Izenzo Zabapostile

45—Umbhali Ubhale Eseroma

[Esi sahluko sakhelwe kwiileta eziya kwabaseKolose nabaseFilipi]

UPawulos, kwasebutsheni bobomi bakhe bobuKristu, wanikwa amathuba akhethekileyo okufunda intando kaThixo ngokubhekisele kubalandeli bakaYesu. Wafunqulelwa “kwelesithathu izulu,” “eParadisi, weva amazwi angenakuthethwa, ekungavumelekileyo ukuba umntu awathethe.” Yena ngokwakhe wavuma ukuba “imibono nezityhilelo” ezininzi wazinikwa “yiNkosi.” Ukuqonda kwakhe imithetho-siseko yenyaniso yeendaba ezilungileyo kwakulingana noko kwa“bapostile abo baziincamisa.” 2 Korinte 12:2, 4, 1, 11. Wayenolwazi olucacileyo nolupheleleyo lo“bubanzi, nobude, nobunzulu nokuphakama kwalo . . . uthando lukaKristu oluncamise ukwazi.” Efese 3:18, 19. IZ 469.1

UPawulos akabanga nako ukukuxela konke awayekubone embonweni; kuba phakathi kwabo babemphulaphule kwakukho abo babeya kuwasebenzisa gwenxa amazwi akhe. Kona oko kwakutyhiliwe kuye kwamenzawakwazi ukusebenza njengenkokeli netitshalaesisilumko,[469] kwazibumba izigidimi awathi wazithumela emabandleni kwiminyaka elandelayo. Ingqondo awayifumanayo xa wayesembonweni yayihleli inaye, imenza ukuba asimele kakuhle isimilo sobuKristu. Ngelizwi lomlomokunye neleta, wathwala isigidimi esahlala sizisa uncedo namandla ebandleni likaThixo. Kumakholwa anamhlanje, esi sigidimi sithetha ngokucacileyo ngeengozi ezizakulizela ibandla, kunye neemfundiso zobuxoki ekuya kufuneka bahlangane nazo [abakholwayo]. IZ 469.2

Ulangazelelo lukampostile ngabo wayezithumela kubo iileta zesiyalo nengcebiso lwalukukuba “singabi saba ziintsana, silatyuzwa, siphetshethwa ngumoya wonke wemfundiso,” kodwa kufuneka bafike “kubo ubunye benkolo, nobokumazi okuzeleyo uNyana kaThixo, ebudodeni obupheleleyo, emlinganisweni wobukhulu bokuzala kukaKristu.” Wababongoza abo babengabalandeli bakaYesu kwiindawo zokuhlala zabahedeni ukuba bangahambi “njengoko zihamba ngako nezinye iintlanga, ngamampunge engqiqo yazo, zenziwe mnyama iingqondo, zingazani nobomi bukaThixo . . . ngenxa yokuqaqadeka kwentliziyo yazo,” kodwa “kucokiseke ukuhamba kwenu, ningabi njengabaswele ubulumko, yibani njengezilumko; nizongela ixesha eli.” Efese 4:14, 13, 17, 18; 5:15, 16. Wawakhuthaza amakholwa ukuba akhangele phambili kwixesha aya kuthiuKristu, Lowo “walithandayo ibandla, wazinikela ngenxa yalo;” ukuze “alimise phambi kwakhe linobuqaqawuli, lilibandla elingenabala, elinganamibimbi nanye into enjalo,“—ibandla“libe ngcwele lingabi nasiphako.” Efese 5:25, 27. IZ 470.1

Ezi zigidimi, zibhalwe ngamandla angengowamntu kodwa ingakaThixo, zinezifundo ezimelwe kukufundwa ngabo bonke, zithi, kuba zinolutho, ziphindwe rhoqo. Kuzo, kwandlalwe ubungcwele obunokuphilwa, imithetho-siseko ibekiwe ekumelwe ilandelwe kwibandla ngalinye, kanti nendlela ekhokelela kubomi obungunaphakade ibekwe yacaca. IZ 471.1

