Indawo Enkulu Yothando

Ingoma Enkulu Yothando

Zefaniya 3:17

NguGabe Fluhrer

Ngenkathi nisihleli, ukuba ningathatha iBhayibheli zenu, nivule neze ndisiye encwadini kaZefaniya. Ikhona kwiTestamente Endala. Ukuba nisokhangela, kulungile. Yincwadi emfutshane kakhulu. Ikhona kwiphepha 790 ukuba nisebenzisa iBhayibheli yebhentshi; 7-9-0. Kwaye siya kufunda verse 17 yeshaphal 3 yencwadini kaZefaniya. Phambi kokuba siweve iLizwi likaThixo, masiye kuye ngomthandazo.

Nditsho ukuya ebudaleni, uThixo wethu omkhulu, Uthe wabuthembisa ukuba abantu bakho baya kubonakalisa uthando lwakho olukhulu, olungunaphakade, olungatshintshiyo. Njengoko siwisa umda wamabizo amakhulu esiwavile bulembusuku, sithandaza ukuba awele kuthi ezintweni zethu, aqengqe indlela esikubona ngayo Wena nehlabathi, nokuthi uMoya oyiNgcwele awenze aphile kuthi ukuze sibone uYesu. Kwaye sithandaza konke oku egameni lakhe elinamandla. Amen.

Zefaniya 3, verse 17. Eli iLizwi likaThixo eliyiNgcwele, eliphefumlelweyo, yaye ngoko elithembekileyo:

“I-YHWH uThixo wakho ukhona phakathi kwenu, umninzi omnye oya kusindisa; uya kuthokoza ngenxa yenu ngokuvuya; uya kunithulisa ngothando lwakhe; uya kuthandazela ngenxa yenu ngokuvuya okuphezulu.”

Ingca iyabola, iintyatyambo ziyawa, kodwa iLizwi likaThixo oPhilayo liya kuma phakade naphakade.

Iminyaka embalwa eyedlulube yayiyeyona musical idumileyo kwaye ithengiswa kakhulu eBroadway ebhaliweyo, iLight in the Piazza, eyayixelela ibali lomntu – kufuneka ndifumane la magama afanelekileyo – uFabrizio Naccarelli, owakhetha ukuthengisa amaqhina e-Italy owathandana nentombazana yakwaMelika ebhuti eItali, uClara Johnson. Kwaye kukho le sceneyo musical apho becula le ngoma yothando ebiziwa, “Say it Somehow.” Kwaye ukhuphuka lomba wothando abangakwaziyo kwenziwe ngamazwi ngaloo ndlela bacula nje igama elithi, “Ah!” Kwaye liyonwabile yadlamkisa yaye bayavuya omnye komnye ngaloo ndlela. Kwaye kwakukhona ukuhlaziywa kweNew York Times ngumgxeki omkhulu wemidlalo, uStephen Holden, yaye isihloko sokuhlaziywa kwakhe kwathi yonke into – “Iingoma Zothando Ezithetha Xa Amazwi Esilele.” “Iingoma Zothando Ezithetha Xa Amazwi Esilele.”

