Ababazwe nguKristu

Ababodwa nguKristu

1 Korinte 3:18-25

NgokuDavid Strain

Kungenzeka yini ukuthi uthatho imikhandlu yelizwi likaNkulunkulu uhambe nami ukuyofika ku-1 Korinte – ngithemba ukuthi konke ninamaphapho! Ngethemba ukuthi akazanga ngiyena lowo. Ngabe konke ningangizwa kahle? Kuhle. 1 Korinte isahluko 3; ikhasi 951 emibhalweni yebandla. 1 Korinte isahluko 3. Sekudlule amasonto ambalwa kusukela sathi sigcina sise-1 Korinte. Vumelani ngikukhumbuze ngaphambi kokuthi sifunde umbhalo ngengxabano kaPaul kufika kule. Yena, njengoba nikhumbula, ubekhuluma ngenkinga yokwehlukana eKorinte. Baqala ukwehlukana ngabaphostoli ababaholi ababathandayo. Omunye athi, “Ngilandelana noPaul,” omunye, “Ngilandelana noApolos,” omunye, “Ngilandelana noKefas.” Futhi bayaziqhayisa ngabantu. Futhi ngemuva kwenkinga yokwehlukana kukhona isono esibola ngokuziqhayisa. Paul ubekhuluma ngenkinga zombili – isono neziqhayiso – ngendlela ezahlukahlukene engxabano yakhe kufika kule. Futhi kusukela ekupheleni kwesahluko 1 kufika emavesini 5 wesahluko 2, Paul ubekhuluma ngomlayezo ongawelekele – umlayezo womnqamlezo – nabamukeli bomlayezo ababodwa ababonekayo; kanye nabavangeli ababonekayo abashumayela umlayezo ebandleni. Ubani na owaziqhayisa ngabantu, ngabaholi bebhandla, owaziqhayisa ngobuhlathi nobuhlakani bakhe uma umlayezo ubonakala ngathi yinto yize, abamukeli bakhe bonke bangabantu abangenamsebenzi – yibo Paul ababiza ngabo – nabavangeli abashumayela umlayezo bonke ngabodwa? Kufanele ngazi. Ukusindiswa kwanabantu ngaphansi kwesistimu enjalo, ngaphansi kwesikimu njalo, ngokusobala kufanele kube umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu onamandla, hhayi umsebenzi wabavangeli, hhayi ubuhlakani bantu ngokwabo abangasizwa yiministry yomoya oNgcwele.

Naye-ke eSahlukweni sesi-2, uPawulu uyaqhubeka nokulwisa uk pride yethu ngokutusika ukuthi ukuhlakanipha kwabanobunkunkuma, umyalezo weVangeli oqukethwe emiBhalweni, uwona ngokwawo ungaqondakali kubantu abavamile. “Kwenziwe kwaziwa,” uyasitshela emavesini 6 kuya ku-10, “kwabapostola, lokho ukuvezwa.” Abapostola banikwa amazwi okuxhumana nawo kithi emiBhalweni zethu; lokho kuyagqugquzela – isahluko 2, emavesini 11 kuya ku-13. Kodwa ngaphandle kokuthi uMoya oNgcwele avumele izoni ukuqonda loo nqiniso, zilonke azilamukeli njengokuhlakanipha – lokho ukukhanyiselwa, emavesini 14 kuya ku-16. Ngakho-ke ngamazwi athi, ubani na angaziqhayisa aze azikhaliphe ngokuhlakanipha kwawo uma ukusindiswa kufika kuphela ngokwembulwa, ukugqugquzela, nokukhanyiselwa kukaNkulunkulu uMoya oNgcwele? Akusilo neze umkhiqizo wobuhlakani bomuntu noma ubuciko bokucabanga. Uyisipho sikaNkulunkulu.

