Inkoshi yokuCabangisisa ngeZithunywa Ezinhle

Inqombu Yosuku Ngamahlelo

Kuhlelwe imikhuleko yomndeni, yosuku zonke ngonyaka.

NguFavell Lee Mortimer

SEPTEMBA 1

John 12:34-36. UKristu uyabakhuthaza abantu ukuba bakholwe ngenkathi benalokho ukukhanya.

Ngenkathi abaphostoli besherekile, abalaleli babo bavame ukubaphendula ezingqondweni zabo. USatana akaphuthelwa ukuphakamisa imiphikiso ngokumelene neqiniso kubo bonke abazimisele ukulalela amashishe akhe. Akaphuthelwa ukuzama ukucisha ukukhanya kweqiniso ngoJesu ebeliphakamisa. Ngenkathi amazwi athinta inhliziyo ayeshohwa, "Nami, uma ngiphakanywa emhlabeni, ngiyadonsa bonke abantu kuye kwami," abantu, esikhundleni sokwamukela iqiniso, baphikisa, besithi, "Sizwile emthethweni ukuthi uKristu uhlala njalo; yaye nithi, 'Indlulwana kaNkulunkulu kufanele iphakanywe;' ungubani lo Indlulwana kaNkulunkulu?" Lo miphikiso awukazange uphakanywe ngomoya ofanele. Ukube ubuzwakele ngobubele, uMfundisi omnene kunazo zonke wayezoluxazulula ubunzima. Wayezichazela kalula yena ngokuthi, "Indlulwana yomuntu iyaphakanywa esibayeni—khona ivuke yaphila njalo." Abantu babefanele ekuthini umthetho ubukuthi uKristu uhlala njalo, ngoba kwakubhalwe ku-Ps. 41, "Umsethe phambi kobuso bakho njalo;" kodwa babengalungile esiphethweni abasifikelela. Kufanele sibe njengexa lobubele nobuthakathaka uma sikhuluma ngezindaba zikaNkulunkulu! Ukuqonda kwethu kuthambe kakhulu, yingakho siwela eziphuthumeni njalo. Yiyo yonke ithole yethu yokuthola ukuhlakanipha ngokulinda ngobubele uJesu ukuba asifundise—"Uyaguqa abathobekile ekwahluleleni."

Esikhundleni sokuphendula imibuzo yabantu, iNkosi yabapha isixwayiso esiqinile. Uyabona ngeshoni ukuthi bachitha isikhathi esincane abasinayo sokujabulela emisikweni yakhe. Ngakho wathi, "Nokho kusesekhona isikhathi esincane ukukhanya kuzaba nakho." Abazi ukuthi kusesekhona isikhathi esincane ukukhanya kuzakhanya. Uma la mazwi akhulunywa ngosuku lweNkosi yokufika eJerusalema, (leyo yinto ngeSonto ebusuku,) khona kwasala izinsuku ezintathu kuphela zokufundisa, nabantu ukuba bafunde. Ngolwesine kubonakala ukuthi bonke bezigqumile ekulungiseni iPhasika, ngolwesihlanu bebuka uMsindisi opheshezelwe. Ngemuva kwalolo suku akamabona owalandelayo kodwa abafundi bakhe. Akasafundisi abantu.

N誰 angasho ukuthi kungenzeka yini ukuba akaligcine ukukhanya akwamukile? Umntwana onomzali onkulunkulu uyazi ukuthi umzali angafa kungekudala, nendlela yayo yokuthandaza naye, kodwa kaningi kakhulu ngaye! Buningi ababengathuthuka uma besazi ukuthi kungekudala ithuba labo lokusindiswa lizophela.

Umfundisi owafundisa ngamazwi, "Mfuneni iNkosi ngamunye ekhona," waphawula, "Kungenzeka kube khona abanye lapha, uma ngingafundisi kusasa kodwa namuhla, basabeka kuleyo ndawo, uma befuna iNkosi, bayehluleka."

Umsebenzi womlimi wathinteka kakhulu ngum sermon, wamfuna iNkosi ngalobo busuku. Ekuseni, njengoba wayenehhashi emkhundleni, elinye lalahla, wamenyuka, wamshaya ngensimbi yokulima ethempelini, wafa. Ukuba umuntu ongu owodwa ebengalinda ukufuna iNkosi, kodwa usuku olulodwa kuphela, ebengaphila ebumnyameni kuze kube phakade. Yimuphi imizwelo okufanele imimoya elahlekile ikhumbule ithuba lokugcina eliyekile, um sermon wokugcina elulwe, isilingo sokugcina elasindwa!

September 2

John 12:37-41. Abanye bayala ukukholwa.

"Ufufunile amehlo abo, wabenza ukuba izinhliziyo zabo ziqine." Lawa mazwi adakaliza imindeni eminingi. Ingabe uNkulunkulu onosihla ufufunile amehlo ezidalwa zakhe? Sasiwomcabango ukuthi Yena owathatha inhliziyo yetshe, wanika inhliziyo yenhlama. Kunjalo. Konke okulungileyo kuvela Kuye, yize kube yinto elungileyo. Kodwa into elungileyo ukwahlulela ngokuqiniseka, futhi kukhona isono lapho ukufufuna amehlo je ukwahlulela okuqinisekileyo. Abantu abathanda ubumnyama kunokukhanya, benqaba ukuqhubeka ukukhanya, ekugcineni uNkulunkulu ufufunile amehlo abo. Kuyini ukusebenzisa ukubona kwabo abahlala ebumnyameni? uJesu wafika njengokukhanya emhlabeni; kodwa bekunabaningi imisebenzi yabo yayibi, benqaba ukuza ekukhanyeni, ukuze imisebenzi yabo ingabonakali. Laba bafufunwa amehlo abo, nezinhliziyo zabo zaqina, ukuze bangaboni ngamehlo abo, bangaqondi ngezinhliziyo zabo. Ukusasa okuphezulu kwavakashela, ukuqondisa izinyawo zabo emgwaqweni wokuthula, ngosihla oluthandekayo lukaNkulunkulu wabo — kodwa benqaba ukukhanya okhazimulayo — ekukhanyeni okugcwele izulu lonke ngenjabulo. Kufanele kube yinto ekumangazayo engelosini ukubona abantu benqaba uNkulunkulu Oyedwa!

Isaya wake wabona ukhazimo Lwakhe ethempelini. Wabona iNkosi uYehova ihlezi phezu kwesihlalo sobukhosi esiphakeme futhi siphakanyiswe, ihambisana nama seraphimi, abakhalela omunye nomunye, "Mngcwele, mngcwele, mngcwele iNkosi yamaButho, umhlaba wonke ugcwele ukhazimo Lwakhe." Lokhu kwakuyikhazimo uIsaya alibona. Abapostoli babona nekhazimo loMuntu oyedwa; kodwa liyavezwa ngendlela ehlukile. Babona umuntu ogqoke inyama, kodwa enamandla kaDivine — babona uNkulunkulu ephethwe yizinsulto nezilimala, kodwa enika izibusiso, ethembisa izibusiso. Ukhazimo loMuntu oyedwa kaNkulunkulu alukhazimanga kakhulu esihlalweni sobukhosi sezulwini kunalokho elikhazimanga ngemuva kwesifihla somuntu.

Lakini abayoni enhliziyweni yabo abakwazanga ukubona le nkazimulo. Akekho owabona ngaphandle kwababo abathi uNkulunkulu wavula amehlo abo. Akekho nhlupheko olukhulu kunokuba ngabayoni enhliziyweni yabo benkazimulo yoMsindisi. Nathi sibona into emnandi kakhulu, yingaleso sikhathi lapho sicabanga khona abayoni. Nathi sibuka ubuhle bokuntshontsha kwentwasahlobo, noma ukukhanya kwelanga elibekwe phansi, yingaleso sikhathi lapho sicabanga khona abantu abangeke bakhonzwe yizinto ezinjalo ezimnandi. Nathi sibona ubuso bomngani omthandayo, umzali, noma ingane, yingaleso sikhathi, ngaphezu kwakho konke, lapho sicabanga khona abantu abangeke bakhonzwe yizinto abazithandayo.

Kwaye nini na lapho umKristu ecabanga kakhulu ngabayoni emhlabeni? Ngesikhathi uhlela inkazimulo yoMsindisi wakhe, ngesikhathi ecabanga ngamandla akhe, nokwethembeka kwakhe, nothando lwakhe, futhi acabanga ukuthi kukhona abantu abangakaze babone lezi nkazimulo—abanga ke bazibone—abathandi ukuzibona. Noma ababi bazobona uNksz uMuntu eza ngamandla nenkazimulo enkulu ngosuku lokugcina, kodwa abasoze baqonda inkazimulo yakhe enkulu—okuyinto ubuhle bakhe. UMose wathandaza kanye, wathi, "Nkosi, ngiyakucela, khombisa umnkazimulo wakho;" uNkulunkulu waphendula, "Niyakwenza ubuhle bami budlule phambi kwako." Khona yena wamemezela igama lakhe njengoNkulunkulu onosizo, onomusa, onesine, owatshumayela ukutshumayela, notshumayela isono. Le yinkazimulo abamkholwayo bayibona ngenjabulo enkulu, kodwa abangakholwayo abayiboni. Emhlabeni olandelayo bazozwa amandla oNkulunkulu, njengeedemon, bazanqikiza phantsi kwake—but abasoze, abasoze bazi uNkulunkulu nothando.

September 3

John 12:42, 43. Abakholwayo abaningi, bayenqaba ukuvuma uKristu.

Kuyenzeka kakhulu ukubona ukuthi yiziphi izilingo eziye zanqoba abantu ezikhathini ezedlule. Akukho muntu ongalinganisa amandla okuligayo, ngaphandle kwabantu abaphansi kwalo. Ngisho nezilingo ezaye zanqoba thina ngokwethu, zibonakala zibuthele futhi zingabalulekanga lapho sesiphumile ekuphaweni kwazo. Sifunde ngenkosana encane eyenqaba ukulandela uKristo ngenxa yokuthi yayinempahla eningi. Manje sifunde ngabaningi benkosana abaye benqaba ukumvuma, ngenxa yokuthi bathanda ukudunyiswa kwabantu kunokudunyiswa kukaNkulunkulu. Ziningi izizathu ezahlukahlukene abantu abanazo zokungalenza iNcebo kaNkulunkulu! Kodwa alikho lilinye lalezo zizathu eliyobonakala liyinto eqinile ngosuku lokugcina. "Asakwazi," zathi zinkosana, "ukumvuma ukuthi uJesu ungunabantwana bakaNkulunkulu, ukuze lingasikhishwe sinagogi." Kwakukhona umxwayo ongenalwazi owazalwa eyimpumputhe owakubeka uvivinyo; yini eyabangela ukuthi bona bangakubeki? Lapho akhishwe, uNabantwana bakaNkulunkulu wamthola wamveza kuye. Ukube zinkosana zisebenze njengaye, zabe zithola induduzo njengaye. Igama elilodwa elivela kumnabantwana bakaNkulunkulu lingangenisa ukuthula enhliziyweni kunokudunyiswa kwabantu abaningi, noma ukudunyiswa kwabantu abakhulu beSanghedrini. Kodwa kubonakala kuzinkosana njengesiphepho esingenakubekezwa ukukhishwa sinagogi. Ukungavunyelwa kusondela ngaphakathi kwengalo elinye umuntu, noma ukudla nokuphuza nomuntu oyedwa izinsuku ezingamashumi amathathu, kwakuwuvivinyo abengeke balubeke. Kuthi uma, ekupheleni kwezinsuku ezingamashumi amathathu, beqhubeka bevuma uKristo, isiqalekiso sibe sikhishwa phezu kwabo phakathi komhlangano, esihambisana nokucisha izibani, nalokusabela kwababhuti. Kuthiwa kuzofika ubuhlwempu, nokulahla, nodumo. Bebeyok deprived of impahla yabo, benqatshelwe ukuqasha noma ukuqashwa, ukuthenga noma ukudayisa, ukufundisa noma ukufundwa; lapho befa, amatshe ayebe akhishwa phezu kwesikhathi sabo, yingibe kubo ilandelwa kubantu ukuba yethunzi.

Lezinto zantaba zazingcwele ukwesabisa inhliziyo yomuntu; kodwa nokho yini zonke, uma ziqhathaniswa nezinhlupheko uNkulunkulu azokwenza kubantu abangakholwa nabesabekayo! Ukungavunyelwa ukusondela kubantu abafana nathi abayizinto ezibulalayo njengokuhlukaniswa nabantu abantu abalungileyo nama-angelu noNkulunkulu noKristu kuze kube phakade. Ukumnyama okungazelelwe esinagogeni, kanye nokukhala kwamabheremu, bekungeke kwesabise njengokumnyama kwelanga emini, kanye nomsindo womlabalaba wokugcina!

Kodwa yize laba ababusi bekholwa ukuthi uJesu ungumKristu, bakholwa ngakho konke. Abakuthandanga. Bathanda abantu kakhulu kunoNkulunkulu; ngakho bathanda ukudunyiswa kwabantu kakhulu kunokudunyiswa kukaNkulunkulu. Kungenzeka ukuthi umkholwa weqiniso angak tempted ukungavuma iNkosi yakhe — kodwa khona-ke ngeke aqhubeke esonweni. UPetru ungavuma uKristu; kodwa "ukubuka okukodwa okwabeka icala" kwamlethela ekutheni aguquke, yenza akhiphe njalo akhale ngobunzima. Laba ababusi babengekufani noPetru. Bebengakwazi ukubona abangane babo behlukumeza iNkosi ngosuku nosuku, yize bangathathi icala lakhe — babengakwazi ukuzwa bahlanganisa ukufa kwakhe, yize babe buthule. Babekwazi ukuhlala njabantu ababunzi nabantshazi bakhe, kodwa bangabalwa phakathi kwabangani bakhe. Bebengakwenza lokhu uma bekamthandanga? O cha! uma bekamthandanga, bekuyokwenza kwesinye isikhathi, babeyokudalula imizwa yabo. UNikodemusi akakwazanga ukuhlala enhlanganweni yabaseSanhedrini, agcine iNkosi ithukwa. Wakhala, "Ngabe umthetho wethu ukahlulela umuntu ngaphambi kokumuva, nokwazi akwenzayo?" yenza kwalowo mquluthela kubangwa kukhanya kwenhlangano. Angabe unyana onothando angakwazi ukuzwa uyise ethukwa ngosuku nosuku, angabonisi ngelizwi noma ukubuka ukuthi ubunzima kangakanani!

Mhlawumbe asibali abantu abakhuluma ngokucacile ngokumelene noJesu uqobo. Kodwa asibakabili abantu abaningi abakhuluma ngokumelene nemithetho yakhe nabantu bakhe? Yilapho khona lapho sibizwa khona ukuba simvume. Uma asibonisi ukuthanda kwethu imidlalo yasezweni, uma sibonisa ukunamathela kwethu kubantu abathandeka ngokweqiniso, uma senqaba ukumomotheka ezonini, nokuqadmisa lokho umhlaba uwamthanda, izitha zikaKristo ziyasizonda niyasdephesa. Ingabe silungele ukuthwala inzondo yabo nokudephesa kwabo ngenxa yomthandwa wethu? Ingabe ukwamthanda kukaKristo kuyathandeka kithi ngaphezu kokuthandwa umhlaba? Yilawa yizibonakaliso zokuthi siyamthanda iNkosi, yena naye usithanda; yena yisikhathi sokuba yena asivume khona ekhazikweni lakhe nazo zonke izingelosi zakhe ezingcwele.

Septhemba 4

John 12:44 kuze kuphele. UKristu uyazibonakalisa yena ukukhanya kwehlake.

Ukukhanya okukhulu kunazo zonke okake kwakhanya phezu kwalomhlaba kwakuzophela. Ngenkathi imisebe yakhe yayisabonakala, kwakuzwakala izwi lisithi, "Ndifike ukukhanya kuleli hlake, ukuze yeyabukholelwa kimi ingahlali ebumthilini." Yilawa iphroko lokugcina kwababulawa kwenziwa nguThixokazi wethu ngaphambi kokubulawa kwakhe. Siyazi yena yayishumayela iinjilad i nsuku zonke phakathi nenkathi e selele yokuhlupheka kwakhe; kodwa asaziswanga yena yenzani amaphroko; yize asaziswanga yezinkulumo eziningi ayesho, nezeeziningi iphroko ayesho.

Lobu ubani uthando olukhulu olwaphefumula kule iphroko! uJesu wafika ukukhanya ezweni, hhayi ngenjabulo yakhe, kodwa yeyabukholelwa kuye ingahlali ebumthilini. Yena uyabona umhlaba ulele ebumthilini; yena uyabahawu isimo sabo esibi— wayevumile ukungena ekhaya elimnyama labo, ukuze aletha kubo ukukhanya kwe impilo.

Indlela imihla yono dunzi ebonakala icindezile uma ibukwa kusuka kulezo zindawo ezinelanga lapho abatenda bengahlala khona! Kodwa ubumnyama abubonakali nje kuphela, kodwa futhi buyingozi. Izityalo azikwazi kukhula endaweni emnyama. Yiziqu zezihlahla ezisela ukukhanya kwelanga, ezivelisa amahlamvu nezithelo. Izimbali zijikisa ubuhle bezinhloko elelanga, nasebazi ngalinye ligobeka phambili ukuhlangana nemisebe yalo. Ngokushesha nje lapho umntwana osanda kuzalwa enamandla okuvula amashiya akhe athambile, uqala ukufuna ukukhanya. Laba bantwana abahwolekileyo abalele emigwaqweni emnyama bakhomba ngokubukeka kwabo okumpunga nokugula ukuthi bancishwe ukukhanya okwenza yonke indalo ichume futhi ijabule. Ubumnyama buyingozi njengoba bungonzi. Umhambi ogwazile endle, uma ebefika ebusuku, ubekwa esichengeni sokuwela emigobho nasemakati egangile. Inkosazana yamandla omoya isebenzisa amandla ayo ebumnyameni; yiyo lapho ibeka khona izicupho zayo; yiyo lapho ilinde khona inyama yayo.

Yayenzi ukuze abasindise abantu abakulesi simo esidabukisayo. Ungukukhanya kokukhanya kukaBaba, nomfanekiso oqondile womuntu wakhe; ngakho wathi, "Yonke umuntu oyongibona uyabona yena ongithumileyo". Inkosi yaphakade, engenakufa, engabonakali, ihlala ekukhanyeni okungekho muntu ongakusondela; kodwa uNdodana wakhe wagqunywa ngenyama, wathumwa emhlabeni egqunyiwe ngamabhondi athambile kangokuthi abantu bangakusondela. Kodwa uma abantu besathanda ubumnyama kunokukhanya, uma bevala amehlo abo phezu kweLanga lokulunga, bangene kude emakhosazeni abo amnyama, yini leyo ezakwenzeka kubo ekugcineni! Amazwi awakhulunywa nguJesu ayakwahlulela ngosuku lokugcina. Lowo amazwi, "Ngifikile ukukhanya emhlabeni, ukuze yonke umuntu okholwayo kuye angahlali ebumnzweni," lo mazwi yakwahlulela bonke abawuzwile, kodwa bengakafiki ekukhanyeni. Ngokuba uJesu angeni ekusindiseni umhlaba. Uyabahlenga abantu bakhe, uyahlulela umhlaba. Zonke izimenyo abazitholile zirekhodiwe, ziyasakazwa ngosuku lokugcina. Bangakhohlwa imilando abayizwile, izahluko abazifundile; bangakhohlwa iingxoxo ezithembekile zabangane babo abapious, nemithandazo ebushubile yabazali babo abathandekayo, kodwa uThixo akakhohlwa; ngoba zonke lezi zindlela zosindiso zayalungiswa nguYe emcabangweni wakhe ophakade noNdodana wakhe. Wanquma ukuthi yini abayofunda, uyabaphequlula ukuthi bayifundisa kanjani. Inhliziyo yesoni iyakuthuthumela ngesabeko uma uMahluleli wakhe ebabuza, "Kwa nini ungakafiki kimi? Wawube ungangithola ukukhanya. Kwa nini uhlala ebumnzweni?" Yini leyo ebangayo isoni sokuhlala usuku olulodwa ebumnzweni, uma ukukhanya sekufike emhlabeni? Akekho umphefumulo owodwa ozwayo lo mmenyo ongajabulela ukukhanya kuleli hora, uma nje eliphakamisela inhliziyo yakhe kuMsindisi womhlaba ngomkhuleko onobungcwele, "Khanyisela ubumnyama bami, O ukukhanya kokuphila."