Umqobo Phakathi KoThixo Nathi

Kwaye uya bona, njengoko ufikile kuZefaniya 3 ngokuhlwa, sikwindawo enye njengaba thandiw' ababini kuloo ngoma. Kukho umgobo wolwimi phakathi koThixo nathi. Ungcwele yena, kodwa asikho. Kanye njengoko bekukho umgobo wolwimi phakathi waseTaliyane nowaseMelika, kukho umgobo wolwimi phakathi nathi. Kwaye nokho sifika kwivesi yeBhayibhile ngokuhlwa enokwabelana isihloko sokuhlaziywa kweNew York Times – “Iingoma zothando ezithetha xa amazwi esilela.” UZefaniya. Le ncwadi inokushwankathelwa ngokulula kakhulu ndicinga. Izahluko zokuqala, izahluko zokuqala ezimbini, yinketshiso yendawo yonke. Kwaye ke kukho indawo yokuguqula xa uThixo eqala ukuthetha ngomsebenzi wosindiso wendawo yonke awayo yenza kuwo wonke uhlanga, isizwe, nolwimi. Kwaye le ncwadi ifika kwivesi phambi kwethu – isahluko 3 verse 17. Umhlalutyi omnye ubize ngokufanelekileyo, "Yohana 3:16 yoTestamente Endala." Kucike kakhulu ukuthatha. Kufuneka sijongane noku ngokoyika nangokothuka. Kuhle kakhulu. Kuyamkholisa kakhulu. Kukho amazwi, hayi ngokwenene amazwi esinokuwathetha kodwa siza kuzama ngokuhlwa. Kwaye eyona nto iphambili ilula kakhulu. KuKristo, uThixo unathi uku thokoza ngenxa yethu. KuKristo, uThixo unathi uku thokoza ngenxa yethu. Kwaye ezo ziya kuba ziintloko zethu zimbini – uThixo unathi noThixo ngaphezulu kwethu. UThixo unathi noThixo ngaphezulu kwethu.

uThixo Unathi

Jonga kwakhona inxenye yokuqala yesivethi 17. “INkosi uThixo wakho ikhona phakathi kwenu; ngamandla oya kusindisa.” Ukususela ekukweni kwabantu, siye sabaleka kuThixo, sibaleke kithi thina, sibaleke kuloo mhlaba ungqulekileyo, sibaleke kubo bonke abelwanyana bethu kunye nabantu. Ukubaleka nguwo umonakalo omkhulu wokukweni kwabantu. Kwaye nokuba kunjalo, kwakhona nangakwakhona, iBhayibhile iyabalisa ngomThixo othanda abo ababalekileyo kuye. Uyabaxwela ngokungenakuthandala, engenakudinwa, kwakhona nangakwakhona nokuba benza ntoni; nokuba bawe kangakanani. Kwaye ingoma yothando uThixo ayihambayo iqala ngokumxwelayo, ngomthando wokubuyisa abo ababalekileyo kuye. Yinto eyothusayo. Siyasakhangela zonke iinkolo zehlabathi, kwaye xa sisenza njalo singaqhanqalaza uSigmund Freud. UFreud, emva kwayo yonke into, nguye owasekela isifundo samanje sokusebenza kwengqondo, owathi ukukholelwa kuThixo yinto yokuzalisekisa umnqweno. Siyakhetha iindlela zethu ezihle kakhulu zibe nguThixo obenga khona. Ingxaki kaFreud, nengxaki yonke inkolo ekweni, nengxaki yonke imibono yhlabathi ngaphandle kweKristu, yinto yokuba akukho namnye osengqiqira ngoThixo onjalo, bahlobo. Asingqiyanga, kuthi ukwahlukana nezikithi, akukho Thixo onjalo ehlabathini, kwaye asingqiyanga. Yinto elungileyo kakhulu ukuba yinyaniso, ngenye indlela.