Naye-ke uzokhumbula esahlukweni 3, uPawuli usebenzisa izifaniso ezintathu, izithombe ezintathu, ukuchaza izinkinga eKorinte nokuqala ukuzibhekana nezinkinga zokunikeza uhlelo lwakhe lokwelapha. Eyokuqala yazo, emavesini 1o kuya ku-4, uyabona ebabiza ngokuthi bantwana, njengabantu abangavuthanga ngokomoya. Kufanele ukuthi ngoku bebengeke badle ukudla okuqinile, ukudla okunothile, ukufundisa okusuka eBhayibhelini. Kodwa njengoba kunjalo ekungavuthini kwabo, babengakwazi ukuphatha ubisi hhayi ukudla okuqinile. Bavuthanga. Naye emavesini 5 kuya ku-9, usebenzisa isifaniso sesibili, isifaniso sesibili. Yisikhundla sesikhathi. Uthi, “Nina ungumhlaba kaNkulunkulu,” ibandla liyindawo kaNkulunkulu. Abafundisi bevangeli bahlwanyela imbewu yaLowo, bayanakekela imbewu yaLowo kodwa abayenzi ikhule. Ngakho-ke, kunobuwanga ngempela ukuzigqaja ngabafundisi bevangeli, ukuzigqaja ngenawe, njengokungathi ukhula kungekwabo noma kwakho ukwenza. Cha, ukhula luvela kuNkulunkulu yedwa. “Zigqaje kuYe,” uPawuli uthi. Naye isifaniso sesithathu, emavesini 10 kuya ku-17, sabona, yisithombe esikhulu sesayithi yokwakha. UThixo akha ibandla lakhe esifanisini sethempeli. Ezimpilweni zabantu abasindisiwe ngomusa, bakhiwe phezu kwesisekelo sikaJesu Kristo. UPawuli usikhuthazile ukuba siqaphe, ngakho-ke, sikha kanjani. Sikha ukuze kuphelele; sakha ukuze kuhlale. Qaphela okwenzayo, ukuphila kwakho, yini imisebenzi yakho, ukha kanjani, ngoba usuku oluzayo oluzahlola imisebenzi yakho futhi luveze ukuthi yini.

Naye manje ekuseni kula mavesi 18 kuya ku 23, uPawuli uphetha le ngxenye yencwadi yakhe ngamazwi athile okhuthazo. Uzoqondisa umunwe wakhe ngqo kwisono esibaqambayo iKhorinthia, kodwa njengoba sifunda ndawonye ngifuna ukuba nibuke ngokucopheleleyo indlela emangalisayo uPawuli umfundisi ayenzayo ngaphezu kokubakhuthaza kuphela noma kubawisela isixwayiso ngesono sabo. Unikeza nezinsiza zokomoya ezibasizo bazikwazi ukubangamana nesono sabo baphile ekulaleleni okusha. Ngenkathi ndandiswa abazali bami ukuba ngicheke utshani ngomshini wokucheka owawusenza lula ngaphambili ekhaya lami eGlasgow, ngathola umshini wokucheka owenziwe ngezandla. Wayewubuthi lomshini. Wawubonakala kimi sengathi wawunamawathi, yena nomthambeka omncane ngaphambili, amasekhethi ambalwa nje phezu kwalowo mshini phezulu naphansi nami ngangingcwatshwa! Ngakho usuku olwa bazalwa umshini omusha wokucheka ongenjini yawo wawusuku lokugubha okukhulu kimi. Nami ngangisafanele ukucheka utshani, kodwa injini yawo yayingicpull ngempela phezulu naphansi kutshani.

Ngenkathi uThixo ebiza abakristu ukuba babangamane nesono, Uyabindiza ukuba siqale umsebenzi, kodwa umyalo wakhe ungenjini. Uhlanganiswe nezithembiso eziklanyelwe ukusicabula phambili nokusenza silalele. Kwaye, njengoba sifunda mavesi 18 kuya ku 23, ngifuna ukuba nibuke amazwi okhuthazo, kunawo amabili okhuthazo, futhi ngifuna ukuba nibuke ngokukhethekile ezinsizeni, ezinsizeni zokomoya uPawuli ezikhumbuza iKhorinthia, uma sizithatha ngokuqiniseka, ziyasenza ngokuthe ngaphezulu nangaphezulu silalele.

Ndawonye ngaphambi kokufunda umbhalo, ingabe nizogobisa ikhanda lenu nami njengoba sithandaza ndawonye?

O Nkosi, siyazi ukuthi utshani luyabbola nezimbali ziyab faded kodwa iLizwi Lakho lihlala phakade. Kwaye, ngobunzimba, siye eSibhalweni ukuze sizibeke phansi kweLizwi ukuze sifundwe nguWe. Ngabe uyasithumela iNkosi uMoya oNgcwele ukuze asebenzise iLizwi Lakho ezinhliziyweni zethu, asibonise izono zethu nesidingo sethu futhi asiholele emuva kuKristo oyuMpendulo Wakho wezidingo ezijulile zezinhliziyo zethu? Ngoba siyacela egameni likaJesu, amen.