Kwileta yakhe awayibhalela “abaseKolose, abazalwana abangcwele abakholwayo,” awayibhala elibanjwa eRoma, uPawulos exela ngovuyo lwakhe ngokuma ngokuthe nkqi kwabo elukholweni, ngokutsho kweendaba aziphathelwa ngu-Epafras, ngokubhala kukampostile, “owasazisayo nokusazisa uthando lwenu lwaseMoyeni. Ngenxa yoku,” uyaqhubeka, “kususela kwimini esevayo, nathi asiphezi ukunithandazela nokunicelela, ukuze nizaliswe kukukwazi kakuhle ukuthanda kwakhe, ninokulumka nokuqonda konke okukokomoya; ukuze nihambe ngokuyifaneleyo iNkosi, nise kuko konke ukukholisa, nixakathe isiqhamo kuwo wonke umsebenzi olungileyo, nikhulela ekumazini uThixo; nisomelezwa ngokomelela konke, ngokokuqina kozuko lwakhe, nide nise kuko konke ukunyamezela, nokuzeka kade umsindo, kunye novuyo.” IZ 471.2

Ngaloo ndlela uPawulos waluvakalisa ulangazelelo lwakhe ngamakholwa aseKolose. Athi ukubaphezulu komgangatho awubekayo la mazwi phambi kwabalandeli bakaKristu! Abonisa izinto ezingummangaliso ezinokwenzeka ebomini bomKristu, zikwacacisa nokuba akukho mda kwiintsikelelo ezinokufunyanwa ngabantwana bakaThixo. Ngokukhula njalo ekumazini uThixo, banokusuka emandleni baye emandleni, ekuphakameni baye ekuphakameni kwamava obuKristu, bade bathi, “ngamandla obuqaqawuli baKhe,” babe benziwe “bakulingana ukwahlulelwa ilifa labangcwele ekukhanyeni.” IZ 471.3

Umpostile wamphakamisa uKristu phambikwabazalwanabakhe njengaLowo awathi uThixo wadala zonke izinto, wazangaye wazisa ukuhlangulwa kwabo. Wavakalisa ukuba, isandla esixhase amazwe esibhakabhakeni, nesiphethe ucwangco ekulungiseleleni ukusebenza okungadinwayo kwazo zonke izinto ezikwiyunivesi kaThixo, sisandla esabethelelwa emnqamlezweni ngenxa yabo. “Ngokuba zadalelwa kuye zonke izinto, ezisemazulwini nezisemhlabeni, ezinokubonwa nezingenakubonwa, nokuba ziitrone, nokuba zibubukhosi,nokuba zizilawuli, nokuba ngamagunya; zonke izinto zidalwe nguye, zidalelwe yena. Yena ke ungaphambi kweento zonke, nazo zonke izinto zima zimi kuye.” “Nani, enibe nifudula ningazani noThixo, niziintshaba ngengqondo yenu emisebenzini yenu engendawo, kukalokunje unixolelanisile ngako ukufa emzimbeni wenyama yakhe, ukuze animise ningcwele, ningenakubekwa bala, ningenakumangalelwa phambi kwakhe.” IZ 472.1

UNyana kaThixo wathoba ukuze aphakamise abawileyo. Ukuze akwenze oku, washiya amazwe angenasono phezulu, amashumi alithoba anethoba awayemthanda, weza kulo mhlaba waza wa“hlatyw[a] ngenxa yezikreqo zethu” watyunyuzwa ngenxa yezenzo zethu ezigwenxa.” Isaya 53:5. Ngezinto zonke wenziwa wafana nabazalwana baKhe. Waba yinyama, njengoko sinjalo. Wayesazi ukuba kukuthini ukulamba, ukunxanwa nokudinwa. Wayexhaswa ngokutya ehlaziywa kukulala. Wayengowasemzini nomphambukeli emhlabeni—ehlabathini kodwa engenguye owehlabathi; wahendwa walingwa njengamadoda nabafazi banamhlanje belingwa behendwa, ukanti waphila ubomi obungenaso isono. Waye enobubele, nemfesane, novelwano, nokusoloko ebacingela abanye, wasimela isimilo sikaThixo. “ULizwi waba yinyama, wahlala phakathi kwethu, . . . ezele lubabalo nayinyaniso.” Yohane 1:14. IZ 472.2

Athi amakholwa aseKolose erhangqwe zizenzo neempembelelo zobuhedeni, aye esengozini yokuwexulwa emke kubulula beendaba ezilungileyo, waza uPawulos, ewalumkisa ngale nto, wawalathisa kuKristu njengenkokhelo ekuphela kwayo ekhuselekileyo. “Ndithanda ukuba nikwazi,” wabhala, “ukuba kukhulu kwako ukuzama endikuzamayo ngenxa yenu, nabo baseLawodike, nabo bonke abangabubonanga ubuso bam ngokwenyama; ukuze zithuthuzelwe iintliziyo zabo, bebandakanyiwe ngothando, kusingise kuyo yonke indyebo yokuqonda okuqinisekileyo, kusingise ekwazini imfihlelo kaThixo uYise, nekaKristu, ekufihlwe kuye bonke ubutyebi bobulumko nobokwazi. IZ 473.1