NingumThixo Ohlabelelayo

Kwayo kwasekuqaleni, siqaphela ukuba sidibana noThixo ongalindelekanga kwaphela. Kwaye oku kuya kubana kwangathi kwakamsinya kuba sidibana noThixo ovelayo. Kodwa ngaphambi kokuba sifike apho, iingcaphunzi ziyavumelana – yaye xa kubhekwa kumculo, ngubani na iingcaphunzi? Ndicinga ukuba sonke singingcaphunzi ngenye indlela. Kodwa iingcaphunzi ezifumana umlinganiso wokulinganisa ezi zinto ziyavumelana ukuba mhlawumbi ingoma yothando enkulu kunazo zonke yile yeRighteous Brothers, “Unchained Melody.” Yengoma intle. Kwaye iqala kancinci ize ingene kule ngxolo ibalulekileyo. Kwaye yile nto kanye le Bible iphelele ngayo. Siza kufika kanye phambi kwengxolo yengoma yothando kaThixo. Yaqala eGadini xa uThixo weza kubazali bethu bokuqala waza wanikezela ukuhlawulela isono sabo wabagubungela ngeesikhumba zezilwanyana, yaye kwezinye iindawo zeTestamente Endala uThixo ebevelayo le ngoma yothando yedivayini yaye ibe icace ngakumbi kwamanye amanqaku yaye ibe ingacaci kangako kwamanye amanqaku. Kwaye ingena kwingxolo xa isibhakaza sibuleke phezu kweBethlehem yaye iingelosi zivelayo, “Uzuko kuThixo kwelona lizulu liphezulu, yaye phantsi komhlaba, uxolo phakathi kwabantu!” Ingena kwingxolo kuKristo.

Kwayo ndiyo into uThixo awatshela yona apha. Uthi, “INkosi uThixo wakho ikhona phakathi kwenu; yena igorha elinamandla” – singenza utoliko. Yimizekelo yebhayibhile yempi. Asisoloko siyiqonda njalo isindiso sethu njengempini, kodwa ukusukela umzuzu uYesu wabhabhaishwa kude kube ngosuku awakhuliswa ngalo kwakuyimpini. Ulwile uSathana endle, waza ulwile uSathana ecaleni lokhwe. Kwaye phakathi nendlela yonke, kwakukho imfazwe ngokuchasene nesifo, ngokuchasene nokuphazamiseka kwentshaba, ngokuchasene nokufa, ngokuchasene nawo onke amandla ehlabathi nawo onke umphumo woboni kuba uThixo oweza kuthi nguThixo oweza kusisindisa. Kwaye ungumThixo olwela abantu bakhe. Ndithe nje kule veki – akumangalisi, kwenzeka njalo ehlotyeni – ukuba ezintathu kulezihlanu zifilimu zinkulu zithengiswayo ziifilimu zamaqhawe. Siyazithanda. Asikwazi kangale. Kwaye asiyenzi nje apha, kwilizwe lonke. Iifilimu zamaqhawe esizenzayo sizithumela kwilizwe lonke, zezona filimu zinkulu zithengiswayo. Kutheni sizithanda kakhulu iinkwenkwezi zamaqhawe? Ndicinga kuba wonke umntu uyazi phandle ebunzima bakhe asikwazi kusisindisa uze silindele ukuhlangulwa. Ndicinga yiyo loo nto zisoloko zezona filimu zinkulu zithengiswayo. Asikwazi kusisindisa uze silindele ukuhlangulwa. Yaye into uThixo awitshela yona ngumprofeti wakhe ngoku, “Kukho iqhawe elinamandla eliza okulwela, eliza kusindisa, elingcono kunayo nayiphi na inkwenkwezi yamaqhawe esinokuyicinga. Kwaye uya kukuhlangula. Yaye eyodwa kuphela imfanelebo, kuya kufuneka wazi ukuba awusindisi. Yiyo loo nto. Yaye kulapho uThixo aqala khona nathi. Iqhawe eliphezulu liza – uYesu. Yiyo uThixo omi nathi.

uThixo Ngaphezu Kwethu

Kwaye ke, ndiza kukunyaniseka, ndiza kukunyaniseka kakhulu, xa ndandifunda oku ndaza ndathandaza ndaza ndalwa nombhalo, ndandingeza kude ndishiye. Ndafunda iingxelo, ndafuna ndalalela ezinye iintetho ndaza ndafunda ezinye iintetho ndaza ndathuthuzeka kakhulu ukufumana ukuba andingedwa. Kuba iivesi ezizayo zindimangalisa. Oku yiThixo ngaphezu kwethu. Khangela nam lapho evesi 17. “Uyaku chubeka ngawe ngenjongo; uyaku thulisa ngawe ngothando lwakhe; uyaku bonga ngawe ngomculo omkhulu.” Ngoku sifumene iinguumzekelo zabantu kuyo yonke le nto. Siyeva imvakalelo yovuyo. Siyeva sivuyo kakhulu siye sabhonga ngovuyo, ndicinga ukuba uninzi lwethu. Kodwa apha sifika kuThixo akwenza oko. Yaye kulapho yonke into ichubeka khona. Kulapho ngokwenene singazi nokuthi siyenze ntoni. Asinako nokuzicingela iimvakalelo zokuziva le nto kuba inzima kakhulu. Inzima kakhulu kwindlela yethu yokubumana naThixo ukucinga ngaye abhonge ngawe.