1 Korinte isahluko 3, umBhalo 18 kuya ekupheleni kwesahluko. ILIzi yILizwi likaNkosi uThixo Omkhulu:

Mkhandlu nawe ungazikhohlisi. Uma umuntu phakathi kwenu ecabanga ukuthi uyahlakanipha kule minyakeni, makabe yisiphukuphuku ukuze abe ahlakaniphe. Ngoba ukuhlakanipha kwalamhlaba kuyisiphukuphuku kuNkosi. Ngoba kwakubhalwa, ‘Ubavimbela abahlakaniphileyo ekukhandeni kwabo,’ nakanye, ‘Nkosi uyazazi izinkinga zabahlakaniphileyo, ukuthi ziyize.’ Kwaye akakho nab boast ezilwaneni. Ngoba zonke izinto zinyani, noma uPawuli noma uApolos noma uKefa noma umhlaba noma ukuphila noma ukufa noma okwamanje noma okuzayo – zonke zinyani, nina nikayena kaKristo, noKristo kaNkosi.

Amen, siyamdumisa uNkosi ngokuthi uthethile kithi eLizwini Lakhe elingcwele, elingenakukhandwa.

Nina bazobona njengoba sifunde ndawonye, umBhalo uhlukaniswe ezingxenyeni ezimbili ezihle, ingxenye ngayinye enomBhalo oThathu, zombili ezibhuqana ngamazwi okukhuthaza. Uyabona lokho embhalweni? UmBhalo 18 – okhuthazayo wokuqala. “Mkhandlu nawe ungazikhohlisi.” Kwaye umBhalo 21, okhuthazayo wesiBili – “Mkhandlu nawe boast ezilwaneni.” Ziyizinto ezimbili okhuthazayo ezima, uma uthanda, njengezihloko kulezi zingxenye ezimbili zombhalo. Pawuli uyacaca kakhulu kithi. Ufuna ukucacisa futhi aqonde. Akafuni muntu ashiye ekhanda lakhe ezibuza ngayo into ayikhayo Pawuli. Nazo izinto ezimbili, izingozi ezimbili okufanele zigwenywe – ingozi yokuzikhohlisa kanye nengozi yokub boast ezilwaneni.

Ingozi Yokushohlisa Yena Thina Ingozi Yokushohlisa Yena Thina masicabange ngayo yokuqala phakathi kwazo zonke isikhashana. Iyoba, kunjalo, inkinga yethu enkulu. Akunjalo na? Ukushohlisa yena thina. Sonke sivame ukuba nesilinganiso sathi esigqwéke saphambuka saze sasokola. Kusukela endaweni yethu, sivame ukusifunda siphambuke. URobati Bawns, umshairi wenkondlo kaScootland owabhala ngesiScot, uyakusho ngale ndlela. Ingabe usulungele lokhu? Uyakusho ngale ndlela;

“O wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us! It wad frae mony a blunder free us, An' foolish notion.”

Kunjalo na? Akusikhanyiseli na? Nanku nje kuphela lapho engicabanga khona ukuthi uBawns noPawulu bayavumelana. Nanku yena akwenza. “Oh that some power” – “Oh ukuthi uThixo asinike isipho sokusibona njengabanye abasibonayo.” Mangaki amaphutha esingaphethwa, mangaki amaphutha esingawagwema uma besingakwazi ukusibona ngobekayo sibe sikhululwa ekushohliseni yena thina. Sivame ukusicinga kakhulu kunalokho esifanele. Akunjalo na? Kufanele nje kube yena. Sivame ukusicinga kakhulu kunalokho esifanele, akunjalo na? Sivame ukushohlisa yena thina.

