Kungani umKristu Efuna iBandla Ukuchuma

Kutheni umKristu Efuna iBandla ukuze Achume

Amos 2

Ngumkhonzi uJohn Musgrave

Umkhonzi uJohn Musgrave ungumPastor Omkhulu we iBandla likaKristu eClayton, eNorth Carolina.

Kungenza yini umKristu achume ngaphandle kwebandla? KuAmos 2:9-12, uThixo usibonisa ukuthi ngaphandle kwebandla akasindisi, kodwa yindawo apho achitha khona izibusiso ezibalulekile zokhula lwethu. Lapha sibheka khona izinzuzo zangempela zokuba yingxenye yabantu bakhe.

Ili yiviki yethu yesibili eNcwadini kaAmos. uAmos wayesebenza njengomkhonzi wayesikhuluma phakathi neminyaka yee-750 ngaphambi kukaKristu phakathi koKumkani uJeroboam II emizini yakwaIsrayeli enyakatho, wayesincwadi yakhe yazikhathazela emishwameni yakwaJuda.

Okubonakalayo lapha yilowo ondakumana kaThixo kubantu bakhe kuloo mkhathi. Kwaye kufanelekile ukukhumbula into: lapho abaprofethi bebhala, babesoloko bakhuluma nabantu bakaThixo kubo ukungathembeki. Kwaye lapho thina sifumana ukukhuthaza nokuqondisa kubaprofethi, sibona okwakungenzeki abantu bakaThixo – yaye okubonakalisa ukuthi zinjani izinto ezibalulekile kuThixo.

Kwaye sapeleka kuAmos 2, sikhuluma kwivesi 9. Ilowo ilowo ondakumana kaThixo, okuyinto ephakade iphakathi.

UThixo, akhuluma ngoAmos, uthi:

Ndiwabhubhisa ama-Amorite phambi kwabo, yize ayenobude njengomthi womsedari naqinile njengomthi wamakhambi. Ndiwabhubhisa umkhiwa wakhe ngenhla nezimpande zakhe phansi. Ndinikhiphile eGibhithe, ndakuholile iminyaka engamashumi amane ehlane ukuze nikunike ilizwe lama-Amorite. Ndiwaphakamisile nawe abaprofethi phakathi kwabantwana benu naNazirite phakathi kwabafana benu. Ingaba akuyona inyani, ndioyabantu baIsrayeli?’ kusho iNkosi.

Kodwa wena wawenza abaprofethi iwayini, yaye wawiyancomandisa abaprofethi ukuba bangaprofethi.

Kwaye lapha iphela ukufundwa kwethu. Impendulo yenzuzo yokubonga iphelile ekhona phakathi komhlahlandlela wenu wokuncoma.

Ilinde lo ondakumana kaThixo.

Ungase usuvele ukuzwile abantu besithi — mhlawumbe kaningi — “Ngiyamthanda uJesu, kodwa angimthandi ibandla Lakhe,” noma “Ibandla ligcwele abahipokhithiweyo, yingakho ngingafuni ukuba seduze nalo.” Abanye abantu bacabanga ukuthi uJesu ulungile, kodwa abadingi ibandla. Uma ukhulekele, njengawe, uyakhumbula iDoobie Brothers yathi uJesu “ulungile nje” kubo. Njengegqila lalingazi noma babelisho njengesikhala sokudumisa noma ukuthakasela kwababhukudi. Kodwa iphuzu lihlala lunjalo: abanye abantu bacabanga ukuthi uJesu ulungile, kodwa bafuna ukungabi naye ebandleni Lakhe. Bazokwenza “into yabo.”

Umbuzo ngu: Ingabe lokho kukuhlakanipa? Ingabe ukuhlakanipa ukuthanda uJesu kodwa uhlale kude nebandla Lakhe? Ingabe lokho kubeka umKristu enenzuzo — noma engalungile?

Imininingo yaziwa, futhi lesi sifundo kuAmose siyalqinisa: ukuba umKristu ngaphandle kwebandla kubeka umumkholwa enenzuzo enkulu ekukhuleni kwake, ekulaleni kwake, nasekuchumayeni kwake kuKristu. Kuyamvimba ukukhula kwake futhi kunciphisa kakhulu isibusiso sakhe. Yilokho esizokuzwa kulesi sifundo.

Ngeke, isifundo esifushane sesonto eledlule esivela kuAmose 1–2. Uma ulandela umdwebo, nasi iphuzu lakho lokuqala:

Ubukhona bomuntu ebandleni akulingani nokuphila okuphakade.