Septhemba 5

Mark 11:11-19. UCristo ufaka isiqalekiso esihlahleni se-fig esingenalwazi.

Kuyindaba yesimo ukuthi iNkosi yethu yachitha njani usuku olulodwa phakathi kwizinsuku zokugcina ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe. Kwathi, ngokuthembeka kwethu, ngesonto leNkosi lapho engena eJerusalema enenhlonipho. Kusihlwa ngalolo suku uMarko wabhala ukuthi wabuka nxele yonke into, wabe esiya eBethania nabalishumi naambili. Wabe esenhliziyweni yakhe ukuthini lapho ezibuka nxele ethempelini? Amehlo akhe ayaziwa ukuthi abuka imililo yezilwanyana ezishotshwa, izibani ezikhanyayo, nabapristi abambethe izingubo ezimhlophe. Kodwa lezi zinto azikwazanga ukuletha injabulo enhliziyweni yeNkosi; ngokuthi wayazi ukuthi ibandla laliphanga kanjani imithetho yezinto ezingcwele.

Kumele kube mnandi kuye ukuthula kweBethania emva kwengxolo yaseJerusalema! Inakeni elithandekayo, elizungezwe phakathi kwizihlahla ezithelayo ezakhiwa phansi kweOlivi, laliqukethe abalandeli ababekholelwa kakhulu kuye. Akaziwa ukuthi walichitha ubusuku kunthandweni ekuletheni imithandazo phezu kwentaba, noma ukuthi walala phansi kophahla lwedisciplesi ababemthanda, kodwa uyaziwa ukuthi wayifihlakile ekuthandweni kwezitha zakhe. Ngokuthi kusithi eNgangelweni kaJohane ngesikhathi sokunye, "Lokhu uJesu akhuluma, wabe esuka, wafihlakala kubo." (12:30.)

Ngesikhathi sokusa ngomthetho olandelayo (okholelwa yithi wayeziLwesibili), iNkosi yaphinda yaya endaweni yokusebenza nokulwa, ethempelini laseJerusalema. Umbuso wawucishe ube yimayile nehafu, nendlela yayihamba ngethafa elivundile, eduze kweGarden of Gethsemane, sewe phambuka phezu komchaza iKidron. Ngenkathi uMsindisi ehamba wayelahleke; ngoba wayesewushiyile umzi waseBhetani ngamahora okuqala, aze athabathabe. Inhlangwabuzo yakhe isikhumbuza ukuthi wayenomzimba onjengowethu, wayesengaphansi kwazo zonke izifo zethu ngaphandle kwesono. Kwakuyakusikhathi lapho ebona umtini wamafigo oneqabunga, yaya kuwo, wathola ukuthi awunayo imiphunga, wawqalekisa, esithi: "Akakho umuntu odlayo imiphunga kuwe nakuyaphakade." Kukhona into eyodwa kule ngxelo okunzima ukuyaqonda. UMako ubona ukuthi, "Isikhathi sokuqhakaza kwamafigo asikafiki." Kungokwemvelo ukubuza, "Kwa yini uMsindisi ethetha ukuthola imiphunga ngaphambi kokufika kwesizini?" Lobu ubunzima buchaziwe. Kukhona uhlobo lomtini wamafigo ohlala uneqabunga, uvele wabele imiphunga. Omtini wamafigo ovamile entwasahlobo yawoqala awabele qabunga, nemiphunga. Ngenkathi iNkosi yethu yabona kude umtini wamafigo oneqabunga, yazi kwakumele kube yohlobo olubel' imiphunga ngamakhathi onyaka; yathi yathola imiphunga, yaqalekisa ngenxa yobuhlahlahlahlahlahla.

Kodwa ngokuqinisekile bekufanele kube khona incazelo ejulile kulolu senzo; kuba isihlahla asikwazi ukufanelwa ukuthukwa noma ukubusiswa. Bekufanele kube ukufundisa abapostoli bakhe ababekhona abalalela amazwi akhe, nathi esilalela amazwi akhe manje, ukuthi uJesu wathuka isihlahla. Lesi sihlahla sanikeza uphawu olufanelekile lwesizwe saseJuda. Amahlamvu esihlahla aphuza umoya nomswakama, futhi akhuthaza amandla akhe nokuzala kwakhe. Izibusiso ezikhethekile ezanikezwa abaseJuda zingafaniswa namahlamvu. Kodwa uMwana kaNkulunkulu wafika efuna izithelo, akazange athole—akukho ukuphenduka—akukho ukholo—akukho uthando—akukho ubungcwele—kwa aba yingcwele abambalwa abakhileyo, isizwe, njengesizwe, asikholwanga. Akazange alinde izithelo kubantu abangakholwa, kuba isikhathi sama-figs asikafiki kubo; kodwa wayenamalungelo okulindela okuningi kubo ababekhona kubo okuningi.

Ubuyela ethempelini ngalolo lwanzi, wathola abathengi nabadayisi ababebandakanyeka ekuhwebeni kwabo okungcwele. Kuvela, kulolu daba, ukuthi ngemuva kokuxoshwa ngakusihlwa ngaphambili, babebuyile emisebenzini yabo yamanzombi, nokuthi uMwana womuntu wabonisa amandla akhe futhi ngokubaxosha.

UJesu wachitha usuku lwalo efundisa abantu, ngenkathi babebhekwa ngababhali nabapristi abakhulu ngendlela enobungo. Naye, kwase kusihlwa, waphuma edolobheni, waphinde wazama ukuzifihla ezitha zakhe ekhwehleleni lakhe alikhonzayo. Waluvala njalo olunye lwanzi lwakhe olumbalwa lwosizi. Kwaba njengokungathi wachitha amandla akhe ngenza, yena ngokungenzi; kodwa isahluko sakhe senziwa nguNkulunkulu, nomsebenzi wakhe noNkulunkulu wakhe. (Is. 49:4).

Kwayo labo abasebenza ngenxa yeminyeo yethu, noma bengabafundisi noma abangane, babukeke njengoabahlupheka yize? Molo umSindisi ongesabi uyisixwayiso kithi. UThixo angathi kumuntu, njengathi esitweni, "Akube nafunze umkhiqizo wakho emva kwalokhu kuze kube phakade." Ngubani ongabekezelela umbono wokungabi yisibusiso kwisikhathi sonke sokuphila phakade? Labo abangakhi, abalulaza njengamanje, banethemba lokuthi bayakuba ngabanye ngeday. Kodwa amathuba adlula ngokushesha. Izitwenu, abathi babonakala njengabathwele izithelo ezinhle zokudumisa nokungcwele ezweni eliphezulu, baqala ukuthela umkhiqizo kuThixo esathi phansi emhlabeni. Njengalo wesifela owakholwa, isikhathi sakhe sokholo saqhubeka nje ngamahora amabini, wathwele umkhiqizo omuhle esithweni sakhe sokukholwa kuJesu, nasekukhuzeni kwakhe okuvumelana komhlobo wakhe; kanti umapostola uPawuli omdala wayefana nesitwenu amagatsha agcwele phansi ngenxa yobunzima bephunga elimnandi nelimnandi. Siyaqalile ukuthela izithelo zezul? Uma kungenjalo, nini siza kuqalisa? Akusivumele ukulibala - asazi ukuthi uThixo angayilungisa nini isimo sethu phakade.

Septhemba 6

Mark 11:20-26. UKristu nabafundi bakhe badlula ngakwesitwenu esomileyo.

Nokuba wachitha ubusuku eBethania, uMsindisi, enabantu bakhe abambalwa, waphuma endaweni yakhe yokukhosha ukuze aqhubeke nomsebenzi wakhe eJerusalema. Phakathi nohambo lwabo, into eyayimbi kakhulu yababonwa. Kwakuyisihlahla sikafigo esisike sathukwa ekuseni ngaphambili. Ngokudlula kwabo ngobusuku ngesihlahla sikafigo, ubumnyama babuvimbe ama-apostola ukuthi sabone; kodwa ukukhanya kwekuseni kwaveza isimo sakhe esomileyo. UPetru wawabhekisa kunkosi yakhe kule nto, wathi: "Nkosi, bheka isihlahla sikafigo osathukile sesomile." Ngalo remarka sifika ekuphetheni ukuthi isiqalekiso esichazwe nguNkosi asivelanga ngokushesha umphumela kulesi sihlahla, kodwa sibangele kancane kancane ukubola nokufa. Ama-apostola, ayazi isizathu sesimo sakhe esomileyo, bekufanele bawenzele ngabo ngamazwi o wesihe esikhulu nokumangala. Abangakaze babone ngaphambili umboniso onamandla ongaweNkosi. Babone ukuphila okunikezwa yizwi lakhe, kodwa abangakaze babone nokuphila kwesihlahla KUTHATHIWE. Ukube iNdodana kaNkulunkulu yenza amandla akhe njengoba yayifanele yenze, izitha zake zayechithwa kudala ngukuphefumula kwakhe—yinto uNkulunkulu akwenza, njengokuphila okwenza. Kodwa wazibamba ekwahluleleni, yinto ayenzayo ukuze adonse izoni kuye ngokwacebile ekulungiseni kwakhe, hhayi ukubethusa ngamandla akhe. Kodwa kwakuhle ukuthi ama-apostala akhe afakazi ukuthi angabhubhisa izitha zakhe. Basakuzo dalwa ekudlalweni okukhulu kwenkolo. Babo behlaba umNkosi wabo ngokuthi abantu banamandla. Ukhumbulo lwesihlahla sikafigo kwafanele lubaholele ngalelo langa elibi ukuthi angakoma iminwe eboutwe ukumthatha, nokuthi athule izilimi ezivuka ekwahluleleni kwakhe.

Noma yena uJesu kuphela owayenamandla okuzithoba izitha zakhe. Utshengise amandla afanayo kubapostoli bakhe, ngisho namandla okuqhaqha izihlahla zomnqumo nokususa izintaba. UMatewu uyakurekhoda impendulo yenkosi—"Nina iNyaniso ngiyanitshela, uma nina nina nokungabazeki, aningagcini nje ngokwenza okwenziwe kulezihlahla zomnqumo, kodwa uma nina nishoyo kule ntaba, 'Sususwa, uphonke olwandle,' yenzeke." Matthew 21:26. Kungokomvele ukuthi izihlahla nezintaba zimele izithiyo nezilingo zempilo yobuKristu. Ngokholo zingunqobwa. Upostoli uPawuli wanqoba ngumyalezo kaSathana othunyelwe ukumhlasela, futhi ngokholo wafunda ukujabula ekuthakathakeni, ekuthukwa, ekudingeni, ekulandshwa, ekucindezelekeni, ngenxa kaKristu, ngoba wathola umusa kaNkulunkulu wanele kuye. (2 Cor. 12:10.)

Ngumthandazo wokukholwa lapho kunqobwa khona. Ngakho inkosi yabapostoli bakhe izikhombisa iziqondiso ezithile ezimayelana nomthandazo. Wayazi ukuthi bazochitha olunye usuku belahlulelwa ngabantu ababi, wabaxwayisa ngokumkhathalela umoya ongawabaxoleli, wathi, "Nina nina emithandazweni yenu, xoleleni, uma nina nininto engumphambana naye—nokuthi uyihlo osezulwini angabaxolela yina iitrephasi zenu." Bambalwa abangathiki ngeshwa noma bathukwe. Akwanele kithi ukuzama ukuxosha iimicabango yezitha zethu emiqondweni yethu, kufanele sicabange ngazo ngenjongo yokubuza, "Ngiyabaxolele?" Kufanele bazikhankanye emithandazweni yethu njengabantu abafuna umusa. Yena oyedwa otshengedwe nguNkulunkulu uyakwazi ukubaxolela abanye. Umoya wenzalo ungavuka kweminye imikhathi enhliziyweni yakhe; kodwa ukhumbula okwedlule phakathi kukaJesu nomphefumulo wakhe uyakucisha imizwa yokuziphindisela, uyakufisa ukuhlangana nezitha zakhe ekhazikweni, nokuhlala nazo kufezeke ngamthando.

Septhemba 7

Matthew 21:23-32. Abadala babuza uKristu ngombuzo wakhe wokugunyaza.

Siyaqala ukufunda i-akhawunti yezinsuku zokugcina ezimbili zemisebenzi yethu yombuleki—uLwesibili noLwesithathu ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe. Ziningi kakhulu izinkumbulo zemizwa ayeyikhulumile ngalazo zinsuku. Ningabani abamuzwanga, bazi ukuthi wayezoqeda ukukhulumela phansi emhlabeni; kodwa thina siyazi ukuthi lezi ziwisixwayiso sokugcina.

Ekuseni kakhulu wafika eJerusalema njengokwejwayelekile, njengoba ayebakhulume nawo abafundi bakhe enzelweni ngomthi womkhiwa owomile, namandla okholo nemithandazo. Wathola izitha zakhe zithukuthele kakhulu ngaye, zombili ngenxa yamagama akhe nezinto ayezidala. Babonile abathengi nabadayisi, ngomyalo wakhe, beshiya izikhundla zabo ezijwayelekile. Umbono wawuyisihlamba kulabo abebevumele isikhathi eside ukudlwengwa kweNdlu yomthandazo. Ngemuva kokubonisana, babuza umbuzo abawucabanga ukuthi akingakwazi ukuwaphendula ngaphandle kokuwanika isihlamba esisha ngaye—"Ngumthandazelo onjani owenza lezi zinto?" Ukuba aphendule, "Ngomthandazelo kaNkulunkulu," khona babesaneka ukumsola ngokuhlambuka; nokuba asho, "Ngomthandazelo wami," ngokuvukela. Kodwa ubuhlakaniphi bethu bakaNkulunkulu bulahlekelwa ubuhlakaniphi babantu kalula. Aphendula ngokubuza umbuzo abebengakwazi ukuwaphendula. Ngakho babanyelelwa ukuba baphendule ukuthi babengazi noma uYohana uMbhaptizi wayengumprofeti weqiniso noma cha. Yisiphi isivumo kubafundisi benkolo ukusenza! Bonke abayezwanga ngokwemvelo babanaka ukuthi labo ababengazi noma uYohana engumprofeti, kungenzeka bangazi noma uJesu engubani.

Ndretanto, ngenkathi ibutho lakhe labezitha lilihlukumezwa y ukudideka kwako ekushabaleni, iNkosi yatshela umfanekiso, owalidida kakhulu. Kujikeleze iSindisi kunkuThanjiswa kwabantu ababecatshwa yiFarisi njengamathanga nezibi zomhlaba. BabenguThanjiswayo ababekade behamba nokuphila okubi; babengu abantu abafana nomqoqi wenzani omcebileyo nomoni okhalayo. Ekade belulaza umyalo wabThixo wabo, besabela ngokuziqhenya, "Angiyenzi;" kodwa emva kwalokho babeguquka; kanti iFarisi, nabo bonke ubuzenzeli babo, abangakayenzi ngokwenene umyalo kaThixo. Kwakulula ukusho ukuthi yiziphi zabo abazizwa kakhulu. Neba nabo abalulazayo abangakayiguquki, babungeke babi ngababi phambi koThixo njengabenza zobuzenzeli benkolo. Kodwa babeguquka, yingakho batsheliwe ngokupheleleyo, bathandwa nguThixo njengelosi ezingakayoni. Ukuguquka kwabo kwandisa kakhulu isono seFarisi, ngoba ukubona nje kwabaguqukayo kwakufanele ukubadimbaza ukuba bauguquke.

Kodwa abaziqhenyi abanayo imvazo yokuchitha phambi kukaJesu. Akukho sono esiqinisa inhliziyo kakhulu njengoziqhenyo. Izono ezicacile, nakuba zichaya ekh shame nesihluku ekuphileni kwesikhathi, kwesinye isikhathi zenza abantu bazithoba phambi koThixo. Umqambuli, okhalayo ngenxa yamazwi akhe amanga, uyakulalela izwi lenhlawulo, kanti umqambuli ozingcwele uyakurutha, ngoba ethembele ekulungeni kwakhe. Kuzono zonke, masiqaphe kakhulu ukuziqhenya. Yiso inkweli yokuqala kaSathani. Inamandla okumangalisa okuphela esikhala sezono eliphonswa enhliziyweni. Uma ukudakwa kuphonswa, ukuziqhenya kuya kwakha nokugcwalisa igumbi elidlala ukudakwa ngaphambili. Okuqhenya kuya kwakha futhi ngamandla akho kuphonswa enye imbi, ukuze ikhule kakhulu, ibe nokudla okwengezi.

Ngaphezulu kwako konke, uk pride yethu iyakwesaba ukungena koNdodana kaThixo enhliziyweni. Kungenxa yoko iyazi ukuba ukubusa kwayo kuya kuphela. Yenza njani ukuvala iingcango zentliziyo, ngokuchasene nomniniyo! Noko uKrestu uye waphula nezi zinto zokuzikhusela. USaul waseTarsu wayephakathi kwamaFarisee an pride, xa uYesu wakhuluma kuye ezulwini; kodwa waba njengomntu onguThobekileyo, owathi, "Yehova, yiba nomusa kum, ndingumnoni."

Septemba 8

Luke 20:9-19. Ipharable yabalimi abavukelayo ebizeni.

Kule parable imisebenzi emibi yabantu baseIsrayeli ibonakaliswa ngokucacileyo. Xa imisebenzi yabantu ngokuchaseneyo noThixo ibonakaliswa ngepharable, siqonda ukungabuleki kwabo nokungathembeki kwabo ngaphezu kokuba besiqonda ngaphambili. Kwaye kutheni? Kungenxa yokuba akukho khona umntu onelungelo elingaqondwa ngabantu, njengelungelo likaThixo.

Wonke umntu uya kuvuma, ukuba umnini webizeni wayenelungelo lokufuna isabelo sezityalo zakhe, njengirenti, kubalimi. Kodwa uThixo unelungelo kuwo wonke umsebenzi wethu, nakuthando lwethu. Kuye sibonga yonke into esiyonandiphayo, okanye esinokonandipha – enyanisweni amandla okonandipha asuka kuye. Kodwa abantu baziphatha njani kuye? Ngendlela efanayo abalimi baziphatha ngayo kumnini wabo. Abayi kuphela ukuthobela uThixo, kodwa bafutheke ngakwabo bathi bayakhalimela ukuthobela kwabo.

Kabalimi abangaguqukiyo, njengabalimi, baba lukhuni ekoneni. Abalimi baphatha abakhonzi ngokubi nangokubi. Bayambusha umkhonzi wokuqala, bamphatha ng shamefully umkhonzi wesibini, waza wenzakala umkhonzi wesithathu. Ngale ndlela aboni bandisi ububi – kuko konke ukhona oyenzayo uThixo angazikhathazanga, ulungiselela ukwenza okukhulu.

Nakuba ninobani abaguqukile kuNkulunkulu, nibheke emuva ekuseni zenu zokuvukela, niyakubona ukuthi wena wakha njengo wakho. Kwakunobuthobekile ebuntwaneni bakho - ukwesaba okuthile okubi ebusheni bakho - okwalahleka njengoba ukhula. Ukuba uNkulunkulu engeningenelelanga ngomusa wakhe, wayeza kube sekupheleni kwesikhathi, ufike ezingeni eliphezulu lokungalungi kunalokho owakha kwabo ngaphambili. Kukhona ngaphakathi kwabaguqukile isivikelo sokubuya kwisimo sabo sangaphambili, futhi kunesidingo njalo ukufaka isicelo kuNkulunkulu ukuze uthole usizo olusha loMoya oNgcwele, noma, njengamasondo angasithuthuthu, ashelele angene ezonweni zawo zaphambili.