“Nditsho ke, ukuze kungabikho bani unilukuhlayo ngentetho egudileyo. . . . Njengokuba ngoko namamkelayo uKristu Yesu iNkosi, hambani kuye, nendele nakhelwe kuye, naqinisa ngokholo, njengoko nafundiswayo nafezeka kulo, ninombulelo. Lumkani, kungabikho bani unithimbayo ngayo intanda-bulumko, nangokulukuhla okungento yanto, ngokwesithethe sabantu, ngokweziqalelo zehlabathi, kungengokukaKristu. Ngokuba kuhleli kuye konke ukuzaliseka kobuThixo ngokomzimba; kanjalo nigqibelele kuye, oyintloko yabo bonke ubulawuli negunya.” IZ 473.2

UKristu waxela kwangaphambili ukuba abakhohlisi baya kubakho, kwaye, ngempembelelo yabo, kuya “kwanda ukuchasa umthetho” kwaye “luya kuphola uthando lwabaninzi.” Mateyu 24:12. Wayebalumkisile abafundi baKhe ukuba ibandla liya kuba sengozini ngakumbi kobu bubi ngaphezu kwentshutshiso yeentshaba. Waphindaphinda uPawulos eyala amakholwa ngakwezi titshala zobuxoki. Le ngozi, ngaphezu kwezinye, kufuneka bayiphaphamele; kuba, ngokwamkela iititshala zobuxoki, baya kuvula genge ucango lweemposiso, ekuya kuthi ngalo utshaba luzenze mfiliba iingqiqo zikushukumise ukuthembela kwabo bafikayo enkolweni yeendaba ezilungileyo. UKristu wayengumgangatho ekufuneka kuvavanywe ngawo iimfundiso ezifundiswayo. Konke okwakungahambelani neemfundiso zaKhe, kwakufuneka bakwale. UKristu ebethelelwe ngenxa yesono, uKristu evukile kwabafileyo, uKristu enyukele phezulu—le yisayensi yosindiso ekwakufuneka beyifundile, bayifundise. IZ 473.3

Izilumkiso zelizwi likaThixo ngokubhekisele kwiintlekele ezingqonge ibandla lamaKristu zezethu namhlanje. Njengemihla yabapostile, abantu bazama ukutshabalalisa ukukholelwa eziBhalweni ngesithethe nolwazi, ngoko ke, namhlanje, utshaba lobulungisa lufuna ukukhokelela imiphefumlo kwiindlela ezalelweyo ngokusebenzisa izimvo ezixolisayo, ezifana nokuhlaselwa kokuphefumlelwa kweziBhalo, i-evolushini, unqulo lwemimoya, unqulo ngokucamngca, nonqulo loo thixo abaninzi. Kwabaninzi iBhayibhile isisibane esingena-oli, kuba iingqondo zabo bazenze zangamajelo enkolo eyenza uqashiqashi ozisa ukungaqondi nesiphithiphithi. Ukusebenza kohlaselo lwempefumlelo yeziBhalo, ukuzicazucazulula, ukuzithelekelela, ukuzimisa ngendlela entsha, kuchitha ukukholelwa eBhayibhileni njengentyilelo engcwele. Oku kumhlutha uThixo igunya lokulawula, ukuphakamisa, nokuphefumlela imiphefumlo yabantu. Ngonqulo lwemimoya, izihlwele zabantu zifundiswa ukuba inkanuko ingowona mthetho uphezulu kakhulu, ukuba nemvume kuyinkululeko, nokuba umntu kufuneka azinike yena kuphela ingxelo. IZ 474.1

Umlandeli kaKristu uya kuhlangana namazwi “awoyisa ngobulumko” awalumkisa ngokuchasene nawo umpostile kumakholwa aseKolose.Uya kuhlangana (umlandeli) neenguqulelo ezisa elunqulweni lwemimoya lweziBhalo, kodwa akufuneki azamkele. Kufuneka, emilisele amehlo akhe kuKristu, abeke phambili ngononophelo ehamba kwindlela ebekiweyo, ezilahla zonke iingcamango ezingahambelaniyo nemfundiso zaKhe (uKristu). Inyaniso kaThixo kufuneka ibe yinto acinga nacamngca ngayo. Kufuneka iBhayibhile ayithabathe njengelizwi likaThixo elithetha ngqo naye. Ngaloo ndlela uya kufumana ubulumko obungcwele. IZ 474.2