Ngoweledlule sibone uAmose eletha isahluko sikaNkulunkulu kuzizwe ezizungeze u-Israyeli. Abantu base-Israyeli abalalela babenokuvumelana — “Ewe, uNkulunkulu uyakwahlulela ezizweni.” Kodwa uNkulunkulu uphendukela eJuda, nokubuya kothi bakwaNyakatho, wabahlulela nabo. Isahluko sasiyeza kubantu bakaNkulunkulu. Ngakho-ke saxoxa ukuthi ukuba khona nje ebandleni akukuhambiseli ukuphila okuphakade. UJesu ngokwakhe uyafundisa lokhu ngokuphindaphindi.

Kodwa ngale kwalokho, ngokuba khona kwumkholwa ebandleni — ukukholwa kuJesu nokuba yingxenye yabantu Bakhe — umKristu uthola izinzuzo ezibalulekile, ezinkulu, nezohlala. Kule viki sizobheka ezimbili zalezo zinzuzo, kwathi ngesonto elizayo sizocabanga ngesithathu.

Inzuzo #1: UThixo uyakukhulula wena ekumbufeni wezwe.

Lokhu kukhululwa kwenzeka ngonaphakade, kodwa kwenzeka nangomzuzu. Uma sihlangana lapha, uThixo uyasikhulula ekumbufeni wezwe kweyethu isikhashana.

Bhekani umBhalo wevesi 10. UThixo uyakukhumbuza u-Israyeli ukuthi Uyakhulula bona eGibhithe: “Ngabakhipha nina eGibhithe.” EGibhithe ayengafani kahle kubantu bakaThixo. Babesikhobozweni khona. Isikhobozwe siyinginto onqena ukuhlala khona; ufuna ukukhululwa. Futhi uThixo wabakhipha—Wabakhulula ekumbufeni kanzima.

Kwa kanye, kwenu namhlanje:

A. Umhlaba ungukumbufeni enonkulunkulu ongayikhathaleli abemi bakhe.

“Umphathi wamandla omoya,” njengoba uPawuli ayebiza ngaye ku-Efesu 2, akayikhathaleli imphilo yakho. Uma uhlolwa, lokho hlolwa siyingakokuhle kwakho. Uma uwa khona, uSathani uyahleka njengoba uhlezi enobungo bunzima obulele wena. UPetru uyasho ku-1 Petru 5:8 ukuthi uwadla umlilo njengengonyama ekhalayo, efuna ukudla umuntu. Lokho kumbufeni wezwe— kumbufeni enonkulunkulu onyama.

uJesu uyamchaza ngale ndlela ku John 10:10 Ngokuphambene, uJesu ungumkhokheli omuhle olala phansi impilo yakhe ngominya.

B. Kwake wena ekumbufeni wezwe, wawuyisigqila sesono.

uRom 6:6, 8, na 20 uyacacisa lokho. Isigqila siyingcindezi; siyingcindezelo.

C. UThixo wakukhulula wena kulo kumbufeni wamkhulula wena waba ngumwini wezulu.

uFiliphi 3:20 uyasitshela ukuthi ubumi bethu buyeleke ezulwini, khona uKristu ebekwe njengonkulunkulu. uKolose 1:13-14 uyachaza ukudluliswa okukhulu okwenzeka kwake wena ukholwa: UThixo “wakikhulula ekubuseni kwobumnyama, wabakhulula ekumbufeni oyiNdodana ayithandayo, anayo ukupha ukhululwe, ukuthethelelwa kwezono.”

Lokho yinzuzo yakho yokuqala: UThixo uyakukhulula wena ekumbufeni onzima enonkulunkulu onyama wamkhulula wena waba ngumwini ekumbufeni kaKristu.

Inzuzo #2: UThixo uyakuhola wena ekusumbufeni kwakho.

Phinda futhi kwivesi 10: “Ngahola nina iminyaka engamashumi amne ehlane.” I-Ejipthi ayingekho ikhaya lakwa-Israyeli. Ihlane ayingekho ikhaya labo. Ikhaya labo kwakuyi-land ethembiswe u-Abrahama.

I-Testamente Entsha isitshela into efanayo: le mondo ayikho ikhaya lethu. Asifanele ukuyiphatha njengikhaya lethu. UThixo uholisa abantu bakhe ngehlane lalokhu ukuphila, njengalokhu waholisa u-Israyeli ngalelo hlane labo.

