1. Ukuba lokholo kuqakatheke kangakanani? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

SEWAKE wazibuza yini ukuthi, ‘UJehova angafuna yini ukusindisa umuntu onjengami ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu amngenise emhlabeni omutsha?’ Kuliqiniso ukuthi zinengi izinto okumele sizenze ukuze sisinde, kodwa okunye okuqakatheke kakhulu yilokho okwakhulunywa ngumphostoli uPhawuli lapho esithi: “Kungelakukholwa akwenzakali ukuthokozisa uNkulunkulu.” (Heb. 11:6) Lokhu kungazwakala kuyinto elula kakhulu, kodwa iqiniso yikuthi “akusimuntu wonke okholwayo.” (2 Thes. 3:2) IMibhalo le isenza sizwisise ukuthi kuqakatheke kangakanani ukuthi sisebenzele ukuba lokholo oluqinileyo.

2, 3. (a) Sifundani kuPhetro mayelana lokuqakatheka kokuba lokholo? (b) Yiphi imibuzo esizaxoxa ngayo?

² Umphostoli uPhetro wagcizelela ukuqakatheka kokuba lokholo lapho ekhuluma ngokukholwa ‘okubonakaliswa kuqotho njalo okuletha ukubonga, lenkazimulo kanye lodumo lapho uJesu Khristu esebonakaliswa.’ (Bala u-1 Phetro 1:7.) Njengoba ukuhlupheka okukhulu kusondela kangaka, akuthandabuzwa ukuthi sifuna ukuba leqiniso lokuthi silokholo oluzasenza sibe phakathi kwalabo abazanikwa umvuzo yiNkosi yethu elenkazimulo lapho isibonakaliswa. Sifuna ukuba yilabo “abakholwayo basindiswe.” (Heb. 10:39) Njengoba sifuna ukuba lokholo olunjalo, kasenzeni njengendoda eyancenga yathi: “Ake ungisize ngehlule ukungakholwa kwami!” (Mak. 9:24) Mhlawumbe singazizwa  sifuna ukutsho amazwi abaphostoli bakaJesu abathi: “Yandisa ukholo lwethu!”​—Luk. 17:5.

³ Kodwa indaba yokwandisa ukholo yenza kube lemibuzo eminengi enjengokuthi, Singalwakha njani ukholo lwethu? Singatshengisa njani ukuthi silokholo? Kuyini okungasenza sikholwe ukuthi sizaphendulwa nxa singathandazela ukwandisa ukholo?

4. Yiziphi izibonelo ezingasikhuthaza ukuthi siqinise ukholo lwethu?

⁴ Njengoba “konke okwalotshwa kudala kwalotshelwa ukusifundisa,” singathola izifundo ezinhle ezibonelweni ezinengi eziseBhayibhilini zabantu ababelokholo. (Rom. 15:4) Ukubala ngabantu abanjengo-Abhrahama, uSara, u-Isaka, uJakhobe, uMosi, uRahabi, uGidiyoni, uBharakhi labanye abanengi kungasikhuthaza ukuthi sihlole olwethu ukholo. (Heb. 11:32-35) Kanti njalo ukubala ngezibonelo zabafowethu labodadewethu abatshengisa ukholo oluqinileyo lamuhla kungasinika amandla okufuna ukuqinisa ukholo lwethu. *

5. U-Elija watshengisa njani ukuthi wayelokholo oluqinileyo kuJehova, njalo isibonelo lesi sisikhuthaza ukuba senzeni?

⁵ Esinye isibonelo esisithola eBhayibhilini ngesomphrofethi u-Elija. Zama ukuzibona ngelihlo lengqondo izehlakalo ezilandelayo ezikuveza egcekeni ukuthi u-Elija wayemethemba ngenhliziyo yonke uJehova. Lapho u-Elija etshela iNkosi u-Ahabi ukuthi uJehova wayefuna ukuletha isomiso elizweni, wakhuluma ngesibindi wathi: ‘Njengoba uJehova . . . ephila, . . . akuyikuba lamazolo njalo akuyikuba lezulu ngaphandle kokuba ngitsho.’ (1 AmaKho. 17:1) U-Elija wayekukholwa ukuthi uJehova wayezanika yena kanye labanye lokho ababekudinga ngesikhathi sesomiso. (1 AmaKho. 17:4, 5, 13, 14) Watshengisa lokuthi wayemethemba uJehova ukuthi wayezamvusa umntwana owayesefile. (1 AmaKho. 17:21) Kazange athandabuze ukuthi uJehova wayezakwehlisa umlilo utshise umhlatshelo wakhe eNtabeni iKhameli. (1 AmaKho. 18:24, 37) Kanti njalo lapho uJehova emisa isomiso, u-Elija watshengisa ukuthi wayelokholo kungakakhanyi lokukhanya ukuthi izulu lalizakuna. Watshela u-Ahabi wathi: “Hamba, udle unathe, ngoba kuzwakala umdumo wezulu elikhulu.” (1 AmaKho. 18:41) Izindaba ezinjalo zisenza sifune ukuzihlola ukuze sibone ukuthi olwethu ukholo luqine ngaleyondlela yini.