Ulwazi lukaThixo njengoko lutyhilwe kuKristu lulwazi ekufuneka bonke abasindisiweyo babe nalo. Olu lulwazi olusebenza ukuguqulwa kwesimilo. Xa lwamkelelwe ebomini,luya kuwudala ngokutsha umphefumlo ngokomfanekiselo kaKristu. Lulwazi olu uThixo amemela kulo abantwana baKhe ukuba baluzuze, ekuya kuthi, ngaphandle kwalo, yonke enye into ibe ngamampunge nokungabi nto. IZ 475.1

Kuso sonke isizukulwana kuyo yonke indawo, isiseko esinyanisekileyo ekwakhiweni kwesimilo sinye—imithetho-siseko eselizwini likaThixo. Umgaqo ekuphela kwawo okhuselekileyo noqinisekileyo kukwenza oko uThixo akuthethayo. “Izimiselo zikaYehova zithe tye,” kwaye “okwenzayo oko akayi kuza ashukunyiswe naphakade.” Ndumiso 19:8; 15:5. Abapostile bamelana neemfundiso zobuxoki zemihla yabo ngelizwi likaThixo besithi, “Akukho namnye unako ukubeka litye limbi lesiseko, nxamnye nelo libekwe kade.” 1 Korinte 3:11. IZ 475.2

Ngexesha lokuguquka nokubhaptizwa kwawo, amakholwa aseKolose azibophelela ekulahleni iinkolo nezenzo ezaziyinxalenye yobomi bawo ukuza kuthi ga kwelo xesha, nokuba aya kunyaniseka ekuhloneleniuKristu. Kwiletayakhe,uPawulos wawakhumbuza ngoku, wawakhuthaza ukuba angalibali ukuba ukuze akwazi ukugcina isibhambathiso sawo kufuneka enze onke amalinge okuchasana nobubi obufuna ukuwalawula. “Ukuba ngoko navuswa kunye noKristu,” watsho, “funani izinto zaphezulu, apho akhona uKristu, ehleli ngasekunene kukaThixo. Nyamekelani izinto zaphezulu, zingabi zezasemhlabeni. Kuba nafayo, baye ubomi benu bufihlakele ndawonye noKristu kuye uThixo.” IZ 475.3

“Ukuba ubani ukuKristu, sisidalwa esitsha; izinto ezindala zidlule; bonani ke, zisuke zaba ntsha izinto zonke zakhe.” 2 Korinte 5:17. Ngamandla kaKristu, amadoda nabafazi bawaqhawule amatyathanga emikhwa yesono. Bakushiyile ukuzithandela. Abazinqambi basuke bahlonela, abanxilayo basezingqondweni, abazichithayo bahlambuluka. Imiphefumlo ebinokufana noSathana iye yaguqulelwa kumfanekiselo kaThixo. Olu tshintsho lona ngokwalo lungummangaliso wemimangaliso. Utshintsho olwenziwa liLizwi likaThixo, luyenye yezona mfihlelo zinzulu zeLizwi. Asingeke siluqonde; singalukholelwa kuphela, njengoko sitsho isiBhalo, ngu“Kristu phakathi kwenu, ithemba lozuko.” IZ 476.1

Xa uMoya kaThixo ulawula ingqondo nentliziyo, umphefumlo oguqukileyo udanduluka ngengoma entsha; kuba uqonda ukuba amava akhe, isithembiso sikaThixo sizalisekile, nokuba ukreqo lwawo luxolelwe, isono sigqunyiwe. Wenze inguquko ngakuThixo ekwaphuleni umthetho wezulu, nokukholwa kuKristu, owafela ukugwetyelwa komntu. “[E]gwetyelwe nje ngokwaselukholweni” uno“xolo kuThixo ngayo iNKosi uYesu Kristu.” Roma 5:1. IZ 476.2

Ngenxa yokuba la ingamava akhe, umKristu akufuneki, kengoko, ukuba asonge izandla enelisekile koko enzelwe kona.Lowo uye wazimisela ukungena ebukumkanini bukamoya, uya kufumanisa ukuba onke amandla neenkanuko zendalo engahlaziyekanga, zixhaswa yimikhosi yobukumkani bobumnyama, zimi ukuba zichasane naye. Imihla yonkekufuneka akuhlaziye ukuzinikela kwakhe, yonke imihla abe sedabini nobubi. Imikhwa emidala, imfuza ethanda ukwenza okungalungileyo, ziya kulwela ukumlawula, kufuneke ke ukuba ahlale eziphaphamele, alwele uloyiso ngamandla kaKristu. IZ 477.1