Imondo ayikho i-land ethembiswe kithu. Kodwa, imondo iyihlane lethu — indawo yethu yokuzulazula. Sikhona ekhona ukuphila njengabahlali. Ngenkathi abantu bakaThixo bachitha iminyaka engamashumi amne ehlane phakathi kuka-Ejipthi ne-Land Ethembiswe, bahlala emiteni ngoba babengakho ikhaya. Awakhi indlu yakho uma ungekho ikhaya. Kufana nokuya eholidayini nokuqasha umakhenikha wakwakhe indlu eFlorida uma indlu yakho yangempela ikhona eClayton. Abantu bakaThixo abakhi indlu ehlane. Bahlala emiteni.

Ithekwe leMicimbi Yabahlali yabheka emva kwalokho. Abantu bakaThixo babwakha izindlu zesikhashana phakathi kukaJerusalema ukuze bakhumbule iminyaka le engamashumi amne. UPetru, ekugcineni kwempilo yakhe, usebenzisa isithombe esifanayo. Ku-2 Petru 1:13-14, ukhuluma ngokuphila kwakhe komhlaba njengokuhlala kwitenteni. Usitshela: le mondo ayikho ikhaya lethu. Sikhona kancane, kodwa le yikhona ukuphila kwethu ehlane. Siyahambahamba emiteni. Uthi uzoshiya “isidhl” senteni yakhe aye kuJesu — ikhaya lakhe langempela.

UPawulu ukhuluma ngokufanana ku-2 Korinte 5:8: uma sikhona ekhaya emzimbeni, siyahlukaniswa noThixo; uma siyahlukaniswa nomzimba, sikhona ekhaya noThixo. IZwi likaThixo lisitshela izithombe ezimbili: siyabahlali, kantsi siyabahlali ehlane. Zombili ziyiqiniso.

Kwa, lokhu ukuphila yisikhathi sethu ehlane. Sikholiswe kuka-Ejipthi — ekuminiyam kingdom yokumnyama, ekuguleni kukaThixo — kodwa asikafiki ikhaya lethu langempela. Ikhaya lethu langempela likaJesu, eliphethe kuphela abakholekileyo abafuna ukumkhazimula uThixo. Njengamanje, sikhona ehlane.

Kwaye, yini eyiqiniso ngedini? Alikho uphawu. Alikho amamaki. Alikho ithuba. Yingakho ngivame ukuzonda iThe Two Towers — ifilimu yonke iyafana nokulahleka. Abakayona ekhaya; abafikanga endaweni yabo. Ngizonda lo muzwa wokulahleka. Angizange ngibe nezikhathi eziningi zokulahleka esitolo njengezingane, kodwa yisese lo muzwa uyandiphazamisa. Angithandi ukulahleka.

Ngenkathi ngiya edolobheni elisha, ngizama ukukhumbula imephu. Ngenkathi umndeni wethu waya eNew York City ngo-2009, ngakhumbula ngokwanele ukwakheka ukuze ngihlale njalo ngazi ukuthi sikuphi. Masihle kube nzima, ngenxa yokuthi izakhi zikhulu kakhulu. Ekuseni, nggenkathi ngisegijima eCentral Park, ngadideka. Uma wazi iCentral Park, wazi ukuthi imigwaqo iyahamba yonke indawo. Ngacabanga ukuthi ngiyazi kahle ukuthi ngikuphi — mphela kwaze kwaba sekufikeni kwami echibini nekwakungekho. Ngabuza umuntu owayefana nomnative, “NgikwiCentral Park West noma Central Park East?” Uytshele ngengozi. Mungkin wayengumnative owafuna ukungithumela ekhaya; mungenzeka wayengumthengisi njengami.

Ngesikhathi esithile ngafika emgwaqweni, ngabona inombolo, kwaqala ukugijima ngaseningi — ngaphandle kwamanombolo aqhubeka nyukela phezulu. Okusho ukuthi ngihamba ngasenyakatho. Ngabona ukuthi ngiseceleni elingaphambene le park. Angithandi ukuzwa ukulahleka. Yingakho ukuhlala kwedini kufana nalokho: alikho uphawu, alikho uphawu lwemigwaqo, yindawo nje evulekile.

Okwenziwa yinto, enye yefilimu ezithandwa kakhulu nguAll Is Lost kaRobert Redford. Ifilimu kaRedford nje, wodwa, elahlekile phakathi kwolwandle. Amagama amane akhulunywa kule filimu. Ngathandabuza, mungenzeka ngenxa yokuthi u-2014 wazizwa kanje. Kodwa awufuni ukulahleka edini. Yingakho abantu abanaKristu. Oyedwa wenu usanda kusho, emva kokuba phakathi kwabantu abangabakholeli, “Balahlekile.” Ngizwa kanje nami lapho siphakathi kwabangabakholeli — alikho ithuba, alikho uphawu, alikho ekhaya.