Nkathi uMsindisi eqeda isifaniso, wathi ukwahlulela umnikazi womhlambi kubaThobeki. "Uyakuza, ababale, laboThobeki, aabeleke umhlambi kwabanye." Lesi sibonelo sasihloselwe njengesixwayiso kubaYuda, ababecheleke labaprofeti, futhi babebhula ukufa koNyana kaNkulunkulu. Abantu baqonda ukuthi lesi sixwayiso sabo, ngokuthi bathi, "Nkulunkulu makube njalo." Ukuba bebethanda ukugwema izono njengoba babethanda ukugwema ukuhlupheka, babengakwazi ukuphunyuka kuzo zombili. Kumele kube njani ukubonakaliswa kobuso bakhe, uJesu abebuka labo ababethi, "Nkulunkulu makube njalo;" ngoba kuthiwa, "Wababheka?" Kumele kube njengo ekuthi, "Usizi lwenu lusondele kunalokho nicabanga, futhi lukhulu kunalokho ungakubeba."

Wayesishintsha isithombe esivela engadini kuya esakhiweni, wadlulisa umshwana ocitshwayo ku Ps. 118, lapho kukuthiwa khona, "Ithambo elalichithwa yilabo ababakhi, selibe yithambo elikhulu kunazo zonke." Kakhulu kwaba yiphutha lababakhi ababengazi khona ukubaluleka kwethambo elihle, eliqinile, eliyigugu kakhulu elake lahlungwa emgodini; futhi kakhulu kwaba yisijeziso sabo. Ithambo lalo, ngenkathi lisalele phansi, lizakuba yisithabathaba, nalabo abawela phezu lakho bazakuphuka; kodwa alizakusala phansi; lizakuphakamishwa, lize lile phezu kwababi, ngintshumayelo yakhe yokulunga kaNkulunkulu, lizabachobozela babe yimpushana. Wusho ukuthini lo mfanekiso omfushane? Ngenkathi uKristu wayesemhlabeni, labo abamkhonzi benza isono, kodwa hhayi ngaphandle kokufinyelela ekuxolelweni; kodwa nakhu yena ephethwe yisandla sokunene sikaNkulunkulu, labo abaqhubeka bemkhonzi babhujiswa njalo. Intshumayelo yakhe yokulunga kaNkulunkulu imelelwa ylokhu "Izo bachobozela babe yimpushana." Yalowo uMsindisi obusisiwe ongaba, njengithambo, ukusekela nokuzivikela, uzakuba, uma singakukholwa kuye, isenzo sokubhujiswa kwethu. Uma sakha phezu kwakhe yonke imithemba yethu yokungenela, akazakusiletha phansi — kodwa uma singamnaki, uyo asichoboze phansi ngesisindo sentshumayelo yakhe yokulunga.

Septhemba 9

Matthew 22:1-14. Umfanekiso womuntu ongenahembe lokushada.

Kukhona into eyodwa ekwenza lo mfanekiso ube ngcwele kakhulu. Yiwokugcina umfanekiso orekhodiwe, ooNkosi wethu awudlulisa esidlangalaleni. Khona kukhona abanye, awodlulisa kubapostoli bakhe ngasese, kodwa khona abakho owanjiweyo eBhayibhelini awawashumayela phambi kwabaserdini abakhulu nomphakathi.

Lo mfanekiso uqukethe incazelo yazo zonke izinhlobo zabantu ababuthiwe eduze kweNkosi ethempelini. Ngamunye wethu olalela lo mfanekiso njengamanje, angathola kuwo umuntu wakhe.

Khonake ababuthwa abathile ekumeni emshadweni, baya emizimbeni yabo nasekuthengiseni kwabo. Labo bantu bamele abacabanga ngomhlaba nabangakabal. Iningi labatho abalalayo baleli klasi. Abamelani noVangelo ngenxushabano; abapheki abantu abakholwa ngenkani; kodwa baphatha izihloko ezinzima ngesihlava, baye benika izinhliziyo neengqondo zabo emhlabeni. Banozintshiseko ezahlukahlukeneyo; ababuthwa ngenkani emsebenzini, abanye ngobudlelwane; ababuthwa ngenkani ekufundeni nasekutholeni, abanye ngemisebenzi yasekhaya nenjabulo—kodwa bonke bayavumelana kule ndawo,—bayakhohlwa imimenyo yovangelo.

Kwabuthwa abantu abathile ababizwa ekufananiseni, abathatha abakhonzi, babaphathe ngenkanyezi, bababulala. Labo, siyazi, kumele bamele abapheki, abafana nabapristi abakhulu namaferi. Isijeziso esingathiwa maduzane kubabulali beNkosi sasibonakaliswa yizwi elithi, "Kodwa iNkosi yaseke yezwa lokhu, yadyezwa, yathuma imikhosi yayo, yabulala labo babulali, yashisa umzi wabo."

Abakhonzi bamele abaprofeti, abapostola, abafundisi, nabafundishisi, kuzo zonke izikhathi, abazama ukukholisa aboni ukuba beze kuKristu.

Abagaki abamukele ummenyo, babonisa bonke abathi benza umsebenzi wokholo.

Umuntu othakazeliswa kakhulu oschazwe esifanizweni ngumuntu owakuthiwa akambagazanga ngingubo yomshado. Kwenzeka ngesiko eMpumalanga, uma imihlanganiso yobukhosi ibanjwa, ukunikeza isimenywa ngasinye ingubo yokuhlonipha, futhi kungaba ukuthukwa okukhulu, uma nayiphi na yalabo ababekhona abenqaba ukuyigqoka. Lo muntu wayehlulekile ukuyagqoka. Abasebenzi bekungenza bangaboni ukushoda, noma uma bebona, basavumela lo msimenywa ongathobeli ukuba ahlale etafuleni. Kodwa iNkosi yayingena ukubona izimenywa, yathi yambuka lo mone, yagomela kuye ngokushesha. Yini impendulo umuntu ayiphendula ngayo? Yini isizathu asenzayo? Akazange aphendule. Njalo yonke isoni inezizathu eziningi zokunikela ngazo izono zayo, kodwa ngeke akwazi ukuziphakamisa phambi kweNdodana kaNkulunkulu.

Izingubo zokushada zifanisa ubulungisa obuthembiswe nguKristu kubo bonke abakholelwa kuye; yingubo elineni, ekhanya, eyakhulunywa ngayo eNcwadini yeSambulo, (19:8)—yobulungisa obu ngokwenkolo kaJesu Kristu. Wonke umuntu angathola lesi sipho esiyigugu. Sinikezwa kubo bonke. Ukwenqaba lesi sipho yinto yokuthuka uKumkani wamaKumkani. Ngabe ikhona ibe nguwe othemba ukuvela phambi kukaNkulunkulu ngobulungisa bakho—ngobulungisa uProfethi u-Isaya alufanisa "nezingubo ezimdaka?" Ngabe ikhona abazi ukuthi bayadlulwa, benjalo, bempoor, bebimpumputhe, benekwa, abangezi ukuceleka izingubo ezikhanya uJesu anikezela? (64:6.) Ungase uphunyuke ekubonweni kwezihambeli zakho,—ungase uphunyuke ekuboni kwabakhonzi—kodwa uKumkani ekufika ukuzobona izihambeli, uyakuthola, uyakuphalaza. Yonke inkolo yethu iyakuba yize, uma singafiki ekukholeni okuyiqiniso nokuguqulwa kwangempela. Lo muntu odlulwa wayengahlala kude nokudla, kunokuza ngingeneyo ingubo zokushada. Uyobe enenkathazo encane—enokudumala okuncane—enokuhlazeka okuncane—futhi mhlawumbe ukhalo oluncane; ngoba kulahlekileyo, yiqiniso, labo ababecabanga kuze kube sekugcineni baya ezulwini.

Septhemba 10

Matthew 22:15-22. UKristu uphendula amaFarise namaHerodiani ngokuhusiana nokukhokha umphako.

Bengile namhlanje ziPharisee ngokugcwele zikaSathana zizele ngobuthi obuyinhloli, basondela kuNkosi, bembuza umbuzo abawucabanga ukuthi ngeke akwazi ukuwuphendula ngaphandle kokuziveza engozini. Umbuzo wawuyalawa. "Ingabe kusemthethweni ukunikela uthango kuKhesara noma cha?" UKhesara wayengu-imperatori wamaRoma owayehlakulele isizwe samaJuda. Kwakungenakwenzeka yini ukungabaza ukuthi ngabe kwakufanele yini ukukhokha uthango noma izintengo kukumkani owayebusa phezu kwabo? Bekungeke kube khona, ngoba uThixo uyale ukuba kuthotshwe kwabusa. Kodwa ziPharisee baqonda mthetho kaThixo kabi, babona ukuthi kuyiphutha ukuthobela umbusi wamahedeni. Lo wawu ngcamango ongasemthethweni. Kwakuyiqiniso ukuthi amaJuda ngeke ahlulwe ngamahedeni uma besewathembekile kuThixo; kodwa ngenxa yokuhlulwa, kwakuyimbekiselo yabo ukuthobela. Siyafunda kumprofeti uEzekiel, ukuthi uNkosi wayesekuthukuthelele amaJuda ngokuphula isivumelwano sabo nomkhi waseBabiloni. (Ez. 17:15.) ziPharisee abazange baziveze ngokukala ukuveza imicabango yabo yokuchelelana, ngenxa yokwesaba ukuthukuthela kwamaRoma; kodwa babeyi ngabase benza uNkosi asengozini ngokukhuluma kanye nemicabango abayicabanga ngaphakathi. Kule ndlela enobuthi babeyancedwa ngamaHerodiani. Labantu babizwa ngokuthi amaHerodiani ngemuva kukaHerod, umbusi uRoma abamqoka. Babengathanda kuphela ukuthobela amaRoma ngendlela ebekumele, kodwa nangendlela engenakwenzeka. Uma umbusi waseRoma enika umyalo ophalana nomthetho kaThixo, babeyamthobela yena umbusi bengamthobeli uThixo. Siyabona, ngakho, ukuthi ziPharisee namaHerodiani babewile ekuthokeni okuhlukile. Kodwa impendulo yaNkosi yayifana nenkemba ena maqhathana. Ngenkathi uJesu asithi, "Buyisela kuKhesara izinto zikaKhesara," wawusola imicabango eyimfihlo yaPharisee, yena asithi, "Buyisela kuThixo izinto zikaThixo," wawusola umfundiso ovezwa wamaHerodiani.

Kuyathakazelisa ukubona ukuthi imizamo yabantu yokudida iNdodana kaNkulunkulu yavusa nje kuphela amagugu amasha okukhanya emlonyeni wakhe! Yeka liyaxabana lo mthetho, "Buyiseleni uKhesari loko lukaKhesari, loko lukaNkulunkulu nikaNkulunkulu!" Uyasibonisa ukuthi yize zonke izinto zingakaNkulunkulu, nokho ezinye zikhetheke kakhulu kuye. Kune amalungelo athile uNkulunkulu awanikeze ezikhosini. Lawo malungelo kufanele siwabuyisele kuzo. Abazali banamalungelo athile kwabantwana babo, nabantwana kwabazali babo. UNkulunkulu akabazi abazali ukuthi banganabandlahla abantwana babo ngenxa yokuthi bazinikele konke ekhonzeni lakhe. Kwaba yisono kakhulu kubaYuda ukwenqaba ukuxhasa abazali babo abadala, nokuletha imali ekufanele ukuba bayinikele kubo kubapristi, besithi, "KuyiCorban, noma inikelo." (Mark 7:11.)

Kepha uma sinful uma ukunganzi kubantu izinto ezibazwe (ngokwezenkosi zikaNkulunkulu) kubantu, singathi uma sinful kangakanani uma singakabuyiseli kuNkulunkulu izinto ezimNkulu? Yize yilo iphuzu esisengabampofu. Umhlaba ucabanga ukuthi yiphutha elincane ukunganaki uMdali wabo. Bangaki abazali ababuyisela ezinganeni zabo uthando olubazwe, kodwa banganakisi uthando kuNkulunkulu! Kukhona abantwana abahlonipha abazali babo, kodwa abahloniphi uNkulunkulu; abakhonzi abathobela abaphathi babo, kodwa abathobeli uNkulunkulu; abaphathi abaphatha ngenhlonipho abakhonzi babo, kodwa benze ngobugovu kwaNkulunkulu; ababazi nabazalwa abahlala benjalo komunye nomunye, kodwa benzala kwaNkulunkulu. Abantu abanjalo bangasebenza, "Ngenze umsebenzi wami; andikenzanga muntu ovilaphe." Kodwa uNkulunkulu uzothini kubo? Akasuyakukhumbula ukuthi bayephathapthe izimfanelo Zakhe? Azisuyakusuka iNkosi ezibambileyo, imithandazo engenampilo, iBhayibheli elinganakile, ukuzikhulumela? uNkulunkulu unazo izimfanelo ezinkulu kithi kunaye yimuphi omunye umuntu angaba nazo. Wadala umuntu ngesithombe Sakhe, wamnika umphefumlo onengqondo nomoya ongenakufa. Ngakho-ke thina singaNkulunkulu, ngoba sibonisa isithombe Sakhe, njengemali yodlavu ebones ithombe likaKhesari. Kodwa uNkulunkulu akadala nje kuphela; uyasetshenziswa. Ngesikhathi uSathani asithatha njengesibandwa, uKristu wasisebenzisa ngegazi Lakhe eliyigugu, namuhla uthi kithina, "Anaweyenu; anawenzelwa ngenani; ngakho-ke nkazimeliseni uNkulunkulu emizimbeni yenu, nasemiphefumlweni yenu, ezingakaNkulunkulu." (1 Cor. 6:20.) Sinikezele kuye uMsikhalekisi? Ingabe yinto yethu enkulu ukwenza intshisekelo Yakhe nokwandisa uzuko Lwakhe? Kapa siyamkhaphela ngobugovu, sifuna ukhathazeke ngenhlanhla yethu siyenze intshisekelo yethu?

Septhemba 11

Luke 20:27-38. UKristu uphendula amaSaduke ngomthamo wokuvuka.

Nansi ke enyezi enye ukweli oyigugu uchazwe njengempendulo yimiphi imibuzo yize. Yyiphi ukukhanya okusakazwa phezu kwento ya ukuphila kwezulu ngala masentensi amabili! "Balingana nama-angelosi! Bonke baphila kuye."

Abasaddukei abazange bakholwe ukuthi kungeke kube khona ukuvuka kwabafileyo, ngoba abazange baqonde ukuthi kungaba njani. Nabo sebethumele kwaJesu bachaza icala elingaba njalo ngaphansi komthetho wamaJuda. Umhlaba waseKanan wahlukaniswa waba ngamafula amancane. Ukuba umuntu efela ngaphandle kwengane eyothatha isikhundla sakhe, uNkulunkulu wabayalile ukuba umshanawe ashade nomfazi walo, nokuthi uma ingane izalwa, yena wayothatha isikhundla sakhe saphezulu, yena abe ngofiyo lwakhe. Abasaddukei bacabanga ukuthi sebethumele isithiyo uNkosi engenakho ukusixazulula; kodwa ngelizwi lwakhe wabexwayisa ubuwula babo. Wathi abakileyo abalilizo "belingana nama-angelosi bakaNkulunkulu." Angelosi ababahlukaniswa emindeni njengabantu; nabo abakileyo babeza kukhonishwa ezulwini nabo ababazana nabo phansi. Babeza kukhonishwa, kodwa hhayi ngendlela yasephansi. Umphathi wethu uzokujabula ukuthola ekugcineni umhlambi awugcina phansi. Njengoba uPauluthi athi kubagugu yakhe, (1 Thess. 2:19">),) "Ngoba yini ithemba lethu, noma yini ukujabula kwethu, noma yini umkhatshana wethu wokujabula? Ngaba hawayi nina phambi kukaNkosi Jesu Kristo ekufikeni kwakhe?" Umzali olungileyo uzokujabula ukuthola kwakhe umanyanisiwe emabondeni omoya kuya kubantwana abazalwa kabili, njengimpendulo yimiphi imithandazo yakhe. Abangani ababithana imithwalo yabo ya umoya bahamba phezu kwentaba yaseZiyoni, bahambe ndawonye ngamanzi e ukuphila agcwalisa umuzi wabo bakaNkulunkulu. Amabondo omoya awakaze aphulwe. Njivosi yisikhathi sokuthi wande la mabondo. Ababaziho phansi abambalwa wethe yabelana ngobuhlobo babo, babeza kubambana emabondeni oswazi angapheli ezulwini.

Kodwa uKristu wazi ukuthi amaSadukayo ayengavumi kuphela ukuvuka kwabafileyo, kodwa nokungafi kwomoya. Ngakho wazisa ubufakazi bokuphila okuphakade kwabafi abalungileyo; waphuma nakho emibhalweni emihlanu kaMose, yiyo eyodwa kuphela amaSadukayo athi akholelwa kuyo. UThixo wayengeke athi kuMose, kwathi ekhulumela phambili emhlangeni ovuthayo, "NginguThixo kaAbraham," uma uAbraham wayeka ukukhona.

Kunjalo ukucabanga ukuthi bonke abalungileyo bakhona! Bonke labo balungileyo abasifundile ngabo emiBhalweni, bonke labo besifundile ngabo, bonke labo besibazi nabathandile,—bakhala. Abakhali kuphela; kodwa babana nama-angelosi. Siyathokoza ukucabanga ngababangani bethu abaphilayo abangekho, ukucabanga ukuthi yini abayenzayo njengamanje, ukuthemba ukuthi ngesinye isikhathi bayacabanga ngathi, bayeza kutisekela; kodwa ngenkathi sijabulela lezi zinto ezithandekayo, bangaba sezinhlungwini nasokuhlupheka; bangaba sebandlulweni, bewokala kude noThixo. Kodwa yini ukuzethemba esingacabanga ngabafi abalungileyo! Kwathi sesizwa imisindo emsindo kakhulu yomculo, singacabanga ukuthi, "Lawa masondo anika imibono engabonakaliyo yemizwa yabo, njengoba bepasa ebhadlweni kuya ebhadlweni." Kodwa noma singazi izinga lenhlanhla yabo, uJesu wazi. Usanda kushiya umkhanda wabantu ababhadlileyo, njengamanje wayezokufa khona ukuze baphile khona kuze kube phakade, nokuthi inani labo liqhubeke landa. Ngoku kwathi uAbeli engumuntu owasindiswa ezweni, kodwa ekugcineni kuyakuba nomkhanda omkhulu kangangokuthi akekho umuntu ongabala, oza kuhlanganisana nengoma kaAbeli, athi, "Ukusindiswa kuThixo wethu, ohlala khona esihlalweni sobukhosi, nakuWundlu." (Rev. 7:10.)

Izinkulungwane eziyishumi izinkulungwane eziyishumi ziculile Izihlabelelo ezikhulu ezizungeze i-throne, Ngenkathi, lo! ulimi olulodwa Lwaqala ingoma engaziwa; Ingoma engaziwa ezindlebeni zezingelosi, Ingoma eyatshela ngokwesaba okuxoshiwe Ngonokweba oluthethelelwe, nezinyembezi ezomisiwe. Akekho kuhlanganiswa konke kwezixuku zezulwini Owayeweza ukufinyelela kumanota aphakeme, Kodwa imimoya evela ogwini olukude Yahlangana ekuculeni; Hingga yena owokuqala waqala ingoma (Ukucula wedwa akulwanga lolu suku) Wahlanjulwa nohlanganiswa ezixukwini ezingenakubalwa. Futhi njengamahora adlula Izingelosi zihlala zithwele Uye phezulu umphefumulo omusha ohlengwa Ukuze uhlanganyele ekhorasi; Futhi ngoku ingoma izokhula kakhulu, Hingga bonke abahlengwa uKristu phansi Baye kuloo mhlaba omuhle wokujabulisa. O nganika, iNkosi, i-harp yegolide, Futhi lungeza iphimbo lami eliphukile, Ukuze ngicule ukucindezeleka okubuhlungu, KwaShintshwa ngenjjoyo engapheli; Ingoma engenalwazi ngaphambili Isoni sifike ogwini lwezulwini, Kodwa njengoku izokhala kuze kube phakade.