“Bhubhisani ngoko amalungu enu asemhlabeni:” uwabhalela atsho uPawulos amaKolose; “enanifudula nihamba phakathi kwazo nani, okuya nibe nisidla ubomi nikuzo. Ke ngoku, nani aba, kulahleni oku konke: ingqumbo, umsindo, ulunya, ukunyelisa; ukuthetha amanyala kungabikho emlonyeni wenu. . . . Yambathani ngoko, njengabanyulwa bakaThixo, abangcwele, abathandiweyo, iimfesane zeemfefe, ububele, ukuthobeka kwentliziyo, ubulali, ukuzeka kade umsindo, ninyamezelana, noxolelana, ukuba ubani; njengokuba naye uKristu wanixolelayo, yenzani njalo nani. Ke, phezu kwazo zonke ezo zinto, yalekani uthando, oluyintambo yogqibelelo. Uxolo lukaThixo, enabizelwa kwakulo mzimbeni mnye, malulawule ezintliziyweni zenu, nibe nokubulela.” IZ 477.2

Ileta eya kwabaseKolose izaliswe zizifundo zelona xabiso liphezulu kubo bonke abo basemsebenzini kaKristu, izifundo ezibonisa ukubanye kwenjongo nokuphakama komgomo oya kubonakala ebomini balowo ommele ngendlela eyiyo uMsindisi. Ekushiya konke okunokumphazamisa ekwenzeniinkqubela kwindlela enyukayo okanye eya kususa iinyawo zomnye kwindlela emxinwa, ikholwa liya kubonakalisa ebomini balo bemihla ngemihla inceba, ububele, ukuzithoba, ubulali, ukunyamezela, kunye nothando lukaKristu. IZ 477.3

Amandla athe xaxe ukubaphezulu, ukubanyulu, nokuba nesidima, yeyona ntswelo yethu inkulu. Sicinga kakhulu ngelizwe, sibe sicinga kancinane kakhulu ngezulu. IZ 478.1

Kwimizamo yakhe yokufikelela kumgangatho uThixo ambekele wona, umKristu kufuneka angatyhafiswa nto. Ukugqibelela kokuziphatha nokwasemoyeni, ngobabalo namandla kaKristu, kuthenjisiwe kuwo wonke [amaKristu]. UYesu ulithende lamandla, umthombo wobomi. Usizisa elizwini laKhe, aze athi kumthi wobomi asinike amagqabi okuphilisa imiphefumlo efa sisono. Usikhokelela kwitrone kaThixo, abeke emlonyeni wethu umthandazo esithi ngawo sisondezwe kakhulu ekuhlanganeni naYe. Ngenxa yethu, ufake emsebenzini zonke izenzeleli zezulu ezinawo onke amandla. Kwinyathelo ngalinye, sichukumisa amandla aKhe aphilayo. IZ 478.2

UThixo akamisi mida ekuhambeleni phambili kwabo balangazelela ukuba babe ba“zaliswe kukukwazi kakuhle ukuthanda kwakhe, [be]nokulumka nokuqonda konke okukokomoya.” Ngomthandazo, ngokuphapha, ngokukhula elwazini nasekuqondeni, baya “komelezwa ngokomelela konke, ngokokuqina kozuko lwakhe.” Ngaloo ndlela, balungela ukusebenzela abanye. Yinjongo yoMsindisi ukuba abantu, behlanjululwe bangcwaliswa, babe zizandla zaKhe zokunceda. Masibulele kuYe ngeli lungelo likhulu kuba esenze “sakulingana ukwahlulelwa ilifa labangcwele ekukhanyeni; owasihlangulayo egunyeni lobumnyama, wasifudusela ebukumkanini boNyana wothando lwakhe.” IZ 478.3