Kodwa yindaba yezindaba: kule nkangala ekhona, umuntu okholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu weBhayibheli yedwa uNkulunkulu — uNkulunkulu osindisa nokuhlenga ekwahlulelweni kokugcina — lowo muntu uholwa nguNkulunkulu.

Kwaqala-ke lokhu: uNkulunkulu uyakuholwa ngebhayibheli — iLizwi Lakhe.

Abantu bakaNkulunkulu baholwa ekhaya ngumprofethi wakhe uMose. uMose wabanika uGenesise — zonke iziganeko zakudala ezirekhodiwe zabantu abahlezi eSinayi. uGenesise 15 wabatshela lapho behamba khona: uNkulunkulu wabuthembisa inzalo ka-Abrahamu umhlaba waseKhanani. uMose wabugcina phambi kwabo isethembiso: uNkulunkulu unika umhlaba ogeleza ngobisi namafutha.

Kodwa uMose wabanika okungaphezu kwindlela. Wabanika umthetho — ovela kuEksodusi 20 kuya kuNambari — imiyalelo yokuphila, yokwenza, yindlela yokuphatha ummelwane, yindlela yokuthanda ummelwane wakho njengakho (uJesu akazange ayenze; ivela kuLevitikus), nokuthanda uNkulunkulu (imiyalo yokuqala). uNkulunkulu wabanika abantu isiqondiso nemiyalelo ekhaya.

Kwaqala-ke ukuthi uNkulunkulu uholwa kanjani abantu bakhe namhlanje?

A1. uNkulunkulu uyakuholwa esontweni ngebhayibheli nangabafundisi beBhayibheli.

Ekhaya, uNkulunkulu wanika u-manna — ukudla kwemizimba yabo — nomthetho Wakhe — ukudla kwemiphefumulo yabo. uHebheru 5 uyabiza iLizwi likaNkulunkulu ngokudla okomoya. UPetru uyabiza ubisi okomoya ku 1 Petru 2. uNkulunkulu unika ukudla kwemiphefumulo yakho ngeLizwi Lakhe.

uJesu uyabonisa lokhu ngumhlanga Wakhe owendle. KuMathewu 4:4, xa ehlezi ekhathazwa, uyamelana ngokucaphuna iSibhalo: “Umuntu akaphili ngobufebe bodwa, kodwa ngalo iLizwi eliphuma emlonyeni kaNkulunkulu.” iLizwi likaNkulunkulu liyamgcina.

Kwaye iLizwi likaNkulunkulu likugcina.

Kwayo-ke sina sonka lwesizulu sabo—amazwi uNkulunkulu awanike usulelo mncwadi ukusiyaqondisa emimpilweni yethu. Ku-Amose 2:11, qaphela lokho uNkulunkulu akusho engxenyeni yokuqala yevethi: akagcini kuphela ebondise abantu bakhe ngomprofeti omkhulu uMose, kodwa uyaqhubeka ebondisa ngomprofeti abanye abafundise igama lakhe emakhulwini eminyaka ngemuva kokuthi bangene ezweni eliqokiwe. U-Amose ukhuluma ngeminyaka yawo-750 ngaphambi kukaKristu, no-Israyeli wayesengene ezweni cishe ngo-1400 ngaphambi kukaKristu. Lokho kungeminyaka engu-650 yabaseprofeti—u-Eliya, u-Elisha, nabanye abaningi—ngaphambi kwenkathi yabaseprofeti ababhala njengo-Amose noJonah.

UNkulunkulu wabondisa abantu bakhe ngakhathi, waya qhubeka nokubondisa njengamanje. IZulu yikhaya lakho; le mpilo yikhwezi lakho. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi impilo yakho yobumhlaba ihlala isikhathi eside kangakanani, yikhwezi lakho “leminyaka engu-40” . Kodwa uNkulunkulu unika manna—ukudla okomoya—ukukondisa nokuqondisa ekuphileni kwakho ngaphambi kwezulu. Unika iLizwi lakhe, iBhayibheli. Futhi unika abaprofeti bezinsuku zethu—abakhulumi ngesikhathi esizayo, kodwa abakhulumi iLizwi likaNkulunkulu.