Septhemba 12

Mark 12:28-34. UCristu uphendula umSebenzi wezincwadi mayelana nomyalo omkhulu.

Akumangazi ukuthi ama-Abibhali badumise impendulo yaNkosi kubafikisi, ngoba bakholwa ekuphindukeni kwabafileyo. Bakabonisa ukudumisa kwabo ngokukhala, "Uthe kahle." Nokho abakayeki ithemba lokubambisa uMfundisi onkulunkulu ngombuzo; yena oyedwa wabuza, "Yiyiphi imiyalo yokuqala yawo wonke?" Ama-Abibhali bavame ukuxabana phakathi kwabo ngalolu daba, kwathi abanye baqinisekisa ukuthi ukunikeza umhlatshelo othile, kwathi abanye ukuthi ukugcina ukuzila okuthile, noma ukuphinda imithandazo ethile, noma ukunika izinto ezithile, kwakuyiservice eyamukeleke kakhulu kuNkulunkulu. Kumele impendulo yaNkosi yabamangaza kanjani! Esikhundleni sokukhetha umyalo othile njengokuba mkhulu kunabanye, wabonisa impande yawo wonke umthobeko wamukelekile, Uthando. Wenza umehluko oyedwa kuphela, kwathi lowo mehluko wawu ngenxa yezinto okuthiwa kuye kumele kuthandwe. Lezo zinto zithi "Nkulunkulu nomuntu;" kwathi uNkulunkulu ungumkhulu kakhulu kunomuntu, uthando kuye kumele lube lukhulu kakhulu kunuthando kumuntu. Nokho lapho uthando kuNkulunkulu lutholakala, uthando kumuntu luyohlala lulandela; kodwa luyothando olwahlukile kakhulu kunakulo uthando oluzenzekelayo, olungalawuleki, noluphawulayo abantu abangaguquki bathande ngawo abangani nomndeni.

UmSoni, owabuzayo umbuzo ngendlela embi yokulinga iNkosi, (njengoba uMatewu esho,) wavunyelwa yimpendulo, waziveza ngokuchema nangokweqiniso. Akazange akhulume ngohluzi lapho esho, "Kunjalo, Mfundisi, usho iqiniso." Akekho omunye wabahlukumezi beNkosi yethu owake wabonisa ukuzimisela okunjalo ukuthola imfundo, nokweqiniso ekumiseleni izinkolelo zakhe. Uye, owaziyo inhliziyo yakhe, wamkhuthaza ngalo mbuso—"Anikude kakhulu nombuso kaNkulunkulu." Akazange athi, "Unikho embusweni kaNkulunkulu." Akazange athi, njengoba athi ekhathini enomkhosi owile, "Ukukholwa kwakho kukusindisile." Akazange athi, njengawa ekhathini enomthengisi ofayo, "Uyakuba nawe ePharadesi." Nokho lokho athi kwakuyinto ekhuthazayo. Emhlabeni lapo abaningi benikude kakhulu nombuso kaNkulunkulu, njengempumalanga isuka enyakatho, kuyakhuthaza ngokuqinisekile ukuthi umoni uyakuzwa ukuthi anikude kakhulu nawo. Nkulunkulu wedwa yena ongakdla umphefumulo wize emngceleni—nokuyethemba kwethu ukuthi uma ezisa kule ndawo, uyakuletha nakwelinye. Ukufa emngceleni ohlukanisa ukufa nokuphila kungaba yinto esabekayo. Um marineli oyahluphuka olwandle nguye owafa lapho eseduze nonyaka, kubonakala ngathi icala elimbi kunalowo oyengakafiki ekhaya lakhe nelizwe lakhe alithandayo.

Kuyaziwa yini kithi ukuthi ngaphandle kokuthanda konke okungenza kuNkulunkulu akunani? Ngisho nokidalwa somuntu akangathandi izipho zethu, uma ewazi ukuthi asimthandi, nokuthi sizipha ngeso lokuthola umvuzo. Kuyakuthanda uNkulunkulu yini imisebenzi yethu enenzwa? O, yini ayenzile ukuze azuze uthando lwethu? Unikele nguYena uNkulunkulu oyedwa owazalwa ukuze afe ngenxa yethu. Akuyona yinto yokwaneleka ukuncibilikisa inhliziyo elukhuni? Akukho ubufakazi obamkeli bokubi bendalo benhliziyo yomuntu lokhu—kunanzima ukumthanda uNkulunkulu—ukuthanda uNkulunkulu oyedwa omuhle, oyedwa umusa omkhulu.

Makwazi kube khona kithi owanelisayo ngokuzizwa ukuthi kufanele simthande uThixo. Ngomzuzwana umlilo wothando lwangempela ngababa wethu onkulunkulu uvutha ekhazikweni lezinhliziyo zethu, khona-ke sesisekhathini sikaThixo—khona-ke sesiphephile, khona-ke sesijabule. Hhayi sijabule njengoba sabezijabulisa lapho simthanda kakhulu; kodwa sijabule kakhulu kunelizwe eliphumelelayo elingamthandi. Uthando lwethu hlunga lube yisihloko sokuphila kwaphakade; igazi likaKristu lingalo kuphela; kodwa linikeza ubufakazi bokuthi siyizingane zikaThixo, nokuthi sahlala naye phakade! ngokuba "Amehlo akaboni, nendlebe akazwanga, nophakathi enhliziyweni yomuntu, izinto uThixo azilungiselele labo bathanda kuye." (1 Cor. 2:9.)

Septhemba 13

Matthew 22:41 kuze kuphele. UKristu ubuza amaFarise mayelana naye.

Siyake njengabasebemwiseni bemibuzo yeNkosi. Siyabona isibonelo sobuwiseni bemibuzo yakhe. Yize izitha zakhe zingamkhathazanga, kodwa yena angabakathaza kalula. Kodwa imibuzo yakhe yayingafani nabo, engenanzuzo; yayibalulekile. Akukho ngqikithi ebaluleke kakhulu kunokuthi uKristo ungubani. AmaFarise ayethi uyayazi, kodwa ayengazi ngokuphelele ngayo. Bayaqonda, ngokuqinisekile, incazelo yegama elithi "Kristo." Libonisa "owagcotshwa"—oyedwa eceleni ngokugcoba ngamafutha njengowapristi nomkosi. UJesu uyakKristo, ogcotshwe nguBaba ngomoya oNgcwele, amafutha okujabula, ukuba upristi nomkosi kuze kube phakade. Kuyathi ekPsalme yesibili kukhona umshumayelo ngomgcotshwa. "Amakosi omhlaba azihlanganise nezikhulu zithathe ikhonsathi ndawonye khapha iNkosi, khapha umgcotshwa wakhe (noma iKristo yakhe.)" AmaFarise ayefundile iZibhalo, futhi ayazi ukuthi iKristo yayizokufika emhlabeni, nokuthi yayizozalwa emndeni kaDavide. Kodwa ayazi ukuthi iKristo yayiyingane kaThixo, kanye neNdodana kaDavide. Ngakho uJesu wabeka phambili umshumayelo ovela ePsalme, lapo uDavide ebiza iKristo iNkosi yakhe. Kuyathi, "iNkosi yathi kuNkosi yami." (Ps. 110:1.) Okusho ukuthi, "iNkosi uBaba yathi kuNkosi yami iNdodana." Kungenzeka kanjani ukuthi iNdodana kaDavide ibe iNkosi kaDavide? Lo wayeyimfihlakalo efihliwe kumaFarise. Yiyimfihlakalo enkulu yokholo. "Thixo wabonakalisa enyameni." Iveziwe kithi. Siyazi ukuthi kusukela ekuzalweni iNdodana ibinobaba ngobukhazikhazi, nokuthi ekugcwaleni kwakho konke yezalwa emhlabeni— umntwana wentombiwe onobuzaza kaDavide.

Kanjalo uyiNdodana kaDavide ngaye uyiNkosi kaDavide. AmaFarise akambuzanga ukuba achaze umshikisho awucaphunise; ngoba benokwaneliseka ngobungazi babo, bathanda ubumnyama kunokukhanya. Kodwa bayakuqonda uma kuseduze kakhulu. Isiprofetho sakhe siyakufezeka. "Inkosi yathi kuNkosi yami, Hlala ngakwesokudla sami, uze ngenze izitha zakho isitulo sakho sezinyawo." Ingxenye yaso isivele yafezeka. UKristu manje uhlezi ngakwesokudla sikaThixo, kodwa akakafiki ukwenza izitha zakhe isitulo sakhe sezinyawo. Ngecala linawo labo abake bamkhana bekuze babone uNdodana kaThixo angozani ekhazimulweni lakhe! "Lonke iliso liyamubona, nabo abamhlabayo; nawo wonke amaqembu omhlaba ayakuchema ngenxa yakhe." Hiyo, abanye bawo wonke amaqembu ayakuchema, ngoba abanye bawo wonke amaqembu bamkhana. Akhawahle nje kuphela abantu baseJuda abathi, "Sifuni lo muntu angabusi phezu kwethu;" akhawahle nje kuphela abantu baseRoma abamhlaba ngeentso; kuninzi abantu abahlala emizweni yobuKristu abamhlabayo futhi bamanyathela phansi. (Heb. 6:6"; 10:29.) Wonke umuntu odla ngaye yizitha zakhe, ayakwenzi isitulo sakhe sezinyawo. Linto iyabesabisa ukuwela ezandleni zikaThixo ophilayo. Kuyabesabisa yini ukunyathelwa phansi kwakhe! Kodwa labo abamanyathele phansi uNdodana kaThixo bayakunyathelwa phansi yena ngokwabo—ngoba uthi, "Niyakunyathela ekuthukweni kwami, nawanganyathela ngaphansi kwakhe ekhazimulweni lwami." (Isa. 63:3.) Ngalolo lolo usuku uyakusindisa abantu bakhe, naye akwenza izitha zakhe isitulo sakhe sezinyawo, uyabaphakamisa ekhazimulweni lakhe, ngoba uthi, "Kuye owunqobayo ngiyakumpa ukuba ahlale nami ekhazimulweni lwami." (Rev. 3:21.)

Septhemba 14

Matthew 23:1-12. UKristu uxwayisa abantu ngokuziqhenya kwabantu baseFarise.

Lesi yisisho sokugcina esirekhodiwe asikhulunywe nguMsindisi wethu phambi nezitha zakhe. Kuyabathusa kanjani! Ngokuqinisekile izono zimele zibe yingozi kakhulu ezabiza lezi zingxwayo ezivela kuMsindisi omkhulu nomnene! Ingxenye yokuqala yesisho ayikhokhelwa kumaFarisee ngokwawo, kodwa kubafundi nakubantu abaningi. iNkosi yavisa ngokumelene nokulingisa isibonelo sabafundisi babo. Ngokuhlonishwa kwemifundisho yabo, lo lowo mthetho wabekwa phansi. Ngenkathi amaFarisee ahlala esihlalweni sikaMose, lokho kukuthi, lapho befunda khona izincwadi zikaMose esinagogeni kubantu, kwakufanele babonwe. Siyazi ukuthi izitoliko zabo ZAMBO ZABO azifanele zitholiwe; ngoba uMsindisi wethu ngesikhathi esithile wabatsola ngokufundisa imiyalo yamadoda imfundiso. (Matthew 15:9.) Ngakho-ke siqonda kanjani ukuthi kufanele siqonde amazwi esigwebeni 3 — "Yonke, ngakho, noma yini eyobenza bayibone, yibone yenze." Yonke imifundisho abeyinika, eyavumelana nelizwi likaNkulunkulu, abantu babebophekile kuyo, noma babe yibo abafundisi babo.

The Lord next commanded the people not to imitate the example of the Pharisees. "Do not you after their works." We are apt to imitate those we admire. The people admired the Pharisees exceedingly, for they could not detect their motive. It was PRIDE. All they did was to be seen of men; therefore all they did was abominable to God. The phylacteries (those strips of parchment on which texts of Scripture were written) were harmless in themselves, but the Pharisees wore them with the wicked desire of gaining admiration from men by an appearance of piety. The borders, or fringes on the garments, were even commanded by God in the law. In Numbers 15:38, the Israelites were desired to put fringes (or borders) on their garments, and upon the fringes a ribbon of blue, in order that when they looked upon it they might remember all the commandments of the Lord. Christ did not reprove them for wearing these borders, but for wearing them in order to be seen of men; neither did he censure them for sitting in the most honorable places at feasts or in the synagogue, but for LOVING to sit there.

became

Ngubuti, uyalwisisa abantu ukuba bangayilandeli imisebenzi yamaFarisei. "Ungayilandeli imisebenzi yabo." Siyakwazi ukulingisa labo esibathandayo. Abantu babathanda kakhulu amaFarisei, ngokuba babengakwazi ukubona isisusa sabo. Isisusa sabo kwakuyi UHlanga. Konke abakwenzayo kwakuwukubonwa ngabantu; yingakho konke abakwenzayo kwakunyanyekisa kuNkulunkulu. Ama-fylakiti (lawo amashidi e-pergamenti okwakubhalwe kuwo umbhalo weSibhalo) ayengenangozi kuwo, kodwa amaFarisei ayewagqoka anesifiso esibi sokuthola ukuthandwa kwabantu ngokubonakala kokholo. Imiphetho, noma imichilo emagqokweni, yayiyalwa nguNkulunkulu emutweni. Ku Numbers 15:38, ama-Israyeli ayefiswa ukubeka imiphetho (noma imiphetho) emagqokweni abo, futhi phezu yemiphetho isanga elimblue, ukuze bakhumbule zonke iziyalezo zikaNkulunkulu. UKristu akabakhuza ngokugqoka le miphetho, kodwa ngokuyigqoka ukuze babonwe ngabantu; akabatsolanga ngokusihlala ezindaweni ezihloniphekayo emadlangaleni noma ebandleni, kodwa ngokuthi BAKUTHANDA ukuhlala khona.

Yinto ndale ukuba abantu bafune ukubonwa futhi bathandwe. Noma amaKristu azwa lo mchoyo, kodwa akamthandi; cha, uyamthiya, akhuleke ngokumelene nayo, azabalaze ukuyinqoba. Ngalo lonke elixesha uzwa ukudabuka ngoba ebengabonwa, noma ejabha ngoba ebethandwa, kufanele sikhalekele phambi kweNkosi uk pride wezinhliziyo zethu. Kungani uk pride kunocwazile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu? Ngoba yenza abantu bafune ukuba endaweni kaNkulunkulu. Uk pride akaze waneliswe. Ukube umuntu athola ukuthandwa kwabantu abayikhulu, angathanda ukuthola kwabantu abayikhulu, futhi imifino yakhe ingeke ime mpela kuze kube yena umuntu othandwa kakhulu, kuze akhanye endaweni yoThixo. Akumangalisi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wenza umthande isono esifuna ukumthula yena, nokwenza indalo yakhe yonke ibe nesizungu. Injabulo yjikelele yehlabathi incike kuNkulunkulu ukuba khona esihlalweni sakhe, nawo wonke umdali wakhe athobele umbuso wakhe. UNkulunkulu kumele athobise wonke umuntu angena wamsindisi. Uma sifuna kusindiswa, kufanele sithobiswe. Abantu abazi kahle ukuthi benza ntoni xa bekhathalela uk pride kubantwana. Iindlela eziningi zoku fundisa zingukuthi zidlayo lo mchoyo oyingozi. Umchoyo wokuba wokuqala uyakhuthazwa ngeendlela eziningi, kodwa kufanele kusetshenziswe yonke indlela ukuze kuvalwe lutho oluthandwa kakhulu enhliziyweni yentsha. Akukho okungenza ukuba uyinqobe njengoVangelo lukaKristu. Lo muntu ufunda ukuthi ungumuntu ovilaphayo, nokuthi akukho kodwa igazi loMsindisi oyazishelayo eligeza imikhondo yakhe. Siyakholwa yale doktrina ethobisayo? Khona-ke masikhumbule amazwi ka aposile Paule, "Ngiyanincenga ukuba nihambe ngokufanele umsebenzi onabizwe, ngokuthobeka konke nokuthula." (Eph. 4:2">(Eph. 4:2).)

September 15

Matthew 23:13-15">Matthew 23:13-15. UKristu uyabaxosha ab Pharisee ngwo wathathu.

Isevisi yokuqala eqoshiwe uNkosi uJesu yayishumiza ibizwa ngokuthi Isevisi eNtabeni. Yaqala ngezibusiso eziyisishagalombili, njengalezi, "Kabusisi abampofu ngomoya, kabusisi abathobekile." Kodwa manje sifunda isevisi yokugcina eqoshiwe, futhi sithola kuyo izibusiso eziyisishagalombili. Zimemezela ngokuphambene namaFarise. INkosi yavusa abafundi bayo ngokuphambene nemifundisho yabo emibi kanye nomzekelo ku-isevisi yayo yokuqala yomphakathi, ithi, "Ngaphandle kokuthi ukulunga kwenu kudlule ukulunga kwababhali namaFarise, angena ngokuqinisekile dohlangothi olungenakungenwa lwasezulwini." Uyabonisa kule isevisi yokugcina ukuthi ukulunga kwabo kwakuyini—ukupokotha nje, ukubonakala kwangaphandle, ingubo yokufihla ubwickedness olufihlakele. Ngemuva kwesibusiso ngasinye ashoyo, wachaza isenzo sobugebengu.

Isenzo sobugebengu sokuqala sichazwa ngokuthi "ukuvimba uMbuso wasezulwini kubantu." Lokhu kuwaphambene nokuthi uJesu wazeza ukwenza. Wavula uMbuso wasezulwini kubo bonke abakholekileyo. Wavula ngomshuwalense wakhe. Bonke abafundisi abathembekileyo bame emnyango oovulekile bemema izoni ukuba zingene. Kodwa amaFarise afundisa abantu iindlela zosindiso ezingamanga. Abona abathembekileyo bengizwa baziphatha kabuhlungu, baze bazame ukubavimba. Sithola emprofetini uDaniel lesi sithembiso esikhuthazayo—"Abahlakaniphileyo bayakukhanya njengokukhanya kwesibhakabhaka, labo abaguqula abantu abaningi ekulungeni njengokukhanya kwezinkanyezi kuze kube phakade." (Dan. 12:3.) Kodwa kuthiwani ngalabo abaguqule abantu abaningi ekulungeni! Baya kuthini ukucindezeleka kwabo xa befumana phakathi kwabango wakwabo ekuphethweni, abantu abaningi ababeguqule wabahambisa bengendawo!

Kodwa uma amaFarise ayebe ngakhohlakele ngokuvuleleke, bekungeke babe necala njengoba bebeka. Babepretende ukuzi ngcwele kakhulu, benze imithandazo emide emifanekwaneni yezin公众, kanti ngasese bekidla izindlu zezintombi. Kuvele ukuthi amadoda afayo avame ukushiya impahla yezintombi zabo kubo, bengashumeki kancane ukuthi ukwethemba kungasetshenziswa kanjani. Babe njani ukhaliphile ukulimaza intombi nabantingabazali babo uma befunda njalo emthethweni kaMose lawa mazwi — "Ngeke ukucindezele intombi nanye, nomntwana ongenabazali. Uma ukucindezela ngay' o yisiphi, bona bekhala kimi, ngiyawuzwa ukukhala kwabo, intukuthelo yami iyawasha, ngibabulale ngenkemba, nezinkosikazi zenu zibe izintombi, nabantingabazali benu babe ngabantingabazali." Ex. 22:22-24. UCristo uyaziqaphela zonke izono ezifihlakeleyo. Uyazonda isono kakhulu uma ebona lifihliwe ngaphansi kwengubo yobunyenga. Ngakho wathi kumaFarise, "Niyakwamkelwa esihlwini esikhulu." Zikhona izigaba zosizi. Abanyenga bayakohluzwa kakhulu kunabaphambukeleyo. Isono abazifihlele ngakhozeleleyo ziye zabonakala esidlangalaleni ekupheleni kwesikhathi, nesifihlakeleyo abazenzayo sifike sande ekhulwini lazo.