Inkinga eKhorinthu

Manje bhekani kwivesi 18 ubone inkinga ethile eKorinte. Inkinga yabo kukuthanda abakhohlwa yilo “ubuhlalu bekaNyaka.” Mhlawumbe, uyakhumbula sesivele sikhulume ngalokhu, bathanda inkulumo eqondile kanye nemiboniso yobuchule befilosofi eyayiphawula futhi yachaza orators of the day. Futhi babefuna ukuxuba ubuhlalu beli zwe kanye noMyalezo kaJesu Kristo eKorinte. Ngokuqinisekile, babethanda uJesu, kodwa babethanda uJesu ohlangene nomphakathi. Ngokuqinisekile bafuna uMyalezo, kodwa babethanda ukuwususa ukuze ulingane nokuthanda kanye nezintandokazi zenkultshur yabo. Futhi njengokwe sibonile uPawuli ephikisana kaningi ekucaleni kuka 1 Korinte, nakhu unentshiseko yakhe. Lapho uqala ukulungeleza umyalezo we msalaba kwimo yenkultshur, ulahlekelwa nguMyalezo wesebenzisa. Futhi yilo ayesho lapha. Musa ukusebenzisa! Awukwazi ukumemezela iKristu weBhayibheli futhi uthole ukudumisa kwenkultshur ngesikhathi esifanayo.

Ubuhlalu bekaNyaka

Futhi uyatshazimisa kungani kungeke. Bhekani kwivesi 18, ivesi 19, kather. Nakhu kungani kungeke; “Ubuhlalu beli zwe ubuhlalu kwaNkulunkulu.” Izilinganiso zeli zwe zonke zingalungile. UNkulunkulu akayazisi abakhohlwa yilo eli zwe. Ubuhlalu kwaNkulunkulu bufumaneka emzimbeni ophukile weNdodana kaKalvari. Nakhu ubuhlalu kwaNkulunkulu – iNkosi uJesu Kristo, esilini phakathi kwabaphambi ababili, exhumeke ebholeni lomRom angoxaneni neminyango yomuzi. Uyena uMsindisi oyedwa waboni. Lowo ubuhlalu kwaNkulunkulu. Kodwa eli zwe libuka emsalabeni lisithi, “Uyajoka, akunjalo? Lowo uNkulunkulu wehla? Lowo umthemba wami nokujabula kwami nokuthula kwami? Lowo mzimba oswekileyo? Yini ejokisayo! Cha, sifuna amandla. Sifuna izisombululo zezombusazwe. Sifuna amano wokuzisiza. Sifuna ubuhlalu beli zwe.” Kodwa ngabe yini na mayelana nobuhlalu bekaNyaka, nokho sibona kuthandeka kanjani ngesikhathi, uPawuli uyatshazimisa okulungile okulindele nguNkulunkulu. Akunjalo yena?

Phinda kwivesi 19 futhi. Uyacaphuna iZwi likaNkulunkulu kulokhu ukuze asize ngengxabano yakhe. Ekuqaleni ebukweni bukaJobo isahluko 15 ivesi 3, bese ekhuphuka aye kuZalmo 94 ivesi 11. “Ubavimbela abahlakaniphile ngobuhlakaniphi babo” kanye “iNkosi iyazazi imicabango yabalhlakaniphile ukuthi iyize.” Anihlakaniphi kunoNkulunkulu, maKhorinthia! Futhi nini enqala ukwamukela umyalezo Wakhe ngoJesu Kristo owesifayo ukuze ulenze lithandeke, anazitholanga indlela engcono. Anamukelanga muntu ngaphandle kwena. UNkulunkulu uyaziqonda iqiniso futhi Ubavimbela abahlakaniphile ngobuhlakaniphi babo. Uyazi ukuzelelana kwemicabango yalabo abazicinga bahlakaniphile.

Ukuba nguYisi Ukwazi

Kukhona okufanele kwenziwe? Phinda ubuke kwivesi 18, ngiyacela? Kukhona okufanele kwenziwe. Kukhona okufanele sifunde sonke ukukwenza! Njengempela kunzima. Iyathobisa; inzima. Uyabona ukuthi uPawuli uyasiphelezela sonke? Ivesi 18, “Uma kukhona phakathi kwenu ocabanga ukuthi uyahlakanipha, makabe nguYisi ukuba abe ahlakaniphe.” Njengaye manje uyakhumbula umyalezo wobuYisi webandla, umyalezo womnqamlezo. UNkulunkulu emnqamlezweni; umyalezo wobuYisi emehlweni omhlaba. Futhi uyakhumbula amalungu obuYisi webandla – “abahlakaniphile abambalwa, asebukhosini abambalwa.” Futhi uyakhumbula abaphostoli obuYisi. UPawuli uyasitshela ukuthi akazange afike eshumayela ubufakazi bukaNkulunkulu ngenkulumo ephakeme noma ubuhlakaniphi. Futhi nokho, uPawuli uyasibonisa ukuthi yizinto eziyize ukuthi uNkulunkulu abekezelele ubufakazi Bakhe – lo myalezo wobuYisi, lamalungu obuYisi, labaphostoli obuYisi. Yizinto eziyize uNkulunkulu asebenza ngazo ngenxa yokuzukisa Kwake kanye nokuhle kwabantu Bakhe.

