandle, uYehova ukhangela intliziyo,” (1 Samweli 16:7)—kulontliziyo ibhadubhadulayo, ilahlekileyo, iphithizeliswa luvuyo nosizi, izele bububi nayinkohliso. Uyazazi iingcinga zayo, izicamango nezigqibo zayo. Yiya [26] kuye nalomphefumlo wakho unchole unjalo. Wavule amagumbi awo kulowo uliso libona konke, udanduluke njengomdumisi, uthi, “Ndigocagoce, Thixo, uyazi intliziyo yam; ndicikide, uzazi iingcinga-ngcinga zam; ubone ukuba kukho ndlela yobubi na kum, undikhaphele kwindlela engunaphakade.” (Indumiso 139:23, 24.)

Baninzi abacinga ukuba inguquko kukufunda, abanobume bobuThixo nje kodwa, zibe zingahlanjululwe iintliziyo zabo. Umthandazo wakho mawuthi, “Dala phakathi kwam, Thixo, intliziyo ehlambulukileyo, uhlaziye umoya oqinisekileyo phakathi kwam.” (Indumiso 51: 10.) Nyaniseka ngenxa yomphefumlo wakho. Yithi ukunyaniseka nokuzondelela kwakho, unge kumhla ubomi bakho busengozini. Lo ngumcimbi ophakathi kwakho noThixo, ofanele ukuba uwufeze ngonaphakade. Ukuthi unethemba nje, kube kuphela oko, kukuzibulala.

Lifunde iLizwi likaThixo uthandaza. EloLizwi likufundisa umthetho kaThixo nobomi bukaKristu, likufundisa iindawo ezinkulu zobungcwalisa, “ekungekho namnye uya kuyibona iNkosi, engenabo.” Liyasohlwaya ngenxa yesoono, liyityhile ngokucacileyo indlela yosindiso. Liphulaphule njengelizwi likaThixo ethetha nomphefumlo wakho.

Ungaze uncame ngalo lonke ixesha osathi ububone ubukhulu besoono, uziqonde nawe ukuba ungumooni. U-Kristu weza kusindisa abooni. Asisithi abaya kuxolelanisa uThixo kuthi ngokwethu, koko — Hayi uthando lungenambali!—uThixo waye ekuKristu, “elixolelanisa naye ngokwakhe ihlabathi.” (2 Korinte 5: 19.) Uyacenga-cenga, ngothando lwakhe, iintliziyo zabantwana bakhe abalahlekayo. Akukho mzali unganyamezela iziphoso zosapho lwakhe, njengoko anjalo uThixo ukunyamezela nokuthwala iziphoso zaabo weza kubasindisa. Akakho ongade amcenge umaphuli-mthetho njengoko amcenga ngako yena. Akukho mntu wakha wambongoza umooni ngaphezu koko ambongoza ngako. Onke amadinga asezwini lakhe, zonke iziyalo ezikulo, zikukuphefumla kothando lwakhe olungathethekiyo.

Wakuthi uSatana akukuxelela ukuba ungumooni omkhulu usuke ukhangele kumKhululi wakho, uthethe ngezenzelelelo zakhe. Uya kuncedwa kukukhangela ekukhanyeni kwakhe. Sivume isoono sakho, kodwa uluxelele utshaba olo ukuba “uKristu Yesu weza ehlabathini ukuba asindise abooni,” (1 Tim. 1: 15), nokuze wena ube nako ukusindiswa ngenxa yolothando lwakhe lungaphele ndawo. UYesu wakha ngenye imini wabuza umbuzo kuSimon ngabantu ababini ababe netyala. Omnye waye netyala elincinane kwinkosi yakhe, ke omnye yena waye netyala elikhulu [27] kakhulu; kodwa yesuka yabaxolela bobabini, waza uKristu wambuza uSimon ukuba nguwuphina kubo oya kuyithanda ngaphezulu inkosi yakhe. Waphendula uSimon wathi, “Ndiba ngulowo uxolelwe ngokungaphezulu.” (Luka 7: 43.) Thina ke besingabooni abakhulu; kodwa uKristu wafa ukuze sixolelwe, sibuyiselwe ebudlelaneni balo izulu. Bubulungisa bakhe bodwa obunako ukusipha amandla okuba sibe lusapho lukaThixo. Aabo abaxolele kakhulu, baya kumthanda ngokungaphezulu, baze beme kufuphi netrone yakhe, bamdumise ngenxa yolothando lwakhe olukhulu, nangenxa yedini lakhe elingaphele ndawo. Ububi besoono sibubona sakuluqonda uthando lukaThixo. Sithi sakubuqonda ubude bentsontelo esayiphoselwayo, sakubuqonda ubukhulu belodini salenzelwa nguKristu, isuke intliziyo inyibilike izaliswe nalusizi. [28] [29]

4. UKUVUMA IZOONO

“OSIGUBUNGELAYO isoono sakhe akayi kuba nampumelelo; ke yena osivumayo, asishiye, uya kufumana inceba.” Imizek. 28: 13.

Izimiselo zokufumana imfesane kaThixo zilula, zilungile, zaye zizezinge nakukhalazelwa. U-Thixo akatsho ukuthi masenze into ebuhlungu ukuze sixolelwe izoono zethu. Akatsho ukuthi masenze iihambo ezinde ezidinisayo, sibulale inyama, sihlaulele imiphefumlo yethu, sibe ngokwenza njalo siyaleza imiphefumlo yethu kuThixo wezulu. Uthi, lowo usivumayo asishiye isoono sakhe, uya kufumana imfesane.

Umpostile uthi, “Xelelanani iziphoso, nithandazelane, ukuze niphiliswe.” Yakobi 5: 16. Vumani izoono zenu kuThixo, yena unako ukuzixolela. Xelelanani iziphoso zenu. Ukuba uthe wamxakanisa umhlobo nokuba ngummelwane wakho, sivume isiphoso sakho eso, naye makakuxolele ngenkululeko. Qala ke wakukwenza oko, ukucela uxolo kaThixo; kuba umzalwana wakho lowo umxakanisileyo ungumntu kaThixo, ke ekumxakaniseni oko kwakho, woone umDali nomKhululi wakhe. Elotyala lakho seliphambi koyena Mthetheleli uyinyaniso, umBingeleli wethu omkhulu, yena, “wahendwayo ngeento zonke, ngokufana nathi, engenasoono,” unako ke ngoko “ukuvelana nezilwelwe zethu” (Hebere 4: 15), asihlambulule kuko konke ukuncholiswa sisoono.

Aabo bangekayithobi imiphefumlo yabo phambi koThixo balivume ityala labo, abakasizalisi esona simiselo sokuqala sokwamkelwa. Ukuba asikabinawo lamava alanguquko athi umntu akuyifumana angabuye azizonde, ukuba asikathi, ngomphefumlo owaphukileyo kanye nangomoya otyumkileyo kwaphela, sizivume izoono zethu, siyithiye inkohlakalo yethu; singaba asizange silufumane ngenene uxolelo lwezoono. Ke xa singazange silufune, asizange silufumane nokulufumana uxolo lukaThixo. Sinye isizathu esibangela ukuba singazixolelwa izoono ezagqithayo, sesi sokuba singavumi ukuzigoba iintliziyo zethu, sizivume izimiselo zeLizwi lenyaniso. Siyalwe ngokucacileyo ngayo lendawo. Ukuvunywa kwesoono, nokuba kusekuhleni, nokuba kungasese, kufanele ukuba kube kokwentliziyo, sivunywe ngenkululeko nguye umooni, kungabi ngokucudiswa. Akukuhle ukuba sithi ukuvunywa, sivunywe ngendlela yokuloqa nokungakhathali, mhlaumbi ngendlela yokuba side sicudiswe kumntu ekubonakala ukuba akasiqondi ngokwaneleyo ububi besoono. Uvumo lwe- [30] soono olukokona kuthululwa ngokupheleleyo komphefumlo lulo oluviwayo nguThixo onenceba engaphele-ndawo. Umdumisi uthi, “Usondele uYehova kwabantliziyo zaphukileyo, ebasindisa abamoya utyumkileyo.” Indumiso 34: 18.

Uvumo lwesoono oluyinene loluthi nqo ukuvuma, luzivume ngokumhlophe izoono ezithile. Kukho ukuba zingaba zezifanele ukutyhilwa esidlangalaleni, zifaneleke ke ukuba ezinjalo zityhilwe phambi kwabantu bonke. Kodwa lonke uvumo lwezoono lufanele ukuba lube loluthe nqo, lungabi loluwangawangisayo. Lufanele ukuba, lube loluvuma kanye ezo zoono unetyala ngazo.

Ngemihla kaSamuweli, amaSirayeli abhadula emka kuThixo. Eva ubunzima besoono, kuba aye lahlekwe lukholo lwawo kuThixo; elahlekwe kukuwaqonda amandla nobulumko bakhe bokulaula uhlanga lwawo, elahlekwe yingqiniseko emandleni akhe ukuba angaba nako ukuwukhusela awuxhase umsebenai wakhe. Amshiya oyena Mlauli mkhulu welizwe, anqwenela ukuba aphathwe, alaulwe njengezinye iintlanga ezo zaziwangqongile. Bathi ukuze balufumane uxolelo, balivuma ityala labo ngokuthe nqo, bathi, “Songeze ezoonweni zethu ububi bokubiza ukumkani.” (1 Samuweli 12: 19.) Kwada kwafuneka kanye ukuba basityhile eso soono babewe ngaso. Ukuswela kwabo umbulelo kwayicinezela imiphefumlo yabo, kwabahlula noThixo.

Ukuvuma izoono akanako ukukwamkela uThixo xa kungabandakanywanga nenguquko eyinene, kunye nobuyo kuso isoono. Kufuneka ubomi bomguquki buntoyimbi kanye, ekulahlile konke okuxakanisa uThixo. Wothi ukuze abenjalo, abe unosizi ngaso isoono sakhe. Lomsebenzi ubekwe ngokucacileyo phambi kwethu: “Zihlambeni, ziqaqambiseni; susani ububi beentlondi zenu phambi kwamehlo am; yekani ukwenza ububi; fundani ukwenza okulungileyo; khathalelani ukugweba; lungisani obandezelweyo; gwebani ityala lenkedama; lithetheni ityala lomhlolokazi.” Isaya 1: 16, 17. “Ukuba ongendawo uthi asibuyise isibambiso, ayimisele into ehluthwe nguye, ahambe ngemimiselo yobomi, angenzi ngobugqwetha: inene, wophila, akayi kufa.” (Hezekile 33: 15.) Uthi uPaulos ethetha ngomsebenzi wenguquko: “Kwa oko kwenziwa kwenu buhlungu ngokukaThixo, kwanisebenzela ukunyameka okungakanana; nasuka naziphendulela, nasuka nacaphuka, nasuka noyika, nasuka nalangazelela, nasuka nazondelela, nasuka naphindezela! Ngeendawo zonke niziqondakalisile, ukuba kulomcimbi nimsulwa nina okwenu.” 2 Korinte 7: 11.

Sakuba isoono siwabulele amandla okuqonda okulungileyo kokukhohlakeleyo, usuke umenzi wenkohlakalo angabi nako uku- [31] ziqonda iindawo ezimbi esimilweni sakhe. Usuke angabuqondi ubukhulu benkohlakalo ayenzileyo; athi ukuba akadange oyiswe, ohlwaywe nguMoya oyiNgcwele, sisesisuka simenza imfama isoono sakhe. Ukusivuma kwakhe isoono akunyaniseki, akuqiniseki. Uthi esivuma isoono sakhe abe ezithethelela, esithi ukuba bekungathanga kuthi, ngendingayenzanga lento naleya ndohlwaywa ngayo.

Bathi uAdam noEva emva kokuba bewutyile umthi ekwakuthiwe maze bangawutyi, basuka bangenelwa zintloni nakukoyika. Kuqala bafuna indlela abangazithethelela ngayo, ukuze basiphephe isigwebo esoyikekayo sokufa. Yathi iNkosi yakubabuza ngesoono sabo, wasuka uAdam walibeka ityala kuThixo nakumlingane wakhe lowo waye naye; wathi: “Umfazi owandinikayo ukuba abe nam, nguye ondinikileyo kuwo umthi ndadla ke.” Umfazi walibeka ityala kwinyoka, wathi, “Inyoka indilukuhlile, ndadla ke.” Genesis 3: 12, 13. Ubuyenzele ntoni inyoka? Ubuyivumele nina ukuba ize emyezweni? Le yimibuzo awasikhusela ngayo isoono sakhe, kuba ukulila ngokuthi ndilukuhliwe yinyoka, yayikukutsho. Basuka bobabini bambeka ityala uThixo ngokuwa kwabo. Lomoya wokuzigwebela wawuphuma kuyise wobuxoki! Lonke usapho lukaAdam lusazele nguwo unanamhla. Ukuvuma isoono okunje akuphumi kuwo uMoya kaThixo, kengoko akanako ukukwamkela uThixo. Inguquko yona eyinene, isuke imenze umntu ukuba alithwale ityala lakhe ngokwakhe, alivume ngaphandle kwenkohliso naluhanahaniso. Isuke, njengombuthi werafu owayengenako nokuwaphakamisela ezulwini amehlo akhe, imenze ukuba adanduluke, athi, “Thixo, yiba netaru kum mna mooni.” Bonke abalivumayo ityala labo baya kugwetyelwa, kuba igazi likaYesu liya kuwuthethelela umphefumlo oguqukayo.

Imizekelo esinayo eLizwini likaThixo yenguquko nokuzithoba okuyinene, isibonisa ukuba, ukuvuma izoono okuyinene akuzithetheleli, akuzigwebeli nokuzigwebela. U-Paulos yena akazange asifihle isoono sakhe; wasuke wasityhila sisibi njalo; akazange alinge ukulinciphisa ityala lakhe. Uthi, “Nento eninzi yabangcwele ndayitshixela entolongweni, ndakuba naamkele igunya kubabingeieli abakhulu; ndaza bakuba besikwa, ndavuma. Nakuzo zonke izindlu zesikhungu ndibe ndibohlwaya futhi, ndibanyanzela ukuba banyelise; ndathi ndibagezela ngokuncamisileyo, ndabatshutshisa, ndada ndesa kwimizi engaphandle.” Izenzo 26: 10, 11. Akazange yena athandabuze ukuthi, “U-Yesu Kristu weza ehlabathini ukusindisa abooni, endingomkhulu mna.” 1 Timoti 1: 15. [32]

Intliziyo eyaphukileyo, eyoyisiweyo yinguquko eyinene, iya kuba nokulubona uthando lukaThixo nexabiso leKalvari. Njengonyana kuyise, umguquki wenene uya kuzivuma izoono zakhe phambi koThixo. Kubhaliwe kwathiwa, “Ukuba sithi sizivume izoono zethu, unyanisekile, ulilungisa, ukuba asixolele izoono zethu, asihlambulule kuko konke ukungalungisi.” 1 Johane 1: 9. [33]

5. UKUZINIKELA NGOKUPHELELEYO

IDINGA likaThixo lithi, “Niya kundifuna, nindifumane, xa nithe nandifuna ngentliziyo yenu yonke.” Jeremiya 29: 13.

Mayinikelwe kuThixo intliziyo iphela, ukuze sisetyenziswe silunge kanye, sibuyiselwe kwintsobi yakhe. Sahlukana noThixo kwasekuveleni kwethu. Uthi uMoya oyiNgcwele ukuchaza ubume bethu, “Nifile nje ziziphoso nazizoono;” “yonke intloko iyafa, yonke intliziyo inobulwelwe;” “akukho ndawo iphilileyo.” Sibanjisiwe yimigibe kaSatana; “sibanjiselwe ukuthanda kwakhe nguye.” (Efeso 2: 1; Isaya 1:5, 6; 2 Timoti 2: 26.) U-Thixo ufuna ukusiphilisa, asikhulule. Ke, ekubeni kufuneka siguqulwe siphela, kwaguqulwa ubume bethu bonke; kufuneka sizilahlele kuye ngokupheleleyo.

Elona dabi likhulu emntwini lelokulwa nesiqu sakhe. Ukuzeyisa, nokuzinikela kuThixo, ngumsebenzi ofuna imigudu emikhulu. Kufuneka umntu ezilahlele kuThixo, ukuze abe nokuhlaziyeka ebungcwaliseni.

Impatho-mntu kaThixo, ayiyiyo lento uSatana anga ingabonakala iyiyo, le yokuba umntu alandele bupupupu njengemfama, engayiqondi neyona nto abizelwa kuyo. Yimpatho yona efuna ukweyisa ingqondo nesazela somntu; kuba uthi, “Khanize sibonisane” (Isaya 1: 18), kwisimemo sakhe ezidalweni zakhe. UThixo akathandi ukuzinyanzela, azibambe ngesikhonkosi izidalwa zakhe kwinto ezingayiqondiyo. Akathandi ukubuswa ngumntu oqhutywayo, nongamqondiyo, kuba wosuka angamkhonzi ngayo yonke ingqondo yakhe, wosuke afane nento eyanyiselelwayo kuye. Inkonzo enjalo akavani nayo umDali wethu. Yena unqwenela ukuba umntu, kuba esisitsaba sendalo yakhe, afikelele kweyona ndawo iphezulu, neyona ibekekileyo, kwizidalwa zakhe azidalileyo. Usimisele awona mathamsanqa makhulu anga angasitsalela kuwo, ngalo ubabalo Iwakhe. Usimemela kuye, ukuze asebenze kuthi ukuthanda kwakhe. Kokwethu ke ukuzinyulela. ukuba singaba sithanda ukukhululwa ebukhobokeni besoono, sibe nesabelo kulonkululeko inkulu yokuba lusapho lukaThixo.

Xa sizinikela kuThixo, kufuneka ukuba sikulahle, sahlukane nako konke angakuthandiyo, nokunokuthi kusahlule kuye. Kuba uthi umSindisi, “Wonke umntu kuni ongazishiyiyo zonke iimpahla zakhe, akanakuba ngumfundi warn.” Luka 14:33. Yonke into etsala intliziyo iyisuse kuThixo, kufuneka ukuba siyilahle. Isi- [34] [35] thixo sabantu abaninzi bubutyebi. Ukuthanda imali, nokunqwenela ubutyebi, yingximba yobedu ebophelele abantu abaninzi kuSatana. Ukuthanda udumo nembheko yelizwe, yeyona nto inqulwa lelinye iqela elikwalikhulu. Abanye bakhonza isithixo sokuzithanda nokungakhathaleli nto. Kodwa zonke ezintambo zobukhoboka zimelwe kukuqhaulwa. Asinako ukuba ngoonxazonke, sibe ngabeNkosi zesibuye sibe ngabelizwe. Asi nakuba lusapho lukaThixo singathanga silahle into yonke.

Kukho abathi bakhonza uThixo, babe bethembe imigudu yabo aboyenza, ukuze bawufeze umthetho wakhe, babe nesimilo esihle, bazuze usindiso. Iintliziyo zabo azichukunyiswa luthando olwendeleyo lukaKristu, koko bathi ukuzenza iimfanelo zobuKristu anga uThixo bangazenza bazenzele ukuze bafumane izulu. Unqulo olunjalo alusizi lutho. Uthi uKristu akuhlala entliziyweni, usuke umphefumlo uzaliswe luthando lwakhe, naluvuyo lobudlelane naye, usuke unamathele kuye; uze uthi ngokumcinga ubonakale uzaliswe nguye, kangangokuba wona usel’uzilibala. Yonke into oyenzayo ibangwa kukuthanda kwawo uKristu. Bonke abanyanzelwa luthando kuThixo, abazibekeli kumenzela intwana encinane, basuke basebezama ngako konke abanako ukuyenza ngokufezekileyo intando yomKhululi wabo. Basuke basebenqwenela ukulahla konke, ngokunga bangabonakalalisa inyameko ebukhulu bulingana nalonto bayifunayo. Ukuthi umntu uyakholwa kuKristu abe engenalo oluthando, kukuthetha nje kodwa, nokuzaphula ngenkonzo engenamsebenzi.

Ungaba gxebe ucinga ukuba ukulahla konke ngenxa kaKristu, kukuzibulala? Khauzibuze lombuzo, uthi, “Wanikela ntonina uKristu ngenxa yam?” U-Nyana kaThixo wanikela konke — wa-nikela ubomi, nothando, neentlungu — efuna inkululeko yethu. Kungaba kuyinyaniso na ke, ukuba thina zinto zazingafanelwe loluthando lungakanana, sisuke sazibamba, samangala nazo iintliziyo zethu kuye? Kuseloko sathi sabakho, sasoloko singamadlelane eentsikelelo zobabalo lwakhe, kuyiyo lento singenako ukubuqonda ubunzulu bobudenge nobubi esasindiswa kubo. Gxebe lowo izoono zethu zamhlabaniselayo, singade simkhangele ukuze noko sibuye singalukhathaleli olothando nelodini lakhe? Xa sikhangele ekuthobekeni kweNkosi yozuko, singaba sisakhalaza na kuba sibungena ubomi obu ngemigudu nangokuthobeka?

Abantu abaninzi abanekratshi ungeva besithi, “Ndingaba ndiguqukela nina ndide ndizithobe, ndingekabi nangqiniseko nje ukuba uThixo undamkele?” Wena utshoyo, ndithi kuwe khangela kuKristu. Wayenge nasoono, phezu koko eliTshawe lezulu, kanti [36] ke ngenxa yoluntu waba sisoono sesizwe sonke. “Wavuma ukubalelwa kubakreqi, akubona ukuba usithabathele phezu kwakhe isoono sabaninzi, ebathandazele abakreqi.” Isaya 53: 12.

Khona side salahla konke singaba silahle ntoni na? Singade gxebe sibe silahlekwe yinto, xa sihlanjululelwe lentliziyo yethu incholiswe sisoono; xa athe uYesu wayicoca wayihlambulula ngegazi elilelaKhe, waza wasisindisa ngenxa yothando lwakhe olukhulu? Lento izintloni ukuba iviwe, ithethwe nokuthethwa; izintloni nokuba ibhalwe. Kanti ke baninzi abacinga ukuba yinto enzima ukulahla konke ngenxa kaYesu.

Akatsho uThixo ukuthi masilahle okungaba kulungile, kuba naye ukukhathalele okulufaneleyo usapho lwakhe olusithi. Banga abangekamamkeli uKristu bangaqonda ukuba yena unento elunge ngaphezu kwezo bazifunayo, anga angabanika yona. Umntu omelana nentando kaThixo sukuba ezenzakalisa, sukuba engenzi bulungisa kumphefumlo wakhe. Akukho konwaba kungafunyanwa ngumntu ophikele ukuhamba ngendlela angayifuniyo uThixo, kuba nguye olungisa umendo wezidalwa zakhe. Umendo womaphuli-mthetho udla ngokuba ngumendo wobubi nentshabalalo.