Ileta kaPawulos eya kwabaseFilipi, njengaleyo yayisiya kwabaseKolose, yabhalwa esengumbanjwa eRoma. Ibandla laseFilipi lathumela izipho kuPawulos ngesandla sika-Epafrodito, uPawulos awayembiza ngokuba ngu“mzalwana wam osebenza nam, umphumi-mkhosi nam, umthunywa wenu ke, umlungiseleli wam kwiintswelo zam,.” Ngexesha wayeseRoma, u-Epafrodito wayegula, “ephantse ukufa: Ke uThixo wamenzela inceba,” uyabhala uPawulos, “akenzela yena yedwa, wenzela nam lo, ukuze ndingabi buhlungu, ndibuhlungu kade.” Athi akuva ngokugula kuka-Epafrodito, amakholwa aseFilipi azaliswa lunxunguphalo ngakuye, waza wagqiba ukuba abuyele kuwo. “Ekubeni ke ebenilangazelela nina nonke,” watsho uPawulos, “edandatheka, ngenxa enokuba nevayo ukuba wayesifa. . . . Ndimthuma ngokukhawuleza, ukuze nithi nakumbona nibuye nivuye, kuthi nokwam ukuba buhlungu kudambe. Mamkeleni ke ngokwaseNkosini, ninovuyo lonke; nibabeke abo nanjalo; ngokuba, ngenxa yomsebenzi kaKristu, wada waphantsa ukufa, ebenza isichenge ubomi bakhe, ukuze enzelelele ukusilela kwenu ekundilungiseleleni.” IZ 479.1

NgoEpafrodito, uPawulos wathumela amakholwa aseFilipi ileta, awayebulela kuwo izipho azithumela kuye. Kuwo onke amabandla, elo laseFilipi, lalilelona lamxhasayo uPawulos kwiimfuno zakhe. “Nani ke baseFilipi, niyazi ukuba, ekuqalekeni kweendaba ezilungileyo ezi, xenikweni ndaphumayo kwelaseMakedoni, akubangakho nalinye ibandla eladlelana nam, ngokusingisele emcimbini wokunikela nowokwamkela, yaba nini nedwa. Ngokuba naseTesalonika, kwaba kanye nakabini nithumela, nindinceda ekusweleni kwam.Ingekuko ukubandibe ndifuna ukuphiwa; ikukuba ndibe ndifuna isiqhamo esandela emcimbini wenu. Ke ndinezinto zonke nje, ndityebile, ndihluthi, ndizamkele nje ku-Epafrodito izinto ezavela kuni: ivumba elimnandi, umbingelelo owamkelekileyo, okholekileyo kakuhle kuye uThixo.” IZ 479.2

“Makube lubabalo kuni, noxolo, oluvela kuThixo uBawo wethu, neNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu. Ndihlala ndibulela kuye uThixo wam, ekunikhumbuleni kwam konke (ekukhungeni kwam konke ndikhunga ngenxa yenu nonke, ndivuyile), ngenxa yobudlelane benu obubhekisele kuzo iindaba ezilungileyo, kususela kwimini yokuqala kude kube ngoku; ekubeni ndikholose ngayo le nto, yokuba lowo wawuqalayo ngaphakathi kwenu umsebenzi olungileyo, wowufeza, ide ibe yiloo mini kaYesu Kristu; njengokuba ndilungisa ukucinga oko ngani nonke, ngenxa yokuba nikum entliziyweni, nithe, nasezintanjeni zam, nasekuziphenduleleni kwam, nasekuqiniseni kwam iindaba ezilungileyo, naba ngamadlelana nam ngobabalo olu, nina nonke. Kuba uThixo ulingqina lam lokuba kukhulu ukunilangazelela kwam nonke. . . . Nako ndiya kuthandazela, ukuba uthando lwenu lube kukhona luphuphuma ngokuphuphuma ukwazi okukhulu, nako konke ukuqonda, ukuze nizicikide izinto eziziincamisa, ukuze nibe nokusulungeka, ningabi nasiwo, nide nisekwimini kaKristu; nizele ziziqhamo zobulungisa ezingoYesu Kristu, nikhangelise ekuzukiseni nasekudumiseni uThixo.” IZ 480.1

Ubabalo lukaThixo lwamxhasa uPawulos ekuvalelweni kwakhe entolongweni, lumenza ukuba avuye ekubandezelekeni. Ngokholo nengqiniseko, wabhalela abazalwana bakhe baseFilipi ukuba ukuvalelwa kwakhe kwaba nesiphumo sokuhambela phambili kweendaba ezilungileyo. “Ke kaloku ndinga ningazi, bazalwana,” watsho, “ukuba izinto ezindihleleyo, zibethe kwakukhona zihambayo iindaba ezilungileyo; ngokokude iintambo zam ezi zibonakale kuyo yonke indlu yomkhosi nakwabanye bonke, ukuba zikuKristu; baze abona bazalwana baninzi bathi, beseNkosini, bekholose ngeentambo zam ezi, babe kukhona benobuganga bokulithetha ilizwi, bengenakoyika.” IZ 480.2