Wonke uzovuma ukuthi ukudla izindlu zezintombi kuwisono; kodwa wonke umuntu ngeke aqonde ekuqaleni ukuthi kuwisono ukuzungeza ulwandle nomhlaba ukwenza abagugu. Isisono asikho ekuzungezeni ulwandle nomhlaba ukwenza abaguquki—hayi, lokho ngumsebenzi olungileyo. Abathumwa baya ekugcineni komhlaba ukutshela izoni ezibhubhayo ngomSindisi. Baya, futhi ngokuthokoza kukaNkulunkulu, benza abambalwa babo babe ngabantwana bokukhanya, njengoba bona ngokwabo benjalo. Yini umgugu? Ungumuntu oshintsha inkolo yakhe, noma ingcono noma ibi. AmaFarise ayesebenza kanzima ukuperswada abagenti ukuba bagcine imithetho yemithetho yamaJuda; ngoba kwakumnandi ukwanda kwabalandeli babo. Babevangeli bebangafuni ukusindisa imiphefumulo; ngoba ngenkathi besebenza kanzima ekwenzeni abagugu, bavala ibandla likaNkulunkulu kubantu. Imiyalelo emibi abayipha umgugu yenza waba mbi kunalokho ayenjalo ngaphambili, futhi waba mbi kunabo ngokwabo. Besingazange sicabange ukuthi kunakho okungenzeka kube mbi kunamaFarise, achaze la mazwi alotshiwe, "Nini lo muntu enziwe, nina nimenza mbili ukwedlula oweshelana naye." Kune amazinga obubi njengoba kukhona nosizi. Ababuni abathile kukwedlula kwabanye. Futhi kungenzeka ukwenza omunye abe mbi kunalokho thina sinjalo. Kuyingozi kangakanani ukulalela othisha ababuni! Uma silalela kubo singaba mbi kunabo. Kuyesabeka kangakanani igama elinikiwe lapha kumntu onobubi! "Umntwana wegehena!" Kodwa bonke abangabantwana bokukhanya bayabantwana begehena. Umhlaba uhlukaniswe kulezi zizwe zimbili. Ukube abantwana begehena bebona indawo abaya kuyo, babengatshikizisa, babuye bahlubuke ngesaba. Kodwa uNkulunkulu uyabona, futhi ngathando lwakhe uyabwarn them ukuthi bangaqhubeki endleleni eyingozi. Uyenza ngaphezu kwalokho. Unikwa ukubakwenza "bafanele ukuba bathole ifa labantwana bokukhanya;" ngoba unamandla okubakhulula "ekuthonyeni kwobubi." (Col. 1:12, 13.)

September 16

Matthew 23:16-28. UKristu uyabaxosha amawo esibili ngakumbi ngabafarisayo.

UThixo wethu unguthixo weqiniso. Akwakho qiniso kubafarisayo. Bafundisa ubuxoki, futhi benza ubuxoki. Ngomshwana esisanda kuwufunda kunabaxoshwa iwo ngabafarisayo ngokufundisa ubuxoki. Bafundisa abantu ukuthi igolide lethempeli lingcwele kungethempeli uqobo; nokuthi isipho esesibingelezini singcwele kunesibingelezo—ngenkathi kwakucacile ukuthi yithempeli elingcwelisa igolide, nesibingelezo esingcwelisa isipho.

Kungenzeka yini ukuthi injongo yabo yokufundisa lezi zinto zamanga? Akungabazeki ukuthi kwakuwuthando lwemali. Bebethemba ukukholisa abantu ukuba banikeze igolide eliningi, futhi banikele ngezipho eziningi njengesihlava, ukuze ngala ma ndlela bona ngokwabo bakhulishe umcebo. Uthando lwemali beluziphatha ngakho konke ukholo lwabantu ukufundisa ubuxoki. Abapristi baseRoma Katolika bathola imali ngomthandazo wabo wokufa. Bayabatshela abantu ukuthi imiphefumulo yezihlobo zabo isekhathazweni, nokuthi bayakwazi ukubakhulula ngokuphinda bathandaze noma benze umthandazo ngabo; kodwa abayiphindiphindi le mithandazo, ngaphandle kokuba kunikezwe imali. Uphawu olulodwa lommfundisi othembekileyo kukungabi nandaba kwakhe ngenzuzo yezwe, noma ngemali engenakho, njengokushaywa nguBible. NjengoPawuli angasho, "Ngeke ngifune izinto zenu, kodwa nina." (2 Cor. 12:14.)

Abafarisayo abakashomi nje kuphela ubuxoki, benza njalo. Babepretende ukuthanda kakhulu ukholo, abangeke baphose ukunikela izabelo kubapristi bezityalo ezincinyana; ngenkathi ngesikhathi esifanayo bengaphosanga ukunikela kuThixo imisebenzi mikhulu abayimisele yena, njengesahluko, umusa, nokholo. Futhi kungani? Ngoba abantu babengabona uma benika izabelo zabo, kodwa uThixo wazi kuphela isimo senhliziyo yabo.

Kwaye, ingabe akukhona abantu abafana namaFarisei ezinsukwini zethu? Banaka ukwenza imisebenzi yenkolo lapho iso lomuntu liba phezu kwabo; kodwa abanakayo lapho iso likaNkulunkulu lodwa libabona. Baya ekhonaneni njalo ngoba abantu babona khona. Kodwa bayathandaza yini ebumnyameni njalo? Banaka kakhulu amazwi abo, ngoba abantu bayawako; kodwa banaka kancane ngemicabango yabo, ngoba uNkulunkulu wodwa uyabona. Yini engabamelelanga kangcono abantu abanjalo kunoziphathayi abahlanzekile ngaphandle, kodwa bangcolile ngaphakathi, kunamathuna ahlotshiswe ngokubukeka okuhle, kodwa aqukethe amathambo abantu abafile?

Kuhluke kangakanani incazelo uMoya oNgcwele awunikeze ngayo ngabantu abakholwa! UPawulu uthi, "Kanti sithwele leli thala emikhombini yobumba." (1 Cor. 4:7">1 Cor. 4:7.) Abantu abakholwa bayadunywa yizwe, bengekho ukubaluleka kunomkhombe wobumba; kodwa ezinhliziyweni zabo kucasha ithala — uKristo, ithemba lokuzukiswa. (Col. 1:27">Col. 1:27.) Phambi koNkulunkulu, obona inhliziyo, babalulekile njengegolide neliva. Iqiniso y ukuthi abakhohlwa ngono; kodwa uNkulunkulu uthembisile ukubasulungeza, njengokuhlanzwa kwegolide neliva kudoti yazo. (Mal. 3:2">Mal. 3:2.) Kodwa ababi baqhathaniswa nodoti weliva, nomsimbi oyisihala. UNkulunkulu wathi kuEzekieli, "Mwanabantu, indlu ka-Israyeli yenzeke kimi yodoti; bonke bayabhrasi, netini, nomsimbi, neliyi, phakathi kwenkukhu; bayodoti weliva." Kwaye yini uNkulunkulu ayengayenza kula bantu abangaguquki, abangakukholwa, abangaguqukanga? "Kwa nina ningodoti bonke, khangela yingakho, ngiyakuqoqa phakathi kukaJerusalema. Njengalokho baqoqe iliva, (ya'ni, udoti weliva,) nebhrasi, nomsimbi, neliyi, netini, phakathi kwenkukhu, ukuvuthela umlilo kuwo ukuze ancibilike; kanjalo ngiyakuqoqa phakathi kwentukuthelo yami phakathi kwemfuko wami; khangela yingakho, ngiyakushiya lapho, ngiyakuncibilikisa." (Ezek. 22:18-20">Ezek. 22:18-20.) Izinhlupheko azisulungezi abahambi; kodwa ziyabashwabalaliza. UNkulunkulu wabashiya enhluphekweni yabo, wabavumela bayafe. Kodwa uma izinhliziyo zethu zilungile phambi koNkulunkulu, khangela yingakho, khona akanakuze asishiye. Isithembiso sakhe kuye wonke umuntu omthandayo ngokuqotho ukuthi, "Niyakuba nawe enhluphekweni; ngiyakukhulula, ngiyakumzukisa." Ingabe ikhona lapha eningakhalelanga uNkulunkulu ngokuqotho inhliziyo ekhambi, nomoya olungile? Yini eniyakwenza ngosuku uNkulunkulu akahlulele ngalo izimfihlo zabantu ngoJesu Kristo? (Rom. 2:16">Rom. 2:16.)

Septhemba 17

Matthew 23:29-36">Matthew 23:29-36. UKristu uyabaxosha abafarisayo ngosizi lokugcina.

Lesi yeyona yokugcina yezifo eziyisibhozo ezathi iNkosi yazithethisa ngazo abaFarise. Izikhathi eziyisibhozo wathi amazwi, "Mayibe kuwe, ababhali nabaFarise, abahipokriti." Izikhathi eziyisibhozo wabachazela umlingiswa wabo wabahipokriti. Isenzeko sokugcina sokuhipokrisithi esabhalwa, ukwakha kwamathuna abaprofeti. Lo kwakuyisenzo sokuhipokrisithi kubaFarise, ngoba isingenziwa ngothando nokuhlonipha abaprofeti abahlatshiweyo, kodwa kwakungenxa yok pride nokubonisa. Ukube behloniphile abaprofeti bakudala, bekungeke bahlukumeze abaphilayo. Kungenzeka kakhulu ukuthi bakholelwa ngokuqinileyo ukuthi bekungeke babe abahlanganyayo noyise abaprofeti egazini; kodwa babengaziwa iintliziyo zabo. Kuyinto ekulula kakhulu ukuzikhohlisa ngokumalunga nomlingiswa wethu. Xa sifunda ngezinto ezimbi, kuyinto ya tlwa ukucinga ukuthi asingakwenzi, ukuba sasi kubo. Kodwa le ndlela ayisiyo ukwazi thina. Masiyabuzi ukuba singabaphatha njani abantwana bakaThixo abedunyiswa kule mihla? Siyabathanda bonke abakholelwa kuNkosi uJesu Kristu? Siyalungele ukubasiza xa bekudinga, nokuzivikela? Xa abantwana bakaThixo banconywa, kuyinto ekulula ukuthetha ngabo; kodwa xa bedunyiswa, yinto efuna ukholo ukubathatha inxaxheba, nokwabelana ehlazweni labo.

Ngeyiphi inkazimulo iNdodana kaNkulunkulu eyabashononga labo bantu abangcwele ababebulawa ngesikhathi esedlule! Yisiphi isihloko asibabiza ngaso u-Abeli, ekhimbe ukuthi "u-Abeli oLungileyo!" Amanzi e-diluvio awazigezanga izit stains zobhishe bakhe emhlabeni. Siyazi amagama abaprofethi abambalwa kakhulu ababebulawa phakathi kwesikhathi sika-Abeli noZekariya, kodwa wonke amagama abo ayaziwa kuJesu ngomzuzu awakhuluma—wonk 'imiphefumulo yabo yayijabule ekhona likaBaba, wonke ubhishe babo bawakhala ukuze bafune ukuziphindisela emhlabeni. Kwaye phezu kwabani lelo kuziphindisela kungawela? Phezu kwalelo hlobo lwabantu abawakhuluma uJesu ngalo—phezu kwalelo hlobo lwabantu abawodlula ooYise babo bonke ekubeni nesono, ngokubulala iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, nangokwenqaba isipho sokuthethelelwa esazokhumbuza abapostoli bakhe. UJesu wathi, "Zonke izinto ziza kufezeka kwabantu baleli hlobo." Kodwa hhayi kulabo ababantu kuphela. Ukukhishwa kwabantu baseJudia akukapheli. Kuze kube namuhla bayizifiki ebusweni bomhlaba, njengoKaini owabulala umshanawe u-Abeli.

Ngabe abazali bakwazi ukubekezelela umqondo wokuletha isiqalekiso kubantwana babo? Isikhathi eside ngemuva kokuba sebuleleke emathuneni abantwana babo bangasehlushwa yiminyakazo yezono zabo. Umndeni ugxishwe kusukela ekuphakameni kwengcebo ukuya ekujuleni kobuhlupheki; isifo sisusa izimbali ezinhle zomsuzi ovuthayo; ubugebengu obuningi bufaka ukungcola okumnyama egameni elihloniphekile — futhi abantu abazi yini imbangela yezinhlupheki. Ngesinye tshi zithunyelwa, njengokuhlupheka kukaJobe, nokulingwa kukaAbrahamu, ukuze kuvavanywe ukholo lwabantwana abathandekile bakaNkulunkulu, futhi njengezimfanelo zothando lukaYise — kodwa ngezinye tshi ziye zaba izikhumbuzo zezono ezenziwe kudala — zezono ezingakaphelelwa nokuzingabuyelelwa. Ukuphatha ngenkohlakalo kwengane yabazali, ukwebiwa okukhohlisayo kwenkosi, ukuhlukumeza okubuhlungu kwesanta, zivame ukuvakashelwa kubantwana ababi labo abenzile izenzo zobugebengu. UThixo uyawugcwalisa umshwana wakhe ngokuvakashela izono zabazali kubantwana kuze kufike kwisizukulwane sesithathu nesesine sabo abamthiyayo.

Kodwa yena akanakuvumela ukuthi intukuthelo yakhe ishise ngokumelene nendodana ethandekile yabazali abangamthandi. Cha, uma indodana iguquka, uyakuthola isihawu. Inkosi Josia, ngaphezu kokuba yindodana kabazali ababi kakhulu, yasindiswa ngenkathi uThixo wayezithulula iziphepho zentukuthelo yakhe phezu kwesifundazwe sakhe. Ngenxa yokuthi inhliziyo yakhe yayithambile, ngenxa yokuthi wazithoba, walila wathandaza, yingakho uThixo athi, "Uyakhokelwa kwethuna lakho ngomthula." Abantwana abathandekile ababazali babo bengamthandi, bangathandaza ngabazali babo, bangathola isihawu kubazali babo. Kude nokujezisa abantwana ngenxa yabazali babo, ungababusisa labo abazali ngenxa yabantwana babo. "Ngoba umuhle umnesileyo, ucindezeleke ngamandla ekuthukutheleni, nomkhulu ekunomphilo, futhi uyaphenduka ekubini." (Joel 2:13.)

Septhemba 18

Matthew 23:37 kuze kuphele. UCristo ulila phezu kukaJerusalema.

Kungenzeka yini ukuba inhliziyo ethembeke kakhulu ikhale izinhlupheko zomsungulwana wayo ngobut tenderness kunokuba iNkosi yenzile lapho ikhala khona isiphelo esibi sabathai bayo? Isi kwakungeyena yokuthi angabathandi hhayi lapho ayebakhumbuza ngamazwi amabhayi, "Nina zinyoka, nina isizukulwane sezinyoka, nina niziphatheni kanjani ekugwebeni kwegehena?" Labo abayibiza zinyoka, uyabaphatha njengenkukhu yothando lwayo. Lapho leyo nkukhu ichava ibona i- hawk noma i-kite ibheke emoyeni, iyabiza abantwana bayo ukuba bafunelekh safety phantsi kwamaphiko ayo. iNkosi uJesu yabona kude izinhlupheko ezazizokwehlela ekhanda lesi sizwe esonayo, yabanika isixwayiso sokusondela kwazo; kodwa abafuni ukulalela amazwi akhe, nokuthatha imenyango yakhe. Yayifikile isikhathi lapho ithemba lalingasekho. "Behold," yatsho iNkosi, "indlu yenu ishiywe nina isithe." Kodwa yize yatsho "Behold," abayJuda ababoni desolation. itempile yayikhanya ngobuhle bayo; izindonga zaseJerusalema zazimi ngobuqinileyo; umkhosi wePhasika wawugcwele izivakashi; izwe linala ubisi nehone; yaphi isithe? Lalisondeza, laya emnyango. Inkosi yaBuntu yalizwa izinyawo zakhe emahlathini, yase ibona umthunzi wayo emahhosheni. Ngaphambi kokuba amazwi alawo bantwana abayimcula etempleni ekhule ngokukhula, isitha siyayeka umklamo womculo endlini yaNkosi. Kade kangakanani ukuthula kwaqhubeka! Ndwendwela iNtabeni iMoriah, lapho itempile yayimi khona. Behold lowo mwakhi mkhulu, ugqunyiwe ngamadome namaminarethi. Asisiko church Christian? Asiko temple heathen? Cha, yimosque yamaMohammedan, uk pride lwamaTurk, um masterpiece wabo architecture. NgiChristian naJuda bangahamba khona lapho iNkosi yayimi khona yafundisa. Kwaye kuya kuba njalo, hhayi kuze kube isikhathi sabagentile se yenzekile. Khona kuyakube khona change enkulu neyokukhanya. Kuchazwe kwivesi lokugcina. "Ngiyakuqinisekisa, aningeke ungibone futhi, hhayi kuze nithi, ' Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. '" Lapho uMsindisi ebuyayo okwesibili, uyahlangana nokwamukelwa okungafani nokwamukelwa kwakhe okokuqala. Wafa phakathi kwezik проклятия, kodwa uyabuya phakathi kwezibusiso.

Ziyisimangalisa kangakanani izenzo zikaNkulunkulu kubantu baseJudia! Esikhundleni sokubalahla ngonaphakade, ubalahhlile isikhashana nje kuphela. Uthi kubo, ngemva kukaProfethi Isaiah, "Ngamandlela angamancane ngafihla ubuso bami kuwe isikhashana, kodwa ngobubele obungapheli ibe nomusa kuwe, usho uNkosi uMbuyiseli wenu." (Is. 54:7, 8.)

Kukhona na phakathi kwethu abanye abathile uNkosi ababenezele ngendlela enobubele? Abanye, ababezithwalile ekuyeni kwabo ubudala, benqabele ukulalela iVangeli, emva kokuzulazula isikhathi eside emindleleni engavumelekile nenengozi, bayavunyelwa futhi ukuzwa umsindo ojabulisayo, baze bawuzwa owayesibili ngaphansi kwemizwelo ehlukile, kanye nokujabula okusha. Ngenkathi uNkulunkulu ebakhulumele ekuchumayeni kwabo, babekhabele, "Ngeke ngilalele;" kodwa ngenxa yokuba ebhujisile ukujabula kwabo komhlaba, bamkele umthunywa wobubele, baze bakhabele, "Uyabubekwa ngubani oza egameni leNkosi."

Septhemba 19

Mark 12:41 kuze kube sekupheleni. UKristu udumisa umfazi ompofu.

Kwakusondela isikhathi uNkosi uJesu ayesahlala phezu kwesikhashana ethempelini, angabuyi khona. Ngaphambi kokuba ayishiye, wahlala isikhashana ekhothameni elibizwa ngokuthi ikhotha yabesifazane. Ikhotha yangaphakathi yayibizwa ngokuthi ikhotha ka-Israyeli, kanti ayikho imvume yokuhlala khona; kodwa ekhothameni yabesifazane ukuhlala kwavumelekwa. Ngaphansi kwemipilaro eyahlobisa ikhotha kungekho amakheshi ayishumi nanye, kanti phezu kwekheshi ngalinye kwakubhalwe inhloso okheshi ngamunye, imali ekheshi iyasetshenziswa. Akekho kuleyo kheshi owayesenzelwe ukusiza abampofu; bonke babekhishwe ukuze bafeze iminikelo eyahlukahlukeneyo nemisebenze yethempeli.

Abantu bathi izipho zabo phambi kokubona kukaJesu. Ababanzi abaningi baphonse izinto eziningi. Kungenzeka ukuthi labo bantu banzi kwakungamaFarise. Kamuva nje iNkosi yayibatsola ngobunyonyo babo. Hakuze yathokoza ukupha kwabo okukhulu. Uyazi ukuthi nangabe baphonse okuningi, basagcina okuningi. Uyazi nokho izizathu zabo, uyaziqaphela izenzo zabo eziyimfihlo. Kodwa ngasikhathi esithile abagcini abanathi,amehlo akhe aphumula kweyodwa umfazi ompofu,owaphonse ama mite amabili, okwakufana nesenti. Kuthiwe kwesinye isikhala ukuthi zithengwa izingcwele ezimbili ngesenti -esenti lona lalinga ingxenye yeshumi eline yesenti; senti lona lalinga INGXENI yama-40 yeholo lomsebenzi wosuku.