Yamukela UbuiYisi beVangeli

Kwayo-ke uPawulu usho ukuthi uma ufuna ukuthola isibusiso sikaNkulunkulu kuye wena futhi ubone uNkulunkulu esebenza ekuphileni kwakho nasekuphileni kwabanye abantu, kufanele uthathe indawo yakho phakathi kwabo futhi uyeke imizamo yethu yokuhlakanipha, ukuhlakanipha kwabantu. Yamukela ubuwula bePhalamende. Yiba ngumwula uKristu. Yamukela ubuwula bePhalamende kuwe. Thatha indawo yakho phakathi kwabamwula abakholelwa kulelo Phalamende ngaphansi komsebenzi wabamwula abashumayela lelo Phalamende. Yiba ngumwula uKristu. Shiya ukuhlakanipha kwabantu; yamukela ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu okuhlanganiswe neNdoda yaseKalvari, iNkosi yodwa yabaThumwa, uJesu Kristu opheshezelwe waza wavuka kwabafi ngenxa yakho. Yilokho okusho ukuthola ukulandela, uyazi. Ukuthola uKristu ni ukuthola ukubonwa njengumwula emehlweni abantu. Uyalungiswa ukuba ngumwula, ukubonwa njengumwula, ukuze ume lapho uNkulunkulu athi khona ukuhlakanipha kwakhe kukhona? Ukuthemba, ukuphumula, zonke iNdodakazi zakho zibophekile kuNkosi uJesu Kristu uqobo. Kwayo-ke uPawulu usho kithi, “Musa ukukhohliswa!”

Ungabi Nes pride ngaBantu!

Kodwa uPawulu uthi okwesibili, lona elinye i-exhortation, “Ungabi Nes pride ngaBantu!” Isigaba 21, “Musa ukukhohliswa ngaBantu.” Kuyabonakala lapha iphutha elikhulu lamaKhorinthia. Lokhu ukuhlakanipha kwabantu, ukuthanda kwabo ukuhlakanipha kwabantu kubonakala kanje emikhandini yabo – baqala ukuziqhayisa ngaBantu. Akukhona nje kuphela ukuthi bathole abashumayeli abathile ababahle kakhulu ekuphileni kwabo ngokomoya futhi baqinisekisa indlela uNkulunkulu asebenzise ngayo laba bantu. Cha, baqhayisa ngaBantu. Lokhu kusho ukuthi, ukuqhuba lokho abakusho ngoabaholi babo ngokuziqhayisa. Bakhuthazwa yisifiso sokuzibonakalisa ngokuthi babanga lo baholi noma lowo. Basho, “Umuntu wami ungcono kunomuntu wakho, yingakho ngihlakaniphe kunakuwe.” Kuy ukuhlakanipha kwabantu okukhuthazwa yis pride.

Naye, njengoba uPawuli ebhekana naleyo nkinga ihlala eKhorinte, uphenduka anikeze lezi ziqiniso ezimbili, ngempela ezimangaza, ezibalwa ukwenza konke ukuziqhenya kungabalulekanga futhi ziveze ukuthi yini ngempela – ngokuphelele ngempela kunokwenza umuntu ahleke. Lapha kulezi ziqiniso ezimbili, sithola injini ezosisunduka phambili njengoba sifuna ukulalela isikhuthazo sikaNkulunkulu kithi eSibhalweni namuhla. Okokuqala, uyasibuza ukuba sikhumbule esinayo, bese okwesibili, uyasibuza ukuba sikhumbule sabani. Uma uzokhumbula osinayo futhi uma uzokhumbula sabani, konke kuzoshintsha. Ukuziqhenya kuzafa, ukuthobeka kuzakuba kwakho, nesonto lizakwazi ukubusa kukaNkulunkulu.

Khumbulani Osinayo!