6. Kuyini okumele sikucele kuJehova ukuze sakhe ukholo lwethu?

⁶ Kasingeke senelise ukwakha ukholo ngamandla ethu. Ukholo lungesinye sezithelo zomoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu. Ngakho-ke siyabe sitshengisa ukuhlakanipha nxa singalandela iseluleko sikaJesu esiphathelane lokuthandazela lowo moya ongcwele, ngoba uJesu usiqinisekisa ukuthi uBaba ‘uzabapha umoya ongcwele labo abamcelayo.’​—Luk. 11:13.

7. Nika isibonelo esitshengisa ukuthi singenzani ukuze siqhubeke siqinisa ukholo lwethu.

⁷ Nxa sesilwakhile ukholo, kumele siqhubeke siluqinisa. Ukholo lwethu singalufanisa lomlilo. Nxa usanda kuphenjwa, ungavutha ungangame. Kodwa nxa ungayekelwa, ilangabi liyacitsha kusale amalahle, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi lawo acitshe kube ngumlotha. Kodwa nxa umlilo ungabe ulokhu ukhwezelwa ngezinye inkuni, uyaqhubeka uvutha kokuphela. Ngakho ukholo lwethu lalo luzahlala luvutha nxa singalukhwezela ngokufunda iLizwi likaNkulunkulu zikhathi zonke. Nxa siqhubeka silifunda, sizakuzwa sesilithanda kakhulu futhi sesimthanda loMlobi walo, besekusenza ukuthi ukholo lwethu luqine.

8. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sakhe njalo siqinise ukholo lwethu?

 ⁸ Kuyini okunye ongakwenza ukuze wakhe ukholo lwakho njalo uqhubeke uluqinisa? Ungasuthiseki ngalokho owakufunda ungakabhaphathizwa kuphela. (Heb. 6:1, 2) Zinike isikhathi sokuhlolisisa iziphrofetho zeBhayibhili esezagcwalisekayo ngoba zingaluqinisa ukholo lwakho. Ungasebenzisa leLizwi likaNkulunkulu njengesibuko ukuze uzihlole, ubone ukuthi ukholo lwakho luyahambelana yini lalokho okukhangelelweyo kulabo abalokholo oluqinileyo.​—Bala uJakhobe 1:25; 2:24, 26.

9, 10. Kulwakha njani ukholo lwethu: (a) ukuzihlanganisa labangane abahle? (b) ukungena imihlangano yebandla? (c) ukuya enkonzweni yasensimini?

⁹ Umphostoli uPhawuli watshela amaKhristu ayekholwa lawo wathi: “Ngokufananayo lina lami siqiniswe lukholo lomunye wethu.” (Rom. 1:12) Ukuzihlanganisa lalabo esikholwa labo kungasinceda ukuthi lathi sakhe ukholo lomunye lomunye, ikakhulu nxa silalabo asebaphumelelayo ‘ekuhlolweni kokholo lwabo.’ (Jak. 1:3) Ukuzihlanganisa labangane ababi kuyalubhidliza ukholo, kodwa ukuzihlanganisa labangane abahle kuyalwakha. (1 Khor. 15:33) Lesi ngesinye isizatho esenza sinikwe iseluleko sokuthi singakudeli “ukuhlangana,” kodwa siqhubeke “sikhuthazana.” (Bala uHebheru 10:24, 25.) Esinye isizatho yikuthi lokho esivele sikufundiswa emihlanganweni yethu kuyasiqinisa ukholo. Kuvumelana lamazwi kaPhawuli athi: “Ukukholwa kuvela ekuzweni ilizwi.” (Rom. 10:17) Siyakuqakathekisa yini ukuhlangana labanye emihlanganweni yobuKhristu zikhathi zonke?