UThixo Uyabonga Ngawe

Kwaye waqaphela ukuba usebenzisa ulwimi olufanayo nolwimi awayesilufundile kwiveki ephelileyo kwiivesi 14 ukuya ku-16 apho athi enzeni kuThixo? Kwaye emva koko, uphenduka kwaza wathi, "Ayisiyo loo nto uThixo uyala ukuba siyenzeke, ukuba sijabhe kuYe, ukuba sikhwaze kwaye sihlabele kwaye sigcwaliswe ngenjabulo kuYe, yile yindawo yonke into itshintsha. Uthi ayisiyo loo nto uThixo athi siyenzeke, umprofeti athi, "UThixo wenza oko ngenu." Ukujabha. Misa kanye apho. Wena nawe niyazi, ngokuqinisekileyo, ukuba sibubi kangakanani kwimoments yethu yokuzingca. Ngaba akunjalo? Siyazi ukuba sinobubi kakhulu. UThixo usinika ngosizi kakhulu njengoko sinako ukuphatha xa Ebonisa oko, kodwa siyazi ukuba sibubi kangakanani kwimoments yethu engcono yokuzingca nathi. Kwaye emva koko sifika kule vesi. Kwaye uqaphela apho oku kuthi. Kukhona kanye ekupheleni kwencwadi apho uThixo wayesithi kubantu bakhe, "Nindishiye. Ningahambanga emva kwezinye oothixo. Ndiya kunetha isigwebo sisonke kubani nawe." Kwaye sihamba ukusuka apho ukuya apha – kuThixo ojabulayo ngenxa yabantu ababi, abakhanukayo, baphukileyo, abawileyo, abathiyo uThixo njengawe nawe.

Kwaye kuba ngcono. “Uyaya kuthulisa ngomthando wakhe.” Yinto elungileyo kude kube yile nto; kodwa ukuyiguqulela ngqo kuya kuba yile. Asiyena uThixo owenza into kuthi ekuqaleni; uThixo wenza into malunga nathi. Siya kuthi ukuyiguqulela ngolu hlobo. “Uyaya kuthula phezu kwako ngomthando wakhe.” Yinto ayenziwa yiprofeti kithi. Le yinto, kwakhona, iyamangalisa. UThixo ovuyayo kwaye olungileyo, “Ewe!” phezu kwako. Kwaye emva koko, uyamisa kwaye, njengathi siyenzi, xa siqwalasela umntu esimthandayo. Umzekeliso ongathe rhoqo kwafika kum yile. UCalley nawe bendinobudlelwane obude. Sathandana ngonyaka wakhe wokuqala eCarolina, unyaka wam wesibini-owesithathu! Kwaye xa ubudlelwane babhobhoza, ndaphumelela phambi kwakhe, kubahle kakhulu abazali bam. Kwaye ndiyaqhuba phantsi – ndiyaqhuba ngabomvu ngoku – ukusuka eGreenville, 385, ukuya e-I-26 ukuya eColumbia. Kwaye xa ndiyaqhuba umva, ndiya phezulu 26, ndiyaqwalasela ngaye – indlela ayenobuhle; ndlela ndimthanda ngayo. Andinazanga ukulinda ukuchitha yonke imihla yam kunye naye. Kwaye emva koko saba nomntwana wethu wokuqala, uyazi ukuba yina njani ukuba ungumzali. Umntwana wokuqala uza kwaye uzaliswa ziintlobo zonke zeemvakalelo, kodwa ke zikhona amaxesha uhlala nje uze umbane umntwana uze umqwalasele elele uyathula. Kwaye uthando lwakho phezu kwalomntwana – akukho ndlela yokulubeka ngamazwi, yini? Uyaluthulisa uqwalasela ukuzalisa kweemvakalelo, ukuzalisa ngokupheleleyo kothando nokonwaba onalo kulo mntwana. Kwaye uThixo wathi, “Yiloo ndlela endiyiyo nawe. Yiloo ndlela ndiziva ngayo malunga nawe.”