Yimposiso ukucinga ukuba uThixo uya vuyiswa kukulubona usapho lwakhe lusiva intlungu. Ukonwaba komntu kulangazelelwa lizulu lonke. U-Thixo ukunonelele kakhulu konke okuzisa uvuyo nokonwaba kwizidalwa zakhe. Ngumthetho wakhe lo Wokuba sizinxweme zonke izinto ezisizisela ububi nentlungu; kuba esazi ukuba zosivalela kulo izulu. Uyavuma umKhululi ukusamkela njengoko sinjalo, sinobo bulwelwe noko kungafezeki kwethu. Akayi kwanela kusihlamba esoonweni, asinike inkuLulo ngegazi elilelakhe; koko uya kuyanelisa iminqweno yeentliziyo zaabo bavumayo ukuyithatha idyokwe yakhe. bawuthwale umthwalo wakhe. Unqwenela ukubanika uxolo nokonwaba bonke abeza kuye befuna isonka sobomi. Ufuna ke kuphela ukuba ser.ze ezonto ziya kusikhokeleia kwezontaba zentsikelelo zingenako ukufikwa ngabangevayo. Obona bomi bumnandi, nobububo, bobu bokuba uKristu abe ngaphakathi emphefumlweni, ithi intliziyo izaliswe lithemba lozuko lwakhe.

Baninzi abahlala bebuza besithi, “Azi ndingathinina ukuzinikela kuThixo?” Uya kunqwenela ukuzinikela kuye, koko akunawo amandla obulungisa, kuba se ulik’ noboka lentandabuzo, waze wabuye wabanjwa yimikwa yakho ekhohlakeleyo, akusenako uukuzifaka umkhala. Amadinga akho nezigqibo zakho ezilungileyo, zizinto omana ukuzijaca uzaphula. Iingcinga zakho zithe [37] sa kwizinto ezikhohlakeleyo, akusenako ukuzifaka umkhala. Uthi wakufuna ukomelela nokuzithemba, asuke amadinga obukade uwenza ubuye uwaphule akuswelise amandla, abange ukuba uncame ukuba angabuye uThixo akwamkele. Musa ukukhe uncame, funa ukuba uwaqonde kakuhle awona mandla ayinene alento kuthiwa yimvume. Yiyo into elaula umntu, emnika amandla okunyula nawokwenza isigqibo eentweni zonke. Ukuba unemvume eyiyo sukuba unento yonke. U-Thixo usinike thina bantu amandla okuzinyulela esikuthandayo kwinto yonke, ke kokwethu ukuwasebenzisa kakuhle loomandla. Khumbula ukuba akunamandla wena ngokwakho okuyiguqula intliziyo yakho, akunamandla okuguqula iminqweno yayo; kodwa ke unako kona ukunyula ukumkhonza uThixo. Unako ukumnika imvume yakho ukuze ayisebenze ivume ukwenza intando yakhe; ukuze bonke ubume bakho bulaulwe nguMoya kaKristu; ukuze isazulu seminqweno yakho sibe kuye, zithi neengcingane zakho zivane naye.

Ukunqwenela ukulunga nokunga unga ngcwele zizinto ezifanelekileyo, kodwa azisizi lutho zingaqhutywanga zifezwe. Baninzi abaya kulahleka batshone kunaphakade welishwa, phofu bethembile bade banqwenela nokunqwenela ukuba bangaba ngamaKristu. Baya kulahlwa kuba bengadange beyiseke bazinikele kuThixo. Kuba bengadange banyule ukuba ngamaKristu.

Ungathi ukhe wayisebenzisa kakuhle imvume yakho, ubomi bakho buphela bube nto yimbi. Ungathi ukhe wayinikela imvume yakho kuKristu, ube wenze ubuhlobo naloomandla angaphezu kwawo onke amagunya noozilauli. Ungaba ufumene amandla aphezulu aya kukugcina, naya kukwenza ukuba ekuzinikeleni kwakho kuThixo, uncedeke, uphile ubomi obutsha, ubomi bokholo. [38] [39]

6. UKHOLO NOKWAMKELEKA

SITHE isazela sakho sakuvuselelwa nguMoya oyiNgcwele, wakukubona ukukhohlakala kwesoono, namandla aso, netyala laso nobubi baso; wasel’ usuka usikhangela ngokusoyika. Uthe weva ukuba isoono sikwahlula kuThixo, nokuba se ulikhoboka eliphantsi kwamandla enkohlakalo. Ubonile ukuba okukhona uzama ukusisaba kube kokukhona aya ephela amandla okusoyisa. Uzifumene iingcinga zakho zikhohlakele, nentliziyo yakho imdaka. Ufumene ukuba ubomi bakho buzele sisoono nakukuzithanda. Ube nolangazelelo lokunga ungaxolelwa, uhlanjululwe, ukhululwe, uvane noThixo, ufane naye. Ungathinina ke ukuze ukuzuze konke oku?

Eyonanto ifunekayo kuwe luxolelo lwezulu, uxolo nothando emphefumlweni wakho. Akunako ukuluthenga ngemali nokulufumana ngengqondo onayo, nangobulumko; akunako kanye ukulufumana ngemigudu nemizamo yakho. U-Thixo ke yena uyavuma ukukunika isipho salo “ngaphandle kwemali, nangaphandle kwexabiso.” (Isaya 55: 1.) Oluxolo loba lolwakho ukuba uthe wolula isandla sakho walwamkela. I-Nkosi ithi, “Nokuba izoono zenu zithe zavela zinjengengubo ebomvu: zoba mhlophe njengekhepu; nokuba zithe zayingqombela njengebala elibomvu; zovela zinjengoboya begusha.” Isaya 1: 18. “Ndoninika intliziyo entsha, ndininike umoya omtsha ngaphakathi kwenu.” Hezekile 36: 26.

Xa uthe wazivuma izoono zakho wazilahla ngentliziyo iphela; xa uthe wazilahlela kuThixo, yiya ke ngoku kuye, ucele ukuba azihlambulule izoono zakho, akunike intliziyo entsha. Kholwa ke ukuba uyakwenza oku ngokuba uthembisile ukuba uya kukwenza. Wafundisa oku uYesu oko ebesemhlabeni, kona oku kokuba isipho asidinge sona uThixo masikholwe ukuba siyasamkela, nokuba sesethu. U-Yesu wabaphilisa ababe nezifo akuqonda ukuba banenkolo kuwo amandla akhe. Waye banceda kwizinto ababe nokuzibona, kuba wayenga bangamthemba kwizinto abangenakuzibona, ebakhokelela ukuba bakholwe ukuba unamandla okuxolela izoono. Wakucacisa oku ekuphiliseni kwakhe umntu owaye nedumbe, wathi, “Ukuze nazi ukuba unalo igunya emhlabeni uNyana womntu lokuxolela izoono (sel’esithi konedumbe), Vuka, uthabathe ukhuko lwakho, uye endlwini yakho.” Mateyu 9: 6. Kwa nomVangeli uJohane uthi ngemiqondiso kaKristu, “Le ibhalelwe ukuze nikholwe ukuba uYesu [40] unguye uKristu, uNyana kaThixo, nokuze nithi, nikholwa, nibe nobomi egameni lakhe.” Johane 20: 31.

Kulengxelo icacileyo yeBaibile, yokuphiliswa kwaabo babesifa nguye uYesu, sinako ukufunda sikholwe ukuba unako ukuxolela izoono. Makhe sibuyele kwelibali lalamlwelwe wayelele ngakuchibi laseBetesda. Yafika iNkosi kwinto engenako nokuzinceda, esel’ineminyaka emashumi mathathu anesibozo isisankwankwa. Kanti wathi uYesu kuyo, ‘‘Vuka, uthabathe ukhuko lwakho, uhambe.” Mhlaumbi umlwelwe lowo ngewawuzilandulele ngelithi, “Nkosi ukuba ungandiphilisa, ndolenza ilizwi lakho.” Ke wona awenzanga njalo, wesuka wakholwa lilizwi likaKristu. wakholwa ukuba uphilisiwe, wasel’uzama kwa oko; wavuma ukuhamba, waza wasel’uhamba. Wenza ngokwelizwi likaKristu. waza uThixo wawunika amandla. Waphiliswa ke.

Nawe ungumooni onjalo. Akunako ukuzihlaulela izoono zakho owazenzayo, Akunako ukuyiguqula intliziyo yakho uzenze ngcwele. Kodwa uThixo udinga ukuba konke oku uya kukw’enzela, ngaye uYesu Kristu. Wena kholwa nje koko akudingileyo. Vuma zonke izoono zakho uzinikele kuye. Vuma ukumkhonza. Wothi wakukwenza oku aqale uThixo ukulizalisa idinga lakhe kuwe. Ukuba uyakholwa koko akudingileyo, kholwa ke ukuba uxolelwe wahlanjululwa. Kholwa ukuba uThixo unyanisekile, wawuya kwandula ukuphiliswa njengalamlwelwe uKristu wawunika amandla okuhamba wakubona ukuba uyakholwa ukuba uphilisiwe. Koba njalo nakuwe ukuba uyakholwa.

Musa ukulinda ukuthi mawude uve ukuba uphilisiwe, kodwa yithi, “Ndiya kholwa ukuba kunjalo, kungengakuba ndiziva ndinjalo, kodwa ikukuba uThixo etshilo.”

U-Yesu uthi, “Zonke izinto enisukuba nizicela, nithandaza, kholwani ukuba ninokuzamkela; noba nazo.” Marko 11: 24. Elidinga lixhomekeke ekubeni sithandaze ngokuyelelene nentando kaThixo. Yintando kaThixo ukusihiambulula kuso isoono, asenze usapho lwakhe, asincede ukuba siphile ubomi obungcwele. Ngoko ke sinako ukuzicela ezintsikelelo, size sikholwe ukuba sizamkele, simbulele uThixo kuba sizamkele. Sinelungelo lokuya kuYesu sihlanjululwe, sime phambi komthetho singenazintloni, singenalusizi. “Ngoko ke, ngoku akukho kugwetywa kwabakuKristu Yesu; abangahambiyo ngokwenyama, abahamba ngokoMoya.” Roma 8: 1.

Ukususela kwelixesha anisengabo abenu, kuba nithengiwe ngexabiso. “Anihlaulelwanga nikhululwe ngazinto zinakonakala. oozisilivere noozigolide, ... Kwakungegazi elinqabileyo lika- [41] Kristu, njengelemvana engenasiphako, engenabala.” 1 Petros 1: 18, 19. Ngokukukholwa nje kuThixo, uMoya oyiNgcwele usuka ukuzalele ubomi obutsha entliziyweni yakho. Ngoku ubalelwa njengomntwana ozalelwe elutsheni lukaThixo, waye ekuthanda njengoko athanda owakhe uNyana.

Kekaloku uzinikele nje ngoku kuye uYesu, uze ungabe ubuye umva, ungabe uzishenxise kuye, kodwa uze uthi imihla yonke, “Mna ndingokaKristu; ndizinikele kuye;” uze umcele ukuba akuphe uMoya wakhe, akugcine ngobabalo lwakhe. Ekubeni ke kungokuzinikela kwakho kuThixo, nokukholwa kwakho kuye, othi ube ngumntwana wakhe, umelwe ngoko ukuba uphilele kuye. Umpostile uthi, “Njengokuba namamkelayo uKristu Yesu iNkosi, hambani kuye.” Kolose 2: 6.

Abanye baba kufuneka bakhe bazilinge, bayiqondisise iNkosi ukuba bahlaziyekile, ukuze bandule ukuzibanga iintsikelelo zayo. Bayaphosisa, kuba banako ukuzibanga ngoku. Kufuneka ukuba babe nobabalo lwakhe, babe noMoya kaKristu oya kunceda ubuIwelwe babo, okanye abayi kuba nako ukuyichasa inkohlakalo. U-Yesu uthanda ukuba size kuye njengoko sinjalo, sikhohlakele, singenakuzinceda, sixhomekeke kuye. Singeza nabo bonke ubulwelwe bethu, neziphoso zethu, nenkohlakalo yethu, siwe ezinyaweni zakhe ngenguquko. Kuliqhayiya kuye ukusiwola ezingalweni zakhe bothando, nokusibopha amanxeba ethu, nokusihlambulula kubo bonke ububi.

Apha kulapho amawaka eyela khona; kuba abakholwa ukuba uYesu ubaxolela iziqu zabo. Abavumi ukukholwa koko akuthethileyo. Lilungelo labantu bonke, abenza njengoko uThixo abaxeleleyo, ukuzazela ngokwabo ukuba uxolelo lwezoono luthetha ukuxolelwa kwaso sonke isoono. Yilahle ingeinga yokumzindla uThixo ngokuthi amadinga akhe akenzelwe wena. Ngawabo bonke abaguquka kwizigqitho zabo. NgoKristu kulungiselelwe amandla nobabalo oluziswa zizithunywa zezulu kumntu wonke oguqukayo. Akukho namnye ukhohlakele kangangokuba angawazuzi loomandla, okokuhlambuluka, nobobulungisa kuye uKristu, owafela bonke abantu. Umi, elinde ukuba asihlube loomajacu ethu ancholiswe sisoono, aze asambese ngeengubo ezimhlophe zobulungisa bakhe; unga singaphila singafi.

U-Thixo akasiphathi ngokohlobo esiphathana ngalo thina bantu banomda. Ezakhe iingcinga zingcinga zemfesane, zothando, nezokusivela. Uthi, “Ongendawo makashiye indlela yakhe, indoda enobutshinga mayishiye iingcinga zayo, ibuyela kuYehova: woba nemfesane kuyo; ibuyele kuThixo wethu, ngokuba woxolela [42] ngokukhulu.” Isaya 55:7. “Ndilucimile njengelifu elingqingqwa ukreqo lwakho, nezoono zakho njengelifu elisibekeleyo.” Isaya 44: 22.

“Ngokuba akumnandi kum ukufa kofayo; itsho iNkosi uYehova. Zibuyiseni niphile.” Hezekile 18: 32. Ezintsikelelo ziqinisekileyo zikaThixo, uSatana uhleli ezilungiselele ukuziba kuthi. Unqwenela ukususa nomtha wokuphela wokukhanya, asuse nethemba esinalo emphefumlweni; kodwa ungakhe umvumele ukuba oku akwenze. Ungakhe umphulaphule umkhohlisi lowo, yithi kuye: “U-Yesu wandifela ukuze ndiphile. Uyandithanda engangi ndingatshabalala. NdinoBawo ezulwini ondivela kakhulu; endothi noko ndithe ndadlala ngalo uthando lwakhe, ndafeketha ngeentsikelelo andiphe zona; ndisuke ndiye kuye uBawo ndithi kuye, ‘Ndonile kuwo amazulu, nasemehlweni akho. Andisafanele kubizwa ngonyana wakho, ndenze ndibe nje ngomnye wabaqeshwa bakho.’ Lomzekeliso ukuxelela indlela ayakwamkelwa ngayo umlahleki: “Ke kaloku akubona ukuba use lee, uyise wambona, wasikwa yimfesane, wagidima, wawa entanyeni yakhe, wamaanga.” Luka 15: 18-20.

Kanti ke noko unje ukuba lusizi nokuchukumisa lomzekeliso, awufiki nangokuncinane ekuyityhileni imfesane engaphele-ndawo yoBawo wethu osezulwini. I-Nkosi ithi ngomprofeti wayo, “Ndikuthandile ngothando olungunaphakade; ngenxa yoko ndikolulele inceba.” Jeremiya 31: 3.

Umooni esekude endlwini kaYise, esayichitha impahla yakhe elizweni elikude, intliziyo kaYise iba se imlangazelela, kwa nalontliziyo ilangazelela ukubuya yomooni, iphembelelwa nguMoya kaThixo, othi umcenge, umbongoze, umtsalele kuloontliziyo kaYise izele luthando.

Ungade uthi gxebe unamadinga atyebileyo kangaka eliZwini likaThixo, ubuye uthandabuze na? Ungaba gxebe uyakholwa na ukuba uthi xa umooni afuna ukubuya, afuna ukushiya izoono zakhe, suke iNkosi imnqande ingavumi ukuba eze kuyo aguquke? Zigxothe iingcinga ezinjalo! Ungaba uya wubulala umphefumlo wakho ukuba uneengcinga ezinjalo ngoYihlo osezulwini. Usithiyile isoono, kodwa uyamthanda umooni, ude waza kumfela ngesiqu sikaKristu ukuze bonke abamvumayo basindiswe, babe nentsikelelo engunaphakade ebukukanini bozuko. Yiyiphi na intetho ebingade igqithe le ayinyulileyo ukutyhila uthando analo ngakuthi? Uthi, “Umfazi angalulibala yini na usana lwakhe. ukuba angabi namfesane kunyana wesizalo sakhe? Nokuba oonina aabo bathe balibala, andiyi kukulibala mna.” Isaya 49: 15. [43]

Khangelani apha, nina bathandabuzayo bangcangcazelayo; uYesu yena uhleli ukuba asithethelele. Mbuleleni uThixo ngesipho esinguNyana wakhe oyintanda, nithandazele ukuba angabi ufumane wanifela ilize. U-Moya uyanimema namhlanje. Yizani kuYesu ngentliziyo iphela, ukuze nibe nebango kwiintsikelelo zakhe.

Yithi uwafunda lamadinga, ube ukhumbula ukuba ubonakalalisa ngawo ukukuvela nokukuthanda kwakhe okungathethekiyo. Intliziyo ebanzi yoThando Olungaphele-ndawo itsalekele ngakumooni ngovelwano olungenamlinganiselo. “Esinaye sikuye inkululeko ngokuhlaulelwa ngegazi lakhe, ukuxolelwa ke kweziphoso zethu.” Efeso 1: 7. Ewe, kholwa nje kuphela ukuba uThixo ungumncedi wakho. Yena ufuna ukubuyisela emntwini isimo sesimilo sakhe. Ngokuya usondela kuye ngenguquko novumo lwezoono, uya kusondela kuwe ngemfesane nangokukuxolela izoono zakho. [44] [45]

7. UPHAU LONGUMLAN DELI KA-KRISTU

“NGOKO ke ukuba ubani ukuKristu, usisidalwa esitsha; izinto ezindala zidlule; bonani ke, zisuke zabantsha izinto zonke zakhe.” 2 Korinte 5: 17.

Umntu angade angabinako ukuxela ngokuthe nqo ixesha nendawo aguquke kuyo, okanye angabi nako ukuyicwangcisa yonke into emkhokelele enguqukweni, kanti lonto ayithethi ukuba akakaguquki. U-Kristu waathi kuNikodemo, “Umoya uphepheza apho uthanda khona, uze uve isandi sawo, kodwa ungawazi apho uvela khona, nalapho usinga khona: bakwanjalo bonke abazelwe nguMoya.” Johane 3: 8. Njengomoya ongabonakaliyo, phofu uvakala zibonakala nezenzo zawo, unjalo uMoya kaThixo ukusebenza entliziyweni yomntu. Laamandla ozalo olutsha, angenako ukubonwa liliso lomntu, ngawo azala ubomi ubutsha emphefumlweni; enze isidalwa esitsha ngokomfanekiso kaThixo.

Nakuba ukusebenza koMoya kuzolile kungavakali, yona impumelelo yawo iya bonakala. Ukuba intliziyo ithe yahlaziywa nguMoya kaThixo, bothi nobomi bomntu lowo bukubonakalalise oko. Nakuba singenakwenza nto ukuguqula iintliziyo zethu, okanye sizenze sivane noThixo; nakubeni kungafunekanga ukuba sizithembe okanye sitnembele kwimisebenzi yethu elungileyo; ubomi bethu bona buya kuzixela ukuba ubabalo lukaThixo sinalo ngaphakathi kwethu. Kuya kubakho inguqulelo esimilweni, nemikhwa nemisebenzi yethr.. Umahluko phakathi kwesimilo sethu esitsha nesidala uya kubonakala kanye. Isimilo asiyikubonakala ngezenzo ezilungileyo ezenziwa ngamaxesha athile kuphela, kodwa siya kubonakaliswa ngamazwi nezenzo ezisisiqhelo semihla agemihla.

Kuyinene kona ukuba umntu angade akwazi ukuziphatha ngokwangaphandle, noko angahlaziywanga ngamandla kaKristu ngaphakathi. Angade umntu ngokuthanda ukuba nempembelelo nokunga angaxatyiswa ngabanye, asuke aziphathe kakuhle. Ukuzithanda kungasikhokelela ekubeni siyinxweme inkohlakalo. Yinto ekhoyo ukuba umntu ontliziyo inobugqolo enze izinto ezilungileyo nezithandekayo, ngamanye amaxesha. Singathini na ke ukuze sazi icala esingakulo?

Ngubani na ezithe xhokro kuye iintliziyo zethu? Zimi kubani na iingcinga zethu? Ngubani na esidla ngokuthanda singancokola naye? Oyena simthanda kakhulu, simququzelela kakhulu [46] nguwuphina? Ukuba singabakaKristu, iingcinga zethu zoba kuye, nezona zicamngco zethu zimnandi zibe ngaye. Konke esinako nezikuko sokunikela sikungcwalisele kuye. Sosuka silangazelele ukunga singafana naye, sizaliswe ngumoya wakhe, senze intando yakhe, simkholise kuzo zonke izinto.

Bonke abazizidalwa ezitsha kuKristu baya kuvelisa iziqhamo zoMoya, “uthando, uvuyo, uxolo, ukuzeka kade umsindo, ububele, ukulunga, intembheko, ukuzeyisa.” Galati 5: 22, 23. Bona abayi kumilisa okwenkanuko zabo zangaphambili, kodwa bothi, ngokholo loNyana kaThixo, balandele emanyathelweni akhe, babonakalalise isimilo sakhe, bazenze nyulu kwanjengokuba naye enyulu. Bosuka bathi eziya zinto babekhe bazithiya ngaphambili, ngoku bazithande; bathi eziya babekhe bazithanda, basuke ngoku bazithiye. Wosuke umqhankqalazi alulame athobeke ngentliziyo, ithi nento ebingakhathali nebi ngumalibe nje, isuke icinge izithobe ikuyeke ukuzinyakathisa. Inxila liyaqabuka, athi nomooni ahlambuluke. Othi amasiko akhohlakeleyo nemikhwa yelizwe ilahlwe. Athi amaKristu enene, angafuni “ukuhombha kwangaphandle,” kodwa afune “okukokomntu ofihlakeleyo wentliziyo, ovethe ukungonakali, umoya onobulali, ozolileyo.” 1 Petros 3: 3, 4.

Akukho nguquko ingaba iyiyo, ukuba ayithanga isenze simbhi isimilo sangaphandle somguquki kunoko besinjalo ngaphambili. Ukuba uthi alizalise idinga, akubuyise akuphangileyo, azivume izoono zakhe, amthande uThixo, abathande abantu bonke; umooni lowo makazi aqiniseke ukuba udlule ekufeni, wangena ebomini.