¹⁰ Nxa sitshumayeza abantu enkonzweni yasensimini, siyabe sibancedisa ukuthi babe lokholo futhi siyabe sisakha lolwethu. Kuyasifundisa ukuba njengamaKhristu ekhulu lokuqala ayekholwa kuJehova ngokupheleleyo njalo ekhuluma ngesibindi loba ngaphi lapho ayekhona.​—ImiSeb. 4:17-20; 13:46.

11. Kuyini okwenza uJoshuwa loKhalebi baba lokholo oluqinileyo, njalo singenzani ukuze sibe njengabo?

¹¹ Ukholo lwethu luyakhula nxa singabona indlela uJehova asinceda ngayo empilweni lendlela aphendula ngayo imithandazo yethu. Yikho kanye okwenzakala kuJoshuwa loKhalebi. Batshengisa ukuthi babelokholo kuJehova lapho besiyahlola iLizwe Lesithembiso. Kodwa ngemva kwalokho, okwaluqinisa kakhulu ukholo lwabo yikubona indlela uJehova ayebancedisa ngayo kukho konke ukuphila kwabo. Yikho kungasimangalisi ukuthi uJoshuwa wakhuluma ngesibindi kuma-Israyeli wathi: “Kasikho isithembiso lasinye esihle phakathi kwalezo elazinikwa nguJehova uNkulunkuu wenu esehlulekayo.” Waphinda wathi: “Ngakho yesabani uJehova limkhonze ngokuthembeka konke. .. Mina lendlu yami sizakhonza uJehova.” (Josh. 23:14; 24:14, 15) Lathi singacina sesizizwa njengoJoshuwa nxa singanambitha ukulunga kukaJehova.​—Hubo. 34:8.

12. UJakhobe uthi singakutshengisa njani ukuthi silokholo?

¹² Sitshengisa njani ukuthi silokholo oluqinileyo? Umfundi uJakhobe uphendula umbuzo lo esithi: “Mina ngizakutshengisa ukukholwa kwami ngalokho engikwenzayo.” (Jak. 2:​18) Ngakho-ke izenzo zethu yizo ezizatshengisa ukuthi ukholo lwethu luqotho. Ake sikhangele ezinye izibonelo.

13. Kungani umsebenzi wokutshumayela uyindlela yokutshengisa ukuthi silokholo?

¹³ Ukwenza umsebenzi wokutshumayela kuyindlela enhle kakhulu esingatshengisa ngayo ukuthi silokholo. Ngenxa yani? Ngenxa yokuthi ukuze siwenze, kumele sikholwe ukuthi sekuseduze ukuthi uNkulunkulu agcwalise isithembiso sakhe sokususa umumo lo wezinto, silokholo lokuthi “kasiyikuphuza.” (Hab. 2:3) Enye indlela esingahlola ngayo ukuthi ukholo lwethu luqinile yini yikukhangela ukuthi sizimisele kangakanani ukusebenzisa isikhathi lamandla ethu enkonzweni. Senza konke okusemandleni ethu yini,  mhlawumbe size sidinge lezinye izindlela esingengezelela ngazo inkonzo yethu? (2 Khor. 13:5) Eqinisweni, ‘ukuvuma’ obala ngemilomo yethu kuyindlela elamandla kakhulu esingatshengisa ngayo ukuthi silokholo ezinhliziyweni zethu.​—Bala uRoma 10:10.

14, 15. (a) Singatshengisa njani ukuthi silokholo ekuphileni kwethu kwansuku zonke? (b) Landisa isibonelo somunye esitshengisa ukuthi ulokholo oluqinileyo.

¹⁴ Singatshengisa ukuthi silokholo langokulwisana lezinkathazo zokuphila esihlangana lazo nsuku zonke. Kungenzeka ukuthi siyagula, sizizwa siphela amandla, sihlulukelwe, singabantu abaswelayo loba siphakathi kwezinye nje izinhlupho, kodwa esiqiniseka ngakho yikuthi uJehova leNdodana yakhe ‘bazasisiza ezikhathini zokuswela kwethu.’ (Heb. 4:16) Sitshengisa ukuthi siyakukholwa lokhu ngokuthandazela ukuthi uNkulunkulu asisize langezinye izinto ezingelani lokukhonza. UJesu wathi singathandazela izinto esizidingayo empilweni, okugoqela “isinkwa sethu sansuku zonke.” (Luk. 11:3) Izindaba esifunda ngazo eBhayibhilini zisenza sikholwe ukuthi uJehova uyenelisa ukusinakekela. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho kulendlala eyesabekayo ko-Israyeli, uJehova wanakekela u-Elija ngokumnika ukudla lamanzi. “Amawabayi amlethela ukudla, isinkwa lenyama ekuseni kwathi lantambama kwaba yisinkwa lenyama, amanzi wayenatha awalesosifula” njengoba uJehova wayetshilo. (1 AmaKho. 17:3-6) Silokholo lokuthi lathi uJehova angasenzela indlela yokuthi sithole esikudingayo.