Kunencane kakhulu eqoshiwe ngomfazi ompofu; akukho igama lakhe, nomzali, nomlando, nendawo yakhe. Kodwa wayaziwa kahle nguJesu. Wayazi hhayi lokho ayiphonse khona esigcinini, kodwa wayazi nokuthi akasenanto eseleyo. Wayazi zonke izimo zakhe kule mpilo -ubunzulu bobumpofu bakhe, nokuthi wawela kanjani kuwo. Kungenzeka ukuthi wayengumdlali wamaFarise angawele, abahlupha izindlu zezintombi. Wayazi hhayi izimo zakhe, kodwa nomhlangano - imizwa awayesondeza ngayo esigciniini aphonse khona ama mite akhe. Kungenzeka ukuthi usanda kuthola ukhululwa olukhulu, yena lowe wabonisa umbulelo wakhe ngomnikelo wakhe. Kungenzeka ukuthi, njengaNana omdala, uthole ukududuza kwakhe ekulaleleni imisebenzi yethempeli, ngokulalela iZithokozelo ezithokozwa ngokuqhubekayo phakathi kwazo, nokuhlanganyela ekhonzeni elihamba nama nikelo osuku. Kungenzeka ukuthi wayezwile amazwi kaMsindisi ngaphakathi kwendawo engcwele, wafumanisa ukhululwa ngokholo lwakhe egameni lakhe. Kufanele abe umkholekile emizipheanisimiso yakaThixo, ngoba ayengakwazi ukunikela ngumnikelo wokwamukeleka. Ngoba kwathiwe: "Ngokholo uAbel wanikela ngomnikelo omkhulu kunoKayini." (Heb. 11.)

Iabá nethemba abampofu basaphambili beminikela yabo encane iNkosini—imithe yabo iyabandabanda emehlweni akhe. Abantu bangasebenzi kubabone, kodwa uNkulunkulu akabacwilisi. Uyazi ukuthi imali yonke ivela ngapapi ukungena esikhwameni sakhe; nawoyahlukanisa iguinea eliwile ekhuphoni eligcwele le ndoda ecebileyo, nokufika kwencane ekhuphoni yomampofu. Kukhona abanye ezinsukwini zethu ababonise ukholo olufanayo olwenza umfazi owali. Kukhona indoda eyasebenzisa konke ukuya emizini emizini, emazweni emazweni, ukuba athekele ngomphefumlo wabampofu. Naye lapho ayengena khona, wayevusa abantu abelikhulu lakhe Kristu ukuba benze imishini yezemizi, engena kuwo wonke umhlaba omnyama wokungazi nokuhlupheka. Wafa phakathi kweminyaka yakhe nemisebenzi yakhe, wayeshalalisa okwanele ukuthenga isikhala sakhe sokungcwatshwa, kancane na lokho ukondla umndeni wakhe omncane. Kodwa uNkulunkulu wavusa abangani abamhlonipha ngokufanelekileyo, bahlambe ngokufanelekileyo umfazi wakhe nabantana bakhe. INkosini yethu enobubele ithembekile, yena akalokothi ashiye labo abathemba kuye. Singaqiniseka ukuthi umfazi owaphonsa konke awayenakho ekhuphoni, akavunyelwa ukuba afe ngenxa yokudinga ngosuku olulandelayo. Nawo wonke umuntu onakholo lokwenza njengaye, uyakwamkelwa njengaye, agcinwe njengaye, ekugcineni kube yusuku olamkelwa njengaye.

Septhemba 20

Matthew 24:1-2. UCristo uyabubhula ukubhujiswa kwethempeli.

Lawa mazwi abhala umcimbi omangalisayo kakhulu—"UJesu wapuma, wapuma ethempelini."

Lo yayeyoba ngumkhathi ongasindwayo xa uNkosi uJesu wayesuka ethempelini, engena khona kwakhona—ethempelini alowo athe wathwalwa kulo njengomntwana ekhathini izingalo zonyokwa, yaye apho afumana khona intsikelelo kaSimeon omdala; kule thempeli apho, njengomntwana, wamangaza oogqirha ngobulumko bakhe—kule thempeli apho wayephilisa abantu abaninzi abagula, yaye wathetha uxolo kwabaninzi abezila; khona baya kuthiwa ungumfazi ongatshatanga. Njengo wena usithande, baye bakhonza njengo wena.

Ukuba abafundi babeyazi iNkosi yabo njengabeyazi ngayo, babengeke bayaleke ukuziqwalasela kwakhe ukuze abone ubunewunewu bendlu engcwele. Ngendlela enjani abafundi bebeyilindela ukuba uKumkani weZulu uya kuyithanda imagnifico yonkulunkulu! Ubukhazikhazi buka hlabathi kuya kufanela bu bu mnyama ngabuthi kuye owayehlala e palace zokukhanya kweNdle.

Ngesinye isihlandlo esidlulileyo, wabiza abafundi bakhe kuye. Yintoni injongo? Yayikukubabonisa into enje, abantu balayo bazithanda? Umntu oyimfashini ebukekayo, ndawo ethi ndoqwaka, ndawo ethi shwaka? Hayi! Yayikukubabonisa into ethi nhlanhla emehlweni enkulunkulu—umfazi omncinane othembekileyo enhliziyweni yakhe kumsebenzi wakhe. Yaye yintoni injongo eyahlukileyo abafundi bathe beza kuyo INkosi yabo!

Esikhundleni sokuthokozela ubuhle bendlu-temple, uJesu wathi lezi nkulumu ezamangalisa—"Kuyakungabi litshe elilodwa phezu kwelinye elingeke liwephulwe." Iminyaka eyisitholobolwe ngaphambi kokuzalwa koMsindisi, uHerod Omkhulu wayegcina abasebenzi abayishumi nesibhozo ngokuqhubekayo bemisebenzi yokulungisa ithempeli, futhi kusukela ekufeni kwake, uYuda wayehlala eyithuthukisa. Yayakhiwe phezu kwelitye elikhulu, futhi yayakhiwe ngamatshe, amanye awo ayengamamitha ayisithupha ubude. Ubani owayengakholelwa ukuthi amatshe anjalo ayakwephulwa! Kodwa cishe iminyaka engamashumi amane emva kokuthi lesi sibikezo sithiwe, indawo lapho kwakuma khona ithempeli yayiseyinkundla ehlahlwa; ngoba abaseRoma babangela izinsisekelo zayo zavevezwa ukuze bafune amagugu afihliwe.

UThixo uyazi ikusasa lawo wonke amabhubesi akhanga ukunadmira kwabantu. I-mosque ka-Omar, ema stands khona lapho kwakukhona itempeli, inayo isikhathi sayo esiqokiweyo. Wonke amabhubesi akhiwe ngezandla zabantu, kusukela kwaqala umbhoshongo ka-Babeli, ayabosha—angaboshwa ngumkhuzi, noma agwinywe ngumntaka, noma ancibilike kancane kancane ngesandla senkathi—but uma ekwazi ukuphunyuka kuzo zonke izitha, ayaboshwa ekugcineni emlilweni; ngoba uThixo uthe, "Umhlaba, nemisebenzi eyenzwe kuwo, iyabosha. Njengoba, then, zonke izinto ziyasombeshwa, hlobo luni lwabantu kufanele nibe lona ekukhulumeni okungcwele nokuthile, nilindele futhi nisheshise ukufika kosuku lukaThixo?" (2 Pet. 3:10, 11.) Kodwa kukhona izinto ezithile eziyakuqhubeka. Yize wonke amatshe etempelini esewisiwe phansi, umfazi ompofu owaphonsa imali yakhe encane esikhwameni sokunikela usaphila. Uthando lwakhe usaphila. Luthambe kwakhe ekunikezeni imali encane, yaye manje luthambe ekunikezeni ukudumisa okungapheli. Kwathi lapho sibona ibhubesi elikhazimulayo, khumbulani ukuthi umumfazi ompofu, onyathelwe nguThixo, uyakhazimula kakhulu emehlweni kaThixo kunaleyo bhubesi elikhazimulayo. Abantu bangacabanga ukuthi akafanele ukungena kwisango elikhulu, noma ukunyathela phansi emflole wen marble; kodwa uThixo ulungiselele yena ibhubesi elingakhiwe ngezandla, eliqhubeka njalo emazulwini—ibhubesi eliyakuqhubeka yize zonke izigodlo zaphezulu nama-temple ancibilike ngomlilo omkhulu.

September 21

Matthew 24:3-14. UCristo uyabikezela izibonakaliso zokuphela.

Ngakuthandeka kangakanani isigcawu esasitholakala eNtabeni i-Oliveti, njengoba uMsindisi wayehlezi khona efundisa abafundi bakhe ngezinto ezizokwenzeka! Umbono awayebona wawumele ugcwalise inhliziyo yakhe ngemicabango yosizi. KwakuyiJerusalem, eyayimiselelwe emagqumeni angaphambili—Jerusalem! umuzi owayekhala kuwo nje kwizinsuku ezimbalwa ngaphambili—Jerusalem, umuzi owayezenze izimangaliso eziningi—Jerusalem, umuzi owayezoxulwa futhi ogwazwe kuwo ngokushesha.

Ngenkathi sibheka endaweni esivakashele khona njengoba, sicabanga ngezinto ezedlule; kodwa uJesu wayebheka eJerusalem, wayecabanga hhayi nje kuphela ngezinto ezedlule, kodwa futhi ngezinto ezizokwenzeka.

Abafundi babengamshiyi uMfundisi wabo ukuba acabaze yedwa kuleyo ntaba. Abane babo bamsondeza futhi bambuza imibuzo ebalulekile. Amagama abo mane abhalwa nguMarko—babenguJakobe noYohana, uPetro noAndreas, abalobi baseGenesareta. Imibuzo ababuyibuza yale—"Kutheni lezi zinto zizokwenzeka? Futhi yini uphawu lokufika kwakho, nasekugcineni kwezwe?" Zeziphi izinto ababerezibhekisela kuzo embuzweni wabo wokuqala? Okwathi kancane ngaphambili, uNkosi wabo wathi, ngenkathi ebheka ezakhiweni ezinkulu zethempeli, "Kuyakungabi salwa lapha itshe phezu kwelitshe, elingakwazi ukuphonswa phansi." Kwakuyinto yokwemvelo ukuthi abafundi bafune ukwazi nini lezi zinto ezimangalisayo zizokwenzeka; bathi, "Kutheni lezi zinto zizokwenzeka?" Ukube bebengabuzanga omunye umbuzo, bekuyakucaca ukuthi yonke impendulo yoNkosi yayihusana nokubhujiswa kukaJerusalem; kodwa babengumbuzo wesibili, "Yini uphawu lokufika kwakho, nasekugcineni kwezwe?"

The Lord answered both these inquiries as he sat upon Mount Olivet. It is difficult for us to know certainly what part of the answer relates to the destruction of Jerusalem, and what part relates to the second coming. Before Jerusalem was destroyed, there were many wars and persecutions; and there are wars and persecutions still. What mournful signs these are, of the coming of Christ! When he was born at Bethlehem, the angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will towards men." This song would have led us to expect that wars would cease now that the Prince of peace was come. But eighteen hundred years have rolled away, and violence still prevails upon the earth. The joyful song in the fields of Bethlehem is very unlike the mournful discourse upon the Mount of Olives. Yet both are true. When the Babe that lay in the manger shall sit upon his throne, the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. Meanwhile there must be trials, and afflictions, and temptations. Jesus has faithfully warned us beforehand. He has told us that many will be offended, and that many will be deceived, and that the love of many will grow cold. When we read these prophecies we should offer up such a prayer as this—"May I never be offended, or deceived, or cooled in my love!" When we hear of any who have turned back from following the Lord, let us think of the touching words he once spoke to his apostles, "Will you also go away?" Surely none will feel so much ashamed to see him again as those who professed to walk with him a little way, and to love him for a little while, but whose feet grew weary, and whose love waxed cold! O how they will wish that they had never heard his name, nor listened to his voice!

September 22

Matthew 24:15-23. Christ directs his disciples when to flee from Jerusalem.

I am going to provide you the actual translation

INkosi waphendula imibuzo yombili ngenkathi uhlezi eNtabeni i ya Olivet. Kunzima kithi ukwazi ngokuqiniseka ukuthi yingxenye enkulu yimpendulo ihlobene nokubhujiswa kweJerusalema, kanye nengxenye ihlobene nokufika kwakhe kwesibili. Ngaphambi kokuba iJerusalema libhujiswe, kwakunezimpi eziningi nezilwanyana; futhi zisekhona impi nezilwanyana. Ziyaminyanisa yini imibonakaliso le, ngokufika kukaKristu! Ngenkathi ezalwa eBethlehem, izingelosi zacula, "Uzuko kuThixo ezulwini, emhlabeni ukuthula, umusa kubantu." Le ngoma ingasikhokeza ekulindele ukuthi impi izama ukuyeka ngokuqiniseka ukuthi iNkosazana yokuthula ufikile. Kodwa iminyaka eyi-1800 igingqike, ubuntu busakhona emhlabeni. Ingoma yejabuliso emasimini eBethlehem ihluke kakhulu kunengxoxo edabukisayo eNtabeni i ya Olivet. Yhu, zombili ziyiqiniso. Ngenkathi uThixo ehlezi esikhronini sakhe, umhlaba uyaligcwalisa nguzuko lwaKhe. Ngokuqiniseka kumele kube nezilingo, nokuhlupheka, nezilingo. UKristu usithembisile ngaphambili. Usitshelile ukuthi abantu abaningi bayakucasuka, abaningi bayakhohliswa, nothando lwabaningi luyakupholisa. Ngenkathi sifunda lezi zesiprofetho sikunikele umthandazo onjalo—"Ngingathanda yini ukucasuka, noma ukhohliswa, noma kupholisa nothando lwami!" Ngenkathi sihluza abantu ababuyile ekulandeleni iNkosi, sikhumbule amazwi athinta inhliziyo yakhe lapho akhuluma nabapostoli bakhe, "Nina na uyahamba?" Ngokuqiniseka abantu abazizwa benamahloni ukumbona futhi njengalabo ababengahamba naye kancane, nothando lwanabo lukhathazwa kancane, kodwa ukhathazeka kwabo kwaphela, nothando lwabo lwapholisa! Oh, bangathanda ukungazwa igama lakhe, nokulalela izwi lakhe!

September 22

Matthew 24:15-23. Christ directs his disciples when to flee from Jerusalem.

Lezi wonyango lwafakazeka luncedo olukhulu kubantu bokuqala bakaKristu. Babukhumbula amazwi, "Ningaba sehleleni, ukuba nibone ukuthukwa kwendao, okukhulunywe ngaye umprofeti uDaniyeli, eme endaweni engcwele; khona abo baseJudeni babaleke baye ezintabeni." Cishe iminyaka engamashumi amne emva kokuba la mazwi akhulunywa, amabutho eRoma amele endaweni engcwele; yilokho, edolobheni elingcwele iJerusalema. La mabutho ayabhanqwa phantsi kwegama elithi "ukuthukwa kwendao." Umhlaba uyabathanda abakhenkethi abakhulu, namabutho abo amadoda anesibindi, kodwa iNkosi iyabacaphukela imisebenzi yokungalungi nokucisheka. Igama laseRoma likhazimla kakhulu emkhasini womlando, kodwa liyenteka emshweni kaThixo—"ukuthukwa kwendao."

Kodwa abanye bangabuza, "Kwaenzenjani ukuba abantu bakaKristu babaleke eJerusalema xa amaRoma esengene edolobheni?" UThixo wabonisa ukholo lwakhe ngokubapha indlela yokuphunyuka kwabantu bakhe. Xa amaRoma aqala ukuhlasela edolobheni, ayabuyiswa—ababaleka, yaye awabuyanga edolobheni iminyaka emingana. Abantu bakaKristu bathatha ithuba lokunqotshwa kwabo ukubaleka baye ezintabeni. Bafumana indawo yokuhlala ngokhuseleko; idolobhana elincinane elibizwa ngokuthi iPella, ngapheshe komlambe iJordani, lifihliwe phakathi kweentaba, lalinga indawo yabo yokukhosela. Kukholelwa ukuba akabakho umKristu oyedwa edolobheni iJerusalema ngamaxesha okutshatyalaliswa kwalo okoyikekayo. Akubonelelwa na ukuphunyuka kwabantu bakaKristu njengesiganeko esichukumisayo ngendlela uThixo azipreserva ngayo abantu bakhe? Xa etshabalalisa umhlaba ngamanzi, wamsindisa uNoa; xa etshabalalisa iSodoma, wamsindisa uLoti; yaye xa etshabalalisa umhlaba ngomlilo, uyabamsindisa umntu wakhe. Njengoko kukulotshiwe ku Ps. 32, "Ngokuba ngalokhu wonke umntu othemlayo kuya kukuthandazela ngexesha onokufunyanwa kulo—ngokwenene kwidilika zamanzi amakhulu ayakusondeli kuye."

Isikhathi sokwaPhasika sesifikile, futhi amabutho amaRoma, elawulwa nguTitus omkhulu, abuyile ukuhlasela iJerusalema. Abantu abayizigidi ezimbili babeboshelwe ngaphakathi kwezindonga zayo. Futhi abantu bamuphi! Abaningi babo babengabantshontshi abakhohlakele. Amadoda amabini amabi, ogama lakhe lisiSimoni noJohane, ayesilwa ngokuvuleleke omunye nomunye, futhi agcina idolobha lisekhathazweni njalo. Ngosizo lwabo, ukudla okuningi kwashiswa, futhi abahlali baduzwa ekulambeni. Abantshontshi bangena ezindlini, bafunza abahlali ukuthi babanikeze ukudla kwabo kokugcina. Ngesikhathi sonke seziqephu, akekho noyedwa owadla ukudla okuhlelekile. Omunye wadla eyakhe into yokudla yedwa, ethukile. Umama oyedwa ongamhloniphi uNkulunkulu waduzwa yindlala ukuze athse ingane yakhe, adle ingxenye yayo. Iphunga lokudla kwakhe laheha amasoldati ajuda ekhaya lakhe; bamfunza ukuba aveze ukudla kwakhe okungavamile; kodwa lapho bebona isimo esibi, bahlehla besaba, ngokuba sebona ngokucacile ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyishiyile idolobha, nokuthi akusekho ithemba elisasele kubahlali bawo abahwembekileyo.

Ipeni lika Yosefu, umYahudi ongakukholwa, lichaze ngenzima zokuvalwa; wathi ekupheleni kwakhe amazwi la— "Kunalokho, uma izinhlanhla zazo zonke zadweliswa kusukela ekuqaleni komhlaba ziqhathaniswa nezaka bakwa-Israyeli, zizobonakala zincane kakhulu uma ziqhathaniswa." Lokhu kungobufakazi bomuntu ongakukholwa ekuyeni kwenjenje yisiprofetho, "Kuyakuba khona ukucindezeleka okukhulu, okungakaze kube khona kusukela ekuqaleni komhlaba kude kube yilesi sikhathi." Ukube lezo zinsuku zazingafushungwa, isizwe sonke sasinga shabalala; kodwa lokhu akusenzeki, ngenxa yabakhethiweyo. Abanye bakaYuda bakhethwa nguNkulunkulu, ngenxa yabo izinsuku zocindezeleko zafushungwa; umzinga wathatha izinyanga ezintathu nje kuphela. Kodwa ingabe ukucindezeleka sekuphelile? O cha. AbakwaYuda basaphambanile ebusweni bomhlaba; basathukiswa, behlisyelwa phansi, bencishiweyo. Kuyinto emabhubesi ukungalaleli izwi lenhlawulo. AbakwaYuda abalilalelanga, baphoqwa ukulalela izwi lokuthukiswa. INkosi iyathokoza enhlawulweni. Ngabe ikhona ibe ngakakulalelanga izimemo zakhe ezinhle? O yiziphi izinhlanhla onga zibalekela, uma unguwe waphendukela kuye!