Okokuqala, kufanele sikhumbule esinayo. Bhekani umbhalo. “Musa ukuziqhenya ngabantu,” kusho uPawuli. Hhayi, kungani kungeke? Naye uyasibuza, “ngoba konke kukwakho, noma uPawuli noma uApollos noma uKefas noma umhlaba noma ukuphila noma ukufa noma okwamanje noma okuzosizayo – konke kukwakho.” Abakhorinte babefana nomfana omncane ofuna ukuthenga umcece wokuthembisana umakoti wakhe esitolo sokuthengisa umcece ka uncle wakhe. Futhi uyavuma naka-nekaka no uncle wakhe ngephrice elihle kulelo cece elilodwa, akayeki ukumuka waphulaphula uncle wakhe esithi, “Mfana, awuqondi. Uzakuthola isitolo sonke! Konke kukwakho!” Bayavuma phakathi kukaPawuli noma uApollos noma uKefas ngesikhathi benabo bonke. Konke kukwakho! Bonke abathumwa nguKristu ukushumayela iLizwi bakwa sonke isonto. “Ungakuthola sonke isitolo!” UPawuli usithi. “Kungani ulwela ngakolilo lwaKrestu lapho bonke bakwawe?”

Izinginto Ezinhlanu Ezethu KukaKrestu

Bese ubheke kwezinye izinto ezinhlanu uPawuli azibulala ukuthi zethu kuKristo. Umsebenzi 22; uyabona? Umhlaba, impilo, ukufa, okwamanje, noma ikusasa. Don Carson, ngicabanga, unokuqonda okujulile lapha lapho ephakamisa khona ukuthi lezi zinto ezinhlanu, “Zimelela izinto ezibusayo empilweni.” Izinto ezisikhobisa. Izinto ezisibamba ekuthunjweni. Ngakho-ke uthi kuqala kukhona umhlaba otrying ukusicindezela ukuba singene emoldini yawo. Bese kukhona le mpilo esiyibambe ngokuqinile, “njengokungathi iBhayibheli alingakaze lisitshele ukuthi imiphilo yethu ingumhwamandi ovutha ngokushesha lapho umoya wokuqala uphuma!” Bese ukufa, uCarson uthi, “ukufa yisithunzi sokugcina. Ukufa yinto ebusayo engenakuphunywa.” Futhi lokho, ke, okwesine, kuholela ekubeni khona njalo kwamanje njengoba sigijima ukufeza nokushiya umaki wethu ngaphambi kokuba sekwephuze. Futhi ngenkathi ukungaqiniseki okwesabekayo, okwesine, kwikusasa elingaziwa kusiphelezela njalo ezinyathelweni zethu. Lezi yizinto ezibusayo empilweni – izinto ezisikhobisa, izinto ezisibamba ekuthunjweni.

Nokho uPawuli lapha uphakela umbono ohluke ngokuphelele othiwa usin Jesus Christ. Qonda, uthi, njengabakristu, nina uJesu, bonke laba bayeka ukubaba njengabanikazi bokugcina bazibe izipho zikaThixo kuni, ukuze kuthe umdumo kaThixo nokuhle kwenjongo yenu. Futhi nina nokuqonda lokho, ngokuzuma umhlaba ube yindawo yokubonisa inkazimulo kaThixo wena qala ukuphumla esithembisweni sokuthi abathembekileyo bazothola umhlaba. Ukuphila bayeka ukubaba into okufanele ibanjwe ngayo ngenxa yokungaqiniseki nokwesaba, kodwa inkundla yesevisi yethu yokuqhenya njengokhona uThixo asiholayo nasivikelayo, ukufa ngakho liyeka ukubaba umthwalo othi ekhanda izinyathelo zethu esihlala sizama ukubaleka, kodwa liyeke laba njengabakholwayo umnyango wokuya enkazimulweni lapho, noma singekho emzimbeni wakithi isikhashana, thina lizoba, nokho, likhona neThixo okuyinto engcono kakhulu. Kanjalo singasho noPawuli, “Kimi ukuphila kukuChrist, ukufa kukuwina!” Futhi nina lokho kuzo qala ukungena, phila-ke okwamanje akusadili ngokuphuthuma ukusinda kwabafanele, kusiholela njalo ukuba senze. Manje lokhu kunika ithuba loku yisevisi ngoba siphila sikhuselekile ekubuseni okunhlakanipha koJesu uKumkani oswenza yonke into ndawonye ukuze kuhle kwabo abamthandayo. Futhi kanti nokho lokho singenakukubona, siyazi yena owaziyo ikusasa nazo zonke izinsuku ezibekiwe kwathi zilotshiwe encwadini yakhe ngaphambi kokuba yeyodwa yazo ifike yaba khona. Futhi kanjalo sibhekana nekusasa siqinisekile ukuthi yena obamba ikusasa ubamba nesinathi, siphephile ezandleni zakhe. Zonke izinto ziyanathi nina uJesu.