Sinaso isifundo apha kula mava kaPawulos, kuba atyhila indlela uThixo asebenza ngayo. UThixo unokuluzisa uloyiso nakwinto ekhangeleka isidida isoyisa. Sisengozini yokumlibala uThixo, sikhangele izinto ezibonwayo, endaweni yokubona ngeliso lokholo izinto ezingabonwayo. Xa kufika ilishwa okanye intlekele, sisoloko silungele ukutyhola uThixo ngokusiyekela okanye ngenkohlakalo. Ukuba ubona kufanelekile ukuba akunqamle ukuba lulutho kwethu kumsebenzi othile, siyakhala, singake sicinge ukuba ngolo hlobo uThixo unokuba usebenza okulungileyo kuthi. Kufuneka sifunde ukuba ukohlwaywa kuyinxalenye yecebo laKhe elikhulu nokuba phantsi kwentonga yokuntlithwa, umKristu ngamanye amaxesha angayenzela okukhulu iNkosi kunaxa ephakathi emsebenzini. IZ 481.1

Njengomzekelo wabo kubomi bobuKristu, uPawulos wabakhombisa abaseFilipi kuKristu, owathi, “esebumeni bukaThixo, akathi ukulingana kwakhe oku noThixo kulixhoba; usuke wazihluba, wathabatha ubume bomkhonzi, enziwe wafana nabantu; wathi ngemo efunyenwe enjengomntu, wazithoba,waba ngolulamileyo, wada wesa ekufeni, ukufa ke kwasemnqamlezweni.” IZ 481.2

“Ngoko ke, zintanda zam, njengokuba nahlala ninokuva, lusebenzeni nilufeze olwenu usindiso, ninokuzoyikela nokungcangcazela; ningangi nenjenjalo xa ndikhoyo kodwa, manibe kukhona nenjenjalo xa ndingekhoyo. Kuba nguThixo okusebenzayo ngaphakathi kwenu ukuthanda oko, kwanosebenza oko, ngenxa yenkolelo yakhe. Izinto zonke zenzeniningenakukrokra,ningenakuthandabuza,ukuzenibe ngabangenakusoleka, abangenabuqhinga; nibe ngabantwana bakaThixo abangenakubekwa bala esazulwini sesizukulwana esigoso, esigwenxa; enithi phakathi kwabo nibonakale ninjengezikhanyiso ehlabathini, nibambelele elizwini lobomi; nibe liqhayiya lam, nide nise kwimini kaKristu, ukuba andifumananga ndabaleka, kanjako andifumananga ndabulaleka.” IZ 481.3

La mazwi abhalelwa ukunceda wonke umphefumlo ozamayo. UPawulos uphakamisa umgangato wokugqibelela abonise indlela onokufikelelwa ngayo. “Lusebenzeni . . . olwenu usindiso,” utsho, “kuba nguThixo okusebenzayo ngaphakathi kwenu.” IZ 482.1

Umsebenzi wokuzuza usindiso ungokubambana, ukusebenza kunye. Kufanele ukuba kubekho ukusebenzisana phakathi kukaThixo nomoni oguqukayo. Oku kuyafuneka ekwenzeni imithetho-siseko efanelekileyo esimilweni. Umntu kufuneka enze imizamo enyanisekileyo ukoyisa oko kumthintelayo ekuzuzeni ingqibelelo. Sekunjalo, uxhomekeke ngokupheleleyo kuThixo ngempumelelo. Umzamo womntu uwodwa awanelanga. Ngaphandle koncedo lwamandla angcwele awungeke wenze nto. UThixo uyasebenza nomntu uyasebenza. Ukumelana nesihendo kufuneka kuphume emntwini, ekufuneka ukuba atsale amandla akhe kuThixo. Kwelinye icala, kukho ubulumko obungenasiphelo, uvelwano, kunye namandla; kwelinye, ubuthakathaka, ukuba nesono, ukungabi nakuzinceda konke konke. IZ 482.2

UThixo unqwenela ukuba sibe nobukhosi phezu kwethu. Akakwazi ukusinceda ke noko ngaphandle kokuba sivume sisebenzisane naYe. UMoya wezulu usebenza ngamandla nobuchule izinto umntu aziphiweyo. Thina ngokwethu, asinako ukuyenza injongo neminqweno nokuthanda ukuba zihambelane nentando kaThixo, kodwa ukuba “sinentumekelelo ukubasenziwe sibe nentumekelelo,” uMsindisi Uya kukufeza oko kuthi, “Siwisa ngazo nje amabhongo, nayo yonke into ephakamileyo, eziphakamisayo ngokuchasa ukwazi Thixo; iingqiqo ke zisithimbela ekumlulameleni uKristu.” 2 Korinte 10:5. IZ 482.3