23 Septhemba

Matthew 24:23-31. UCristo uchaza ukufika kwakhe kwesibili.

Impumelelo ikhombise bani bakholwa phakathi neminyaka eyishumi nesishanu eyadlula, ukwazi ukuthi uJesu uyabuya ngendlela esobala! "Kanjengokuduma okuvela empumalanga, kukhazekela kufike eNtshonalanga; kanjalo ukufika kweNdodana yomuntu." Abahlali bezingxenye zonke zomhlaba bayakwazi ngomzuzu owodwa ukuthi uJesu ubuya, ngokuba bayamubona esefika emafini elizulu. Ukube bekungabekho lokhu kuqiniseka, bekuyisebeni bahlala bekhathazekile! Bekuyalalela ngomdlandla njalo ulwazi lwe ukubuya kwakhe, bekuyacabanga ukuthi kunguhle okungenani ukuya kubona ukuthi kuyiqiniso yini. Kodwa manje bazizwa beqiniseka ngokungagungeki, ukuthi ngowaphi na umzuzu abonakale khona bayamubona ngaso leso sikhathi. Bazi futhi ukuthi noma kuphi lapho bekhona khona ngaleso sikhathi, bayakuthola kuye, njengamagwababa aqoqwa ezingxenyeni ezikude ukudla inyama yazo. Noma befile noma bephele ngesikhathi sokufika kwakhe, bayakubona imisebe yokuqala ekhazekelayo yeqathi lakhe. Noma belehlezi emathuneni abo, noma ekujuleni kolwandle, bayakanyuswa ukuze bamhlangabeze emoyeni—noma bematasa emsebenzini wabo wansuku zonke, noma bephumule ekulaleni kwabo ubusuku, bayakuguqulwa, bayakuthola ukuze bajoyine umkhandlu osobala.

Kwaye, iNkosi yaba yini na izwi kubafundi bayo mayelana nesikhathi sokufika kwakhe kwesibili? Yebo — wathi kumele kwenzeke "ngokushesha emva kokuhlupheka kwezinsuku zalezo." Kuyini ukuhlupheka akwenzayo? Lo mbuzo udinise abafundi abaningi beSibhalo uNgcwele. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi ukuhlupheka okhona u-Israyeli ahlupheka kukho iminyaka eyishumi nesombhofe abafundwa lapha. Baa, basakuhlupheka? uLuka unika le akhawunti yamazwi eNkosi yethu — "iYerusalema iyakunyathelwa phansi kwabantu bamabanga, aze agcwaliseke amaxesha abantu bamabanga." iThekwe zisakumhlala iYerusalema; ilikhona labo lisakungcola umbindi oyingcwele lapo kungewakho ithempeli; kodwa ukuhlupheka kwakwa-Israyeli kuyakuphela, bayakubuyela elizweni labo, nakulowo mzi wabo, iNkosi yabo iyakubuya ukuthatha ifa lethempeli lakhe lasendulo. Wazalwa iNkosi yakwa-Israyeli, wafa iNkosi yakwa-Israyeli, iNkosi yakwa-Israyeli uyakubuya; kodwa hhayi yakwa-Israyeli kuphela, kodwa iNkosi yezinkosi, iNkosi yezinduna. Kunjani ukuchazwa kokubuya kwakhe ku Rev. 19:11! "Ngenhlanga ivuleleke, bheka ihhashi elimhlophe, yena ohlala phezu lakhe wabizwa ngokuthi Uthembekile nowokweli, yena esedlala ubutshazi ahlulele, enze impi. Amehlo akhe ayenjenge lilangabi lo mlilo, ekhanda lakhe kwakunezimpeto eziningi; wayename elotshiweyo akazange umuntu uyazi kodwa yena kuphela."

Nokho ukukhazeka kwokubuya kwesibili akukona okumangalisa njengo ukuthobeka kwokufika kwokuqala. Kuyafaneleka kuNyana kaNkulunkulu ukubuya emafini nomkhukula omkhulu wabantu oNgcwele nabamlekazi; kodwa kuyamangalisa ukuthi afike emhlabeni njengomntwana, abekwe ephasikini, afungelwe esiphambanweni. Futhi yini imbangela yokuthi afike ngale ndlela ephansi, ngale ndlela ehlazo? Ukuthi afike futhi ukubhubhisa umhlaba, akwazi ukuqoqa abakhethiweyo bakhe emoyeni omine, ukusuka ekugcineni okuhlangene kwesib небо kuya kwelinye. Bonke labo abahlakazekile bakholwa kuJesu okhulukaziwe, bahlanjwa egazini lakhe; ngakho-ke izingubo zabo zihlanzekile nezimhlophe, bakulungele ukungena phambi kweNkosi yabo, bahlale naye kuze kube phakade.

Septhemba 24

Matthew 24:32-41. UCrist uqikelela ukuzumeka kokubuya kwesibili kwakhe.

Kumele kube yini imizwelo yabatshazayo lapho bezwa iNkosi yabo imemezela ukuthi, “Lesi sizukulwane ngeke sidlule kuze kube yilapho zonke lezi zinto zifezeka!” Yize iNkosi yayibadlisile indlela yokuphunyuka eJerusalema, kodwa bekufanele bazwele abantu babo bonke ababengahlupheka “ukuhlupheka okukhulu.” Kumele sizwe ntoni uma besazi ukuthi iLondon, njengamanje ingcwele kakhulu, ingaphakathi kweminyaka engamashumi aFnegi, igcwele igazi, igcwele imifumbu! Sibulele uNkulunkulu, akazange asizwe izindaba ezimbi kangaka. Yize njengamanje igcwele ukungazi nobubi, ubuphofu nokuhlupheka, ingase ikhanyiswe ingajabule, ngokandzala kwebhangele emigwaqweni yayo emnyama namagceke agcwele. Kodwa abatshazayo ababengakwazi ukuzalisa ithemba elinjalo malunga neJerusalema. Babazi ukuthi uma bebekelwe ukubona ubudala, bazwele ukubhujiswa kwesixeko sabo.

Ngesikhathi esingaphambi kokuqala kwale ngxoxo, babebuze imibuzo emibili; eyokuqala yayithi, "Yini lezi zinto zizokwenzeka nini?" Lo mbuzo wawubhekiswe ematsheweni ethempeli aphonswa phansi. Omunye umbuzo wawuthi, "Yini uphawu lokufika kwenu, nokuqeda kwezwe?" Lo mbuzo uyiNkosi yethu ibonakala ibhekisela kuwo lapho ithi, "Kodwa ngalolo usuku nelo saa akazi muntu; nohangelezi bokhethiweyo, kodwa uBaba wami yedwa." Kuyaphawuleka kanjani ukuthi isikhathi sokufika kukaKristu okwesibili sifihlwe olwazini lwawo wonke umdalo! Onhangelezi abakazi isikhathi; abakazi bini bazobizwa ukuba bahambisane noKumkani wabo esithuthuthi sakhe samafu. Onamademoni abakazi isikhathi; abakazi bini bazobanjwa ekhejini labo elimnyama, bengasavumelekwa ukuba benzenze izilingo kubahlali bomhlaba, nomhlaba. Abantu ababi abakazi isikhathi; abakazi bini usuku lwabo lokuhlawula luyokuphela. Abulungileyo abakazi isikhathi; abakazi bini bazokanywa ukuze bahlangane noKumkani wabo emoyeni.

Nkathi iJerusalema ichithwa, abalungileyo kwadinga balekele; kodwa uKristu ekubuyayo, ngabo ab wicked abayozama ukubaleka, kodwa abayokwazi. Isandla esifanayo esomnandi esiyosindisa abalungileyo, siyobamba ab wicked ekubalekeni kwabo. Kuyoba nkulu kangakanani ukwesaba kwabo xa bezithola bebodwa ngokuzuma kubahlobom. Ngalo kanye usuku olwenzeka ngalo lokhu, bayovuka bengazi ukuthi kuyoletha ntoni. Amadoda amabini ayobe esehlanganye emsebenzini, embunzini, okanye ekhaluza, noma evuna. Oyedwa angabe esanda kukhipha isifungo sakhe esibi, ngenkathi omunye ambukisile, emkhumbuza ngokwahlulelwa okuzayo—xa ngokuzuma izingelosi zingathatha umsebenzi othembekile zimyise phambi yoMsindisi wakhe, zishiye umngani wakhe ongamsikiyo ukuba anuke ukwesaba kwesisindo sakhe. Abagayi ababini bayobe bematasa emsebenzini wasekhaya; begaya emuhlen, noma bematasa ngomunye umsebenzi wasekhaya. Bobabili ekuseni bangahle bacule iculo elifanayo, bacikilize umthandazo ofanayo; kodwa ngenkathi oyedwa ekhanda ukholwa, omunye wayethanda umhlaba. UKristu uyobonakalisa ngokuzuma imizwa yabo yangempela, ngokuthatha oyedwa ukuba ahlale naye, nokuishiya enye ihleke ekulahlekelweni. Ngabe ngamunye wethu akazibuze, "Uma iNkosi iza namuhla, kwangenzeka njani kimi? Ingabe uyengilezwa nami ukuthandaza ngokuqinisa ukuthethelelwa, nesiThungu Sakhe Esikhaliphile? Ekubukeni kwakhe enhliziyweni yam, ingabe uyabona ukuthi ngiyamthanda?"

Septhemba 25

Matthew 24:42-44. UKristu uyeluleka abafundi bakhe ukuba baqaphe ukubuya kwakhe.

Kwa yini iNkosi yafihla kubo bonke isikhathi sokufika kwake kwesibili? Asazi ukuthi kwa yini yafihla kubo mgawozi nangabathakathi, kodwa siyazi ukuthi kwa yini yafihla kubantu. Kwaba ukuba balindele ukufika kwake. Wathi, "Qaphelani, ngakho, ngokuba anazi isikhathi esiphi iNkosi yenu iza." Yena owadalile uyawazi imifudlana eyimfihlo yendalo yethu. Uyazi ukuthi uma sinomkhathi omude phambi kwethu, sivame ukulibala. Kukhona umoya wokuvilapha nokulibala oswela phezu kwenhliziyo zethu, onqobwa kakhulu yinto yokuthi umkhathi wokuzikhandla usengaphela. Noma iNkosi yethu ingase ibonakale ihlehlisa, ngamshayeli kuthiwa akayi ekufikeni kwake. Njengoba kubhaliwe, "Kwa yini okuncane, yena ozayo uyaza, anayi ukulibala." (Heb. 10:37.) Uma silindele umhlobo isikhathi eside, ekugcineni siyavila ekulindeleni, siyathi, "Ngokuqinisekile akasayi kufika." Kodwa ngamshayeli uyafika njengathi lapho simnikezele. Akumele siyeke ukulindela uKristo, ngokuba uthembisile ukuthi uyaza. Kodwa akathembisanga ukwandisa iminyaka yethu kuze kufike ukufika kwake. Izigidi zishone phakathi nokungabekho kwake, futhi kungenzeka kakhulu ukuthi nawe ungene kweyakho.

Usuku lokufa lungaqiniseki njengosuku lokubuya kwakhe. Abancane bafa njengabakhulu, abaphilileyo njengabagulayo, abaqaphilileyo njengabazinga. Sonke siyazi ukuthi kulezi zinsuku SINGAFA. Akudingi ukholo ukukholwa ukuthi singafa; ngoba ingqondo iyasikhuthaza ngaleli qiniso. Nokho, ingakomaqondana na ukuthi ukufa kuthinta ngokuzenzekelayo—ngisho nabakhulu? Baphile isikhathi eside, ukuthi ngokwemvelo bacabanga ukuthi bazophila isikhathi eside. Babonile umcibisholo wokubhubhisa udlula kubo kaningi, uwabholela abangane bakwabo, kodwa ebaweshela, ukuthi ukwesaba kwabo kuthulile, nezinhliziyo zabo zithulile ekuphumleni. Kften kwenzeka ukuthi njengoba abantu benze izinhlelo zabo zokuphila isikhathi eside, bavakashelwa ukufa ngokuzenzeka. Indlu isanda kukhiwa, negadi litshalwa, lapho yena owakha wayitshala ebizwa ukuba ahlale kwelinye ikhaya, ajabuliswe emasimini amanye. Lokhu kuhlanganyela okungazelelwe kukhuluma ngezwi elikhulu kubaphilayo, "Wena naye ulungele."

Kodwa yini uma, esikhundleni sokufa, iNkosi iza? Ukubuya kwakhe kuzadalula ukwesaba okukhulu kunokufa okwake kwenza. Lapho ukufa kuhlasela umuntu ongodini, imizwa yakhe ihlala ichichima ngenxa yesifo; akakwazi ukuzwa ukwesaba njengalapho esephile kakuhle. Kodwa iNkosi iNkosi ivezwa, uyabathola izitha zakhe ziphilile ziqine. Umuntu ogulayo uvame ukuzalisa ithemba lokululama mpaka nje kusekufeni kwakhe; kodwa iNkosi iNkosi ivezwa, ababi bayobona ukuthi akukho ndlela yokuphunyuka. Abangani bamzinga umuntu odayo; abanye bamthobisa bamgconwa, abanye bamcenga bamkhuthaza — kodwa lapho uMhluleki ebonakala, ababi bayashiywa ukuze babone ikusasa labo elibi, bangabi nasandla esihlobo sokubasiza, neliso elinovelwano lokudedela int泪, nolwimi olungcwele lokunikeza umthandazo. Ngaba sifuna ukuphunyuka ekuthuthumeleni kwelo okamzi olubi? kunokukhosela okunye kuphela. Yena yINkosi uJesu, onolungele ukuzwa imithandazo yethu, ukuthethela izono zethu, ukusinika umusa wake, nokuba yindawo yethu yokucasha ngosuku lwetlokhu. Masishiye lokhu okuyigugu, uyavela kithi njengesela, nesingazi sazi ukuthi yisiphi isikhathi ayifikayo kithi. (Rev. 3:3">Rev. 3:3.)

Septhemba 26

Matthew 24:45">Matthew 24:45 kuze kube sekupheleni. iNkosi uKristu ichaza ekupheleni kwabakhonzi abathembekileyo nabangathembeki.

This part of our Lord's discourse applied with peculiar force to the apostles. They had been made rulers over their Lord's household. But it also applies to all ministers, for they are all stewards of the mysteries of God. A sacred trust is committed to them; and if they neglect it, their condemnation will be very heavy. If the laborer in the field, if the women grinding at the mill, were ungodly, they would perish—but if the steward of spiritual things was unfaithful, how much more miserably would he perish! How happy are those ministers whom death has found watching over their household! It signified not, indeed, whether they died in their pulpits or in their beds; but it signified much whether their hearts were truly in their work. Faithful ministers, like Paul, feel continual sorrow in their hearts for their brethren who know not God. Like him they can also say, when they think of their children in the faith, "We joy for your sakes before our God." (1 Thess. 3:9.)

It is dreadful to think that there are some ministers whom Christ calls evil servants." They think in their heart that the Lord delays his coming. Then they begin to abuse the power committed to them, and to ill-treat the saints of God, their fellow-servants. Worldly-minded ministers have often been great persecutors. What are the pleasures, and who are the companions of such men? It is said in the parable, "They eat and drink with the drunken." They do not thirst after the river of the water of life, but after earthly delights—they do not love the society of the servants of God, but that of the people of the world.

Izulu block translation:

Le ngxenye yenkulumo yethu yaNkosi yayisebenza ngamandla kubapostoli. Babekhona njengabaphathi phezu kwendlu yaNkosi. Kodwa isebenza nakubafundisi bonke, ngoba bonke bangabaphathi bemfihlakalo kaNkulunkulu. Umthewetha oyiNgcwele ubekwe kubo; uma bengamnakekeli, isahluko sabo siyakuba sikhulu kakhulu. Uma umsebenzi emkhundleni, uma abagayi phansi emmeleni, bengabekho kuNkulunkulu, bayakufa — kodwa uma umphathi wezinto zokomoya engathembeki, uyakufa kanjani kakhulu! Bayajabula kakhulu labo bafundisi abatholakala behlola umphakathi wabo lapho kufa! Ngempela, kwakungabalulekile ukuthi bafa emiphitshini yabo noma emibhedini yabo; kodwa kwabalulekile kakhulu ukuthi iintliziyo zabo zazikuyo ngempela umsebenzi wabo. Bafundisi abathembekileyo, njengoPawuli, bazwa usizi oluqhubekayo ezintliziyweni zabo ngabazalwane babo abangayaziyo iNkulunkulu. NjengoPawuli nabo bangasho, lapho becabanga ngabantwana babo ngokholo, "Siyajabula ngenxa yenu phambi koNkulunkulu wethu." (1 Thess. 3:9.)

Kuyaboyikisa ukucabanga ukuthi kukhona abafundisi ababizwa nguKristu ngokuthi "izinceku ezimbi." Bacabanga ezintliziyweni zabo ukuthi iNkosi ibambezela ukufika kwakhe. Khona balingeka ukusebenzisa kabi amandla abekwe kubo, nokuphatha kabi abantu bakaNkulunkulu, abazalwane babo. Abafundisi abanomoya womhlaba baye baba ngabacindezeli abakhulu. Ziyini iinjabulo, nabani abangabahlobo babo? Kuyathiwa ebufasikweni, "Badla nabo basebenzisa isiphuzo nabadakayo." Abantshisi emeleni elamanzi omlilo, kodwa emanjabulo asezwe — abathandi umphakathi wabakhonzi bakaNkulunkulu, kodwa lowo wabantu bezwe.

Kuyabe kuphela abafundisi, ababheba ngenhlakanipho embi, ukuthi: "INkosi yami ibambezele ukufika kwakhe?" Abantu abaningi bakhishwa isib胆a ekoneni ngalo mbono. Abathi, njengabathukayo ababhalwe ekwethi kwesibili kukaPetro, ukuthi akasoze afika. Ababuzi, "Ikuphi iphromisi lokufika kwakhe?" kodwa bacabanga ukuthi, "Akusayi kufika; singaonela ekoneni singenangozi; sinesikhathi sokuphenduka, nokulungisa."

INkosi idlula ngokuphindaphindi ukubala kwabo okunjalo. Ukufa kuvula umnyango ngaphandle kokunika isaziso; isinyathelo sakhe asizwi—ifomu lakhe alibonwa yize asebenzise isisulu sakhe, aze amthuthukise ngaphandle kokufinyelela kokuphenduka noma ukuthethelelwa.

Kuyindlela leNkosi ejwayele ukujeza izoni ezinesib胆a ezikhathini ezedlule. Uyakuzenza ngendlela ebonakalayo lapho ebuyela khona. UyakuKhetha umzuzu lapho abathwali bezonzi bengakuthandabuzi ukusondela kwakhe. Uyakuza ngosuku lapho bengakumothi, naseyure lapho bengazwi khona ingozi yabo. Kodwa ngalolo suku abantu bakhe bakumotha, yaye ngaleyeyure bamethemba; ngokuthi bakuthi lapho bemboni, "Lo nguThixo wethu; silindele, uyasikhulula—lo yiNkosi; silindele, siyajabula, sikhululeke ekusindisweni kwakhe." (Is. 25:10.) Were he ukuza namhlanje ekhrethini yakhe yamafu, bekithi sithi, "Silindele?" Uyakuza yini ukuphazamisa ukhathazwa kwethu, noma ukukhanyisa imilindelo yethu? Uyakuza yini ukusenza ikhale, nokugriphaza amazinyo ethu, noma ukusula izinyembezo zonke ebusweni bethu phakade?

Septhemba 27

Matthew 25:1-13. Ipharable yabesifazane abayiShumi.

Kule parable iinshitha zikristo azibhalwanga. Zikhona iKilasi ezimbili kuphela—abakholekileyo nabafundisi abangamanga.