Kwaye, ndiyazi kwaye andifuni ukubabhalisisa amalungu ebhodi ye-RTS. Ndiyazi ukuba iikhonsheshini zethu zithini. Ithi ukuba “UThixo akhululiwe kwiimvakalelo.” Kwaye ke how do we square that, kuba yiloo nto? Kwaye le nto iikhonsheshini zithi yiyo, kukuba uThixo akudingeki ukuba aphendule kwizinto. Uyazi yonke into eza kuvela. Le nto iingxelo azithi kukuba uThixo akanazo iintlobo zeemvakalelo kuthi. Kuba ukuba ufunda abantu ababhale i-Westminster Confession of Faith, baya kuthi izinto malunga nothando lukaThixo kunye neNdlela Yakhe kunye nomnqweno Wakhe kubantu Bakhe. Kwaye konke esinokuthi ngoku kukuthi, “Ngokuqinisekileyo? Ngaba uqinisekile, uThixo?” Uthi, “Ewe!”

UThixo Ucula NgokuLoud

Kwaye uya kuthi ngakumbi kwiindawo zokugqibela kule vesi. Siwela ekuphumleni ukuya ekuculeni ngokuthula ukuthula kuthi ukuya ekuphakameni kuthi ngokucula ngokulu. Yima. Ngaba ubona kutheni singenakwenza uThixo onjalo? Ungakhangela phezulu naphansi emhlabeni. Awusoze udibane noThixo ocula; uThixo ocula yiyo owosindisa. Ubukhulu bezinto zonke zeengoma zethu nothando kunye nento yonke esiyithetha ukuze sizame ukuveza loo mvakalelo inkulu esiyivayo njengoobantu, isilele kuthi yaye iba lutho nje uthuli nem ashes kuthi xa sifika kule vesi, yaye sidibana noThixo oza kubantu abagqugqisayo njengoThixo yaye ucula! NgokuLoud! Kuba uyonwaba kuthi! Ngaba ungayithatha? Kuthi olo Thixo, oyingcwele, oweza njengoThixo – uYise, uNyana, noMoya oyiNgcwele – oye wahlala khona, othandana omnye nomnye njengoko ubuntu beTriniti bahlala bodwa. Kwaye loo nto, yiyo ibeka yodwa yinto esingakwaziyo nokuyi qonda. OThixo ucula!

Yiza, masiye mosikhe kuze sibuze, “Sitshele ngomthixo wakho. Lo ngumbuzo kuphela esiwudingayo, ‘Ngaba uyacula?’” “Hayi, hayi, loo nto yayifanelekanga.” Kunene, masiye etempileni yamaHindu. “Ngaba oothixo bakenu bacula?” “Hayi.” Masiye kwiqonga le nkolo yokuzingela yexesha langoku kuze sithi, “Sitshele ngomthixo wakho, ithuba. Ngaba uyacula?” “Hayi.” Indalo iphelele ngomvutho nomsindo ongengenanto. Yiyo loo nto okanye ukucula! Loo ke yinto ekhethwayo phambi kwethu ngobu busuku. Uthixo osizi, ongaboni, ongathethi, ongaculiyo okanye uThixo oculayo. Ngaba uyabona kutheni iNgxelelo leNkosi aliyonyani nje, wena ubuhle kakhulu? Iyabambisa. Iyathekisa kwiimfuno ezinzulu zentliziyo yethu neemvakalelo ezinzulu esinokuziva. Akayonyani nje; ubuhle.