O baseprofeti beTestamente Elidala babonisa njalo emthethweni kaMose: “Nanku lokho uNkulunkulu akusho; nanku indlela okufanele uhambe ngayo.” Othisha beTestamente Elisha benza okufanayo: bakhombe eSkrithiphalweni baye bakusho, “Nanku indlela lokhu okuhambisana naye empilweni yakho. Hamba ngale ndlela uzitholele ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu.”

UNkulunkulu unika othisha esontweni—i-Ephesu 4 iyacacisa lokho—abakondisa ngokuchaza iLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Futhi unika iBhayibheli ngokwalo, ongali funda ekhaya lakho ulondleke. Othisha basiza ngengxenye engenacaciko. Abaningi benu bangithumelela i-imeyili phakathi senzi: “Ngifunde lokhu ekuseni—ngiyalungisa?” Futhi niba ngcono kakhulu ekuchazeni iSkrithiphalwo. Ngi thi, “Yebo, unalokho,” lokho kukunika ukuzethemba ukulwenza empilweni yakho. Uyazi ukuphila, futhi ungaliphila ngokuzethemba.

Kwayo-ke uNkulunkulu uyakuholisa ngokukunika iBhayibheli—ngokufunda kwakho ngokwako nangotthisha abanikezele ukukusiza uqonde.

Ndiyo iphuzu lokuthi uThixo akukhuthaza ukuba ufunde futhi ufune—funda iBhayibheli futhi ufune ukufundiswa iBhayibheli. UPetru 2:2–3 usitshela ukuba sinelinqa lobisi oluhlanzekile lwezwi ukuze sikhule ekukhuleni kweminyaka ngemuva kokuthola ukusindiswa. UThixo usiqondisa ngokwakhe Izwi ngenkathi sisejwangeni.

Kodwa uThixo akazange aqondise abantu bakhe ngiyakho imiyalo nemithembiso kuphela. Ubaqondisile ngomoya wakhe. Iphuzu lakho B yilokhu:

UThixo uqondisa ngokomoya oNgcwele.

Hhayi umoya ngokuzimela kweBhayibheli—lokho kuholela ekudidekeni nakuqembu, ngokomlando. Futhi hayi iBhayibheli ngokuzimela komoya—lokho kuholela ekutolika okubandayo. Lobu budlelwano budlula ndawonye: umoya nezwi.

Ngezinsuku zikaMose, uThixo waqondisa abantu bakhe ngomqulu wamafu emini nomqulu womlilo ebusuku. UNehemiya 9 uyabuya lokhu. Ubukhona bomoya oNgcwele babu khona kulo mqulu. Xa umqulu uhlala, abantu bahlezi. Xa umqulu uhamba, bapakisana bamlandela. UThixo wayesithi, “Ngilandeleni. Musani ukugijima phambili.”

Kuyafana nokuthi lapho izingane zami zazincane futhi besihamba nekwe. Ngangingazi ukuthi siyephi; bona abazange. Babegijima phambili ngezindlela ezingalungile, futhi ngangibabiza, “Ngapha!” Abantu bakaThixo kumele balandele umqulu—balandele umoya.

Namuhla, umoya awasiqondisi ngomqulu obonakalayo, kodwa uyaqondisa ngezindlela ezimbili ezibalulekile:

1. Umoya unika ukuqonda kweBhayibheli.

Umuntu angafunda iZwi futhi azi amagama, izenzi, izichasiso, nezihlanganiso—futhi angangazi. Ubonile umbono odlulele emehlweni omuntu oyedwa lapho elalele kodwa engazi. Kumele umoya usisize “siqonde.”

UPawulu uyachaza lokhu e 1 Korinte 2. Akekho uyazi ingqondo kaThixo ngaphandle koMoya kaThixo. Umoya kaThixo uhlala kithi. “Umuntu wemvelo”—umuntu ongena umoya—akayazi izinto zikaThixo. Kodwa umumkelwayo angazi, ngoba umoya uyaziveza.

UPawulu uthi e 1 Corinthians 2:12

Kanjalo, uMoya unika ukuqonda. Unguwuphethilili wethu wamafu nomlilo njengoba sifunda iBhayibheli.

2. U Moya unika amandla okulandela imiyalo kaNkulunkulu.

UPawuli ubhala eRoma 8:12-14 ukuthi sinomkweleto—hhayi kwindalo enesono, kodwa ukuphila ngokuMoya. Uma siphila ngendalo enesono, siyafa. Kodwa uma siphila ngokuMoya, sibulala izenzo zenyama. U Moya usisiza ukuthi sithi cha kukuheha. Usisiza ukuthi siyeke ukwenza izinto ezinono ebesizenza ngaphambili.