Kubonakala ukuthi umehluko phakathi kwabahlakaniphile nabayiziphukuphuku amazalwane awazange atholakale mpela ngaphambi kokufika kwakhe. Ukube abahlakaniphile bazange babone ukuthi abangane babo abalungile, babengathatha isinyathelo ba wacebisa ukuba bazitholele amafutha. AbengiKristu abaningi abayiziphukuphuku abatholwa ngu abakholwayo. Yini abayizuza ngalokhu kukhwabanisa? Zuzuza igama lokuphila; kodwa balahlekelwa yinto enkulu kunalokho abakuzuzayo; ngoba balahlekelwa yizo zonke izikhuthazo ezibalulekile abazange bazitholele, uma isimo sabo sangempela sasaziwa, yizo ezabengaba yisindiso sabo. Bavunyelwa ukuhlala bengaphazanyiswa, ngoba abatholwa. Bafunda ukuzijabulisa phambi kwamehlo abo, nokukholwa ukuthi basendleleni eqondile. Kodwa ekufikeni kwakhe, isimo sabo esidabukisayo sabo satholakala.

Zizothola ukudumala okungaka ekugcineni! Kwaba ukudumala kubayiziphukuphuku amazalwane ekuthola ukuthi amalambu abo acime. Kuyakuba ukudumala okubuhlungu kubaningi ekuthola ukuthi ukholo oluthile alisizo lutho; nokuthi abana ng Grace enhliziyweni zabo. Amafutha abonakala emele imizwa emcwele, imiphi iBhayibheli elithi, uthando, ukholo, ukubuya, ukuthula, ithemba, nokujabula. Kungaba lula ukugcina isidume sokholo ngaphandle kokuba nalezi zibusiso zeMoya oNgcwele; kodwa kunalokhu okubhalwe, "Ngaphandle kokungcweleka akekho muntu oyakubona iNkosi."

Iyini ibiyokwenza abavukuzi abayiziphukwana bahlangabezana nazo kwaba ukuthola ukuthi izibani zabo zicime. Eyesibili kwaba ukuzwa abangane babo benqaba ukwabelana nganoni yabo. Abangani bethu abakholwayo ngeke bakwazi ukusisiza ngosuku lweNkosi! Bangeke bakwazi ukusinika umusa onezinhliziyo zabo. Abavukuzi abayiziphukwana baphinduka bathenga inoni, kwaba nkulu yini imigudu yabo yokuthola umnyango uvaliwe! Yazi kodwa basakuthwala ithemba, bacela ukungeniswa. Impendulo yomtshakazi yayiyokugcina, nokukhulu kunazo zonke imigudu abayohlubuka. Lawa mazwi esabekayo, "Angikazi," aqeda yonke ithemba, wabanika ekufuthelweni kwephakade.

Kodwa yini le pharable ifundisa? Ukuba neso lokuqapha—lokhu, ukulungiselela ukubuya kwenkosi yethu kungalindele. Uyokwiza ngesivinini seliphephuka, nalabo abahlanga azabalunganga, bayokwazi ukuhlala phore phambi kwakhe. Unika umnyama emhlabeni ngokushesha kokubuya kwakhe okwesibili ngokushesha okukhulu amaz Pfe okufa athwebula izoni. Abanye bayahluthwa bangazi nhlobo ukuthi bafayo. Bawa phansi beling'ani, bashaywa yindod' eyahlanya, noma baphahlwa phansi ngeshwa, ngaphambi kokuba bakwazi ukusho, noma bacabhe, "Ingaba lokhu kufa?" Abanye bakhonjwa isikhathi esifushane ngasekupheleni kwabo; bagcwaliswa yingqondo; abazi ukuthi benzeni; bathumela lapha nalapha umfundisi athandaze nabo, kodwa ngaphambi kokuba afike bayaphela. Abambalwa, zangokuqala ukugula, bazi ukuthi ukugula kwabo kukufa; nnexph njabulo yabo iphinde ifike kubo ngesivinini esingalindelekile.

Ukubeka nokwanelwa ngokuba nomfundo wenkolo; ngoba, ngomzuzwana, singasebenzisa ukukhala, "Umkhwenyana uza." Khona abaguqulwanga bazothola ngokuzuma ukuthi abalungile; kodwa ukuthola kwabo akuyi kusebenzisa ngalowo mzuzu. Kuyinto ebaluleke kakhulu ukwazi manje ukuthi ngaba zaliwe kabusha ngomoya, ndatshizwa ngegazi likaJesu Kristo, nokuthi ndifaneleke yini ukuthola ifa labantu abathembekileyo ekukhanyeni!

September 28

Matthew 25:14-30. Ipharable labathengi.

Kune into eyenza le pharable ibe yinto eyaziwayo; yinto yokugcina eyaxelelwa nguNkosi wethu. Eyokuqala eyaxelelwa yayiphariable yamadoda akha izindlu, eyodwa kwilitye, enye kwisanti. Kune ukufana okukhulu phakathi kwento yendoda eyakha indlu yayo kwisanti, nento yenceke yakha ithalente layo emhlabathini. Bobabili babendoda ezaziwuzwa amazwi kaNkosi yazo, kodwa ezingazenzanga. Ngaba uNkosi wethu angakhetha lezi ziganeko njengamaphariable akhe okuqala nawokugcina, ukuba umuntu ohlala kulezi zinto ezifanayo awangafani, yaye iphutha libe yinto ebulalayo? Oku kuthetha ukuthi sinaka kakhulu kule pharable esiyifundile, nokuthi sicacise ukuthi isixwayiso esiqulethwe kuso siyasetshenziswa yini kithina.

U-Nkosi wethu wayexelele ipharable elifana kakhulu nayo emizuzwana embalwa ngaphambili, kwathi ekuya eJerusalema. Kodwa ngalowo mzuzu wayezungukwa yabaFarise njengabafundi bakhe - ngalowo mzuzu wayengenabantu abangabafundi bakhe. Uhlale efundisa abantu bakhe. Kwathi wayesita abantu abafundileyo, wafaka kwiphariable inkcazo yezitha ezisebenzayo, zathi, "Asifuni lo muntu afune ukusiba nkosi." Kodwa kwathi wakhuluma kubafundi bakhe kuphela, wabashiya bonke ubhale ngalazo zithe.

Asingeke siphambuke ekutholeni ukuthi kunesh意味i yini ngamathalenta athembekelwe kubakhonzi. I-Nkosi uqobo lwake wachaza incazelo yakhe ngokushesha ngemva kokubalula umfanekiso; ngoba wabe esechaza yena ngokuthi uhlezi esihlalweni sakhe sokuzukiswa, ebuza ukuthi labo ababemzungezile baye bamondla yini abalambile bakhe, baye bevakashela yini ababvalelwe yena abahleleke. Amathalenta amele amathuba okwenza okulungile. Usizi oluthunyelwa komunye luyithuba elinikezwa elinye.

Kukhona into eyodwa okungafanele neze ishiywe ngaphandle lapho sicabanga ngalo mfanekiso. Yeyiphi INHLOSO yalo mfanekiso? Ngabe yayihlelwe ukubonisa isoni indlela yokuthola ukuthethelwa? Cha. Kukhona eminye imifanekiso ebonisa lokho. Yaleyo yomntwana owalahleka, yababongi ababili, nomalusi omuhle, bonke babonisa ukuthi yintshiseko kaThixo isibusiso, negazi likaKristo eliyigugu, ukuthi ukuthethelwa kunikezwa. Lo mfanekiso uhlelwe ukufundisa, hhayi indlela isoni angathola ngayo ukuthethelwa, kodwa ukuthi isoni esithethelwe siyikhonza kanjani uThixo.

Kwamukelekile okuningi, lowo uyathanda kakhulu. Yena naye wenza okuningi. Kuyathokoza, kuyathandeka ukukhonza labo esibathandayo! Siyaqagula kanjani izidingo zabo, sibaqagele kanjani imifiso yabo! Siyathanda kangakanani ukuthatha ingozi, noma ukwenza isingcweti ukubathokozisa! Siyathanda kancane ukusho ukuthi asikwazi ukwenza abafunayo! Izithiyo zingase zime endleleni; kodwa zivame ukunqotshwa yinhliziyo ethandayo. Ukube abakholekile abathandayo uMsindisi wabo, benza kangakanani okulungile emhlabeni! UPawulu uyasho, "Uthando lukaKristo lusikhuthaza." "Lusikhuthaza" ukuba senzeni? Hhayi ukuphila kwethu, kodwa kuye owasifeza, waye wavuka. (2 Cor. 5:14, 15.)

Siyazi sonke ukuthi sidinga okwengeziwe kwalo moya. Umzenzi akanalo. Uphila kuye yedwa. Kodwa ingabe umkholwa weqiniso unalo ngokwanele? Oh, cha! Ngisho nomkhonzi owayethole amathalente amahlanu uzofikelwa yindida yokuthi wenze kancane kakhulu kumnawabo oyisisa, lapho ezwa amazwi, "Wenze kahle, khonzi omuhle noyithembekile, ungene ekujabuleni kweyakho iNkosi." Uzobona ukungafani okukhulu phakathi kwenkonzo yakhe nomvuzo wakhe, ukuthi uyak стыдиться ngokunganegesi kwakhe kwaphambili, naye amangazwe yisisa seNkosi yakhe.

September 29

Matthew 25:31 ukuya ekupheleni. UCristu uchaza ukwahlulelwa kokugcina.

Kungenzeka ukuthi uma sibuzwa yiziphi izigcawu zikusasa esingathanda kakhulu ukuzibona zivele phambi kwemibono yethu, ingabe asinakusho, "Izigcawu zosuku lokugcina?" Ubukhazikhazi besikhathi sokuqhenya sizakuba sikhulu kakhulu; kodwa akusibo ubukhazikhazi obenza usuku lubaluleke, kodwa yizigwebo ezikhithiweyo ngalolo suku. Ngamakhulu amaningi eminyaka yobungeni bosuku nalolu suku alunakho kulibaleka. Imimoya elahlekileyo izakubala kusukela ngalolo suku ukwahlukana kwayo kokugcina noThixo, umthombo w yonke injabulo. Abasanta abakhazimulisweyo bazakubala kusukela ngalolo suku ukungena kwabo ekujabuleni okupheleleyo kokukhanya kobuso bakhe. Ingabe siyayesaba ukuzwa loo mzwi "Hamba?" Ingabe silangazelela loo mzwi "Woza?" Kufanele sinakeke kuhlaziyo olunikwe ngalolu daba olumanguswa, kokuziphatha okumaka abalungileyo nababi ngelisele emhlabeni.

Abathize okulalelwa yale nkcazo yosuku lokwahlulela ngabafundi bakaJesu. Bonke babekhohlisa ukumthanda. Kodwa nawakhohlisa yini bonke ngempela? Kwakukhona umkhohlisi phakathi kwabayi-12. Kuyabhalwa ngaye, "Hhayi ukuthi wayenendaba nabampofu." Kwaye ingabe akhona manje abathi, "Nkosi, Nkosi," kodwa abangathandi ngempela uJesu? Ukube beyemthanda, beyathanda nabafowabo abampofu abahlupheka emhlabeni. Beyathokozela kakhulu ekubasizeni, kunokubapha ukudla okumnandi, ukubagqokisa, ukuqongelela izimali ezinkulu, nokubapha izipho ezimkhulu. Abathandayo uKristu ngempela babkind kunezihlupheko, abezihlupheko, nababanjwe, ngenxa yakhe.

Kukhona abenza izenzo zothando, kodwa hhayi ngenxa yakhe. Ingabe izenzo zabo ziyamkhokhela iNkosi? Ingabe yena okhangela inhliziyo yakhe, angakwazi ukuthokoza ngezenzo zothando ezenziwe ngenxa yokuthola ukudumisa kwabantu? Izenzo ezinjalo zizothola umklomelo omnye kuphela—ukudumisa kwabantu. Ingabe angakwazi ukuthokoza ngezenzo ezenziwe ngenxa yothando, kodwa ngaphandle kokucabanga ngaye? Izinhloso ezinjalo zithola umklomelo emhlabeni, kodwa hhayi ezulwini.

Ingabe angakwazi ukuthokoza ngezenzo ezenziwe ngokubona ukuzuza izulu ngezikhulelo zethu? Ngempela hayi. Ngokuba umshumayele ukuthi asisindiswanga ngezikhulelo zenkulungwane esenzile, kodwa ngumusa kaNkulunkulu kuJesu Kristu. (Titus 3.) Yini leyo esiyocabanga ngumuntu owana amagude ayi-10 000, yena, nokuthi, abakoliki bakhe bahlinzeka ngokomusa ukumnika zonke izikweletu zakhe, enqaba ukwamukela umsebenzi, ethembisa ngezikhathi ezithile ukwethula ikhobola njengokukhokha? Kodwa yindlela leyo abazenzayo abafuna ukungena ezulwini ngezikhulelo zabo.

Yini, yona, izisusa ezijabulisa iNkosi? Izi izisusa zokutshwala nokumthanda yena. Yiyo kuphela aboni abaxolelwe abangamthanda uJesu; bona bamthanda yena ngokuba yena wabathanda kuqala. Ngisho amazwi ayo ayo athetha kuwo ngosuku lokugcina abonisa ukuthi wabathanda kuqala, ngokuba uyothi, "Wozani, benzi bokuhle bokubaYehova, thokozani ilifa uMbuso owalungiselelwa nina ngaphambi kokudalwa komhlaba." UThixo wabathanda abantwana bakhe ngaphambi kokudalwa komhlaba; yaye ngisho nangenxa yabo walungiselela ukujabula kwabo okungapheli. Kodwa yini na? Wayilungiselela ijebo lababi? Ijebo lalungiselelewa iidemoni, hhayi abantu. Yiyo lezi amazwi eJaji, "Hambani, enzi bokubi, eni ekucimbiseni okungapheli, okwalungiselewa idemoni nawo angelethi bayo." Yisono sabo, hhayi injongo kaThixo, eyabacwilisa engozini engapheli. UJesu uhluphekile ubuhlupheko bejebo, ukuze sithokozise ngojabo lwasemhlangeni. Akasathanga kithi, "Kufanele nishunyayeke nisanyazwe; kufanele nishaywe, nikhishwe amacembe; kufanele nisanyazwe ukuze nifike emhlangeni." Hayi! lawa maNhlamba nawo mahlungu yena uhluphekile ngenxa yethu. Kodwa ucela kithi ukuba sibonise ukumthanda yena ngokuthulula ababazalwane bakhe abampofu. Yinto encane. Ingabe singamkhana? Kwathi siyakubona umzulu ongenamnikazi, ingabe siyaphambuka? Kwathi siyakuzwa ngumkholwa ohluphekayo, noma ngomphongolozi ompofu, ingabe siyakukhohlwa ukumvakashela? Uma siyakwenza, sithyale ngakithi nakakhulu xa sibona uKristu eza ekazeni lakhe!

30 Septhemba

Luke 22:1-6. UJudas waziphakamisela ukubhenga uKristu.

Sikhathi sokugcina sibhekile uMsindisi wethu ehlezi ngokuthula eNtabeni iOlives, wazungezwa ngabafundi bakhe. Yini isigcawu esihluke kakhulu esiyobona! Yihlanganiso lamadoda amabi eJerusalema. Umkhulu sashe wena phakathi kwabo, yaye isigodlo sakhe yisiza sokuhlangana kwabo. Kungenzeka ukuthi babeyithatha phansi ebusuku, ngokuba emini umkhulu sashe wayehlala egumbini lakhe eliseduze nethempeli.

Ibusuku kwaba yisikhathi esifanele sokuvuthwa kwezinhlelo zokudinga. Ukubulawa kweNyana kaNkulunkulu kwaba yicala elihlelwe, kodwa kunezithiyo ezinkulu ezaziwela phambili ekwenziweni kwalo. Abapristi nababhali babethuke ukumthwebula uJesu emini, ngoba babeyalindela ukuthola ukumelana kwabantu; futhi babengazi ukuthi yini ukumthola ebusuku, ngoba wayezifihla eduze neNhlangakazi iOlivi. Kodwa njengokuba uNkulunkulu asiza abantwana bakhe ukunqoba izithiyo zabo, kanjalo uSathana asiza abakhe ukunqoba izithiyo zabo.

Ukungena kukaJudas kwakumangalisa lesi sibhlava! Wayeze ukuyakhuluma egameni leNkosi yakhe? Wayeze ukuyaxabana nezitha zakhe? Ngokuqinisekile isimo sobuso bakhe kwakufanele sibonise inhloso emnyama yenhliziyo yakhe. Wayeze ukwenza isiphakamiso esonakele kakhulu esake sapasiswa imilomo yomuntu; wayeze ukunikeza ukubethelwa kweNkosi yakhe. Siyakholelwa ukuthi umuntu wayengeke WEDWA anqume ukwenza ububi obunjalo; ngoba noma umuntu ngokuwela kwakhe alahlekelwe yothando lwakhe kuMdali wakhe ongabonakali, usalungisile ukuthanda labo abantu abambonisa inceba. Kodwa lo moya onakele owake wamelana noNkulunkulu ombonile ubuhle bakhe, futhi ojabule ulwazi lwakhe, wayezele igcwele inhliziyo kaJudas. Ngabe uSathana angangena enhliziyweni yomuntu? Yini inyama edabukisayo! Ngabe kukhona ingcali esingayoyika kakhulu kun ukungena kwalo moya onakele enhliziyweni yethu? Uma eseza kuhlala kithi manje, kunesizatho sokwesaba ukuthi singa kuya kuhlala naye emva kwalokho.

Kanjani abapristi bamkele isiphakamiso esonakele se-apostle onakele? Babethukewe? Babethuthuka ngamazwi om преда? Kuthiwa, "Bajabule." Isihogo sajabula. Kuyadabuka ukuthi abantu bajabula bezigabeni, futhi nokho labo abajabula ububi bangaqiniseka ukuthi injabulo yabo iyabunjwa ngemiphefumulo phansi.

Ndinga yiphi imbuyiselo uYudas ayethemba ukuyithola ngenxa yok Verruko lakhe? Ama-randi angamashumi amathathu; isamba esilingana namapound amathathu neshilingi ezili shumi nanhlanu zemali yethu. Kwakuyintengo yencekwa. Kwakuyisamba esasungwa nguMthetho wamaYuda abo bulayayo incekwini ngengozi. Zingancane kangakanani izimbuyiselo abantu abazitholela ngazo ukwenza isono! U Satan wazama ukukholisa uNkosana kaThixo, wamnika wonke amamantshi omhlaba. Kodwa akacabangi ukuthi kumele anikele ngesimbuyiselo esikhulu kangaka kumuntu onosono. Uthola ukuthi angamkholisa ukuba enze ububi ngembuyiselo ezingabalulekanga. Inyama eyodwa nje yayanele ukwenza uEsau athengise ilungelo lakhe lokuzalwa. Kodwa ingabe uSathana uyabuyisela ngembuyiselo ayithembisayo? Cha! Kuyaqabukela ukuthi aboni bayonandipha ababekulindele. UYudas wathola ama-randi angamashumi amathathu, kodwa wawonandipha?

Kuyakubedabula imimoya yaboni emgeheni ukubala ukulahleka kwabo nezinzuzo zabo. Nalapha emhlabeni, izinzuzo zosono zincane kakhulu—nalapha emhlabeni, ukulahleka kwosono kukhulu kakhulu; kodwa emhlabeni olandelayo akusiyiinzuzo zibekwe kuboni; ukuhleka jele kuphela, usizi nje luyaqhubeka. Umbono wezono zakhe zangaphambili uyakushabalala phambi kwamehlo akhe akhala; ubuxoki bukaSathana buyakamconga; uyise wezono uyakamsola ngokuyahluka kwakhe, nombono wezulwazi ekude uyakwandisa ukuhlupheka kwakhe kwentliziyo. Kodwa yize aqiniseke ngephutha lakhe, umntwana owahluphekayo akayukwazi ukuvuka abuye kuThixo wakhe, athi, "Ndonile ngokumelene nezulu, naphambi kwakho." Cha, amaketanga ebumnyameni ayakumncina njalo ekhanda lakhe elimnyama, nentambo enkulu iyakumahlukanisa nakho konke okungcwele, okukhazikhazisayo, okonelisayo.