Siculayo Ngenxa yoNdoda weentlungu

Hayi ke, kodwa asinakulibala kutheni le yindalo elungileyo, kutheni sifumana ukucula. Kungenxa yokuba silandela Yeyena ubizwa ngokuba uNdoda weentlungu. Kungenxa yokuba uYesu wayesiya emsaleni, akusekho mthoko okanye ulonwabo. Akusekho, “Lo uNyana wam uThandekileyo, endimthandayo.” Imadabi awayelwela njengoMqhawe wethu omkhulu, afika kuloo ndawo emsaleni xa izikhalazo zikaYesu zadibana nokuthula okungcwele, okumkhulu, okulungileyo, kobaba wakhe. Wafumana ukuthula ukuze sinokucula. Akukho ndlela yokufika kuThixo oculayo ngaphandle kokuba uhambe ngeNkokeli ezikhalazayo eyathwala ukuthula endaweni yethu. Yiloo ndlela sifumana ngayo uThixo oculayo. Kwaye kungenxa yokuba uThixo uluthando, uthando, yena wathuma uNyana wakhe akhalaze, yena wabamba ukuthula kwakhe njengoko echithe umsindo wakhe phezu kwakhe. Kungenxa yokuba emva kweGood Friday, wayesazi ukuba ingoma yothando iyakufika kwisahluko sayo sokugqibela esiya kuqhubeka ngonaphakade. Yiloo ndlela ke, yiyo loo nto uThixo ecula phezu kwethu.

Sithini esinokuthi kuyo yonke le nto? Ndafikira ngendawo ezithile zokuba kutheni sisenokuba nanzima ngathi kwesi siqendu. Amaxesha amaninzi, xa sicinga ngothando lukaThixo, sinokuthi, "Ewe, kodwa ayingam." Ngaba uyaliva loo nto? "Ayingam. Yenzelwa wonke umntu. Ndiyakwazi uku sebenzisa kolunye uthando lwabantu, kodwa ayingam." Musa ukunciphisa oku. Oku kuxa uThixo ethetha kuYuda, "Ndiya kubiza abantu bonke. Kule meko, ayingokwenu kuphela, Yuda. Yenzelwa abantu bonke bezizwe, iintlanga, neelwimi." Kwaye ke sinokuthi, "Kodwa awazi nto endiyenzileyo. Awazi ndicinga njani. Awazi nokuba ndicinga njani ngoku!" UThixo uthi, "Ntoni na oyenzileyo embi ngakumbi kuneNkosi yam ezenzayo ngokuphindaphinda? Ngaba umusa wam wawungowabo?" Ngaba lo lesithembiso lwenziwa kwaba bantu baye bamshiya uThixo, baphule umthetho wakhe, babaleka kuye, bamthiya, bamqalekisa, bakhonza ezingwebeni, besitshisa imiphunga etempileni yakhe yenzelwa oosinga? Kwaye ke kukho umusa wenzelwa wena nam. Ayinamkhathali into oyenzileyo. Uthando lwakhe lukhulu kunezono zakho. Yonke into oyifunayo yinto. Yonke into oyifunayo kukwazi ukuba awukwazi kuzisindisa.