¹⁵ Kasithandabuzi ukuthi ukusebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibhili ekuphileni kwethu kungasinceda ukuthi sithole ukudla kwemihla ngemihla. Udadewethu otshadileyo ohlala e-Asia okuthiwa nguRebecca wakubona ukuthi lokhu kuliqiniso. Yena lemuli yakhe bakusebenzisa lokho okukuMathewu 6:33 lakuZaga 10:4 ngokufaka izinto eziphathelane loMbuso kuqala empilweni yabo langokuba ngabantu abakhutheleyo. URebecca uthi ngesinye isikhathi umkakhe wananzelela ukuthi umsebenzi wakhe wawusumdlela isikhathi njalo umcindezela okokuthi ubuhlobo babo loJehova basebusengozini, ngakho umkakhe wabona kungcono ukuthi awutshiye. Kodwa babelabantwana abane okwakumele babondle. Ngakho uRebecca uyasitshela okwenzakalayo, uthi: “Saqalisa ukwenza ibhizimusi yokupheka ukudla lokukuthengisa. Eminyakeni yonke le siphila ngokuthengisa,  sikubonile ukuthi uJehova kazange ake asilahle. Kalikho lelilodwa ilanga esake satshona ngendlala loba salala singadlanga.” Wena sewake watshengisa yini ukuthi uyakukholwa ukuthi iBhayibhili lisinika isiqondiso esingcono kulazo zonke lamuhla?

16. Kuyini okuzakwenzakala nxa singabeka ithemba lethu kuNkulunkulu?

¹⁶ Akumelanga sithandabuze lanini ukuthi nxa singalandela isiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu, izinto zizasihambela kuhle. UPhawuli wacaphuna amazwi kaHabakhukhi aphefumulelweyo wathi: “Abalungileyo bazaphila ngokukholwa.” (Gal. 3:11; Hab. 2:4) Yikho-ke kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi sibe lokholo kulowo olamandla okusisiza. UPhawuli usikhumbuza ukuthi uNkulunkulu nguye “ongenza okukhulu kakhulu kulalokho esikucelayo kumbe esikucabangayo, mayelana lamandla akhe asebenzayo phakathi kwethu.” (Efe. 3:20) Izinceku zikaJehova zenza konke okusemandleni azo ukuthi zenze intando yakhe, kodwa ziyakwazi ukuthi kulutshwana ezingakwenza ngamandla azo. Ngakho zibeka ithemba lazo kuJehova ukuze abusise imizamo yazo. Ngempela kuyasithokozisa kakhulu ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyasisekela!

17. (a) Isicelo sabaphostoli sokwandisa ukholo saphendulwa njani? (b) Kungani singaba leqiniso lokuthi nxa singathandazela ukwandisa ukholo sizaphendulwa?

¹⁷ Ngemva kwengxoxo le, mhlawumbe lawe ususizwa njengabaphostoli ngesikhathi besithi eNkosini yabo: “Yandisa ukholo lwethu!” (Luk. 17:5) Isicelo sabo saphendulwa ikakhulu ngePhentekhosti lika-33 C.E. lapho bethululelwa umoya ongcwele njalo bevulwa izingqondo ukuze bazwisise izinto ezizikileyo eziphathelane lenjongo kaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwaluqinisa ukholo lwabo. Ngakho-ke baqalisa umkhankaso wokutshumayela omkhulu owawungakaze ube khona ngalesosikhathi. (Kol. 1:23) Thina singalindela ukuphendulwa yini nxa singathandazela ukuthi ukholo lwethu lwande? IBhayibhili lisiqinisekisa ukuthi sizaphendulwa sibili nxa ‘singacela ngokwentando [kaNkulunkulu].’​—1 Joh. 5:14.

18. UJehova ubabusisa njani labo abalwela ukuba lokholo oluqinileyo?

¹⁸ Kuyacaca ukuthi uJehova uthokoziswa yilabo abamethemba ngenhliziyo yonke. UJehova uzasiphendula nxa singathandazela ukuthi ukholo lwethu lwande, njalo ukholo lwethu luzaqhubeka lukhula size ‘sibalwe njengabafanele uMbuso kaNkulunkulu.’​—2 Thes. 1:3, 5.