Sakuba size kuKristu nezoono zethu, safumana uxolelo ngobabalo lwakhe, uthando luyakutsaula ezintliziyweni zethu. Yosuka yonke imithwalo ibe lula; kuba idyokwe kaKristu asithwalisa yona ikhaphukhaphu. Sosuka iimfanelo zethu sizenze ngokuchwayita, kuthi ukuzilahlela kwethu emsebenzini kube luvuyo. Zothi neendlela ebezingathi zigqunywe bubumnyama, zisuke zikhanyiselwe yimitha yeLanga lobuLungisa.

Obona buhle besimilo sikaKristu buya kubonakala kubalandeli bakhe. Yena ebesonwatyiswa kukwenza intando kaThixo. Eyona ndawo ibinkulu nephambili ebomini bomSindisi wethu. ibikukuthanda uThixo nokulangazelela ukumzukisa. Zonke izenzo zakhe zahonjiswa zenziwa zihle luthando abenalo. Uthando lolukaThixo. Intliziyo engazinikeli kuye ayinakuba nalo, ayinako nokuluvelisa. Lufunyanwa kuphela kwintliziyo elaulwa nguYesu. “Thina siyamthanda, ngokuba yena wasithanda ku- [47] qala.” 1 Johane 4: 9. Intliziyo ehlanjululwe lubabalo lukaThixo, iphathwa ilaulwe luthando. Lusuke lusilungise isimilo, luzilaule iingcinga, luyiqhoboshe imisindo neenkanuko, luyoyise intiyo, lubukhulise ububele. Oluthando luthi lakugcinwa emphefumlweni lubenze mnandi ubomi, luthululele iimpembhelelo ezilungileyo kubo bonke, ngamacala onke.

Kukho iimposiso ezimbini ezifanele ukulunyukelwa ngokukodwa lusapho lukaThixo — ngokungakumbi aabo basandula ukuluthemba ubabalo lwakhe. Eyokuqala, esesikhe sayikhankanya, yona kanye le yokukhangela imisebenzi yabo, bathembele kwizinto abanokuzenza, besiba zizo ezinokubenza bavane noThixo. Lowo uzamela ukuba ngcwele ekuwugcineni umthetho ngemisebenzi eyeyakhe, uzama into engenakwenzeka. Yonke into umntu ayenza ngaphandle koKristu incholile kuba izele sisoono nobugqolo. Lubabalo lukaKristu kuphela, ngalo ukholo, olunako ukusenza ngcwele.

Esinye isiphosiso esikwanengozi, sesi sokucinga ukuba uthi umntu akukholwa kuKristu, abe namhla ukhululwe ekugcineni umthetho kaThixo; nokuba ekubeni kungokholo kuphela esibangamadlelane obabalo lukaKristu, imisebenzi yethu ayinanto yokwenza nenkululo yethu; kanti akunjalo.

Kodwa qonda ukuba ululamo olu alukuko ukuthobela umthetho kaThixo ngokwangaphandle, koko kukumkhonza ngothando. Umthetho lo kaThixo utyhila ubume bakhe, ubonisa ukuba yena uluthando; ke ngoko usisiseko solaulo lwakhe ezulwini nasemhlabeni. Ukuba iintliziyo zethu zihlaziyiwe zafana noThixo, ukuba uthando lukaThixo lutyaliwe emphefumlweni, awukuthi na umthetho kaThixo ubonakale ebomini bethu? Xa luthe uthando lwatyalwa entliziyweni, xa athe umntu wahlaziywa ngokomfanekiso walowo wamdalayo, liyakuba idinga lomnqophiso omtsha lifezekile, elithi, “Ndiya kuyibeka imithetho yam ezintliziyweni zabo, ndiya kuyibhala ezingqondweni zabo.” Hebere 10: 16. Ukuba ke umthetho ubhaliwe entliziyweni, awukubulungisa na ubomi? Ululamo — oluyinkonzo nokuzinikela kothando,— lulolona phau luyinene lomntu ongumlandeli kaThixo. Sithi isiBhalo, “Kuba ukumthanda uThixo kuko ukuthi siyigcine imithetho yakhe.” 1 Johane 5: 3. “Lowo uthi, ndimazile, abe engayigcini imithetho yakhe, ulixoki, kulowo ayikho inyaniso.” 1 Johane 2: 4. Endaweni yokuba lusikhulule ukholo ekuwuthobeleni umthetho, lulo kanye olu lolona lusenza sibe ngamadlelane obabalo lukaKristu, olusinceda ukuba sibe nokuthobeka silulame.

Usindiso asilufumani ngokuthi silulame; kuba usindiso olu [48] lusisipho sikaThixo esinikwa ngesisa, ukuze samkelwe ngokholo. Ke ululamo sisiqhamo sokholo. “Niyazi ke ukuba yena wabonakalaliswa, ukuze azithwale azisuse izoono zethu; kananjalo akukho soono kuye. Bonke abahlala kuye abooni; bonke aboonayo abambonanga, abamazi nokumazi.” 1 Johane 3: 5, 6. Lulo olu uphau oluyinene. Ukuba sihlala kuKristu, ukuba uthando lukaThixo luhleli kuthi, izimvo zethu, iingcamango zethu, izigqibo zethu, izenzo zethu, ziya kulungelelana nentando kaThixo njengoko ixelwe njalo kwimimiselo yomthetho wakhe ongcwele. “Bantwanana, ma kungabi kho namnye unikhohlisayo; lowo ubenzayo ubulungisa lilungisa, njengokuba yena elilungisa.” 1 Johane 3: 7. Ubulungisa butyhilwa ngomlinganiselo ongumthetho ongcwele kaThixo, owaxelwa ngemithetho elishumi eyanikelwa eSinayi.

Olukholo kuKristu okuthiwa luyamkhulula umntu ukuba angabuye amthobele uThixo, asilulo ukholo, koko kukukhukhumala. “Kuba nisindiswe ngokubabalwa ngalo ukholo.” Efeso 2:8. Kodwa “ukholo, ukuba luthi lungabi namisebenzi, lufile ngokukokwalo.” Yakobi 2: 17. Phambi kokuba uYesu eze emhlabeni waathi ebhekisele kuye ngokwakhe, “Ukwenza okulikholo kuwe, Thixo warn, ndikunanzile; nomyalelo wakho usezibilinini zam ngaphakathi.” Indumiso 40: 8. Uthe kanjalo ngaphambi kokuba anyukele ezulwini, “Njengokuba mna ndayigcinayo imithetho kaBawo, ndahlala eluthandweni lwakhe.” Johane 15: 10. IsiBhalo sithi, “Sazi ngalento ukuba siyamazi, ngokuthi siyigcine imithetho yakhe. ... Lowo uthi uhleli kuye, ufanele ukuthi, nje-ngoko wahambayo yena, enjenjalo ukuhamba naye.” 1 Johane 2: 3-6. “Ngokuba noKristu weva ubunzima ngenxa yethu, esishiya nomzekelo ukuze silandele emkhondweni wakhe.” 1 Petros 2: 21.

Isiseko sobomi obungunaphakade sangoku sikwa sesiya sasisoloko sisiso—kanye eso sasi siso e-Paradisi, phambi kokuwa koomawokhulu bethu bokuqala—ukuthobela umthetho kaThixo ngokuthe nqo, nokwenza ubulungisa ngokuzeleyo. Bekungathi ukuba bunokunikwa ubomi obungunaphakade phantsi kwesiseko esinganeno kwesi kusuke ukonwaba kwendalo iphela konakale. Bekungavuleka indlela yesoono nazo zonke iintsizi neenkxwaleko ezizalwa siso, ukuze sona singaze sife.

Waye nako uAdam, phambi kokuba awe, ukuphila ubomi bobulungisa ngokuthobela umthetho kaThixo. Kodwa wasilela ukukwenza oku, kwaza ngenxa yesosoono sakhe nathi sasesimeni sokuwa, asinako ke ukuzenza silunge. Asinako ukuwuthobela. [49] siwululamele ngokuzeleyo umthetho ongcwele kaThixo, kuba singabooni, asingcwele. Asinabulungisa bubobethu singade sihlangabeze ngabo oko kubangwa kuthi ngumthetho kaThixo. Kodwa uKristu usenzele indlela yokusinda. Wahlala ngokwakhe kulomhlaba unezilingo neenkathazo ezi sihlangana nazo. Obakhe ubomi baba msulwa. Wasifela, ngoku ufuna ukususa izoono zethu asinike ubulungisa bakhe. Ukuba uthe wazinikela kuye, wamamkela njengomSindisi wakho, wothi, ukhohlakele nje, ngenxa yakhe, ubalelwe ekubeni ulilungisa. Sothi isimilo sikaKristu sime endaweni yesimilo sakho, sikwenze ukuba wamkeleke ebusweni bukaThixo njengokungathi akonanga.

Wothi, phezu koku, uKristu ayiguqule intliziyo yakho, ahlale kuyo ngokholo. Oku kuvana kwakho noKristu ngokholo ufanele ukukugcina, uzinikele kuye ngamaxesha onke; wothi wakukwenza oku, asuke asebenze kuwe imvume ngokokuthanda kwakhe. Wode ubenako ukuthi, “Ubomi ke endibudlayo ngoku, ndisenyameni, ndibudlela ekukholweni kuNyana kaThixo, owandithandayo wazinikela ngenxa yam.” Galati 2: 20. Kungoko uKristu waathi kubafundi bakhe, “Asinini abathethayo, nguMoya kaYihlo othethayo ngaphakathi kwenu.” Mateyu 10: 20. Ke xa uKristu asebenzayo ngaphakathi kwenu niya kubonakalalisa kwa laamoya mnye, nenze kwa laamisebenzi minye — imisebenzi yobulungisa nentobeko.

Ngoko ke, thina ngokwethu asinanto singaqhayisa ngayo. Asinamhlaba wakuziphakamisa. Ithemba lethu kuphela limi ebulungiseni bukaKristu esambeswe bona, nasekusebenzeni koMoya cyiNgcwele kuthi, nangathi.

Xa sukuba sithetha ngokholo, masihlale sikhumbula ukuba kukho ukucalula ekufuneka sinako ezingqondweni. Kukho inkolo ethile eyahluke kwaphela elukholweni. Ubukho bukaThixo, namandla akhe, nobunyaniso belizwi lakhe, zonke ezi zinyaniso ezingenakuphikwa nanguSatana neemikhosi yakhe iphela. I-Baibile ithi, “Nazo iidemon ziyakholwa, zibe namanwele” (Yakobi 2:19); kanti ke noko kunjalo, olo asilulo ukholo oluyinene. Ekukholweni lilizwi likaThixo, nokuyinikela imvume ekumthobeleni; ekuyinikeleni intliziyo ngokupheleleyo kuye, nothando luxhomeke kuye ngaphezu kweento zonke ezithandwayo; nalo ke ukholo — ukholo Iona olusebenza ngothando, oluhlambulula umphefumlo. Lukholo olunjalo oluhlaziya intliziyo luyenze ifane nomDali wayo. Ithi intliziyo ebingazalwanga ngokutsha, ngako oko ingawuthobeli umthetho kaThixo, kuba ingenako ukwenjenjalo; isuke ngoku iyinonelele imimiselo yakhe engcwele ivakale isithi kunye [50] nomDumisi, “Hayi ukwuthanda kwam umyalelo wakho! imini le yonke ndicamngca ngayo.” Indumiso 119: 97. Ubulungisa ke basemthethweni buzalisekiswe kuthi, thina, “abangahambiyo ngokwenyama, abahamba ngokoMoya.” Roma 8: 1.

Kukho aabo bathi sebegwebekile luthando lukaKristu, abanqwenela ngenyaniso ukuba ngabantwana bakaThixo, abathi ngokuziqonda ukuba izimilo zabo azifezekile, nobomi babo buzele ziziphoso, basuke bangenwe kukuthandabuza ukuba iintliziyo zabo zihlanjululwe nguMoya oyiNgcwele. Kwaabo banjalo ndithi, Ningaze nincame nibuye umva. Ukuhlala sihleli silila ezinyaweni zikaYesu ngenxa yeziphoso, nokungafezeki kwethu, akusayi kuze kona kuphele; ke asifanele kuncama noko kunjalo. Noko luthi ngamanye amaxesha utshaba lusoyise, asincanyiwe, asilahliwe, asishiyiwe nguThixo. Hayi; uKristu ukho, uhleli ngasekunene koThixo, esithethelela nokusithethelela thina. U-Johane othandekileyo waathi, “Ndinibhalela ezizinto ukuze ningooni. Ukuba kukho othe woona, sinomThetheleli kuye uYise, uYesu Kristu ilungisa.” 1 Johane 2: 1. Kanjalo ningawalibali amazwi kaKristu, athi, “uBawo ngokwakhe uyanithanda.” Johane 16:27. Unqwenela ukunibuyisela kuye, nokunga ukuhlambuluka kwakhe nobungcwele bakhe bungabonakala kwizimilo zenu. Ukuba niyakuthi nizinikele kuye, wothi lowo wawuqalayo kuni umsebenzi olungileyo, awuthwale ide ibe yiloomini kaKristu. Thandazani ngokungaphezulu, nikholwe ngakumbi nangakumbi. Masingazithembhi, masithembhe amandla omKhululi wethu, sasiya kuthi ke simdumise yena, kuba engumniki kuphila kuthi.

Okukhona uya usondela kuYesu kokukhona uya kuya uzibona ukuba ukhohlakele; kuba ukubona kwakho kuya kuyakucaca, kuthi ukungasulungeki kwesimilo sakho kuthi-tyaba kube phandle wakuzithelekisa nesosimilo sifezekileyo sakhe. Yonke lento ibubunqhina bokuba amandla kaSatana aphelile kuwe, nokuba sewulaulwa ziimpembhelelo eziphilisayo zoMoya kaThixo.

Uthando lukaYesu alukhe lwendele, mhlaumbhi luhlale kwintliziyo engenako ukuziqonda ukuba yonile. Umphefumlo othe waguqulwa lubabalo lukaKristu, usuka usithande isimilo sikaThixo esingcwele; kodwa xa ukulimala kwethu kwasemphefumlweni singakuboniyo, lonto yalatha ukuba asikatyhileki amehlo kangangokuba sibuqonde ubuhle, nokucoceka kukaKristu.

Okukhona kuya kuphela kuthi ukuzingca, kokukhona siya kukubona ngakumbi esifanele ukukuncoma, sikuthande kwesosimilo sibungcwalisa, sikuthandeka kungaphele ndawo somSindisi wethu. Ukuzibona kwethu ukuba sikhohlakele kusiqhubela kuye [51] yena unamandla okuxolela izoono; uze uthi umphefumlo wakuziqonda ukuswela amandla kwawo, uzolulele kuKristu, aze azityhile kuwo ngamandla. Ngokuya iintswelo zethu zisiqhubela kuye, nakulo iliZwi likaThixo, kokukhona siya kuya sisincoma isimilo sakhe; sizama kanjalo ngakumbi ukuba eso similo sakhe sibonakalaliswe esimilweni sethu. [52] [53]

8. UKUKHULELA KU KRISTU

UKUGUQUKA kwentliziyo esithi ngako sibe ngabantwana bakaThixo, ithi iBaibile ukuthetha ngako, kukuzalwa. Kwakhona kufanekiswa nokuntshula kwembewu elungileyo ehlwayelwe ngumlimi. Kwangokunjalo, aabo basandula ukuguquka bafanekiswa “neentsana ezisandula ukuzalwa,” ezisaza “kukhula” zibe ngamadoda nabafazi kuKristu Yesu (1 Petros 2:2; Efeso 4: 15). Okanye njengembewu elungileyo ehlwayelwe entsimini, zikhule, zivelise iziqhamo. U-Isaya uthi, “ukubizwa kwabo kuthiwe yimithi yobulungisa, isityalo sikaYehova sokuhomba.” Isaya 61:3. Ngalendlela ke uThixo usifundisa iinyaniso ezifihlakeleyo zasemoyeni, ngezinto ezibonakalayo azidalileyo.

Ubulumko nobugcisa bonke bomntu abunako ukunika ubomi nakweyona incinane kwizinto uThixo azidalileyo. NguThixo yedwa onako ukunika ukuphila kwimithi nezilo azidalileyo. Ikwanguye onako ukunika ukuphila, ngokwasemoyeni, kuyo intliziyo yomntu. Engathanga umntu “azalwe ngokwaphezulu” (Johane 3: 3), akanako ukubudla ubomi uKristu awayezokunika bona.

Njengoko kunjalo ukuphila, kukwanjalo nokukhula. NguThixo owenza umthi ukuba utyatyambe uze kamva uvelise iziqhamo. Ngamandla akhe ayenza imbewu ukuba intshule, “kuqala ibe likhaba, ize ibe sisikhwebu, ize ibe yinqholowa ezalisekileyo esikhwebini.” Marko 4: 28. Nomprofeti uHoseya uthi ngoSirayeli, “uya kutyatyamba njengenyibiba.” “Baphile njengenqholowa, batyatyambe njengomdiliya.” Hoseya 14: 5, 7. Waye noYesu esiyalela ngokuthi, “Qondani ngeenyibiba, ukuhluma kwazo.” Luka 12: 27. Imithi le yonke ayizondli izikhulise, koko ikhuliswa igcinwe nguThixo. Umr.twana akangeze, nangayiphina imigudwana yakhe anokuyenza, ongezelele nto esiqwini sakhe. Nawe lo ke, akunako ukuzenza ukhule emoyeni ngemigudu yakho. Umthi, umntwana, ezonto zombini zikhuliswa ngumoya, nelanga, nokutya. Ooko ezizipho zemveli zikuko eziIweni nasemithini, uKristu ukwakuko kwaabo bathembele kuye. Yena “usisikhanyiso esingunaphakade sabo,” “ulilanga nengweletshetshe kubo.” (Isaya 60: 19; Indumiso 84: 11.) “Uya kuba njengombethe kuSirayeli.” “Uya kuhla njengemvula ehla phezu kotyani obusikiweyo.” (Hoseya 14: 5; Indumiso 72: 6.) Unga- [54] manzi aphilileyo, “isonka sikaThixo esehlayo ezulwini, silinike ubomi ihlabathi.” Johane 6: 33.

Ngesipho esingenamlinganiso soNyana wakhe, uThixo uwuraqe wonke umhlaba ngobabalo oluqiniseke njengempepho le ityhutyhe ihlabathi. Kuba bonke abanyula ukuphefumla lomoya unika ubomi baya kuphila, bakhule bafikele ebudodeni nasebufazini obupheleleyo kuKristu Yesu.

Njengoko intyatyambo iguqukela elangeni ukuze liyenze ifezeke ibentle, nathi sifanele ukuthi siguqukele kwiLanga lobuLungisa, ukuze ukukhanya kwezulu kukhanye phezu kwethu, nesimilo sethu sihlaziyeke sifane noKristu.

UYesu usifundisa kwalonto xa athi, “Hlalani kum, mna ndihlale kuni. Njengoko isebe lingenako ukuthwala isiqhamo ngokwalo, lingahlalanga emdiliyeni, ngokunjalo aninako nani, ningahlalanga kum. ... Ningekum, aninakwenza nto.” Johane 15: 4, 5. Njengokuba isebe liphila sisiqu somthi ukuze likhule livelise isiqhamo, nani nophila ngoKristu ukuze ubomi benu bubengcwele. Xa nithe nahluka kuye, aninabomi. Aninamandla okuzichasa izilingo okanye nikhule elubabalweni nasebungcwaliseni. Xa nihleli kuye niyakuchuma. Ukuphila kwenu nikufumana kuye, anisayikubuna nintshwenye. Nofana nomthi otyelwe ngasemijelweni yamanzi.

Baninzi abacinga ukuba kulomsebenzi wosindiso kufuneka nabo babenento abazenzela yona ngokwabo, ngaphandle kukaKristu. Bathi besithi bathembele kuKristu ukuba abaxolele izoono zabo, babe noko besenza eyabo imigudu yokuba baphile ubomi obulungileyo. Yonke imigudwana enjalo ayinakuphumelela. U-Yesu uthi, “Ngaphandle kwam aninakwenza nto.” Kufuneka ukuba simanyane noKristu ukuze sikhule elubabalweni, eluvuyweni, nasekukhuthaleni. Kuxa sithe samanyana naye imihla yonke, sahlala kuye amaxesha onke, esothi sikhule elubabalweni. Akayiyo kuphela imBhangi kodwa ukwa ngumFezekisi wokholo lwethu. NguKristu kuqala, nasekupheleni, nangawo onke amaxesha. Nguye yedwa ofanele ukuba abe nathi ekuluqaleni nasekulufezeni uhambo lwethu, ewe, abe nathi kuwo onke amabanga ethu endleleni. U-Davide uthi, “Ndimmisile uYehova phambi kwam amaxesha onke: ngokuba esekunene kum nje, andiyi kushukunyiswa.” Indumiso 16: 8.

Ungaba uthi, “Wothini na ukuhlala kuKristu?” Ukukuphendula ndithi, hlala kwangolohlobo wawumamkele ngalo ekuqalekeni. “Njengokuba ngoko namamkelayo uKristu Yesu iNkosi, hambani kuye.” Kolose 2: 6. “Ke lowo ulilungisa uya kudla u- [55] bomi obuphuma elukholweni.” Hebere 10: 38. Wazinikela ngokwakho kuThixo, ukuba ube ngowakhe ngokupheleleyo, ukuba umkhonze umlulamele, waza wamthabatha uKristu ukuba abe ngumSindisi wakho. Wawungenako ukuzicamagushela izoono zakho, uyiguqule intliziyo yakho; uthe ke wakuzinikela kuThixo, wakholwa ukuba uthe, ngenxa kaKristu wakwenzela konke oko. Ngokukholwa ube ngokaKristu, kwangokholo uya kukhulela kuye — ngokunika nangokwamkela. Uya kunikela konke — unikele intliziyo yakho, intando yakho, inkonzo yakho — uzinikele kuye ukuba wenze konke akufunayo; ukuze wamkele konke — uKristu oyinzaliseko yeentsikelelo zonke, ukuba ahlale entliziyweni yakho, abe ngamandla akho, abe bulungisa bakho, umncedi wakho ongunaphakade, akunike amandla okuba uthobele konke.