UThixo Usel'Emgeleni Kuye Kristo

“Ewe, kodwa uThixo uvela kude kum.” Nantsa yinto enzima. Ndiyazi into enjengaloo. Ndidl'Into xa ndihlala apho. Ndidl'Into xa ndiziva njengokuba ndihamba nje kwimithandazo xa ndiphethula iBhayibhile yam. Ewe, yinto abaphostoli badl'Into. Ewe, ngamanye amaxesha ngeesonto msa. Ukhwehlwa uThixo. Kodwa into ekufuneka sibuye kuyo kwesi siqendu kwakhona nangakhona – Ungumgeleni wethu. Uyasondela kuthi kuye Kristo. Kwaye umgleneko wakhe awuneli xesha kuba umo wokushushubeza kule ingoma kaThixo kukuhambela abantu abaphukileyo njengawe, abantu abonileyo njengawe. Uneli xesha lakhe umgleneko. Ububele bukaThixo buhambela kuthi.

Kwaye, siyafumana njani lento? Masitsibe phambili kwinto uYesu wathi eYohane 15 kwivesi yesi-9. “Hlala elothandweni lwam.” Imana ithetha ntoni, uYesu? Yaye uyasixelela. “Ukuba ningithanda, niyagcina imiyalelo yami.” Yaye lento iyakwazi ukoyikisa. Ngaphandle kwivesi yesi-11 igqiba ngolu hlobo. “Lizwi olikhulunyile ndinikhulumele lize ukholo lwenu lugcwaliseke.” Kwaye yile nto – “hlala, gcina imiyalelo yami, ukholo!” Ihlangana njani lento kwinto uZefaniya asixelela yona? Siyahlala njani kulo thando lukaThixo? Siyafumana njani? UYesu uthi siyenzeke into ayitshoyo kuthi. Kodwa – yaye lento ibalulekile – kufuneka sihlale sikhumbula ukuba ukungalithobeli kwethu akuyitshintshi into yokuba uThixo angathanda. Ewe, iyanciphisa amandla ethu okholo lwayo. Xa ndizifumana nde kude noThixo, ndingakuqinisekisa, ubuncinane ngamaxesha athile, enye yeengxaki ezinkulu zithi ndenze isono; ndenze into endiyifunayo. Into yokuba angathanda aye akayitshintshanga. Amandla akho okholo lwayo.

UYesu uthi, “Ukuba uyafumana into endinikhulumele yona,” yaye ukuba sifunda iivesi ezinjalo, uThixo usifuna enzeni xa uthi, “Gcina imiyalelo yami. Thobela Yena”? Ngaba uyasithuma oku ukuze asicindezele? Okanye uyasixelela, “Ndiyakuthanda ngokwaneleyo ukuze ndikusondeze yaye ndikuxelele indlela yokuhlala usondeke kuba andifuni ukude nawe.” Yile yokugqibela, akunjalo? “Hlala usondeke kuthi. Hamba nam ngolu hlobo. Musa ukuphambuka kwindlela. Makhe ndigcine ingalo yam phezu kwakho,” kungenzeki. Ngaba ungayali ukuthobela uThixo othini? Le yinto ayisiyo thixo onzima, okude athi, “Hamba wena uyenze into efanayo ukuze ufumane imfavour yam!” UThixo othini uthetha uthi, “Hlala usondeke. Wothande kuthi.” Siyenza into le yokuthobela. Yindlela enye le.