Kwaye UPawuli uthi, “Abaholwa nguMoya kaNkulunkulu bangabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.” Ungowakhe. Usengabantu bakaNkulunkulu, ubuka phethilili. “Ngiyahlala lapha? Ngiyahamba?” U Moya uyakuholisa.

Kanjalo siphila ngokuMoya, ngokwaMoya sibulala izenzo zenyama. U Moya uyasikhanyisela ukuthi sithi cha esonweni. UPawuli uthi okuthile okufanayo ku Galatians 5:16— noma, njengokwezinye izinguqulo, hamba ngokuMoya. Lelo gama “hamba” lithatha isithombe sabantu bakaNkulunkulu ehlane, behamba ngokuMoya isinyathelo ngesinyathelo. “Phila ngokuMoya, hhayi ukuze wanelise iinkanuko zendalo enesono.”

UKulunkulu oNgcwele uMoya ohlala kuwe yisihluthulelo—hhayi kuphela ukuqonda imiyalo yeSibhalo, kodwa ukuhamba kulawo miyalo ukuze ujabule, ukuze ufike kulohlanga oluthembisekile lwezulu ngenhle.

Kwaivesi ezimbalwa kamuva, eGalathiya 5:25, UPawuli engeza: “Kwaathi thina siphila ngokuMoya, masigcine isinyathelo ngokuMoya.” Yiphinde, isithombe siwabantu abahamba phethilili wamafu nomlilo. Gcina isinyathelo ngokuMoya. Uyenza kanjani? NgokuMoya uNkulunkulu ahlala kuwe.

Kanjalo, uNkulunkulu uyasiholisa kulo hlane ngokusinika iLizwi Lakhe noMoya Wakhe. Siyakudinga kokubili. Siyakudinga uMose ositshela lapho sithwele khona—imiyalo nemithembiso kaNkulunkulu—nesiyakudinga uMoya kaNkulunkulu ositshela nini nokuthi sithwele kanjani.

Okwesithathu, uNkulunkulu uyakuholisa ngokukunika imibonelo yothando lwakhe.

UThixo utsho ngoAmos, “Ndabakhupha eGiphethe; Ndabaholoka iminyaka engamashumi amne ehlane; Ndavusa abaprofeti phakathi kwabantwana bakenu” (v. 11). Kwaye wongeza: “namaNazire phakathi kwabantwana bakenu abancinci.”

AbanaNazire babengabantu ababekhethekile kuThixo. Ngamanye amaxesha isithembiso sabo sasibekwa kubo kwasekuzalweni—uSamson, yaye mhlawumbi uYohane uBaptisti. Kodwa uNumeri 6 ubonisa ukuba nayiphi na iIsrayeli yayingathatha isithembiso sikaNazire ngexesha elithile—iveki, inyanga, ixesha elide. Ngathi kuloo vow, babephila ngeendlela ezithile: babengaseli wayini, babephepha ukudibana nento efileyo, yaye ukuba into efileyo ibathinta ngengozi, kwakufuneka baqalise kwakhona isithembiso sabo. Uthando lwabo lwalubonakala.

UThixo wanika abantu bakhe imizekelo yothando—imizekelo ebubomi, yokuphila oko ukuzinikela ngokupheleleyo kuThixo.

UPawulos utsho into enye le inguculo kubhaKristu. Ku-2 Korinte 11:3 uyasilumkisa ukuba iingqondo zethu zingakhapheki kude “kuthando olumsulwa nolwethulu lokuzinikela kuKrestu.” Yilowo usukelo kuthi: uthando olumsulwa, olwethulu lokuzinikela kuKrestu. Yaye phi na uyabona oko? Ecwaneni.

Akuyi kufundiswa iBhayibhile ngaphandle ecwaneni. uJimi Fallon akayi kuchazela iRomans. Akuyi kuba phakathi kwabantu abanomphefumlo kaThixo ngaphandle ecwaneni. Yaye akuyi kufumana imizekelo yothando olumsulwa, olwethulu lokuzinikela kuKrestu ngaphandle ecwaneni. UThixo ubanika abo phakathi kwabantu bakhe—njengoNazire eTestamenteni Elidala.

Ndibe nale mizekelo. Ndicinga ngomhlobo wam uRich Lanning, owakho emtshatweni wethu. Sasihlangane ngo projekthi yasehlotyeni yeCampus Crusade eOcean City, eNew Jersey, ngo-1988. Wayeneminyaka efanayo nam, kodwa bezinikwe ngokunzulu kuKrestu—bejabulile ngaye. Imithandazo yakhe, ulonwabo lwakhe, ukuzinikela kwakhe okunzulu kuThixo—kwandichukumisa kakhulu. Yilowo ndammisela emtshatweni wethu, nangona ndamazi nje ngo hlobo lwehlotyeni.