Ukuzingcwalisela uThixo kwakusasa, ize ibe ngumsebenzi wakho lowo wokuqala. Umthandazo wakho mawube ngulo, “Nkosi ndamkele undenze owakho kanye. Onke amacebo am ndiwabeka phambi kwakho. Ndisebenzise ngalemini enkonzweni yakho. Hlala nam, wenze ukuba wonke umsebenzi warn ndiwusebenzele kuwe.” Lo, ngumsebenzi wemihla ngemihla. Intsasa nganye zinikele kuThixo uzingcwalisele okwalomini. Wanikele kuye amacebo akho onke ukuba awenze mhlaumbi awalahle nje-ngoko abonileyo. Ngalendlela ke yokubunikela imihla ngemihla ezandleni zikaThixo ubomi bakho, uya kububumba yena bufane nobukaKristu.

Ubomi obukuKristu bubomi baseluxolweni. Lungade lungabikho Iona uluvo lovuyo olukhulu, kodwa kona ukuthembela kuye okunoxolo kufanele ukuhlala kuhleli. Ithembha lakho alikuwe; likuKristu. Ukuswela amandla kwakho kumanyene namandla akhe, ubudenge bakho bumanyene nobulumko bakhe, ukutyhafa kwakho kumanyene namandla akhe angaphele ndawo. Ngoko ke musa ukuzikhangela, uhlale uzisola, kodwa khangela kuKristu. Cinga kuphela ngothando lwakhe, ngobuhle, nokufezeka kwesimilo sakhe. Cinga ngako ukuzikhanyeza kukaKristu nokuthobeka kwakhe, ngako ukuhlambuluka nokubangcwele kwakhe, nangalo uthando lwakhe olungenamlinganiselo. Konke oku kuko kodwa okufanele ukucingwa ngumphefumlo wakho. Kungokumthanda, nokumfuza nokuzilahlela kuye ngokupheleleyo, esokuthi sifane naye.

U-Yesu uthi, “Hlalani kum.” Lamazwi athetha ukuba siphumle, sizinze, siqine kuye. Ubuye asimeme athi, “Yizani kum ... ndoninika ukuphumla.” Mateyu 11: 28. Amazwi omdumisi avakalisa kwa lengcamango xa athi, “Yithi cwaka kuYehova, uli- [56] ndele kuye.” Indumiso 37: 7. Nolsaya usinika isiqinisekiso athi, “Ebengaka kho amandla enu ngokuzola nokukholosa.” Isaya 30: 15. Olu phumlo alufunyanwa ngokuhlaliwa kusongwe izandla, kuba nomSindisi uthi ukusimema kwakhe asidinge ngokuphumla okudibene nesimemo esisibizela emsebenzini, ngelithi, “Thabathani idyokwe yam niyithwale, ... noyifumanela ukuphumla imiphefumlo yenu.” Mateyu 11: 29. Intliziyo eyayame ngokuzeleyo kuKristu yeyona iya kuthi izondelele inyamekele ukusebenzela yena.

Uthi umntu akuhlala eqwalasele isiqu sakhe, ingqondo yakhe ijike imshiye uKristu, ongumthombho wamandla nempilo yakhe. Usuka ke uSatana asel’ezamela ukuba loomntu amjike kumSindisi, awuthintele nomphefumlo wakhe ukuba ungabi nabudlelane naye uKristu. Usel’esuka ayijike ingqondo yalomntu ukuba inonelele iziyolo zelizwe, amaxhala, iingxakeko, neentsizi zobubomi; aze kanjalo amenze ukuba amane ebona iziphoso zabanye okanye nokungafezeki kwesakhe isiqu. Lumka ukuba ungalahlekiswa bubuqhetseba bakhe. Baninzi abathi beneminqweno emihle yokunga bangaphilela uThixo, asuke abalahlekise ngokubabonisa ukungabinto kwabo, aze asel’ebahlula kanye kuKristu ngokunga angaboyisa. Kulumkele ukuzithembha nokuhlala uxhalile ukuba wosindiswa na. Iingcinga ezinjalo ziyawujika umphefumlo umke kulowo unguMthombho wamandla awo. Wunikele umphefumlo wakho elugcinweni lukaThixo, uthembhele kuye. Thetha ucinge ngoYesu. Zilahlele kuye kanye. Makuphele ukuthandabuza, kuphele ukoyika. Yithi njengaye uPaulos, “Ayisendim ke odla ubomi, nguKristu ke osel’esidla ubomi kum. Ubomi ke endibudlayo ngoku, ndisenyameni, ndibudlela ekukholweni kuNyana kaThixo, owandithandayo, wazinikela ngenxa yam.” Galati 2: 20. Phumla kuThixo. Unako ukukugeina oko kunikelwe kuye. Ukuba uthe wazilahlela kuye, yena uya kukoyisela ngokukhulu kwinto yonke ngalowo wakuthandayo.

Waathi uKristu ekubuthabatheleni kuye ubume bomntu, walubophelela kuye uluntu ngentambho yothando engenako ukuqhaulwa nangubani, ngaphandle kokuba iqhaulwe kwangumntu ngokwakhe. U-Satana uya kusoloko enibonisa izinto zokunihenda ukuze niyiqhaule lentambho, ninyule ukuzikhulula kuKristu. Ize nizilumkele ke, nizame, nithandaze ukuba kungabikho nto inihendela kwenye inkosi; ngokuba nihleli nikhululekile ukuba nikwenze oko. Masiqwalasele kuKristu, yena uya kusilondoloza. Xa sikhangele kuYesu sisindile. Akukho nto inokusicombulula esandleni sakhe. Ekumboneni kwethu futhi, “senziwa similise [57] okwaloomfanekiso, sivela ebuqaqaulini sisinge ebuqaqaulini, kwa njengokuvela eNkosini enguMoya.” (2 Korinte 3: 18.)

Abafundi bakhe bokuqala bamfuza ngohlobo olunjalo umSindisi othandekayo. Bathi bona bakuweva amazwi kaYesu, bakuva ukufuneka kwakhe kubo. Bamfuna, bamfumana, bamlandela. Babehlala naye endlwini, etafileni, egumbini, nasezindle. Babemphulaphula njengabantwana bephulaphula umfundisi wabo, besamkela kuye imihla le izifundo ezingayo inyaniso yakhe engcwele. Bona babehleli belindele ukuxelelwa nguye iimfanelo zabo, benjengezicaka kwinkosi yazo. Aabo bafundi bakhe babe ngabantu, “abaluvo lunjengolwethu.” Yakobi 5: 17. Nabo babesilwa elidabi lesoono njengathi. Babefuna kwa olubabalo silufunayo, ukuze babe nako ukuphila ubomi obungcwele.

NoJohane ngokwakhe, umfundi oyintanda, oyena ubemfuze umSindisi ngaphezu kwabanye ngesimilo, akabanga naso esosimilo sibukekayo ngemveli. U-Johane waye ngathandi ukuzitsho ethanda udumo kuphela, kodwa waye nawo nomsindo nenzondo akoniwa. Waathi ke akusibona isimilo salowo uNgcwele, wakubona ukungabi nto kwakhe, wadana, wazithoba. Ukomelela, umonde, amandla, ukuncendezela, ubukhulu, nokululama awakubona imihla ngemihla kuNyana kaThixo, kwawuzalisa umphefumlo wakhe ngothando nangokuthi nqa seso similo sihle. Yasuka intliziyo yakhe yaya inamathela kuKristu, wada waziva ebiwe kanye luthando lokuthanda loNkosi yakhe, yaza lanzondo nokuya kuthanda udumo zoyiswa ezonto ngamandla abumbhayo kaKristu. Iimpembhelelo zozalo olutsha zoMoya oyiNgcwele, zayihlaziya intliziyo yakhe. Amandla othando lukaKristu asebenza inguquko enkulu esimilweni sakhe. Kuba njalo ke kumntu wonke akumanyana noYesu. Uthi uKristu akuhlala entliziyweni, isuke yonke imo yomntu iguquke, ibe yenye. U-Moya baKristu, nothando lwakhe, luyayithambhisa intliziyo, woyiseke umphefumlo; zisuke ingcinga neminqweno zisinge kuThixo nakulo izulu.

Waathi uKristu akunyukela ezulwini, sasuka isithozela sobukho bakhe sahlala sona sihleli phakathi kwabalandeli bakhe. Kwathi noko angasekhoyo banga basombona, ezaliswe luthando nakukukhanya. U-Yesu umSindisi, owahambha, wathetha, wathandaza nabo, wavuselela amathembha, wabanga intuthuzelo ezintliziyweni zabo; wathi, esathetha uxolo, wasuka waqhiwulwa kubo wathathelwa ezulwini, sathi isandi samazwi akhe banga basasiva xa amkelwa yilondili inkulu yezithunywa, esithi, “Niya bona, mna ndinani yonke imihla, kude kube sekuphelisweni kwephakade eli.” Mateyu 28: 20. Wenyukela ezulwini esebumeni [58] bomntu. Babesazi ukuba noko aye phambi kwetrone kaThixo, use ngumHlobo nomSindisi wabo, besazi ukuba usabavela kwiingxakeko neentsizi zabo. Phambi koThixo, ebonisa ezozandla zakhe zinamanxeba, nelocala lakhe lahlabaniselwayo, neezo nyawo zakhe zanxhwelerwayo, ubeka ukufaneleka kwegazi lakhe elixabisekileyo, njengesikhumbhuzo sexabiso alihlaulayo ngenxa yabakhululwa bakhe. Babesazi ukuba ukunyukela kwakhe ezulwini, kwaye kukukuya kubalungiselela iindawo zokuhlala, besazi kanjalo ukuba uya kubuye abuye, eze kubathathela kuye ngokwakhe.

Baathi bakuba behlanganisene emva kokunyukela kwakhe ezulwini, bagqiba kwelokuba benze izicelo zabo kuYise ngegama lika-Yesu. Benoloyiko olundilekileyo baguqa bathandaza bemkhumbuza ngaloomazwi akhe athi, “Zonke izinto enithe nazicela kuBawo ngegama lam, woninika. Kude kwaba ngokunje, anikaceli nto egameni lam; celani, niyakwamkela, ukuze uvuyo lwenu luzaliseke.” Johane 16: 23, 24. Bayolula ingalo yabo yokholo yaya inyuka ngokunyuka, bezomeleza ngalamazwi, “NguKristu nje owafayo, ngaphezu koko ke, wabuya wavuka; ongasekunene kukaThixo, osithethelelayo.” Roma 8: 34. Waza ke umhla wePentekoste wabazisela umThetheleli Iowa waathi ngaye uKristu, “uya kuba nani.” Wabuya wathi, “Kunilungele ukuba ndimke mna; kuba ndingemkanga, umThetheleli akayi kuza kuni, ke ndithe ndemka, ndiya kumthumela kuni.” (Johane 14: 17; 16: 7.) Ukususela kuloomini, uKristu wayeza kuhlala ehleli ezintliziyweni zosapho lwakhe ngaye uMoya. Ukumanyana kwalo naye kwa kuza kusondela ngaphezu kokuba kwakunjalo ngexa waye nabo ngesiqu. Ukukhanya, nothando, namandla okuhlala kukaKristu phakathi kwabo, kwakhanya kuphuma kubo, baza abantu bathi ngokubona kona, “bamangaliswa; babaqonda ukuba babenaye uYesu.” (Izenzo 4: 13.)

Konke oko uKristu wayekuko kubafundi bakhe bokuqala, ufuna ukuba kwakuko abantwaneni bakhe namhlanje; kuba kumthandazo wakhe wokugqibela, okuya wayengqongwe leliya qelani labafundi, waathi, “Andiceleli ke aaba bodwa, ndicelela naabo baya kukbolwa kum ngelizwi labo.” Johane 17: 20.

U-Yesu wasithandazela, wasicelela ukuba sibe banye naye, kwa njengokuba naye emnye noYise. Hayi umanyano lungummangaliso! UmSindisi waathi ethetha ngesiqu sakhe, “UNyana akanakwenza nto ngokwakhe; uBawo ke ohleli kum, nguye oyenzayo imisebenzi le.” (Johane 5: 19; 14: 10.) Ukuba ke uKristu uhleli ezintliziyweni zethu, nguye oya kusebenza nga- [59] phakathi kwethu, “ukuthanda oko, kwa nokusebenza oko, ngenxa yenkolelo yakhe.” (Filipu 2: 13.) Siya kusebenza njengoko wasebenza ngako; sibonakalalise kwa laamoya wabonakalalisa wona. Sithi ke simthanda sihleli nokuhlala kuye, sisuke, “sikhulele, ngeendawo zonke, kuye lo uyintloko, uKristu.” (Efeso 4: 15.) [60]

9. UMSEBENZI NO-BOMI

NGUTHIXO ongumthombho wobomi nokukhanya novuyo endalweni yonke. Njengemitha yokukhanya ephuma elangeni, njengemisinga yamanzi aqukuqela ephuma emthonjeni, kunjalo ukuphuma kweentsikelelo kuye zisiya kuzidalwa zakhe zonke. Buthi ke ubomi bukaThixo xa buhleliyo ezintliziyweni zabantu, buzibonakalalise ngokuphumela kwabanye ngothando nangentsikelelo.

Eyona nto yayiluvuyo lomSindisi wethu, yayi kukuphakamisa nokukhulula uluntu oluwileyo. Ngenxa yoku wasuka nobomi bakhe akabuconga, wawuthwala umnqamlezo, elidela ihlazo. Ngoko ke nazo izithunywa zezulu zihleli ziququzela zisebenzela ukuba bonke abantu bonwabe. Le yeyona nto ziyithanda kakhulu. Eyonanto abantu bayikhangelele ukuba kukuzithoba, le yokulungiselela nokukhonza uluntu olonakeleyo ngendlela zonke zesimilo, noluphantsi; yeyonanto kanye ingumsebenzi wezo zithunywa zezulu zingazange zoone. Umoya kaKristu wokuzincamela uluntu oluwileyo, nguwo owona moya kanye uzalise izulu noyincasa yobumnandi balo. Baya kuba nalomoya ke abalandeli bakaKristu, benze nalomsebenzi.

Xa luthe uthando lukaKristu lwahlala entliziyweni, njengevumba elimnandi alunako ukufihlakala. Ziyakuthi iimpembhelelo zalo ezingcwele ziviwe ngabantu bonke esidibana nabo. Umoya kaKristu xa usentliziyweni ufana nomthombho osentlango, onceda abantu bonke, ngokukodwa aabo baphela linxano lokunxaneda abantu bonke, ngokukodwa aabo baphela linxano, ukunxanela amanzi obomi.

Ukumthanda uYesu kuzibonakalalisa ngokulangazelela uku-sebenza njengoko wasebenzayo, ngenxa yentsikelelo nokuphakanyiswa koluntu. Kukhokelela eluthandweni, ekuthantamiseni, nasekuvelaneni nazo zonke izidalwa zoBawo wethu osezulwini.

Ubomi bomSindisi kuwo lomhlaba babungebubo ubomi bokonwaba nobokuzikhathalela yena ngokwakhe, babu bubomi bokusebenza ngomonde, nokwenza imigudu engathethekiyo yokuzama ukusindisa uluntu olulahlekileyo. Ukususela emkhumbhini wesitali kude kuse eKalvari, yena wahambha ngendlela yokuzikhanyeza, akafuna ukunga anga khululeka kwimisebenzi enzima, neehambho ezibuhlungu, nakumaxhala aphelisa amendu. Waathi. “U-Nyana womntu akezanga kulungiselelwa; weza kulungiselela, nokuncama ubomi bakhe. bube vintlaulelo yokukhulula abaninzi.” [61] Mateyu 20: 28. Le yeyona njongo eyayinkulu ebomini bakhe. Yonke enye into yayishiyiselwa yile. Okona kutya nokusela kwakhe yayi kukwenza intando kaThixo nokufeza umsebenzi wakhe. Kona ukuzenzela nokuzilungiselela kwa kungekho kanye konke kuye.

Ngoko ke aabo bangamadlelane obabalo lukaKristu, baya kuhlala belungele ukuzincama ngokunga aabo bafelwe yiNkosi bangasifumana nabo eso sipho sezulu. Baya kukwenza konke abanako ukuzama ukuwenza lomhlaba ube yindawo efanelwe kukuhlaliwa ngabo. Umoya onjalo usisiqiniso sokukhula komphefumlo oguquke ngenyaniso. Uthi umntu akuguquka, kwa oko kubekho umnqweno entliziyweni yakhe, wokunga angaxelela abanye ngaloYesu ungumhlobo wakhe wodidi; isuke lenyaniso imsindise yamngcwalisa angabi nako ukuyigcina kuye ngokwakhe yedwa. Ukuba ubulungisa bukaKristu sibambhethe, ukuba sizaliswe luvuyo loMoya wakhe ohleli ngaphakathi kwethu; asiyi kuthi cwaka singathethi ngaye. Ukuba ngaba sinchamle sabona ukuba iNkosi ilungile, siya kuba nento yokuthetha ngayo. Siyakufana noFilipu owathi akumfumana umSindisi, waya kumemela abanye kuye. Siyakuzama ukunga bonke abantu bangakuqonda ukulunga kukaKristu, baziqonde iinyaniso ezingenakubonwa zelizwe elizayo. Siya kunxakamela ukunga singahambha ngaloondlela uKristu wahambha ngayo. Siyakunqwenela ukunga bonke abantu abasingqongileyo bangayibona, “imVana kaThixo ethwala isuse isoono sehlabathi.”

Iyakuthi ke imigudu esiyizamayo yokunga singaba yintsikelelo kwabanye, ibange ukuba nathi sisikeleleke ngokwethu. Le yayi yinjongo kaThixo ekuvumeleni umntu ukuba abe nento yokwenza kwicebo losindiso. Unikele kubo bonke abantu ilungelo lokuba babe ngamadlelane obume bakhe obungcwele, ukuze bona, ngelabo icala, bazisasazele iintsikelelo kwabanye abantu. Le yeyona mbheko iphakamileyo, lolona vuyo lukhulu uThixo anokulunika umntu. Aabo ngoko abathe ngalendlela benziwa amadlelane ngomsebenzi wothando basondezwe kufuphi ngakumbhi nomDali wabo.

U-Thixo wayenako ukuwunikela lomsebenzi wokuqhutywa kweNdaba ezilungileyo kwizithunywa zezulu, kwakunye nawo wonke umsebenzi wolungiselelo lwothando. Ngewayenze ndlela zimbhi zokufeza icebo lakhe. Kodwa ngothando lwakhe olungenamlinganiso, wasinyula ukuba sibe ngabasebenzisani kunye naye, noKristu, nakunye nezithunywa zezulu, ukuze sibe nesabelo [62] kwintsikelelo, novuyo, nokuphakanyiswa kwasemoyeni, izinto ezo eziziziqhamo zolulungiselelo lungenabugqolo.

Sisondezwa ekuvelaneni noKristu ngokudlelana naye ngeentlungu zakhe. Sonke isenzo sokuzibingelela ngenxa yokulungelwa kwabanye, someleza umoya wesisa entliziyweni yomphi, kumalamanisa ngokungaphezulu nomKhululi wehlabathi, yena, “waathi esityebi nje, wazenza ihlwempu ngenxa yenu, ukuze nibe zityebi ngabo ubuhlwempu bakhe.” Kuphela ke kungokuthi siyizalise ngalendlela eyona njongo kaThixo asidalela yona, ekuya kuthi ubomi bube yintsikelelo kuthi.

Ukuba uthe wasebenza njengoko anga uKristu bangasebenza ngako abantu bakhe, uzamele ukumzuzela imiphefumlo, woqala kwa oko ubone ukuba kufuneka ube namava anzulu nolwazi olukhulu lwezinto zobuthixo, ukuze ubulambhele ubunxanele ubulungisa. Uya kuzamana noThixo, lwaye ukholo lwakho luya komelezwa nomphefumlo wakho ube ligongqogongqo ukusela amanzi eloqula losindiso. Ziyakuthi izilingo nezithintelo oqubisana nazo, zikuqhubele ukuba uthandaze, unyameke ukufunda iziBhalo ngakumbhi. Uya kukhula elubabalweni nasekumazini uKristu, ube namava atyebileyo.

Ukuzilahlela emsebenzini wokusebenzela abanye, kunika ubunzulu, ukuqina kwesimilo, nokuthanda uKristu, kuzise uxolo nokonwaba kulowo usebenzayo. Amabhongo aba ngaphakamileyo. Akubikho ndawo yabuvila nabugqolo. Bonke ke abasebenzisa ngoluhlobo iitalente zabo, bosuke bomelele emsebenzini kaThixo. Boba nokuziqonda ngokucacileyo izinto zomoya, baye bekhula elukholweni, besanda emandleni okuthandaza. Wothi uMoya kaThixo wakukhothana nomoya wabo, usuke umphefumlo wabo unxakame. Bonke aabo bazinikele ekwenzeni imigudu yokusindisa abanye, bazisebenzela ngalondlela kwa nolwabo usindiso.

Inye indlela enokumenza umntu ukuba akhule elubabalweni, kukusuke asebenze ngokuzilahleleyo lomsebenzi siwumiselwe nguKristu. Asebenze kangangoko anako ukunceda abafuna uncedo. Amandla akhuliswa kukusebenza; ukuququzela yeyona ngxam yobomi. Aabo balinga ukugcina ubomi bobuKristu ngokwamkela nje iintsikelelo zobabalo babe besonga izandla bengamsebenzeli uKristu, bafana kanye nomntu odla elele phantsi. Njengoko kunjalo kwezenyama, kunjalo nakwezomoya, usuke umntu onjalo angabinto yakwalutho, asuke abuye umva, afe. Umntu ongavumiyo ukuwushukumisa umzimbha, usuke abe yindongela, asel’esifa namlungu omzimbha wakhe. Kwangokunjalo umKristu [63] ongawasebenzisiyo amandla awanikwe nguThixo, uba sidodo kuKristu, aphelelwe nokuphelelwa nangamandlana abe nawo.

I-Bandla likaKristu liyeyona nto uThixo azimisele ukuba asebenze ngayo ukusindisa abantu. Umsebenzi walo eliwumiselweyo kukuhambisa iNdaba eziLungileyo kulo lonke ihlabathi. Lo ke ngumsebenzi omiselwe ukuba wenziwe ngumntu wonke olikholwa. Ulowo nalowo, ngangamandla akhe, ngangetalente zakhe, ngangamathuba anawo, umelwe kukuba awenze awufefe lommiselo womSindisi. Uthando lukaKristu olo lutyhiliweyo kuthi, lusenza ukuba sibe ngabanetyala kwaabo bangamaziyo. U-Thixo akasinikanga ukukhanya ukuba bukhanyisele thina kuphela, kodwa ukuba sikhanyisele nabanye.

Ukuba abalandeli bakaKristu bebeyazi imfanelo yabo, ngebeba bangamawaka abashumayela iNdaba eziLungileyo phakathi kwamazwe abahedeni. Bebengathi nabangenako ukuphuma bayokushumayela ngokwabo, bawuxhase lomsebenzi ngeemali zabo, ngokuvelana nawo, nangemithandazo yabo. Kanjalo, ubungaba mkhulu umsebenzi wokuzingela imiphefumlo kumazwe obuKristu.