Lowo unga angakha isimilo esomeleleyo, esiyondeleleneyo, onokuthi abe ngumKristu ozinzileyo kakuhle, kufuneka anikele konke enze konke ngenxa kaKristu; kuba uMhlanguli akayi kwamkela inkonzo eyahluke phakathi. Yonke imihla kufuneka afunde intsingiselo yokuzibhokoxa. Kufuneka afunde ilizwi likaThixo, afunde into eliyithethayo athobele imiyalelo yalo. Kungoko ke anokufika kumgangatho wokugqibelela komKristu. Imihla ngemihla, uThixo usebenza kunye naye, efezekisa isimilo sakhe ukuze sikwazi ukuma ngexesha lovavanyo lokugqibela. Imihla ngemihla, ikholwa liphila njengomboniso omkhulu, obonisa into enokwenziwa ziindaba ezilungileyo kubantu abawileyo. IZ 483.1

“Andizibaleli ekuthini ndigangile;” wabhala watsho uPawulos, “ke ndenza nto-nye: ndithi, ndizilibala izinto ezisemva, ndisolulela kweziphambili, ndiphuthume ngokoxunele umvuzo wobizo lwaphezulu lukaThixo kuKristu Yesu.” IZ 483.2

UPawulos wenza izinto ezininzi. Kususela kwixesha awanikela intlonipho yakhe kuThixo, ubomi bakhe bazaliswa yinkonzo yomsebenzi engadinwayo. Wahamba esuka kwesi sixeko aye kwesinye, asuke kweli lizwe aye kwelinye, exela ngebali lomnqamlezo, ezuza abaguqukela kwiindaba ezilungileyo, emisa amabandla. Kwakufuneka ewakhathalele la mabandla, waza wawabhalela iileta zokuwafundisa. Maxa wambi wayesebenza kumsebenzi wobuchule bakhe ukuze azuze imali yesonka semihla ngemihla. Kuko konke ukuxakeka kobomi bakhe, uPawulos akazange alahlekwe ngumbono wenjongo eyodwa enkulu—ukuxunela phambili emvuzweni wobizo lwakhe. Injongo enye awayigcina ngokuthe nkqi phambi kwakhe—ukuthembeka kuLowo owathi kumasango aseDamasko wazityhila kuye. Kule njongo, alikho igunya elalinokumjikela ecaleni. Ukuphakamisa umnqamlezo waseKalvari—yeyona njongo eyathabatha yonke into ayiyo yaza yaphefumlela onke amazwi kunye nezenzo zakhe. IZ 483.3

Injongo enkulu kakhulu eyanyanzela uPawulos ukuba axunele phambili naxa ejongene nenkxwaleko nenzima imele ukukhokela wonke umsebenzi ongumKristu ukuba azinikele ngokupheleleyo emsebenzini kaThixo. Izinto ezinomtsalane zehlabathi ziya kubakho ukuze ziyisuse ingqondo kuMsindisi, kodwa kufuneka axunele phambili ekugqibeleni, abonise ehlabathini, kwiingelosi nasebantwini ukuba ithemba lokubona ubuso bukaThixo liwufanele wonke umzamo nombingelelo ozanywayo. IZ 484.1

Nangona wayelibanjwa, uPawulos wayengadakumbanga. Endaweni yoko, isandi soloyiso sivakala kwiileta zakhe awazibhala eseRoma zisiya emabandleni. “Vuyani eNkosini amaxesha onke,” wawabhalela esitsho amaFilipi, “ndiyaphinda ndithi, Vuyani. . . . Ningaxhaleli nto; mazithi iingcelo zenu ezintweni zonke, ngako konke ukuthandaza nokulunga, ndawonye nokubulela, zaziswe kuye uThixo. Lwaye uxolo lukaThixo, olugqithisele kuko konke ukuqonda, luya kuzigcina iintliziyo zenu neengqiqo zenu kuKristu Yesu. Elokugqiba, bazalwana, ndithi, iinto zonke eziyinene, iinto zonke ezindilekileyo, iinto zonke ezibubulungisa, iinto zonke ezinyulu, iinto zonke ezithandekayo, iinto zonke eziludumo lulungileyo, ukuba kukho sidima, ukuba kukho ndumiso, zithelekeleleni ezo zinto.” IZ 484.2

“Ke uThixo wam wokwenzelelela konke ukuswela kwenu ngokobutyebi bakhe ngozuko olukuKristu Yesu. . . . Ubabalo lweNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu malube nani nonke.” IZ 484.3