Ngingacabanga ngabafundisi bami. UPetru uthi ku-1 Petru 5 ukuthi abadeveli kufanele babe “izibonelo kumawundlwe.” UThixo unika abadeveli ibandla ukuze abantu bakhe babone ukuthi ukuzinikela kubukeka kanjani. Nabadeveli bazwa lo mthwalo. Ngikutshelile kaningi: ukwazi ukuthi ukuwa kwami kungakulimaza nina kungivimbela ekoneni engingakwenza ngenye indlela. Lo mthwalo ulungile. Lo mthwalo uvikelayo.

Ngingacabanga ngoThim, umfundisi wethu eBloomington. Ndikhule ngingenakuphikisana—utata wami wayenothando, kodwa okwakhe kuthiwa kwenziwa. Angikaze ngifunde ukuphikisa. UThim wayengumuntu onobumnandi njengengonyama, kodwa lapho ekhuthaza, kwakuzwakala njengokuqhuma kwesiphepho emzimbeni wakho. Khuthazo oluqinileyo, olunothando. “Cha—ungekwenzi lokho.” Akavumelanga ububula bezApostle. Uthe okwakuyiqiniso, akukhathazeki nokuthi ubani othi. Ukunikela kwakhe kwakundibentukela. Nizuze kuye kakhulu kunokuba nazi.

Khona esikoleni sabafundisi, uThim wangitshela, “Johane, ungumuntu oyothisha, umuntu wemantiki. Kufanele ufike phansi komfundisi oyobamba abantu ngobumnandi nangosizi.” Siyahamba sibheke amabandla—asixhenye asikhulu. Nomfundisi omunye wema. Umbobomvu, onobkindness, onosizi. Wayehamba phansi ngamadolo akhe ukuze akhulume noAllison noLarissa emva komkhuleko. Wayethanda abantu bakhe. Ngimtshelile okwakhethiwa nguThim, waphendula, “Kuhle. Ngivakashela abantu ezindlini zokugula nasezibhedlela ngoLwesihlanu ntambama. Ngizokuthatha esikoleni sabafundisi—ungze nami.” Nakwenza.

Lo mBazanayiti kimi—izibonelo zokuzinikela. UThixo wabanika abantu bakhe ngaphakathi ebhandleni.

Kube yinto emfundisayo kakhulu kumfana ukubuka le mizamo yothando. Ngicabanga ngo Mike—ubumnene bakhe, umkindness wakhe, ukunakekela kwakhe wonke umuntu. Hhayi abantu abalulekile kuphela, kodwa nabantwana, ababukwe ngaphezulu, labo umhlaba ubaphathe ngenhlonipho. Futhi ngicabanga ngo Terry, umfundisi wami lapha ngokuqala kwethu. UTerry wayenguMnu. Initiative, Mnu. Social, Mnu. “Khuluma nabo bonke.” Ngingumuntu ongathandi ukukhuluma, kodwa isibonelo sakhe sibe yinto encedayo. Wenza lezo zinto ngoba wayemthanda uKristu futhi wayefuna ukuletha abantu ecwaningweni—and wayefuna ukubasiza ukuba bakhonze abanye.

UThixo usinika le mizamo ecwaningweni. Hhayi ngaphandle kwayo. Siyayemukela ngaphakathi ecwaningweni—imizamo yabantu abathemekile kuKristu, benza izinto kahle, benza izinto ngendlela kaKristu. Akekho oyenzayo yonke into kahle, kodwa thola amandla awohlukahlukene kubratu nabahlo, ikakhulu kubadala nabo abakhulelekile ngokomoya.

Kwa into elula ukuthi uyakukhuthaza:

Landela—elingisa—kopa uthando lwabakhulelekile ngokomoya ecwaningweni.

Yifune. Ilingise.

Ngenkathi kaAmosi, abantu babengayenzi into le. Bukela futhi umshoyo 11:

“Ngavusa abaprofethi phakathi kwamadodana akho, nezNazirites phakathi kwabafana bakho.”

Iminikelo emibili: abaprofethi ukufundisa iLizwi likaThixo nokunika isiqondiso, nezNazirites ukunika imizamo yothando. UThixo uyakuthi, “Ngabanika bobabili ukuze niphumelele emhlabeni.”

Kodwa umshoyo 12:

“Nenze abNazirites baphuze iwayini.”