Besingede siye kumazwe abahedeni, okanye siwushiye ummandlana omncinane ozungeleze ikhaya, ukuba ngaba imfanelo yethu ikuwo, yokusebenzela uKristu. Sinokukwenza oku emmandleni wekhaya, eBandleni, phakathi kwaabo siqhelene nabo, naphakathi kwaabo sisebenza nabo.

Elona xesha likhulu lobomi bomSindisi wethu emhlabeni, lelo walichithela emsebenzini wokuchwela imithi eNazarete. Izithunywa zezulu zaziyilungiselela iNkosi yobomi xa yayihambha imana ukugudlana nabantu abaphantsi, nabasebenzi, ingaziwa ingabekiwe emhlabeni. Waye nyanisekile emsebenzini wokuchwela kanye njengoko wayenjalo ekuphiliseni imilwelwe okanye ekucandeni amaza alwayo olwandle laseGalili. Nathi ke singamkhonza sihambhe naye uYesu ngokukhuthalela imisebenzana neendawo eziphantsi.

Umpostile uthi, “Bazalwana, elowo ekubizweni awabizwa ekuko, makahlale kuko ekuThixo.” 1 Korinte 7: 24. Indoda eqhuba ishishini inokuliqhuba ngokukholekileyo izukise uThixo ngalo. Ukuba ingumlandeli kaKristu onyanisekileyo, iya kukubonakalalisa oko kwinto yonke eyenzayo, ibabonise abantu umoya kaKristu. Umkhandi makabe ngokhutheleyo, nokholekileyo njengommeli waLowo wasebenzayo kwezondlela zithobekileyo zobomi ziphakathi kweenduli zaseGalili. Wonke umntu ozibizayo ngegama likaKristu, ufanele ukuthi ukusebenza kwakhe, asebenze ngoku- [64] nga ingabonakala ithandwe ngabanye imisebenzi yakhe, bamzukise umDali nomKhululi wabo.

Baninzi abamana ukuzithethelela ngelithi bona abanazo izipho zokumkhonza uKristu, njengoonantsi noonantsi abanezipho ezikhulu, nemfundo ephakamileyo. Lento yokuba ngaabo banezipho ezizodwa abafanele ukusebenzela uThixo, se ide yaligqiba lonke ilizwe. Sebede abantu abaninzi bazikhohlisa ngokuthi, lento ikukusebenzela uKristu imiselwe oonantsi noonantsi bona banetalente zayo; batsho bathi, bona bangaphandle, abangabo ababiziweyo kuwo lomsebenzi, baye kananjalo bengayi kufumana namvuzo wawo. Awutsho kodwa wona umzekeliso. Wona uthi, waathi umnini-ndlu akubabizela kuye abakhonzi bakhe, elowo wamnika umsebenzi wakhe.

Ngoko ke masiyenze yonke imisebenzi yethu ngomoya wothando, “kunge kukwiNkosi.” (Kolose 3: 23.) Ukuba uthando lukaThixo lukho entliziyweni, luya kubonakala ebomini bethu. Lothi nevumbha elimnandi likaKristu lisingqonge, ithi nempembhelelo yethu iphakamise ibe yintsikelelo.

Musa ukulinda amathuba amakhulu, okanye ukuba nobuchule obubodwa phambhi kokuba ube nokusebenzela uThixo. Ungacingi nokucinga ukuthi azi bothini na abantu bakukubona uzinikela emsebenzini. Ukuba ubomi bakho bemihla ngemihla bunqhina ukuba luhlambhulukile luqinile ukholo lwakho, babe abantu beqonda ukuba uzamela ukuba balungelwe, imizamo yakho ayikulahleka kuphele.

Oyena uthobekileyo noyena uphantsi kubalandeli bakaYesu, angaba yintsikelelo kwabanye. Bangade mhlaumbhi bangaqondi ukuba bananto ilungileyo bayenzayo, kanti noko ngempembhelelo yabo yobulungisa bangavusa iintsikelelo ezingaphele ndawo, bavelise iziqhamo ezikhulu eziyakuthi bona bebengazi bazive zikhankanywa ngemini yokwamkeliswa kwemivuzo yokugqibela. Abeva, bengazi kananjalo, ukuba benza umsebenzi omkhulu. Akufuneki ukuba bazidinise ngokuxhalela ukuthi awuphumeleli umsebenzi wabo. Kufuneka nje baqhubele phambhili bona, bawenze ngokukholeka umsebenzi abanike wona uThixo, bothi bakwenza njalo babe bayifezile eyabo imfanelo. Iya kuthi ke imiphefumlo yabo iye ikhula ngokungaphezulu ikhulela ekufaneni noKristu; bangabasebenzisani noThixo kobubomi, ngalendlela ke bazilungiselela owona msebenzi mkhulu nolona vuyo lungenazithinzi lobomi obuzayo. [65]

10. UKUMAZI U-THIXO

IINDLELA zininzi athi uThixo afuna ukuzazisa ngazo kuthi ukuze asizise ebudlelaneni naye. Indalo yonke iyathetha ezingqondweni zethu ingayeki. Umntu ontliziyo ivulekileyo, angasuke akhwankqiswe luthando nozuko lukaThixo alubona kwimisebenzi yendalo yakhe. Indlebe ephulaphulayo inokuva iqonde nokuqonda ukuba uThixo uyathetha ngezizinto azidalileyo. Amathafa aluhlaza, imithi emide, imidumbha neentyatyambho, amafu adlulayo, imvula enethayo, imilambho, nezinto ezintle zesibhakabhaka; zonke ezizinto ziyathetha nathi, zisithi masiqhelane sazane nalowo wazidalayo zonke.

UmSindisi wethu wazisongela iimfundiso zakhe ezixabisekileyo ezintweni zendalo. Imithi, iintaka, intyatyambho ezikhula ezintilini, iinduli, amachibi, nesibhakabhaka esihle, nazo zonke izinto esizibonayo nezisingqongileyo imihla ngemihla; zonke ezizinto wazixokomelela namazwi enyaniso, ukuze sihlale sizikhumbula iimfundiso zakhe naphakathi kwamaxhala nemigudu yobomi bethu.

U-Thixo unga thina lusapho lwakhe singaneliswa yimisebenzi yakhe, sivuyiswe kukuwuhombhisa kwakhe lomhlaba ulikhaya lethu. Yena ungumthandi wezinto ezintle, ke phezu kwazo zonke izinto zangaphandle, uthanda isimilo esihle; unga ke singazama ukuhlambhuluka, ukuba msulwa, nokuba sizole sibebahle njengentyatyambho.

Ukuba sithe saphulaphula, indalo iya kusifundisa izifundo ezikhulu nezinqabileyo zentobeko nentembho. Kususela kwiinkwenkwezi ezihambha ngendlela ezayimiselwayo, kude kuse kweyona ntwana incinane awayidalayo, ziyithobele intando yomDali wazo. U-Thixo uyikhathalele, eyigcinile kananjalo yonke into ayidalileyo. Lowo uwathweleyo onke amazwe angenakubalwa akolulwantwentwe lwendalo, uzikhathalela, uzigcinile nezona ntakana zincinane ezitsholoza zivume zingoyiki nto. Xeshikweni abantu baya emisebenzini yabo yemihla ngemihla, naxa bathandazayo; xeshikweni balalayo ebusuku, naxa bavukayo kusasa; xeshikweni isityebi sidlayo kwibhothwe laso, naxa ihlwempu lihlanganisa usapho Iwalo kulotafilana yalo; bonke aaba bagciniwe nguBawo osezulwini. Akukho nyembhezi zamntu ziphalala angaziboni. Akukho luncumo angaluphauliyo. [66] [67]

Ukuba besiyakuthi sikholwe nje kuko oku ngokupheleleyo, ebeya kuphela onke amaxhala ethu. Bekuyakuphela kuthi ukuhlala sibambhelele ezidleleni, kuba besiyakuthi zonke izinto, ezinkulu, nezincinane, sizilahlele ezandleni zikaThixo, yena ungathingaziswayo bubuninzi bazo, okanye ongoyiswayo bubunzima bazo. Besiyakuthi ke sakwenza njalo sifumane ukonwaba nokuphumla abangenako abanye.

Yithi njengoko ubuthandayo ubuhle belizwe, cinga kwangokunjalo ngelo lizwe lizayo, elingasoze libazi ububi besoono nokufa; apho ubuso bendalo bungasoze bube nazo iimpau zesiqalekiso. Intelekelelo yakho mayizobe elokhaya labasindisiweyo, ukhumbhule ukuba ubuhle balo buya kudlula lee kobona buhle bunokuthelekelelwa yintelekelelo yakho. Kwiintlobo ngeentlobo zezipho zikaThixo endalweni sibona nje ufifana lokukhazimla kobuqaqauli bakhe. Kubhaliwe kwathiwa, “Izinto ezingabonwanga liso, nezingaviwanga ndlebe, nezingathanga qatha entliziyweni yomntu, zizo uThixo awazilungiselela aabo bamthandayo.” 1 Korinte 2: 9.

Imbhongi nomazi wezinto zendalo banezinto ezininzi abasixelela zona ngendalo, kodwa ngumKristu obubukayo ubuhle bomhlaba ngeyona ndlela ingaphezulu, kuba yena ubona kuyo ukusebenza kweminwe kaThixo, anakane uthando lukaThixo kuntyatyambho nasetyholweni nasemthini. Akukho unako ukuyiqonda ngokuzeleyo intsingiselo yenduli nentili, nomlambho nolwandle engazikhangeli njengokutyhilwa kothando lukaThixo analo ngakuye umntu.

U-Thixo uthetha nathi ngezinto azidalileyo, nangempembhelelo yoMoya wakhe entliziyweni. Phantsi kweemeko esikuzo nezinto ezisingqongileyo, kwiinguqulelo ezenzekayo macala onke kuthi, singafunda izifundo ezixabisekileyo, ukuba nje iintliziyo zethu zivuliwe ukuba siziqonde. UmDumisi, elanda umsebenzi kaThixo, uthi, “Lizele ihlabathi yinceba kaYehova.” InDumiso 33: 5. “Lowo ulumkileyo ma kazigcine ezindawo azigqale iinceba zikaYehova.” InDumiso 107: 43.

U-Thixo uthetha nathi ngalo iliZwi lakhe. Usityhilela kulo ngokucacileyo ngaso isimilo sakhe, ngayo impatho asiphethe ngayo, nangawo umsebenzi omkhulu wokusihlaulela ngentlaulelo. Kutyhilwe kulo ibali loomawokhulu bethu nabaprofeti, namanye amadoda akudala angcwele. Aye ngabantu, “abaluvo lunjengolwethu.” (Yakobi 5: 17.) Siyaqonda kulo imizamo abayenzaayo ukulwa nezidaniso ezinjengezethu, nangokuwa kwabo phantsi kwezilingo njengokuba nathi sisenza njalo, kodwa omelela kwa- [68] khona, oyisa, ngobabalo lukaThixo, ukuze ngokuqonda oku, somelezeke ekuzameleni kwethu ubulungisa. Sakuba sifunda ngamava axabisekileyo ababa nawo, nangokukhanya nothando nentsikelelo eyaba yeyabo ukuba bayixhamle, nangomsebenzi abawenzayo ngalo ubabalo abalunikwayo, umoya owabaphembhelelayo uvusa idangatye lekhwele elingcwele ezintliziyweni zethu, nomnqweno wokufuna ukuba njengabo ngesimilo, size njengabo sihambhe naye uThixo.

U-Yesu waathi ngeziBhalo zeTestamente Endala — kukwa yinyaniso oko ngokungaphezulu kangakanani na ngezo zeNtsha —“Zaye zona zinqhina ngam” (Johane 5: 39), yena mKhululi, ekuxhomekeke kuye lonke ithembha lethu lobomi obungunaphakade. Ewe, iBaibile yonke ixela ngoKristu. Kususela kwingxelo yokuqala yendalo, ethi, “Engekho yena, akubanga kho nanye into ethe yaba kho” (Johane 1: 3) —kude kuye kwidinga lokuphela, elithi, “Yabona, ndiyeza kamsinya” (IsiTyhilelo 22: 12), sifunda ngemisebenzi yakhe siphulaphule izwi lakhe. Ukuba unga ungazana nomSindisi, ziphengulule iziBhalo eziNgcwele.

Yizalise intliziyo yakho iphela ngamazwi kaThixo. Ngawo odwa angamanzi obomi, aphelisa elonxano lakho likhulu. Asisonka esiphilileyo sasezulwini. Uthi ukuthetha kwakhe uYesu, “Ukuba anithanga niyidle inyama yoNyana womntu, nilisele igazi lakhe, aninabo ubomi kuni.” Uthi ke ukuyityhila into ayithethayo, “Amazwi la ndiwathethayo kuni mna angumoya, abubomi.” (Johane 6: 53, 63.) Kwa njengokuba imizimbha yethu isondleka kooko sikudlayo nesikuselayo, kukwanjalo nakwezasemoyeni izinto: umntu uphiliswa azuziswe amandla kukucinga acamngce ngezinto ezingamncedayo emoyeni.

Lomsebenzi wokukhululwa komntu ungumsebenzi izithunywa ezinqwenela ukunga zingawubona; usaya kuba lolona lwazi nengoma yabakhululwa kuwo onke amaphakade angenasiphelo. Awufanele na ngoko ukuba uqwalaselwe kucingwe ngawo ngoku ? Inceba engunaphakade nothando lukaYesu, idini alenzaayo ngenxa yethu, zonke ezonto zifuna ukuba sizicinge ngokunzulu nangokundilekileyo. Kufuneka ukuba sisicoselele ukusikhangela isimilo somKhululi nomThetheleli wethu. Kufuneka ukuba siwucamngce umsebenzi walowo weeza kusindisa abantu bakhe ezoonweni zabo. Sothi ke sakuba sicamngca ngezinto zasezulwini, lusuke lukhule lomelele ukholo nothando lwethu, ithi nemithandazo yethu yamkeleke ngakumbhi kuye uThixo, kuba iya kuba ixubene ngakumbhi nangakumbhi nokholo nothando. Iya kuba shushu ivakale. Siya kuqala simthembhe ngakumbhi uYesu, sibe [69] namava emihla ngemihla okuba unawo amandla okusindisa ngokukhulu bonke aabo bezayo kuThixo ngaye.

Sakuba sicamngca ngokufezeka kwakhe umSindisi, sisuka sinqwenele ukunga singahlaziywa sifane naye ngokuhlambhululeka. Imiphefumlo yethu iya kulambhela inxanele ukunga iingafana nalowo simthandayo. Ngokuya sicinga ngaye uKristu, kuya kuba kokhona sithethayo ngaye kwabanye, simxelayo kulo ilizwe.

I-Baibile yayingabhalelwanga zimfundi kuphela; kodwa yayibhalelwe izidenge nabantu abaphantsi. Iinyaniso ezinkulu ezifunekayo kulo usindiso lwethu, zicacisiwe zafana nemini emaqanda; akakho ke onako ukuphosisa alahlekane nendlela yakhe ngaphandle kwaabo balandela eyabo ingqondo endaweni yokuhambha ngentando kaThixo etyhiliweyo.

Akufuneki saneliswe bubunqhina banawuphina umntu othi zithi iziBhalo, kodwa masizifundele ngokwethu amazwi kaThixo. Ukuba siziyekelele ukuba sicingelwe ngabanye endaweni yokuba sizicingele ngokwethu, iingqondo zethu ziya kusuka zidole. Ingqondo yomntu inako ukudola xa ingasetyenziswayo kwizinto ezifuna ingcinga enzulu, ilahlekwe ngamandla okuzigcina izibambhe izinto ezinzulu zalo iliZwi likaThixo. Ingqondo iya kutwabululeka ukuba isetyenziswa ekulandeni ukudlelana kweendawo ezithile zeBaibile, kuthelekiswa isiBhalo ngesiBhalo, izinto zomoya ngezinto zomoya.

Akukho nto yomeleza ingqondo njengokuphengulula iziBhalo. Akukho ncwadi inamandla okuphakamisa iingcinga zomntu izomeleze, njengeenyaniso eziphangaleleyo nezinika isidima zeBaibile. Ukuba iliZwi likaThixo beliphengululwa njengoko bekufuneka liphengululwe njalo, abantu ngebeneengqondo ezibanzi, nesimilo esindilekileyo neenjongo ezizinzileyo ezingahlale zibonwa ngalamaxesha.

Kodwa luncinane uncedo oluzuzwa ngokuzifunda ngobunxhamo iziBhalo. Umntu angade ayifunde ayigqibe yonke iBaibile, kanti noko akayi kuba nako ukububona ‘okanye ukubuqonda ubuhle bayo, aze azifumane iinyaniso zayo ezifihlakeleyo. Isahlukwana esithile othe wasifunda wada wayiqonda intsingiselo yaso, nokudlelana kwaso necebo losindiso kwacaca, sinexabiso elikhulu ngaphezu kokufunda izahluko ezininzi kungekho njongo itsolileyo nangqeqesho izuzwayo. I-Baibile yakho ma isoloko ikuwe. Wakuba nethuba, yifunde, ngenisa engqondweni iindinyana ezithile. Naxa uhambha esitrateni, hambha ucinga ngayo, ukuze ingene engqondweni. [70]

Asinako ukubufumana ubulumko singabenzelanga migudu mikhulu nokuphengulula ngomthandazo. Ezinye izahlukwana zesiBhalo zicace kangangokuba umntu angaphosisi ukuziqonda; kodwa kukho ezinye ezinzima ngangokuba umntu angabi nako ukuziqonda kwasekuqaleni. IsiBhalo kufuneka sithelekiswe nesiBhalo. Kufuneka kubekho uphengululo nokucamnga okunomthandazo. Uqwalaselo olunje ke luya kuvuzwa ngokutyebileyo. Njengaye umbhi wamatye anqabileyo, othi akumbha awabone enze unqhenqhe evele kuhle emhlabeni, uya kuba njalo lowo ufunayo ngozondelelo eliZwini likaThixo ngokungathi ufuna ubutyebi obufihliweyo, ukuzifumana iinyaniso ezixabiso likhulu, ezifihliweyo emehlweni omfuni ongakhathaliyo. Amazwi empefumlelo, aguquguqulwayo entliziyweni, aya kuba njengemisinga empompoza ivela kumthombho wobomi.

Ma ingaze ifundwe iBaibile ngaphandle komthandazo. Ngaphambhi kokuba uyivule imihlathi yayo cela ukhanyiselo loMoya oyiNgcwele, waye uya kulunikwa. Waathi uNathaniyeli akuza kuYesu, wathi umSindisi, “Naanko umSirayeli inyaniso, ekungekho nkohliso kuye.” Athi uNataniyeli kuye, “Undazi ngani na?” Waphendula uYesu wathi kuye, “Phambhi kokuba uFilipu akubize, uphantsi komkhiwane, ndandikubona.” (Johane 1: 47, 48.) Uya kusibona nathi uYesu ezindaweni zangasese zokuthandaza, ukuba siya kumfuna ukuba asikhanyisele ukuze siyazi inyaniso. Izithunywa ezivela kwilizwe lokukhanya ziya kuba naabo abathi ngentliziyo ethobekileyo bafune ukukhokelwa kwasezulwini.

U-Moya oyiNgcwele uyamphakamisa umzukise umSindisi. Ngumsebenzi wakhe ukumtyhila uKristu, nobunyulu bobulungisa bakhe, nobukhulu bosindiso esinalo ngaye. U-Yesu uthi, “Uya kwamkela kokukokwam, aze anibikele ke.” Johane 16: 14. UMoya wenyaniso nguyena mfundisi mkhulu unako ukusazisa inyaniso njengoko injalo kuThixo. Makube ke uThixo umxabise kakhulu kangakanani na umntu, xa athe wakhupha uNyana wakhe ukuba amfele, waza wabuya wamisa uMoya wakhe ukuba abe ngumfundisi nomkhokheli womntu osoloko ehleli! [71]

11. ILUNGELO LOMTHANDAZO

NGAYO indalo nangesityhilelo selizwi lakhe, ngempatho yakhe kuthi yobuThixo, nangempembhelelo yoMoya wakhe, uThixo uya thetha nathi. Kanti ke ezindlela azanele; kufuneka kananjalo sizithululele kuye iintliziyo zethu. Ukuze sibe nobomi namandla asemoyeni, kufuneka ukuba sibe nobudlelane obububo noBawo wethu wasezulwini. Iingqondo zethu zingade zitsalekele kuye, singa camngca ngemisebenzi yakhe, neenceba, neentsikelelo zakhe; kanti noko konke oku asikuko ukuba nobudlelane naye ngeyona ndela izeleyo. Ukuze sibe ngabanobudlelane naye uThixo, masibe nento esiyithethayo kuye mayela nenkqu bomi bethu.

Umthandazo kukuvulwa kwentliziyo kuThixo njengakumhlobo. Ingekuko ukuba kuyafuneka ukuba simazise uThixo into esiyiyo, kodwa ikukuze sibe nako ukumamkela. Umthandazo awumhlisi uThixo umzise kuthi, kooko unyusa thina usise kuye.

Oko uYesu ebesemhlabeni, wabafundisa abalandeli bakhe ukuthandaza. Wabayalela ukuba bazazise iintswelo zabo zemihla ngemihla kuThixo, nawo onke amaxhala abo bawaphose kuye. Loongqiniseko wabanikayo yokuba imithandazo yabo yoviwa, ikwa yingqiniseko kuthi ngokunjalo.

U-Yesu ngokwakhe ngokuya wayehleli phakathi kwabantu, waye soloko esekuthandazeni. U-Yesu waziqhelanisa neentswelo nezilwelwe zethu, kuba waba ngumceli, nomthandazi, ofuna kuYise isabelo esitsha samandla, ukuze abe nokuphuma exhotyiselwe umsebenzi nokulingwa. Ungumzekelo wethu ezintweni zonke. Ungumzalwana kubulwelwe bethu, kuba, “wahendwa ngeento -zonke, ngokokufana nathi”; kodwa wathi njengongenasoono warwaqela enkohlakalweni; weva ubunzima neentlungu zomphefumlo kwelihlabathi lesoono. Ubume bakhe bobuntu babanga ukuba umthandazo ube yinto efunekayo nelilungelo kuye. Wazuza intuthuzelo novuyo ekudlelaneni noYise. Ukuba ke ngoko umSindisi wabantu, uNyana kaThixo, wakubona ukufuneka nokulunga komthandazo, kungamela ukuba ngaphezulu kangakanani na ukufuneka kwawo kuthi thina zinto eziswele amandla, zoonileyo, zinokufa.