Khumbulani OkuNikwe Koni!

Naye-ke usho kithi, “Khumbulani lokho onakho!” Kukhona umuntu othile ocaphile lokhu masonto edlule eTwin Lakes Fellowship, ngicabanga kwakuyinkulumo kaJohn Owen, ukuthi “Inkinga yethu enkulu njengoKristu y ukuthi sinamathele ekukhohlwa izinhlanhla zethu,” ukuthi siyazinciphisa izinhlanhla zethu. Iningi lobomKristu lizoba njalo lujabule, lisehlile, lungcono, lugcwele kakhulu ukujabula, linciphe kancane ekoneni uma nje siqonda ukuthi zonke izinto zethu zinjengo lapho uthola uJesu Kristo. “Bhekani isikali esiqiniso sokujabula kwenu?” uPawuli usho kithi. Sivame kakhulu ukuba njalo umndeni – uyawazi, wena umndeni olencane ekuthungeni okude ukuya eGrand Canyon ndawonye, ugcwele emotweni nje kancane kancane amamitha ambalwa kuphela baze baqale ukulwaza nokuxabana. Futhi ekuphakemeni kwabo ukulwaza, mama uhlobo lwe tuning papa phandle njengoba echaza ukuthi wayilungile ukuphenduka ngakolunye uhlangothi kunolunye uhlangothi yena wabheka njengamaphandle wabona, “Sifikile.” Ubona uzuko, isisindiso ngeqiniso lonke elizungezile. Futhi ekugcineni, oyedwa ngamunye ulandelana nokubuka kwakhe njengoba beqala ukuphuza – uzuko lweGrand Canyon lonke elizungezile. Futhi ukulwaza kufa. Ukuxabana nokuphikisana kuyeka.

Kukhona lokho uPawuli asho. Usho, “Bhekani uzuko. Bhekani isisindiso esikhulu sokujabula okuyisakho futhi lapho niqala ukuphuza nokubona nokhumbula lokho onakho kuKristo, niqala ukukhohlwa lokho ni lwazana ngako ekuqaleni. Futhi esikhundleni sokulwaza nokuxabana, niqala ukumthanda niqala ukumkhonza.” Khumbulani lokho onakho.

Khumbulani Owenu Ungubani!

Nokugcina uthi kithi, “Khumbulani ukuba ngubani!” Khumbulani ukuba ngubani! Bhekani emshweni wama-23, “Zonke izinto zenu, nina ngewenu uKristo, uKristo kaNkulunkulu.” Akukona nje kuphela ukuthi zonke izinto zenu zinikezwe kinu ngoKristo, kodwa nina ninikezwe uKristo, noKristo onikezwe yena nguKristo kaNkulunkulu. UPawuli uzama ukusibeka ekhontini ekhulu. Uzama ukubuyisela ukucabanga kwethu ukuze ukuzingatia siye singasabi njalo kuzo zonke izindawo, kodwa sibone thina ngokwethu ngaphakathi. Zonke zenu, nina ngewenu uKristo, noKristo kaNkulunkulu oyena wonke futhi unazo zonke.

Nina Belulekile kuJesu!

KwaYena, yinto eyisisekelo kunazo zonke ngakuwe namhlanje uma ungumKristu. Yinto eyisisekelo kunazo zonke ngakuwe – ungoweJesu. Ungawe. Uthengwe ngesilinganiso. Ungawe. Yena ungowakwaNkulunkulu, ukuze phezu kwesikwele ngasinye, uma ngingakwazi ukulungisa umshwana ka-Abraham Kuyper, ebhalwe phezu kwesikwele ngasinye sempilo yakho, impilo yami, yomhlaba esihlala kiona, zikhona iimfango zikaNkulunkulu ophiile kanye namalungelo kaJesu, iNkosi. Yena uyena oyena phezu kwakho konke, phezu kwethu sonke, uthi, “Owami!” Yaye ngokubukwa kwalowo mbono, ukuziqhenya kufa, nokuthobeka kuza.