Ingxenye yelesi sikhala seNazirite ukuzila iwayini. Akusiyo isikhala sokuphila—isikhala esinqunyiwe sokuthanda. Kodwa abantu bakhuthaza abathandayo ukuba bangathandi.

Uyazi ukuthi yinto le—kumsebenzi, kubamelwane, esikoleni, emakholejeni, emaqenjini:

“Oh, hamba. Musa ukwenza lento. Wonke umuntu wenza lento.”

Hlokho ukhuthaza iNazirite ukuba aphuze iwayini.

UThixo uyakuthi, “Cha. Akusiyo into le abantu bami abayenzayo.”

Unika abathandayo ukuze siphakame ku bona, hhayi kubo ukuze sibapholile.

Ngingibuke kakhulu amavidiyo kaTiger Woods muvani. Ngiyazi ukuthi ubekhathazeke, kodwa ngithanda igolfu yakhe. Futhi wonke amagolfer ka- era yakhe—uPhil Mickelson, uDavid Duval, uErnie Els—uthi into efanayo: “Umdlalo wami wawungcono ngoba uTiger wangishaya.” Ukuzinikela kwakhe kwenza ukuzinikela kwabo kuqine. UPhil uthe, “Ngeke ngabe ngizizwisa kanzima uma kungeyiTiger.” Ukukhanya kukaTiger kwaphakamisa wonke umuntu around kwakhe.

Yilokho ukuzinikela esontweni kwenza. Kuphakamisa abanye.

Kodwa uAmosi uthi abantu benza okuphambene:

“Uyalele abaprofethi ukuthi bangaprofethi.”

Abafuni ukuzwa iLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Isizukulwane sikaJeremiya senziwa okufanayo: “Thula. Asifuni ukuzwa kuwe.”

Kwa njalo-ke isikhuthazo kithi sivuke:

Langazelela iLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Langazelela ukufundiswa iLizwi likaNkulunkulu.

Landela ukuzinikela kwabokomoya abavuthiweyo. Lalela ukufundisa kwabantu abanikezwe ukufundisa. Landela ukuzinikela kwabo ekufundeni iBhayibheli.

Izinzuzo ezintathu zesonto

Sikhulume ngezimbili kule mva.

Inzuzo #1: UThixo uyakusindisa.

Esontweni uzozwal iNkulumo yokusindiswa— ukuthi uThixo uyakukhulula ekuguleni kwesono, ekumbeni womhlaba ongakukhathaleli, yena uyakuletha ekumbeni kweNdodana Yakhe ethandekayo, khona uKumkani uyakuthanda yena wafela wena. Isonto yindawo khona uhlangana noKumkani onomusa okukhusela nokupha kwakho.

Inzuzo #2: UThixo uyakuhola.

Isonto yindawo khona uhlangana nokhokho kule ndawo yempilo. Abamelene bakho abangabukholwa bayahambahamba—bazama lokhu, bazama lokhuya—ziyonke iingcazo, iingcazo eziyingozi. Kodwa esontweni uhlangana nendlela, isikhokho, nokuzithemba kwendlela yokuphila.

Ngesonto elizayo siyabuka Inzuzo #3, yembulwa kuAmosi.

Ngiyazi—ngiyaxolisa kukuhleka. Kodwa sikhathi esiphelile, yena usukulungele ukuphela.

Iingubo

Izinzuzo ezinkulu zitholakala esontweni. Yazi ukuthi umKristu ngaphandle kwesonto uphucwa izinto. Ngiyazi ukuthi ngishumayela kubantu abafana nami, kodwa noni nonabangani abacabanga ukuthi abawudingi usonto. Ngifuna ukuqinisa ukukholwa kwenu ukuthi usonto ubalulekile—nokuthi ngaphandle kwawo, uphila impilo yakho ngophethiloli ka-86 octane uma injini yakho idinga i-high octane.

Inzuzo #1: Ukusindiswa.

Ukusindiswa ekumeni kwezwe, nokungena ekumeni kukaNkulunkulu, lapho uneNkosi ekvikela, ekunikeza, ekunikeza ukudla ohlane—iLizwi Lakhe.

Inzuzo #2: Ukhokho.

Isiqondiso nokukhanya empilweni yakho ehlane. Ufunda ukuphila—nokuphila ngokuzethemba.

Lesi sihloko sisekelwe kurekhodi yencwadi yombuso kaRev. John Musgrave. Ihleliwe kancane nguCopilot, kanye nabasebenzi bezitheo e Third Millennium Ministries.