U-Bawo wethu osezulwini uhleli ekulindele ukuthululela phezu kwethu inzaliseko yeentsikelelo zakhe. Lilungelo lethu ukusela [72] [73] kakhulu kulomthombho wolothando lwakhe lungenasiphelo. Kumangalisa njani ukuba sibe sithandaza kancinane kangakanana! U-Thixo uhleli elindele ukuwuva umthandazo wenyameko woyena uphantsi kubantwana bakhe, kanti ke noko kukho ukuyekelela kokungakhathali kuthi ukumazisa izinto esizisweleyo. Zona ke izithunywa zezulu zicinga ntoni ngeento ezinjengathi nje, ezikhohlwe nokuzinceda, ezisisulu sezilingo, xa sithi intliziyo kaThixo ezele luthando isilangazelela, efuna ukusipha ngaphezu kooko sikucelayo okanye esikucingayo, sibe thina sithandaza kancinane kangakanana, kanjalo sinokholo oluncinane kangaka? Izithunywa ziyathanda ukuqubuda phambhi koThixo; ziyathanda ukuba kufuphi kuye. Ukudlelana noThixo zikubalela ukuba kulolona luvuyo luphakamileyo; ukanti Iona usapho lwasemhlabeni, olulufuna kangaka uncedo olunokunikwa nguThixo kuphela, lukhangeleka ngathi lwanelisiwe kukuhambha ngaphandle kokukhanya koMoya wakhe, nobukholwane bobukho bakhe.

Ubumnyama balowo ukhohlakeleyo buya basibekela aabo bangathandaziyo. Amasebezo ezihendo zotshaba abalukuhlela esoonweni; konke ke oku kwenziwa kukuba bengawasebenzisi amalungelo abawanikwe nguThixo ngommiselo wakhe womthandazo. Ngani na ukuba oonyana neentombhi zikaThixo zinqene ukuthandaza, ekubeni umthandazo usisitshixo esisesandleni sokholo sokuvula indlu yobuncwane yasezulwini, apho kugcinwe khona ubutyebi obungenamlinganiselo bOnamandla onke? Ukuba asihlali sithandaza silindile ngenkuthalo, sisengozini yokungenwa kukungakhathali nokuphambhuka endleleni elungileyo. Utshaba soloko luzamela ukuyivingca indlela eya kusihlalo senceba, ukuze singathi ngezibongozo zenyameko nokholo lwethu sifumane ubabalo namandla okuchasa ukulingwa.

Kukho izimiselo ezithile esingathi ngokuzenza silindele ukuba uThixo ayive, ayiphendule imithandazo yethu. Esokuqala kuzo sesokuba siqonde ukulufuna kwethu uncedo oluvela kuye. Sel’esidingile wathi, “Ndiya kugalela amanzi phezu kwabanxaniweyo, nemiqukuqela yamanzi phezu kwelizwe elomileyo.” Isaya 44: 3. Aabo balambhela banxanele ubulungisa, abalangazelela uThixo, mabaqiniseke ukuba baya kuhluthiswa. Intliziyo mayivulelwe impembhelelo yoMoya wakhe, okanye intsikelelo kaThixo ayinakwamkelwa.

Ukuswela esinako kungumthetheleli wethu ngokwako, kuya sibongozela ngentetho ecacileyo kwaphela. Kodwa noko kunjalo simelwe kukuba simfune uThixo ukuba asenzele ezi zinto. Uthi, “Celani, nophiwa.” (Mateyu 7: 7.) Ubuye athi, “Lowo, gxebe, [74] ungamconganga owakhe uNyana, wesuka wamnikela ngenxa yethu sonke, angathini na ukuba angasibabali zonke ezo zinto, ndawo nye naye?” (Roma 8: 32.)

Ukuba sisekeleze ubutshinga ezintliziyweni zethu, ukuba sitshele kwisoono esithile esisaziyo, iNkosi ayisayi kusiphulaphula; kodwa umthandazo womphefumlo oguqukayo, nowaphukileyo uyamkelwa. Zakuba zonke iziphoso ezaziwayo zilungisiwe, singakholwa ukuba uThixo uya kuziphendula izicelo zethu. Ukuzenzelelelisa kwethu asikuko okuya kusithandisa kuThixo; kukufaneleka kukaYesu okuya kusisindisa, ligazi lakhe eliya kusihlambhulula; noko ke sinomsebenzi wokuzithobela izimiselo zokwamkelwa kwethu. Esinye isimiselo somthandazo onempumelelo lukholo. “Lowo uzayo kuThixo, umelwe kukukholwa ukuba ukho, nokuba ungumvuzi waabo bamfunayo.” Hebere 11: 6. U-Yesu wathi kubafundi bakhe, “Zonke izinto enisukuba nizicela, nithandaza, kholwani ukuba ninokuzamkela, noba nazo.” Marko 11: 24. Siyalamkela na elolizwi lakhe?

Lengqinisekiso ibanzi ayinasiphelo, kwaye ethembekile lowo udingileyo. Xa sithi singazamkeliswa izinto esizicelileyo, ngeloxesha sizicela ngalo, masihlale sikholwa ukuba iNkosi iyasiva, iya kuyiphendula imithandazo yethu. Singabagqithi ababona kufutshane ngangokuba maxa wambhi sicele izinto ezingeyontsikelelo kuthi, athi ke uBawo wethu wasezulwini, ngothando, ayiphendule imithandazo yethu ngokusinika okona kuya kusifanela ngaphezulu — kanye ooko ebesiyakuthi sinqwenele kona ukuba besivuliwe amehlo abona ngokobuThixo izinto njengoko zinjalo. Namaxa ngathi imithandazo yethu ayiphendulwa, masibambhelele noko kulo idinga; kuba ixesha lokuphendulwa kwayo liya kufika ngokuqinisekileyo, siyifumane loontsikelelo siyifuna ngamandla. Ukubanga kodwa ukuba umthandazo uya kusoloko uphendulwa ngendlela enqwenelwa sithi, size sinikwe lonto kanye siyifunayo, kukuzidepisela. U-Thixo ulumke ngangokuba angabi nakuphosisa, elunge kakhulu ukuba angade abandeze nayiphina into elungileyo kwaabo bahambha ngobulungisa. Musa ke ukoyika ukumthembha nangexesha angathi akakuphenduli kamsinya ekuceleni kwakho. Thembhela wena kwelodinga lakhe liqinisekileyo, lithi, “Celani, nophiwa.”

Ukuba sivumelana nentandabuzo nezoyikiso, okanye sizama ukucombhulula zonke izinto ezingasicacelanga ngaphambhi kokuba sikholwe, iingxakeko zethu ziya kuya zisanda zibanzulu. Kodwa ukuba siza kuThixo, siziva singenakuzenzela lutho sixhomekeke kuye, njengoko sinjalo kade, ukuze ngokuzithobileyo na- [75] ngokholo oluthembhayo, simazise izinto esizisweleyo, yena ulwazi lungenamda, ozibonayo zonke izinto zendalo, elaula yonke into ngentando nelizwi lakhe, unako kanjalo eya kukuphulaphula ukukhala kwethu, asinike ukukhanya ezintliziyweni zethu. Ngomthandazo onyanisekileyo siziswa ebudlelaneni nengcinga yOngaphelendawo. Singade singabi nazimpau zibalulekileyo zibonisa ukuba ngeloxesha umKhululi wethu ugobe phezu kwethu ngovelwano nothando; kanti noko kunjalo. Singade singakuva ukusichukumisa kwakhe, kanti noko isandla sakhe sothando nenceba yobubele siphezu kwethu.

Xa sukuba sisiza kucela kuThixo ukuba asenzele inceba, asisikelele, masibe nomoya wothando nowokuxolela ezintliziyweni zethu. Singathini na ukuthandandaza sithi, “Sixolele amatyala ethu, njengokuba nathi sibaxolela aabo banamatyala kuthi” (Mateyu 6: 12), sibe noko sitshoyo sigcine umoya ongenaluxolo? Ukuba singa imithandazo yethu ingaviwa, masibaxolele nathi abanye, kwa ngaloondlela, nangaloomlinganiselo, nathi singa singaxolelwa ngawo.

Ukuzingisa ekuthandazeni kwenziwe kwangummiselo wokuze samkele. Ukuba singa singakhula ngokholo nangamava, masithandaze singayeki. Kuthiwa, “Zingisani ekuthandazeni” (Roma 12: 12), “Zingisani ukuthandaza, niphaphamile kuko, ninombulelo.” ( Kolose 4:2.) Umpostile uPetros uyala amakholwa, athi, “nibe nobunchathu, nihlale nilindile nithandaza.” (1 Petros 4: 7.) U-Paulos uyalela athi, “Mazithi iingcelo zenu ezintweni zonke, ngako ukuthandaza nokukhunga, ndawo nye nokubulela, zaziswe kuye uThixo.” Filipi 4: 6. Ke yena uJuda uthi, “Ke nina, zintanda, nithandaza niseMoyeni oyiNgcwele, hlalani nihleli eluthandweni lukaThixo.” (Jude 20, 21.) Uzingiso emthandazweni lumanyano olungaqhauke-ndawo phakathi koThixo nomphefumlo, ukuze ubomi obuvela kuThixo buthululelwe ebomini bethu; nakobethu ubomi kuphume ubunyulu nobungcwele bubuyele kuThixo.

Inkuthalo ekuthandazeni ifuneka kakhulu; ngoko musa ukuvumela nanye into ukuba ikuphazamise. Yenza yonke imigudu yokubugcina busoloko buhleli ubudlelane obuphakathi koYesu nomphefumlo wakho. Wafune onke amathuba okuya apho umthandazo uhlala usenzelwa khona. Aabo babufuna ngenyani ubudlelane noThixo baya kubonwa ezintlanganisweni zokuthandaza, bethembhekile ekwenzeni umsebenzi wabo, benenyameko nolangazelelo lokuvuna zonke iintsikelelo abanokuzizuza. Baya [76] kuwalungiselela onke amathuba okuzimisa apho banokwamkela imitha yokukhanya okuvela ezulwini.

Masithandaze esigqebeni sekhaya; singakutyesheli ngokungakumbhi ukuthandaza ngasese; kuba oko kububomi bomphefumlo. Yinqaba ukuba umphefumlo ungaphila ngaphandle komthandazo. Akwanele ukuthandaza nosapho lwakho ekhaya okanye esidlangalaleni. Yithi, xa uwedwa, uwandlale umphefumlo phambhi kweliso eligocagocayo likaThixo. Umthandazo wangasese ma uviwe kuphela nguThixo ova imithandazo. Akukho ndlebe yimbhi ema iphulaphule imigulo yezikhungo ezinjalo. Kumthandazo wangasese umphefumlo ukhululekile kwiimpembhelelo nakwiziphazamiso zangaphandle. Ngokuzola, noko uvutha, uya zolulela kuThixo. Zisuke zibe mnandi iimpembhelelo eziphuma kulowo ubona entsithelweni, ondlebe ihleli ivulekile ukuphulaphula umthandazo ophuma entliziyweni. Uthi umphefumlo, ngokholo lwawo oluzolileyo, ube nobudlelane noThixo, uzihlanganisele imitha yokukhanya okungcwele, ukuze womelezeke uxhaseke kwidabi lawo noSatana. UThixo uyinqaba yamandla ethu.

Thandaza egumbhini lako; uthi naxa wenza umsebenzi wakho wemini, ibe yona intliziyo yakho isoloko uyiphakamisele kuThixo. Kwaba njalo ukuhambha kukaEnoki noThixo. Lemithandazo yangasese, inyuka njengesiqhumiso esivumbha limandi ukuya kuyo itrone yobabalo. Akanako uSatana ukumoyisa ontliziyo yayame kuThixo ngalendlela.

Akukho xesha nandawo ekungathiwa kuyo umntu akangethandazi kuThixo. Akukhonto inako ukusithintela ukuba siphakamisele iintliziyo zethu ngomoya womthandazo onenyameko. Ezihlweleni zasezitratweni, nasemsebenzini, sinako ukwenza isicelo kuThixo, sicele ukuba asikhokele njengokuba uNehemiya weenza njalo oko wayesenza isicelo phambhi kokumkani uArtashashta. Igumbhi lokuthandaza unako umntu ukulifumana naphina. Masihlale siluvulile ucango lwentliziyo, simmeme uYesu ukuba eze ahlale emiphefumlweni yethu njengondwendwe lwasezulwini.

Nakubeni kungakho iimpembhelelo ezikhohlakeleyo ezisingqongileyo, asingewurogoli umoya wazo ombi, kodwa sinokuphila siphefumle intlengethwa emnandi yezulu. Sinokuwavala onke amakroba okungena kweengcinga ezimbhi ngokuwunyusela umphefumlo kuye uThixo ngomthandazo onyanisekileyo. Aabo bantliziyo zivulelwe ukwamkela intsikelelo kaThixo, baya kuhambha emoyeni obungcwele bungaphezulu kunobu balomhlaba, baze basoloko benobudlelane nezulu. [77]

Kufuneka ukuba sibe nokumqonda ngokungaphezulu uYesu, siliqonde ngokungaphezulu ixabiso lazo iinyaniso zezulu. Ubuhle bobungcwele kufuneka buzizalise iintliziyo zabantwana bakaThixo; ukuze oku ke kwenzeke, kufuneka sicele uThixo ukuba asityhilele izinto zezulu.

Masiwolulele phezulu umphefumlo wethu, ukuze uThixo asiphe umoya waphezulu. Singasondela kuThixo kangangokuba kuso sonke isilingo esisiqubulayo, iingcinga zethu sizibhekise kuye njengoko intyatyambho ikhangela elangeni.

Zigcine zonke iintswelo zakho, novuyo, neentsizi, namaxhala, nezoyiko zakho phambi koThixo. Awunako ukumdinisa, azingomthwalo kuye. Lowo ulaziyo inaani lenwele zakho ukwazikhathalele iintswelo zosapho lwakhe. “INkosi inemfesane enkulu, inenceba.” Yakobi 5: 11. Intliziyo yakhe yothando ichukumiseka kamsinya zintsizi zethu, kwa naxa sithi sizikhankanye. Yise kuye yonke into ekhathaza umphefumlo wakho. Akukho nto ingade imsinde, kuba amazwe athwelwe nguye, nguye olaula yonke imicimbhi yehlabathi. Akukho nanye into ejongene noxolo lwethu encinane ngangokuba angayiphauli. Akukho mava amnyama ebomini bethu ngangokuba angawazi; akukho ngxaki ingamnqabelayo ukuba ayityhile. Akukho nxhwaleko inokuhlela noyena mncinane kubantwana bakhe, akukho maxhala aphithizelisa umphefumlo, akukho luvuyo, kungekho nomthandazo onyanisekileyo ophuma emlonyeni womntu, athi kanti uBawo wethu osezulwini akawazi, okanye akawukhathalele. “Ulophilisa abaphuke iintliziyo, abophe amanxeba abo.” InDumiso 147:3. Ukwalamana okukhoyo phakathi koThixo nomphefumlo ngamnye kucace kwaphelela ngokungathi akukho mphefumlo wumbhi awanikela uNyana wakhe oyintando ngenxa yakhe.

U-Yesu waathi, “Niya kucela egameni lam; anditsho kuni ukuthi, ndiya kunicelela kuBawo; kuba uBawo ngokwakhe uya nithanda.” “Ndim owanyula nina ... ukuze oko enithe nakucela kuBawo egameni lam, nikunikwe.” Johane 16:26, 27; 15:16. Kodwa ke ukuthandaza ngegama likaYesu kuyinto engaphezulu kunokulibiza nje elogama ekuqaleni nasekupheleni komthandazo. Kukuthandaza ngomoya nangengcinga kaYesu, sikholwa ngawo amadinga akhe, sibambhelele kubabalo lwakhe, sisebenza imisebenzi yakhe.

U-Thixo akangi singaba ngamalolo, sithi njengamagogo sizivalele ezindlwini zethu singasebenzi nto ngaphandle kokuthandaza. Ubomi bethu mabube njengobukaKristu — sithi sisentabeni sibe sisesihlweleni. Umntu ongasebenzi nto yimbhi nga- [78] phandle kokuthandaza wobehle adinwe ayeke okanye imithandazo yakhe ibe sisiqhelo nje esiphindwaphindwayo. Bathi abantu bakuzikhetha kwabanye abantu, babekude nomhlaba womsebenzi wobuKristu nokuthwala umnqamlezo; bakuba beyekile ukuyisebenzela iNkosi eyabasebenzela yona ngenyameko, balahlekelwe ngowona mxholo womthandazo, bangabi nanto ibaphembhelela ukuba bathandaze ngokuzinikela. Imithandazo yabo isuka ibe yeyokuzithandela, babalibale abanye. Abakwazi ukuthandazela iintswelo zolunye uluntu okanye ukwakheka kobukumkani bukaKristu, bathandazele amandla okusebenza.

Siyalahlekelwa xa silihilizela ithuba lokuhlanganisana ndawonye ukuba somelezane sikhuthazane enkonzweni kaThixo. Zisuka iinyaniso zeliZwi lakhe zilahlekwe kukucaca nokubaluleka kwazo ezingqondweni zethu. Kusuka kuphele ukukhanyiselwa nokuvuselelwa kweentliziyo zethu zimpembhelelo ezingcwalisayo, sethe emoyeni. Ekuhlanganeni kwethu njengamaKristu silahlekwa kakhulu ngenxa yokuswela uvelwano omnye komnye. Umntu osuka azikhwebule kwamanye amaKristu abe yinto ezigcine yodwa, akenzi umsebenzi awayebekelwe ukuba enze wona nguThixo. Ukwakhiwa kweziseko zobuntu ezimeni zethu kusenza ukuba sibe novelwano nabanye, kukwa yindlela yokusikhulisa nokusinika amandla enkonzweni kaThixo.

Ukuba amaKristu ebengathi ahlanganisane, axoxe kunye ngothando lukaThixo, nangeenyaniso ezinkulu zenkululo yawo, iintliziyo zawo beziya kuvuseleleka, ukuze nawo avuselelane. Besingafunda ngakumbhi ngoBawo wethu wesezulwini, sibe namava amatsha ngobabalo lwakhe; sithi ke xa sikwenzayo oku, zisuke iintliziyo zethu zibe shushu zomelezeke. Ukuba besithetha sicinga ngokungaphezulu ngoYesu, nakancinane ngeziqu zethu, besiya kuhlala simbona ngaphezu koko simbona ngako ngoku.

Ukuba besingacinga ngoThixo futhi kangangokuba sinobunqhina bokusikhathalela kwakhe, besiya kuhlala simkhumbhula ngeentliziyo zethu, sithande ukuthetha ngaye nokumdumisa. Sithetha ngezinto zenyama kuba sizikhathalele. Sithetha ngezihlobo zethu kuba sizithanda; uvuyo lwethu neentlungu zethu zivelana nazo. Kanti ke kukho imbhangi engaphezulu yokuba simthande uThixo ngaphezu kwezihlobo zethu zasemhlabeni; kwaye kufuneka ukuba ibe yeyona nto ifaneleke kwaphela kuthi apha emhlabeni ukumbeka kuqala kuzo zonke izicamango zethu, sithethe ngobulungisa bakhe sixele nangamandla akhe. Ubutyebi asinike bona waye ngasinikele ukuba buziphange iingqondo zethu nothando lwethu ngangokuba singabi nanto singayinikela [79] kuThixo; bobokusoloko busikhumbhuza ngaye, nokusibophelela ngeembhophelelo zothando nombulelo kumSizi wethu osezulwini. Sihleli kufutshane kakhulu kwiindawo eziphantsi zelizwe. Masiwaphakamisele phezulu amehlo ethu akhangele kolocango lwengcwele yaphezulu, apho ukukhanya kozuko lukaThixo kubengezela khona ebusweni bukaKristu, “onako nokubasindisa kanye aabo bezayo ngaye kuThixo.” Hebere 7: 25.

Sifanelwe kukumbulela ngaphezulu uThixo “ngenceba yakhe, nemisebenzi yakhe ebalulekileyo koonyana babantu.” (InDumiso 107: 8.) Imithandazo yethu mayingapheleli kuphela ekuceleni nasekwamkeleni. Masingasoloko kuphela sicinga ngeentswelo zethu, singakhe sicinge nangeentsikelelo esizamkeleyo. Asithandazi ngokugqithisileyo, kodwa noko sibulela kancinane. Sihlala sisamkela iintsikelelo zikaThixo futhi, kanti noko kunjalo asinawo umbulelo, simdumisa kancinane ngezinto asenzele zona.

Ngexa lakudala uYehova wawayalela amaSirayeli ukuba athi akuhlanganisana enkonzweni yakhe, wathi, “nidle khona phambhi koYehova uThixo wenu, nivuye entweni yonke enisa isandla senu kuyo, nina nezindlu zenu, akusikeleleyo kuyo uYehova uThixo wakho.” Duteronomi 12: 7. Konke okwenzelwa udumo lukaThixo kufanele ukwenziwa ngemigcobo, ngeengoma nendumiso nemibulelo, kungenziwa ngosizi nokukhedama.

U-Thixo wethu nguThixo onobubele, nonenceba. Inkonzo yakhe mayingaphathwa ngokuthe kunubembhe, nangokungathi iyimbhandezelo. Kufanele ukuba yimincili emikhulu ukunqula uYehova nokuba nesabelo emsebenzini wakhe. U-Thixo akathandi ukuba luthi usapho lwakhe, olwenzelwe usindiso olungaka, lwenze ngokungathi uyiNkosi elukhuni nengqabalala. Ungumhlobo walo omkhulu; xa lumkhonzayo, unga angaba nalo, alusikelele alonwabise, ezizalisa iintliziyo zalo ngovuyo nothando. U-Yehova uthanda ukuba usapho lwakhe lonwabe ekumkhonzeni, luchwayite ekwenzeni umsebenzi wakhe, ngaphezu kokuba lube nobunzima. Unga aabo abaza kuqubuda kuye bangemka bethwele iingcinga ezimnandi zenkathalelo nothando lwakhe, ukuze bakhuthazeke kuyo yonke imisebenzi yokuphila kwabo kwemihla ngemihla, babe nobabalo, lokusebenza ngokuthembeka nokukholeka kuzo zonke izinto.

Masingqonge umnqamlezo. U-Kristu obethelwe emnqamlezweni ufanele ukuba abe yeyona nto isezingcingeni zethu, nesincokola ngayo, nolona luvo lulolona lusivuyisayo. Masihlale sigcine ezintliziyweni zethu zonke iintsikelelo esizamkela kuThixo, sithi sakuluqonda uthando lwakhe, sikulungele ukuzila- [80] hlela ngayo yonke into kulowo uzandla zabethelwa emnqamlezweni ngenxa yethu.