Ndifunde muva amazwi kaNeil Armstrong. Yena wayecabanga ngalowo mzuzu wayeme enyangini ebuke phezulu emhlabeni. Yena wathi, “Kwaduma kimi ngokuzuma ukuthi loo mncane, loo mncane, into eluhlaza, ebhulu, wayomhlaba. Ngawapanda umunwe wami omkhulu, ngavalela iliso lami elilodwa, umunwe wami omkhulu wabutha umhlaba.” Yena wathi, “Andingazizwa njengomkhulu; ngizizwa incinane kakhulu.”

Njengoba uPawuli ephetha isahluko sesi-3, ufuna thina sizizwe ngalowo ndlela nge ubukhulu nobukhazikhazi obungathi – hhayi ukuziqhayisa, hhayi ukushaya isifuba sethu nokumemezela ubuhlathi bethu, kodwa ngokuzuma thina sicindezelwe, siqaphela ukuthi sincane kakhulu, kakhulu ngaphambi kobukhulu obungenamkhawulo boNkulunkulu noYise weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, ngaphambi kwesibalo esingapheli wokuhlinzeka kwakhe kithi ngoYise. Esikhundleni sokuziphakamisa kwethu, ukwahlukana phakathi kwethu, uPawuli uyasibiza, akasibizi na ukuba sibheke ebusweni bukaJesu, sibheke phambili ebusweni bakhe obuhle, ukuze izinto zokwathi – ukuziqhayisa, ukuziqhayisa, ukwahlukana – zinciphe ngendlela engaqondakali ekukhazikhazini nokuhlinzeka kwakhe. Khumbulani ukuba ngobani, khumbulani lokho enaleko. Ingabe ukhohlwe ilungelo lakho? Ingabe wena ngokwakho uqale ukugcwalisa njebe yotshani ukuze ungaboni ngale kwemfuno yakho, imfuno yakho nokuthanda kwakho?

UPawuli ufuna ukukuthatha ube munye indawo ebanzi ukuze akubonise ukuthi iNkosi ihlinzeke zonke izinto kuwe, ukuze zonke izinto zisebenze ndawonye kabuhlungu kwakho njengoba uphila phansi kombuso weNkosi uJesu. Khona uyakukhumbuza, “Awungowakho, awusabi ngakho ukuphila kwakho! UngowakaKristu othela igazi lakhe ukuze akwenza owakhe.” Futhi ngokuphelele kombuso kaNkulunkulu – ukuba ngobani – yaye ubani onazo zonke izinto, yaye ukhazikhazi. Ukuthi ukubona umbono ombanzi, ukuziphakamisa kwethu kokuqala kuqala ukubonakala kancane – hhayi kancane, kodwa kunengqondo, kunengqondo. Kwaye ekuvuma, esikhundleni sokuziphakamisa nokuxabana nokuphikisana, kuza ukudumisa nokudumisa nokumangala kuNkulunkulu onosindisile futhi onazo zonke izinto kithi ngoYise, siqala ukukhothama nokumdumisa. Kwaye ngakho iNkosi isisize ukukhumbula lokho esinaleko nobani esingowakho ukuze singakhohliswa yena noma singaziphakamisisi kubantu kodwa sinikeze ukhazikhazi lonke kuye.

Ake sithandaze ndawonye!

O Nkosi amathuba ethu, siyabonga Kuwe ngokubanzi kwesisa, ukuthi zonke izinto zethu. Siyavuma asazi ukuthi kunesho ukuthini ngempela. Kuthini lokho? Ngabe sizokwazi ukuphela ukuhlola kulo mhlaba wonke ngaphakathi kwesikhathi sonke? Zonke izinto zethu. Siyakubonga ukuthi kuyiqiniso. Yiphi iphromisi. Futhi siyabonga Kuwe ukuthi asisatholi. SingabakwaJesu Kristo, uMsindisi wethu othembekile, owasikhulula hhayi ngesiliva negolide kodwa ngegazi lakhe eliyigugu, ukuze kungewezi kuwa usuka ekhanda lakhe kodwa ukuthi zonke izinto kufanele zisebenze ndawonye ekusindisweni kwami. Futhi ngakho uyangenza ngithande ukuphila Kuye manje. Ngabe uyakwenza lokho phakathi kwethu, sicela, njengoba sikhumbula kabusha izisprivileges zethu futhi sifunde njengoba sibona ububanzi bemhlaba wesisa ovunguzayo kithi ukuyeka ukuziphakamisisa kwethu ngokuziqhenya futhi esikhundleni salokho sigobe ekudumiseni nasekudumiseni? Ngoba sicela lokhu egameni likaJesu, amen.