Kwaye, siyala ukumamkela ubuxoki malunga noThixo. Siyala ukumamkela ubuxoki malunga noThixo. Oku kusichaphazela. Oku kunye koyena weSathana. Ufuna ucinge ngoThixo ngokwahlukileyo kunokwalo ekwisiYonah 3:17. Ufuna uThixo othulileyo ube nguThixo ohlala ucingweni kwengqondo yakho. Ufuna uThixo odalekileyo ube nguThixo ohlala engqondweni yakho. Ungeke afune sicinge ngoThixo ohlabelelayo. Musa ukukholelwa; musa ukungena oko. Mavumele eli lizwi likulungise. Buya kwesi siqiniseko kwakhona nangakhona. Kwaye uya kuthi, “Ewe, andivezi! Ndifuna ukuliveza, kodwa andivezi!” Ukuba uyafuna, kungenxa yokuba uNikele kuwe loo mfiso. Musa ukuyeka oko. Musa ukuyeka oko. Gcina ubuya kukho uze umkhuleke, “Thixo, ndivumele ndiveze ngakumbi uthando lwakho. Ndivumele ndikwazi ngcono.” Uze umlinde. Mlindeleni isikhathi sakhe. Uya kukusondeza. UDavide wathi, “Ndilindele kuThixo,” Psalm 40 Uya kuthi into enye nathi. Uya kuvia isikhalo sethu. Kwaye uthi, “Ewe, akuhypocrisy ukwenza oku xa ndingavezi?” Hayi! Yenye into oyena wenkolo, bahlobo. Kukuze uqhubeke ukuya kuye xa ungavezi. Oko akuhypocrisy; yinkolo! Inkolo ithi, “Iimvakalelo zam zokude azinalizwi lokugqibela. Inkolo yam kuThixo ohlabelelayo ondlovuyo ngokuKristo inelizwi lokugqibela.”

Sibuyele eSouth Carolina ekuqaleni kukaJuni kweyise ukuthatha umhlalaphansi. Uneminyaka engama-80 kwaye akumthathanga mntu xa wayesithi kwitheko lakhe lokuthatha umhlalaphansi ukuba uza kuthatha umsebenzi omtsha! Ndingayazi njani uyise! Kodwa kanye xa wayesithi uthatha umhlalaphansi, iintsuku ezimbalwa emva koko, kwafika ipakethe ngeposi. Kwaye njengoko ndandivula ipakethe, ndabona i-bubble wrap phambi kokuba ndiyikhulule, ndazi ukuba yintoni. Yayifoto. Yifoto endiyithandayo kakhulu. Yifoto ebekwi-ofisini kayise okoko ndikhumbula. Yifoto ekhathazwe xa ndandincinci, mhlawumbi beneminyaka ephakathi kaDorothy. Uyise wayenguprofesa wekolishi kwaye kwakusehlotyeni, besikwithoko – wayedekhane wecandelo lakhe kwaye babhiqe uprofesa omtsha kwaye kwakuthoko. Kwaye ngabani, akumthathanga mntu, ndathatha ikhukhi enye. Kwaye omnye wabazali apho wabeka izandla zakhe kum waza wamkhala. Kwaye ayinto leyo oyenzayo konyana kayise! Kwaye ndenziwa, le nto ndicinga ukuba nayiphi na inntwana eneminyaka emibini yayiza kuyenza. Ndibaleka kuYise wam waza umntu uthile wathatha ikhamera waza wathatha ifoto yam kunye neenyembezi ezihlezi phantsi phambi kwam kunye neengalo zayise ezingajikeleze mna kunye nothisholo olukhulu olo woluzele. Kwaye ukususela ndingumnana omncinci, lo foto utshilo kum, “Utata wakho uyakuthanda. Nokuba wenza ntoni, nokuba uhambe kude kangakanani, uyavuya kuwebonisa uthando.”

Le nto uThixo ayenzileyo kuthi namhla iphoto leyo isithengisela, “Ndiyawathanda abantwana bam kwaye ndiyavuya ngabo.” Kwaye yibible enye kuphela esifumana kuyo uThixo kwaye yifoto enye kuphela kaThixo ezotshintsha yonke into kuthi. Masithandaze.

Utata, sihlabelele lekusasa ngomhlathi omncinci, onolwimi olwenzekayo, olukhubazekileyo. Kwaye ndiziva loo nto kakhulu ngoku, Nkosi. Nceda, nceda, musa ukuvumela ukuba ubuhle, ukhazikhazi, inkazimulo yesi siqendu ilahleke ngenxa yenkcazo ebuthathaka. O Nkosi, vula amehlo ethu ekhazimulo lothando Lwakho, ukungenamda kwalo, ukukhululeka kwalo, ubukhulu balo. Yenza itshintshe kuthi, siyincenga. Egameni likaJesu, amen.