Umphefumlo unganyukela kufuphi nezulu ngamaphiko endumiso. U-Thixo unqulwa ngengoma nangesandi sezinto ezikhaliswayo kumabhothwe aphezulu, nathi ke xa sivakalisa umbulelo wethu sifuzisa olonqulo lwemikhosi yasezulwini. “Obingelela umbulelo uya ndizukisa” mna Thixo. (InDumiso 50: 23.) Masize phambhi komDali wethu ngokululama novuyo, sine “mibulelo nezwi lokumemelela.” (Isaya 51: 3.) [81]

12. OMAKWENZIWE NGENTANDABUZO

BANINZI, ngokukodwa aabo abasandula ukubuqala ubomi bobuKristu, abathi maxa wambhi bakhathazwe zingcinga zokungakholwa. Kukho izinto ezininzi eBaibileni abangenakuzichaza, okanye ukuziqonda, asuke uSatana asebenzise ezondawo ukuzama ukushukumisa inkolo yabo eziBhalweni njengentyilelo evela kuThixo. Babuza bathi, “Ndingayazi njani na indlela eyiyo? Ukuba iBaibile ngenene ililiZwi likaThixo, ndingathini na ukuze ndikhululeke kwezintandabuzo neengxaki zayo?”

U-Thixo akakhe asizamele ukuba sikholwe engathanga kuqala asinike ubunqhina obaneleyo bento esifanele ukuluseka phezu kwayo ukholo lwethu. Ubukho bakhe, isimilo sakhe, ukunyaniseka kweliZwi lakhe, zonke ezizinto zisekwe ngobunqhina obucacileyo; obubunqhina ke buninzi. Kodwa noko kunjalo, uThixo akazange ayishenxise kanye indlela yokungena kwentandabuzo. Ukholo lwethu lwayame phezu kobunqhina, kungekuko embonakalweni. Aabo bafuna ukuthandabuza bobanalo ithuba lako; ekubeni aabo balangazelela ngenene ukuyazi inyaniso baya kubufumana bubuninzi ubunqhina abangaseka phezu kwabo inkolo yabo.

Kuyinto enzima kuzidalwa ezinqondo zinomda njengathi ukusiqonda kanye isimilo okanye imisebenzi yalowo uNgaphelendawo. Nakweyona ngqondi inkulu ebantwini isiQu soyiNgcwele siyakuhlala sisoloko siyimfihlelo. “Unokufikelela na ezingontsingontsini zikaThixo? Unokufikelela na ekufezekeni kukaSomAndla? Kuphakame ngokwamazulu; unokwenza nto ni na? Kunzulu kunelabafileyo; unokwazi nto ni na? Jobi 11: 7, 8.

Umpostile uPaulos udanduluka athi, “Hayi ubunzulu bobutyebi nobobulumko nobokwazi kukaThixo! Asikuko nokuba ayiphengululeki imigwebo yakhe, azilandeki iindlela zakhe!” Roma 11: 33. Kanti ke nakuba i-“ngamafu nesithoko-thoko ngeenxa zonke kuye, bubulungisa nokusesikweni ummiso wetrone yakhe.” InDumiso 97: 2. Sinako ke noko ukukuqonda ukusiphatha kwakhe neempembhelelo ezimqhubayo, ukuze siqonde uthando lwakhe olungenasiphelo nenceba yakhe edibene namandla akhe angaphele ndawo. Sinokwazi ngangoko kusifaneleyo ngeenjongo zakhe, ukuze ngaphaya koko sithembhele kulongalo inamandla onke, nalontliziyo izele luthando. [82] [83]

IliZwi likaThixo, njengesimilo somNinilo oyingcwele, lizele zimfihlakalo ezingenakuze ziqondwe ngokuzeleyo sithi bazingqondo ziphelelwayo. Ukungena kwesoono elizweni, ukwenziwa umntu kukaKristu, uzalo olutsha, uvuko ekufeni, nezinye izinto ezininzi eBaibileni, zimfihlelo ezinzulu ukuba zibe nokutyhilwa ngumntu nangenako ukuziqonda ngokuzeleyo. Kodwa ke asinasizathu sokulithandabuza iliZwi likaThixo ngenxa yokuba singenako ukuziqonda iimfihlelo zempatho yakhe. Nakuwo lomhlaba sisoloko sijikeleziwe zizinto esingenako ukuziqonda kakuhle. Nezona ntwana zincinane kulomhlaba zisuke zidide nezona zilumko zitshatsheleyo, zingabi nako kanye ukuzityhila. Ngamacalana onke zizimanga ezingaphaya kwengqondo yethu. Sifanele na ukumangaliswa kwezomoya izinto sakuqubisana neemfihlakalo esingenako ukuziqonda? Oku kukhohlwa sinako kubangwa bubulwelwe nabubuncinane bengqondo yomntu. U-Thixo usinike ubunqhina obaneleyo eziBhalweni ngesimilo sazo sobungcwele, akufuneki ke ukuba silithandabuze iliZwi lakhe ngenxa yokuba singenako ukuziqonda iimfihlelo zempatho yakhe.

Umpostile uPetros uthi eziBhalweni apha kukho ndawo zithile “ziqiqeka nzima, abathi abangafundileyo, nabangazimasekileyo, bazigqwethele kokwabo ukutshabalala.” 2 Petros 3: 16. Ezindawo bazithabatha abachasi abangakholwayo bazenze intsusa yokuyigqwetha iBaibile; babe bona bengazi ukuba zezona kanye zinika ubunqhina obunamandla okuphefumlelwa kwayo nguThixo. Ukuba kuphela ibineendawo esinokuziqonda ngokulula ngoThixo; ukuba ubukhulu nobungangamsha bebuyinto enako ukuqondwa zingqondwana eziphelelwayo, iBaibile le ibingasayi kuba nazo ezimpau inazo zibonisa igunya likaThixo. Bona kanye obubuhle nobunzulu bemfihlakalo bezinto ezibhaliweyo kuyo kufanele ukuba kuphembhelele inkolo yethu kuyo, siyiqonde ukuba ililiZwi likaThixo.

I-Baibile ityhila iinyaniso ezithe, ngokucaca nangokulungelelana kwazo neentswelo nezilangazelelo zentliziyo yomntu, zasuka zamangalisa zachwayitisa nabona bantu bangqondo zinkulu, yaye kanjalo imnceda othobekileyo nongafundanga ukuba ayiqiqe indlela yosindiso. Kanti noko kunjalo ezinyaniso zinikwe ngalendlela icacileyo zithetha ngeendawo eziphakame, nezithe ukulenga-lenga ukuba kude neengqondo zoluntu, zasuka zasixaka, sasesizamkela kuba zithethwe nguThixo. Ngalendlela ke lityhiliwe kuthi icebo lokukhululwa kwethu, ukuze wonke umntu awabone amabanga afanele ukuwathatha okuguqukela kuThixo, nawokholo ngakuyo iNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu, ukuze sisindiswe nge- [84] ndlela kaThixo emiselekileyo. Kanti ke phantsi kwezinyaniso ngathi ziqiqeka lula, kufihlakele iimfihlelo ezizimeze uzuko lwakhe — iimfihlelo eziyoyisayo ingqondo yakuba iziphengulula ngenyameko, noko kunjalo zimbange lowo uyifuna ngenyameko inyaniso ukuba abenentlonelo nokholo. Ngokuya eyiphengulula iBaibile, kokhona iya iba nzulu ingqiniseko yokuba ililiZwi loThixo ophilileyo, ibonakale ingqondo yomntu izithoba isoyiseka phambhi kobungangamsha bentyilelo yobuThixo.

Ukuvuma ukuba asinako ukuziqonda iinyaniso ezinkulu zeBaibile, kukuvuma ukuba ingqondwana zethu azanele ukuba zingakuqonda okungaphelendawo; nokuba umntu, ngolwazana lwakhe oluqingqiweyo, akanako ukuzazi iindlela zalowo uNgolumkekwaphela.

Ngenxa yokuba bengenakuzivumbhulula zonke iimfihlelo zikaThixo, abachasi neengqola basebesuka belilahla; kwaye asingabo bonke nakwabakholelwayo yiBaibile abamsulwa engozini ngakulendawo. Umpostile uthi, “Lumkani bazalwana, hleze kubekho kubani wenu intliziyo engendawo, engakholwayo, enokumka kuThixo ophilileyo.” Hebere 3: 12. Kulungile ukuzicokisa iimfundiso zeBaibile, nokuziphengulula izinto “ezinzulu zikaThixo,” (1 Korinte 2: 10) kangangoko zityhiliweyo kuthi eziBhalweni. Ekubeni “Izinto ezisitheleyo zizezikaYehova uThixo wethu,” “izinto ezityhilekileyo zezethu.” (Duteronomi 29: 29.) Kodwa ke ngumsebenzi kaSatana ukuwagqwetha amandla engqondo okuianda izinto. Kubakho ikratshi elithile elidibana nokuphengululwa kweziBhalo, elibanga abantu bazive bediniwe boyisiwe bakuba bebona bengenako ukuziqonda zonke iindawo zesiBhalo ngokubanelisayo. Kukuzithoba gqitha kubo ukuvuma ukuba abawaqondi amazwi aphefumlelweyo. Abavumi ukulinda ngomonde ade uThixo abone kufanelekile ukuyityhila inyaniso kubo. Basuka bacinge ukuba ubulumko babo bungancedwanga banele ukubenza ukuba basiqonde isiBhalo, bathi ke bakungaphumeleli koku, basebeliphika igunya laso. Kuyinene ukuba izimvo neemfundiso ezininzi ekukholise ukucingwa ukuba zithatyathwa eBaibileni, azinasiseko emfundisweni yayo, zaye ngenyani zinxamnye nawo wonke umoya wempefumlelo. Zezi zinto kanye ezisuke zabanga intandabuzo nokuxakeka kubantu abaninzi. Asilotyala leliZwi likaThixo elo, kukugqwethwa kwalo ngabantu.

Ukuba bekunokwenzeka ukuba izidalwa ezidaliweyo zifikelele ekumqondeni ngokupheleleyo uThixo nemisebenzi yakhe, beziya kuthi ke, kuba zikufikelele oko, kungabi sabakho kuzo mfuneko vakufuna nyaniso yimbhi, nakukhula elwazini, nakuhlaziyeka [85] kumbhi kwengqondo okanye intliziyo. U-Thixo ebeya kupheza ukuba ngowongamileyo kuko konke; aze umntu, kuba efikelele encamini yolwazi nokunokufikelelwa, apheze ukuhambhela phambhili. Masimbulele uThixo kuba kungenjalo. U-Thixo akanasiphelo; “bonke ubutyebi bobulumko nobokwazi” bufihlwe kuye. (Kolose 2:3.) Bangaphengulula bafunde abantu kude kube ngunaphakade, kanti ke noko abasoze babugqibe ubutyebi bobulumko, bobulungisa, namandla akhe.

U-Thixo unga, nakobubomi, iinyaniso zalo iliZwi lakhe, zingaya zityhileka ebantwini bakhe. Inye kuphela indlela okunokufunyanwa ngayo okokwazi. Sinokufikelela ekuliqondeni iliZwi likaThixo kuphela ngokukhanyiselwa ngulooMoya elanikelwa ngaye. “Izinto zikaThixo akukho namnye uzaziyo, ingenguye uMoya kaThixo;” “kuba uMoya kaThixo uphengulula zonke izinto, neenzulu zikaThixo.” 1 Korinte 2: 11, 10. NomSindisi waathi ukubabeka ngedinga abalandeli bakhe, “Xa ke athe wafika yena uMoya wenyaniso, uya kunikhokelela kuyo yonke inyaniso. .... Ngokuba eya kwamkela kokukokwam, aze anibikele.” Johane 16: 13, 14.

U-Thixo unqwenela ukuba umntu ayisebenzise ingqondo yakhe; kwaye ukufunda iBaibile kuyeyona nto iya kuyomeleza iyiphakamise ingqondo yakhe ngaphezu koqwalaselo lwayo nayiphina enye into. Noko ke, kufuneka ukuba silumke singasesisuka siyikhonza ingqondo leyo, kuba nayo ayimsulwa ebuthathakeni nasebulwelweni balo uluntu. Ukuba singa iziBhalo ezi azingesitheki kuthi, kangangokuba neenyaniso zazo ezilula zidandalaze, kufuneka ukuba singabi nakumbhi, sibe nokholo lomntwana omncinane, sihlale silungele ukufunda, sicela uncedo loMoya oyiNgcwele. Kufuneka ukuba athi amandla nobulumko bukaThixo, nokungabi nako kwethu ukubuqonda ubukhulu bakhe, zithi ezonto zisenze ukuba sizithobe, sithi ukulinqika iliZwi lakhe, singe simi phambhi kwakhe, sisuke sizaliswe luloyiko olungcwele. Xa siza kufunda iBaibile, kufuneka ukuba ingqondo yethu iqonde ukuba iza kusebenza negunya eliyongameleyo, ukuze ingqondo nentliziyo zigobe kulowo ubizwa ukuba nguNdingokhoyo omkhulu.

Kukho izinto ezingathi zinzima zinqabile ayakuthi uThixo azityhile azenze ukuba zicace kwaabo bafuna ukuba baziqonde. Kodwa ukuba asithanga sikhokelwe nguMoya oyiNgcwele, siya kuhlala sizikruna sizigqwetha iziBhalo. Kukho ukufunda iBaibile okungenalifa, okude kuthi ngamanye amaxesha kube yingozi kanye. Lakuba iliZwi likaThixo linqikwa ngaphandle kwento- [86] beko nomthandazo; zakuba iingcinga zingekuye uThixo, okanye zingalungelene nentando yakhe, ingqondo izaliswa yintandabuzo; ukuze koko kuyiqwalasela iBaibile komelele intandabuzo eyingozi. Utshaba luya zithimbha iingcinga, lungenise ndawo zimbhi ezingezizo eziyinyaniso. Ngalo lonke ixesha abantu abathi bangavani noThixo ngentetho nangezenzo, nokuba sebefunde kangakananina, basisisulu sokuphosisa ekuziqondeni kwabo iziBhalo, ingabi bobulumko ukuthembhela engcacisweni yabo. Aabo bathi xa befunda iziBhalo babe befuna iindawo ezinganqhinelaniyo, abanawo umoya wokuchana inyaniso. Bathi ngenxa yokuba ukubona kwabo sekugqwethekile basebethandabuza bengakholwa zizinto ezininzi ezicacileyo nezisemhlotsheni.

Bangade basifihle kangangoko banako, kodwa esona sizathu siyinene sokungakholwa nokuthandabuza, ngamaxesha amaninzi, kukuthanda isoono. Iimfundiso nezithintelo zeliZwi likaThixo azamkeleki konekratshi, ontliziyo ithanda isoono, nakulowo ungavumiyo ukulilulamela, usuka alithandabuze igunya lalo. Ukuze sibe nokufikelela enyanisweni kufuneka ukuba silangazelele ngenyaniso ukuyazi, nentliziyo ivulekele ukuyithobela. Bonke ke abayifunda ngalomoya iBaibile baya kufumana ubunqhina obuninzi bokuba ililiZwi likaThixo, baze bamkele ukuziqonda iinyaniso eziya kubenza ukuba babe nobulumko obubasa elusindisweni.

U-Kristu uthe, “Ukuba kukho othi afune ukukwenza ukuthanda kvvakhe, woyazi imfundiso le.” Johane 7: 17. Endaweni yokumana ufeketha ubuza ngezinto ongaziqondiyo, nyamekela oko kukhanya sel’unako, uya kuthi ke uzuze ukukhanya okungaphezulu. Ngobabalo lukaKristu zalisa zonke iimfanelo ezithe zacaca engqondweni yakho, wothi ke uncedwe ukuba uqonde ufeze ezo ubusentandabuzweni ngazo ngoku.

Kukho ubunqhina obuvuleleke kubo bonke — kwabona bafunde kakhulu, nakwabona bangafundanga mpela — ubunqhina bamava omntu. U-Thixo ufuna ukuba sibuqonde ngokwethu ubunyaniso beliZwi lakhe, nokuqiniseka kwamadinga akhe. Uthi, “Yizani nibone ukuba ulungile uYehova.” (Indumiso 34: 8.) Endaweni yokuthembhela elizwini lomnye umntu, uthi masiziqondele ngokwethu. Uthi, “Celani, niya kwamkela.” Yohane 16: 24. Amadinga akhe aya kuzaliseka. Akazange aphuthe; akanakuze aphuthe. Sakuba ke sisondela kuYesu sivuyiswa yinzaliseko yothando lwakhe, intandabuzo nobumnyama ziya kupheliswa kukukhanya kwembonakalo yakhe.

Umpostile uPaulos uthi, uThixo “wasihlangula egunyeni lobu- [87] mnyama, wasifudusela ebukumkanini boNyana wothando lwakhe.’’ (Kolose 1: 13.) Wonke ke umntu odluleyo kuko ukufa wangena ebomini unako “ukutywina aqinisele ukuthi, uThixo uyinyaniso.” (Johane 3: 33.) Unako ukunqhina athi, “Ndandifuna uncedo, ndaza ndalufumana kuYesu. Wandinika konke endikufunayo, wakwanelisa ukulambha komphefumlo warn, kungokunje iBaibile kum isisityhilelo sikaKristu. Uya ndibuza ukuba ngani na ukuba ndikholwe kuYesu? — kungokuba kum ungumSindisi oNgcwele. Kungani na ukuba ndikholelwe eBaibileni? — Ngokuba ndiyifumene ukuba ili-zwi likaThixo kuwo umphefumlo warn.” Singaba nabo ubunqhina kuthi ngokwethu bokuba iBaibile iyinyaniso, nokuba uKristu unguye uNyana kaThixo. Siyazi ukuba asilandeli zona iintsomi zobuqhetseba.

U-Petros ubayala abazalwana bakhe athi, “Khulani ke elubabalweni nasekuyazini iNkosi yethu umSindisi uYesu Kristu.” (2 Petros 3: 18.) Xa abantu bakaThixo bekhula elubabalweni, baya kuya beliqonda ngakumbhi iliZwi lakhe. Baya kufumana ukukhanya okutsha nobuhle ezinyanisweni zalo ezingcwele. Oku kube yinyaniso ebalini lebandla kuwo onke amaphakade, kuya kuhlala kunjalo kude kube sekupheleni. “Ke wona umendo wamalungisa unjengokukhanya komso, okuya kuba mhlophe ngokuba mhlophe, kude kube semini enkulu.” ImiZekeliso 4: 18.

Ngokholo sinako ukukhangela kwixesha elizayo, silibambhe idinga likaThixo lokuba siya kukhula engqondweni, athi onke amandla omphefumlo wethu edibene namandla kaThixo akhokelelwe kumThombho wokukhanya. Sinako ukuvuyela ukuba kuthe konke obekusixaka kwindalo kaThixo kwacaciswa; zaza zathi izinto ebeziqiqeka nzima zaba nokutyhilwa, kwaza kwathi kobekuphithizela kububuvuvu ezingqondweni zethu eziphelelwayo, kwabonakala kulungelelene kukuhle. “Kuba ngoku sikhangela esipilini ngokwamanakanibe; oko ke, siya kukhangelana ebusweni. Ngoku ndazi ngokuyinxalenye; oko ke ndiya kwaazi kakuhle, njengoko ndaziwayo nokwaziwa nam.” 1 Korinte 13: 12. [88]

13. UKUVUYELA ENKOSINI

USAPHO lukaThixo lubizelwe ukuba lube ngabameli bakaKristu, ababonakalalisa ubulungisa nenceba zeNkosi. Njengo kuba uYesu esityhilile kuthi isimilo soYise, nathi sifanele ukumtyhila uKristu kweli lizwe lingayaziyo inceba yakhe nothando lwakhe. “Njengokuba wandithuma ehlabathini, nam ndibathume bona ehlabathini.” “Mna ndikubo, wena ukum, ... ukuze liqonde ihlabathi ukuba wena undithumile.” Watsho uYesu. (Johane 17: 18, 23.) Umpostile uPaulos uthi kubafundi bakaYesu, “Nibonakalalisiwe nje ukuba niyincwadi kaKristu,” “iyaziwa ileswa ngabantu bonke.” (2 Korinte 3: 3, 2.) Ngaye wonke umntwana wakhe uYesu uthumela incwadi ehlabathini. Ukuba ungumlandeli kaKristu, uyincwadi yakhe ayithumela kolosapho, loo lali, eso sitrato uhlala kuso. U-Yesu ohleli kuwe unqwenela ukuthetha ngawe kwiintliziyo zaabo bangamaziyo. Mhlaumbhi abayifundi iBaibile bona, okanye abaliva ilizwi elithethayo nabo emaphepheni ayo; abaluboni uthando lukaThixo olukuyo imisebenzi yakhe. Kodwa ukuba ungummeli onyanisekileyo kaYesu, kunokwenzeka ukuba ngawe batsalelwe ekubeni babe nento abayiqondayo ngokulunga kwakhe, bade bazuzelwe ekumthandeni bamkhonze.

AmaKristu amiswe ukuba abe ngabathwali-kukhanya endleleni esinga ezulwini. Amiselwe ukuba ancede ihlabathi ngokukhanya kwawo akuzuza kuKristu. Ubomi bawo nesimilo sawo sifanele ukuba sibe sesikhokelela abanye ukuba babe nokumqonda ngokukuko uKristu nomsebenzi wakhe.

Ukuba uKristu simqondakalalisa kakuhle, siya kuyenza inkonzo yakhe ibe nomtsalane, njengokuba injaio kakade. AmaKristu ahlala elusizi, ethe matsha-matsha, ekhwina ekhalaza, aya balahlekisa abanye ukuba bangamqondi kakuhle uThixo nento obuyiyo ubomi bobuKristu. Banika imbonakalo yokungathi uThixo akathandi ukuba usapho lwakhe lonwabe, baze ke ngako oku banqhine ubunqhina obubuxoki ngakuye uBawo wethu osemazulwini.

U-Satana usuka avuye ade agqakadule akubona ukuba abantwana bakaThixo uyaboyisa ukuba bangakholwa bamatsheke. Uya vuviswa kakhulu kukubona ukuba asimthembhi uThixo. ukuba siva kuthandabuza ukuba uyathanda enamandla kanjalo okusisindisa. Ukuthanda kakhulu ukuhlala esoyikisa side simci- [89] ngele ukuba uThixo uza kusenzakalisa ngempatho yakhe. Ngumsebenzi kaSatana ukuhlala eyigqwetha iNkosi eyenza ngathi iswele inceba ayivelani namntu. Uya yifihla inyaniso xa ethetha ngayo. Intelekelelo yomntu uyizalisa ngobuxoki ngaye uThixo; ukuze endaweni yokuba sihlale enyanisweni ngakuBawo wethu lowo wasezulwini, nathi sihlale sicinga ngobobuxoki bukaSatana, simdele uThixo ngokungamthembhi nokumkhalazela. U-Satana usoloko wafuna ukubenza ubomi bobuKristu ubomi besithukuthezi. Ufuna ukuba bukhangeleke ngathi bunzima buneenkathazo; athi ke umKristu akubonakalalisa oku ebomini bakhe, abe, ngokungakholwa kwakhe, uthelela kubuxoki bukaSatana.

Baninzi abathi ukuyihambha lendlela yobomi, bahlale becinga ngobugqwidigqwidi nokusilela nokudaniswa kwabo, zisuke iintliziyo zabo zizaliswe lusizi nakukuncama. Xa ndandise-Europe, ndabhalelwa ngudade othile, owaye kobubume endicela ukuba ndimomeleze. Ndathi ngobusuku obusemva koko ndayifunda ngabo lencwadi yakhe, ndaphupha ngathi ndisentsimini ethile ndihambha nomnini ntsimi lowo endibonisa imithi yayo. Ndandihambha ndiqhaula intyatyambho ezazikuyo ndivuyiswe livumbha lazo elimnandi, waza lodade, owayehambha ecaleni lam, wayitsalela ingqondo yam kuvaba lameva amabi aye sendleleni yakhe, emthintele ukuba angadluli. Naanko ke emi elila ebuhlungu. Waye ngahambhi ngendlela elandela umkhokeli wethu lowo ungumnini ntsimi, kodwa ube hambha yena phakathi kwezibetha-nkunzi nameva. Uthe elila, “Hayi into embhi ukuthi intsimi enje ukubantle kwayo yoniwe ngameva.” Uvakele ephendula esithi umkhokeli, “Wayeke ameva kuba aya kukuhlaba akwenzakalise. Yikha wena imifiyo neenyibiba nezinye iintyatyambho.”

Akukho maxesha akha amnandi na kuwe kwawakho amava? Akunamizuzu ikhe yayola na, yamnandi intliziyo yakho wakungenwa nguMoya kaThixo? Akunamihla na ebomini bakho obudlulileyo othi wakucinga ngayo ubonakale uncuma? Amadinga kaThixo kuwe akafani nentyatyambho ezivumbha limnandi na eziphahle indlela yakho? Akunqweneli na ukuba ubuhle nokunuka mnandi kwazo kungazalisa intliziyo yakho ngovuyo?

Ameva lawo kunje wona aya kukwenzakalisa akwenze buhlungu; ukuba ke uhlanganisa kuphela izinto ezinjengawo, uze uzibeke phambhi kwabanye, akuyikuba uya budela na ubulungisa bukaThixo, ube uthintela naabo bakungqongileyo ukuba bangahambhi kuyo indlela yobomi?

Akukuhle ukuba umntu amane ukuthutha ebeka ecamanga ngezinto ezimbhi awakha wazenza,— ezinjengezigqitho zakhe [90] nezinto ezakha zamdanisa. Akukuhle ukuhlala ethetha ngazo ezililela zide zimoyise zimenze aphelelwe ngamendu, ancame. Umphefumlo otyhafileyo ugutyungelwe bubumnyama, ubuvalele ngaphandle ukukhanya kukaThixo, ubeke isithunzi endleleni yabanye.

Mbuleleni uThixo ngemifanekiso yokukhanya ayibeke phambhi kwethu. Masizibuthele ndaweni nye izingqinisiso zothando lwakhe, ukuze sihlale sizibona amaxesha onke. U-Thixo unga singahlala sicamngca ngoNyana wakhe owashiya itrone kaYise, wabambhathisa ubuThixo bakhe ngobuntu ukuze abe nokumkhulula umntu egunyeni likaSatana. Unga singacamngca ngokusoyisela kwakhe, walivulela umntu izulu ukuba alibone igumbhi elinesihlalo sikaThixo apho alutyhila khona uzuko lwakhe. Unga singacamngca ngokukhutshwa kohlanga oluwileyo emhadini wentshabalalo apho lwalweyeliselwe khona sisoono, luziswe kwakhona ebudlelaneni noThixo ongaphele-ndawo, ukuze akuba eluphumelele ucikido lukaThixo ngokholo kumSindisi wethu, wambheswa ngobulungisa bukaKristu aphakanyiselwe kuyo itrone kaThixo.

Xa singathi siya luthandabuza uthando lukaThixo, singawathembhi amadinga akhe, siyamdela noMoya oyiNgcwele simenze buhlungu. Yena umzalikazi obantwana bahlala bekhalaza, njengokungathi akabakhathalele, phofu esaphuka ngabo imihla yonke ezamela ukubonwabisa; ube ngabacingela njani na aabo bantwana? Ukuba bebe ngaluthandabuzayo uthando lwakhe; lonto ibi ngamaphula intliziyo yakhe. Ube ngeva njani na umzali bakumphatha ngolohlobo abantwana bakhe? Nithi ke usikhangela njani na uBawo wethu osezulwini sakuluthandabuza uthando lwakhe, kanti nje wada wanikela uNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo ukuze sizuze ubomi ngaye? Umpostile ubhale wathi, “Lowo, gxebe, ungamconganga owakhe uNyana, wesuka wamnikela ngenxa yethu sonke, angathini na ukuba angasibabali zonke ezo zinto, ndawo nye naye?” Roma 8: 32. Kanti baninzi kangakanani na abathi, ngezenzo nokuba abathethi na, “Lento ayenzelwe mna yiNkosi. Mhlaumbhi iyabathanda abanye, kodwa mna ayindithandi.”

Konke oku konakalisa owakho umphefumlo; kuba ilizwi ngalinye lokuthandabuza olithethayo limema izihendo zikaSatana; lomeleza ngaphakathi kwakho umoya wentandabuzo, lenze ukuba izithunywa zezulu ezikulungiselelayo zimke kuwe zibuhlungu. Wakuba ulingwa nguSatana musa ukuvakalisa ilizwi lentandabuzo okanye lokungaqondi. Ukuba ukhetha ukuluvula ucango [91] kumacebiso akhe, ingqondo yakho iya kuzaliswa kukungathembhi nemibuzo yovukelo. Ukuba uya zivakalisa izimvo zakho, yonke intandabuzo oyivakalisayo ayaneli kuphumela wena ngokwakho umkhosi, kodwa iba yimbhewu eya kuntshula ivelise iziqhamo ebomini babanye, kuze kube nzima ukuyibuyekeza impembhelelo yalomazwi akho. Mhlaumbhi wena unganako ukuvuka phantsi kwelothuba lokulingwa uphuncule kwizabatha zikaSatana, kodwa abanye, aabo bawexuliswe zimpembhelelo zakho, abangeze babe nako ukusinda koko kungakholwa ubangenisele kona. Kubaluleke kangakanani na ke ngoko ukuba sithethe kuphela ezonto ziya kunika amandla omoya nobomi kwabanye!

Izithunywa zezulu zihleli ziphulaphula ukuba unika bunqhina buni na ehlabathini ngayo iNkosi yakho yasezulwini. Incoko yakho ma ihlale ingalowo uphilele ukuba akuthethelele phambhi koYise. Wakuba ubambha isandla somhlobo, mdumise uThixo ngomlomo nangentliziyo yakho. Oku kuya kuzitsalela ingcamango zakhe kuYesu.

Bonke abantu banezilingo; iintlungu ekunzima ukuzithwala, izihendo ezinzima ukuzichasa. Musa ukumana uxelela abanye ngeenkathazo zakho, zithwalele zonke kuye uThixo ngomthandazo. Ziqhelise ukuba ungaze uthethe nalinye ilizwi lokuthandabuza okanye lokudanisa. Unokwenza lukhulu ukuchwayitisa ubomi babanye ubomeleze emizameni yabo ngamazwi ethembha nolonwabiso olungcwele.

Kukho imiphefumlo emininzi yamagora efingwe ngokungamandla zizihendo, ekufuphi ekuphelelweni ngamandla edabini lokulwa nesiqu kwa nawo amandla angendawo. Musa ukumethisa amandla lowo unjalo edabini lakhe elinzima. Momeleze ngamazwi enkalipho, nawethembha ayakumthundezela endleleni yakhe. Ukukhanya kukaKristu kungathi ke ngayo lendlela kukhanye kusuka kuwe. “Akukho namnye kuthi uzidlelayo ubomi.” Roma 14: 7. Ngempembhelelo yethu singazi thina, kukho abanye abangomelezwayo bakhuthazwe, okanye batyhafiswe, bemkiswe kuKristu nakuyo inyaniso.

Baninzi abanoluvo olungelulo ngobomi nangesimilo sikaKristu. Bacinga ukuba ubengenabubele namtsalane, ubenzima, ephatha kalukhuni, engqabalala, engenaluvuyo. Kufuthi ke unqulo lwabaninzi lwenziwe lwaba lubi zezingcinga zinjalo.

Kukholisile ukuhlala kusithiwa uYesu walila, nokuba akazange abomwe encuma. UmSindisi wethu okunene waye yindoda yeentsizi nowazana nobuhlungu, kuba intliziyo yakhe ibivelana neentsizi zabantu. Noko bebunjalo nje ubomi bakhe, buzele zintlungu, wona umoya wakhe awuzange uphelelwe mandla. Ube nga- [92] hleli ethe khunubembhe okanye elusizi, kodwa ubehleli onwabile enochwayito lokuxola. Intliziyo yakhe ibingumthombho wobomi; kuzo zonke iindawo ebehambha kuzo ube zisa ukuphumla noxolo, novuyo, nokonwaba.

UmSindisi wethu waye soloko enenzondelelo nenyameko enkulu, kodwa engazange athi khunubembhe. Ubomi baabo banga bangamfuza buya kuhlala buzele zizigqibo ezihle; baya kuwuva ngokuzeleyo umthwalo wokwazi ukuba baya kuziphendulela. Ukungakhathali kuya kupheliswa; ukugeza akuyikubakho, nokuqhula okusileyo kuphele; ke unqulo lukaYesu lunika uxolo olunjengomlambho. Alukucimi ukukhanya kovuyo; aluphelisi konwaba, okanye lumnike ubuso obubi umntu. UKristu wayengeze ukuba alungiselelwe, wayeze kulungiselela; luyakuthi ke uthando lwakhe lwakulaula entliziyweni, siwulandele umzekelo wakhe.

Ukuba sihlala sibeke phambili ezintliziyweni zethu imikhwa nezenzo ezibi zabanye, kosuka kunqabe ukuba sibathande njengoko uKristu wasithanda ngako nathi; kodwa ukuba ingcamango zethu zisoloko zicinga ngothando nenceba kaKristu engummangaliso ngakuthi, loomoya unjalo uya kusuka umpompozele kwabanye. Sifanele ukuthandana sibekane, noko zikho iindawana ezimbi esibonana zona. Masizame ukuzithoba nokungazithembhi, sibe nokuzithwala ngomonde iziphoso zabanye. Oku ke kuya kukubulala konke ukuzicingela sedwa, kusinike intliziyo ebanzi nenesisa.

UmDumisi uthi, “Kholosa ngoYehova, wenze okulungileyo; lime ilizwe, ulandelane nokuthembeka.” Indumiso 37: 3. “Kholosa ngoYehova.” Umhla ngamnye unemithwalo yawo, namaxhala neenkathazo zawo; esithi sakuhlangana, sisesisuka sithetha ngeengxakeko nezilingo zethu ezo. Zithi ke zakuba ninzi iinkathazo ezingenelayo, kube kukhulu ke ukoyika, sixike ukuthetha ngamaxhala esinawo, kude kunge akukho mSindisi usivelayo, usithandayo, nohleli ekulungele ukuziva zonke izicelo zethu, abe luncedo olumsinya kuthi ngamaxesha onke.

Abanye basoloko besoyika bezibizela inkathazo. Bathi bejikeleziwe nje yonke imihla zimpha-u zothando lukaThixo; besiva ubumnandi beentsikelelo zakhe, babe noko ezintsikelelo bengazisi neso eli. Iingcinga zabo zizele zizinto ezingathandekiyo, aboyika ukuba zingabakho; mhlaumbi babangwa zingxakeko ezikhoyo ngenene, ezithi, noko zincinane, zisuke ziwamfamekise amehlo abo kwezo zinto zininzi ebebefanele ukuzibulela. Ingxakeko abazifumanayo, endaweni yokuba zibaqhubele kuThixo, yena ungo- [93] kuphela koncedo lwabo, zisuka zibahlule kuye, kuba zivuselela ukungonwabi nokungcungcutheka.

Siyalungisa na ukuba sibe nje ukungakholwa kwethu? Kungani na ukuba sibe nje ukuswela umbulelo? U-Yesu ungumhlobo wethu; lonke izulu likukhathalele ukuphila kwethu. Besingafanele ukuba siziyeke ingxakeko neenkathazo zemihla ngeemihla zisiphazamise. Sothi sakwenza njalo zisivuyelele zisiqumbise. Masiyeke ukuzahlula kwabanye abantu, sibe ziinto ezimana ukukhwina, sicinga ngezinto ezingasincediyo ukuba sibe nokuzithwala izilingo.

Ungade ungaphumeleli emsebenzini wakho; zingade izinto zibe ziya zibamnyama ngokubamnyama, ude ube uzakutshona eshishinini lakho; noko kunjalo musa ukuncama; liphose ixhala lakho phezu koThixo, uhlale uzole uchwayite. Thandazela ubulumko bokuba ube nako ukuyiqhuba imicimbi yakho ngentelekelelo, ngokwenza njalo ke uthintela ukuba kungabikho lahleko namonakalo. Zama wena ngelakho icala ukuba imicimbi yakho iphumelele. U-Thixo udinge ukuba uya kusinceda, kodwa kungengaphandle kweyethu imigudu. Xa uthe, wayame kumNcedi wethu, wakwenza konke onokukwenza, ungaqala ke ukuyikhangela impumelelo ngokuchwayita.

Asikukuthanda kukaThixo ukuba abantu bakhe bacinezelwe zimbandezelo. Kodwa ke iNkosi yethu ayikhe isikhohlise. Ayikhe ithi kuthi, “Musani ukoyika; akukho zingozi endleleni yenu.” Iyazi ukuba kukho izilingo neengozi, ithi ke isixelele ngokumhlophe. Ayikhe ithethe ngokubakhupha abantu bayo kwilizwe lesoono nenkohlakalo, kodwa ibalathisa kundawo yokuphephela engazange yoyiswe. Yathi ukubathandazela kwayo abafundi bayo, “Andiceli ukuba ubasuse ehlabathini; ndicela ukuba ubagcine kuyo inkohlakalo.” Yohane 17: 15. “Ehlabathini niya kuba neembandezelo; yomelelani, mna ndiloyisile ihlabathi.” Yohane 16: 33.

Kwintshumayelo yakhe yasentabeni, uKristu wabafundisa abafundi bakhe izifundo ezixabisekileyo ezingemfuneko yokuthembela kuThixo. Ezizifundo zazijonge ukuba zibe lulomelezo elusatsheni lukaThixo kuwo onke amaphakade, ngoku zifikelele nakwelethu ixesha zizele ziimfundiso nentuthuzelo. UmSindisi wabalathisa abafundi bakhe kwiintaka zezulu xa zintyiloza iingoma zazo ngokonwaba, zingaxhalele nto, kuba, “azihlwayeli, azivuni nokuvuna.” Kanti ke uYihlo wasezulwini uyazondla. Ubuza athi ke umSindisi, “Nina anizidlule kakhulu na?” (Mateyu 6: 26.) Umondli omkhulu wabantu neezilo usuka avule isandla sakhe [94] zize zihluthe zonke izidalwa zakhe. Neentaka ezi zezulu azincinane kuye. Akazigaleli kutya emilonyeni yazo, kodwa uya zilungiselela. Zizo ezimelwe kukuzichola ezonkozo azisasazileyo. Zizo ezimelwe kukuziqokelela iinto okwaakha iindlwana azo. Zizo ezimelwe kukudlisa amathole azo. Zisuka ziye emsebenzini wazo zivuma iingoma, kuba, “uYihlo osemazulwini uya zondla.” Ke “nina anizidlule kakhulu na?” Nina ninengqondo nje, ningabanquli ngokwasemoyeni, anizidlule kakhulu na? Ayisayi kuthi na imBhangi nomLondolozi wobomi bethu, yena Lowo wasidalayo ngokomfanekiso wakhe ongcwele, asondle ukuba siyamthemba?

U-Kristu wabalathisa kwiintyatyambho zasendle abafundi bakhe, ebabonisa ukuqhama nobuhle bazo ezibunikwe nguThixo ukuze zibe ngumboniso wothando lukaThixo emntwini. Wathi kubo, “Gqalani iinyibiba zasendle, ukuhluma kwazo.” Ubuhle nokucokiseka kwezintyatyambho zasendle kugqithe lee kubunewunewu bukaSolomon. Ezona zivatho zimbhejembheje zinako ukwenziwa bubugcisa bomntu, azinako ukuthelekiswa nobuhle bazo ezintyatyambo zidalwe nguThixo. U-Yesu uya buza, athi, ”;T, uba ke incha leyo yasendle, ethi namhla ibekho, ize ngomso iphoswe eziko, wenze njalo uThixo ukuyambhathisa, akayi kunambhathisa kakhulu ngakumbi na, bantu ndini balukholo luncinane.” Mateyu 6: 28, 30. Ukuba uThixo umzobi oyiNgcwele, uzinika iintyatyambho, ezitshabalala ngemini enye, lomabala azo maninzi a-ethe-ethe; nithi wobeka phina ukubakhathalela aabo badalwe ngokwemfano yakhe! Esisifundo sikaKristu singumthethisi koxhalileyo, singumohlwayi kwintliziyo exakekileyo, ethandabuzayo, nephelelwe lukholo.

I-Nkosi ithanda ukuba lonke usapho lwayo lonwabe, luxole, luthobele. U-Yesu uthi, “Ndishiya uxolo kuni; ndininika uxolo lwam; andininiki nje ngokunika kwehlabathi. Ma ingakhathazeki intliziyo yenu, ma ingabi nabugwala.” Yohane 14: 27. “Ezi zinto ndizithethile kuni, ukuze uvuyo lwam luhlale kuni, luthi novuyo lwenu luzaliseke.” Yohane 15: 11.

Ukonwaba okufunwa kumavo okuzithanda, kungaphandle kwendlela yemfanelo, kuyagetyeza, kokwexeshana, kuyafuduka; kusuka kudlule, kuwushiye umphefumlo uwodwa ulusizi; kodwa ke kukho uvuyo nokwanelizwa kuyo inkonzo kaThixo; umKristu akayekelwe ukuba ahambhe ekungazini; akayekelwe ekusoleni nasekudanisweni. Ukuba asinako ukonwaba kobubomi, sisenokuba nalo uvuyo sakukhangela kubomi belizwe elizayo.

Kodwa nakubo obubomi, amaKristu anako ukulufumana uvuyo ebudlelaneni naye uKristu; anako ukukufumana ukukha- [95] nya kothando lwakhe, nentuthuzelo engaphele-ndawo yabo ubukho bakhe. Onke amabanga esiwathabathayo kobubomi aya esisondeza ngakumbhi kuye uYesu, asinika amava anzulu ngakumbhi ngothando lwakhe, aya esisondeza ngakumbhi kwelokhaya loxolo. Ngoko ke masingakhe siyilahle ingqiniseko yethu, koko masibe neyona ngqiniseko yomeleleyo ngaphezulu kweyangaphambili. “Kude kwaba lapha uYehova esinceda” (1 Samuweli 7: 12), waye eya kusinceda kude kube sekupheleni. Masikhangele kuzo iintsika zesikhumbhuzo, ezisikhumbhuza ngoko isenzele kona iNkosi ukusithuthuzela nokusisindisa esandleni sombulali wethu. Masisoloko sizigcine zintsha ezingqondweni zethu iimfefe esizenzelwe nguThixo — iinyembezi awazisulayo, iintlungu awazidambisayo, namaxhala awawaphelisayo, nezoyikiso awazishenxisayo, neentswelo awaziphelisayo, neentsikelelo awasiphayo, ukuze ngalendlela somelezelwe oko kuya kusifikela kulo uhambo lwethu olusaseleyo.

Asinako ukuba singazikhangeli iingxakeko ezintsha ezisilindileyo kumadabi obubomi, kanti ke noko sinako ukukhangela koko kudluleyo kwangokunjalo kokuzayo, sithi, ‘Kude kwaba lapha uYehova esinceda.” “Kube ngangeemini zakho ukonwaba kwakho.” Duteronomi 33: 25. Isilingo asiyi kuba ngaphezu koko sinako ukukuthwala. Ngoko ke masiwuthabathe umsebenzi wethu kulondawo siwufumana ukuyo, sikholwe ukuba nokuba kuhla ntonina sowaphiwa amandla alingeneyo okuba sisithwale isilingo eso.

Kuya kuthi kamva amasango ezulu avulwe ukuba alwamkele usapho lukaThixo, ukuze avakale amazwi amnandi ezindlebeni zabo ephuma emlonyeni woKumkani wozuko, esithi, “Yizani, nina nisikelelweyo nguBawo, nibudle ilifa ubukumkani obalungiselwa nina kwa sekusekweni kwehlabathi.” Mateyu 25: 34.

Boqala ke abakhululwa bamkelelwe kwelokhaya abalungiseIelwa Iona nguYesu. Apho abalingane babo abasayikuba zezizikhohlakali zomhlaba, namaxoki, nabakhonzi-zithixo, nabancholileyo, nabangakholwayo; kooko khona baya kuqhelana naabo bamoyisileyo uSatana, abathe ngoncedo lukaThixo baba nezimilo ezifezekileyo. Zonke intlontlo zokoona, konke ukungafezeki kwesimilo okubahlungisayo apha kuya kuba kususiwe ngegazi likaKristu, buze ubuhle nokuqaqambha kozuko lwakhe, okugqithe nokukhanya kwelanga, bunikwe bona. Buze buthi ubuhle bakhe, nokufezeka kwesimilo sakhe, bukhazimle kubo, budlulise ngexabiso kwinkazimlo yangaphandle. Bema bengenasiphako phambhi [96] kwalotrone inkulu imhlophe, benesabelo kobobukhulu nakumalungelo azo izithunywa zezulu.

Xa, kengoko aya kufumana ilifa elinjalo umntu, “worola ntoni na umntu, ibe sisananelo somphefumlo wakhe?” Mateyu 16: 26. Angaba ulihlwempu, kanti noko unobutyebi kuye newonga angenakuze alinikwe lihlabathi. Umphefumlo okhululweyo, ohlanjululweyo esoonweni, owanikeleyo onke amandla awo enkonzweni kaThixo, unexabiso elikhulu. Kubakho uvuyo ezulwini nasebusweni bukaThixo nezithunywa ezingcwele ngenxa yomphefumlo omnye okhululweyo, uvuyo oluvakaliswa ngeengoma zemigcobo zoloyiso olungcwele.