Uma umuntu ekholwa kuNkulunkulu, kufanele ngempela amkhonze kanjani? Yimiphi imibandela okumele ifezwe futhi yimaphi amaqiniso okumele aqondwe yilabo abakhonza uNkulunkulu? Futhi yikuphi lapho okungase kube niphambuka khona ekukhonzeni kwenu? Kumele nizazi izimpendulo zazo zonke lezi zinto. Lezi zindaba zithinta indlela enikhonza uNkulunkulu ngayo, nendlela enihamba ngayo endleleni yokuqondiswa uMoya oNgcwele, kanye nendlela enithobela ngayo izinhlelo zikaNkulunkulu kuzo zonke izinto, futhi zizokwenza ukuba nazi wonke amagxathu omsebenzi kaNkulunkulu kini. Uma nifika kulelo zinga, niyokwazisa ukuthi kuyini ukukholwa kuNkulunkulu, nokuthi kumele nikholwe kanjani kuNkulunkulu ngendlela efanele, nokuthi kumele nenze kanjani ukuze nenze ngokuvumelana nentando kaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kuzokwenza niphelele futhi nilalele ngokuphelele emsebenzini kaNkulunkulu, futhi ngeke nibe nezinsolo, ngeke nahlulele, noma nicubungule, ingasaphathwa eyokucwaninga. Nangaphezulu kwalokho, niyokwazi ukulalela uNkulunkulu kuze kube sekufeni, nivumele uNkulunkulu ukuba aniqondise futhi anihlinze njengemvu, ukuze nonke nibe ngoPetru beminyaka yawo-1990, futhi nikwazi ukuthanda uNkulunkulu ngamandla enu onke kuze kube sesiphambanweni, ngaphandle kokukhononda nokuncane. Kungokwenza lokho kuphela niyokwazi ukuphila njengoPetru bawo-1990.

Wonke umuntu ozimisele angamkhonza uNkulunkulu—kodwa kumele kube ilabo kuphela abanakekela intando kaNkulunkulu futhi abaqonda intando kaNkulunkulu abafanelekile nabanelungelo lokukhonza uNkulunkulu. Kulokhu odlule kukona, kuyabonakala ukuthi abantu abaningi bakholwa ukuthi ukukhonza uNkulunkulu kusho ukusakaza ivangeli likaNkulunkulu, uhambele izindawo ngenxa kaNkulunkulu, ukuchitha imali futhi ukunikela ngenxa kaNkulunkulu, kanye nokunye; ngisho nabantu abaningi benkolo bakholwa ukuthi ukukhonza uNkulunkulu kusho ukuzulazula bephethe iBhayibheli ezandleni zabo, besakaza ivangeli lombuso wezulu nokusindisa abantu ngokubenza baphenduke futhi bavume izono; baningi abaphathi bezenkolo abacabanga ukuthi ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ukushumayela emasontweni emuva kokufunda esikoleni sobufundisi, ukufundisa abantu ngokufunda izahluko eBhayibhelini; abaningi abafowethu nodadewethu bakholwa ukuthi ukukhonza uNkulunkulu kusho ukungashadi noma ukungabi nomndeni nhlobo, futhi nokunikela uqobo lwabo lonke kuNkulunkulu; kunabantu futhi abahlala ezifundeni ezimpofu abakholwa ukuthi ukukhonza uNkulunkulu kusho ukuphulukisa abagulayo nokukhipha amadimoni, noma ukukhulekela abafowabo nodadewabo, noma ukubakhonza; phakathi kwenu, kunabaningi abakholwa ukuthi ukukhonza uNkulunkulu kusho ukudla nokuphuza amazwi kaNkulunkulu, nokuthandaza kuNkulunkulu zonke izinsuku, ukuvakashela amasonto yonke indawo; kanjalo, futhi, kunabantu abathi ukuphila impilo yesonto ukukhonza uNkulunkulu. Nokho, bayingcosana abantu abazi kahle ukuthi kuyini ukukhonza uNkulunkulu. Noma ngabe baningi njengezinkanyezi esibhakabhakeni abakhonza uNkulunkulu, inani la labo abamkhonza ngokuqondile, futhi abakwazi ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu, liwubala—lincane kakhulu. Kungani ngisho lokhu? Ngisho lokhu ngoba aniqondi ubunjalo bamazwi athi “ukukhonza uNkulunkulu,” futhi niyiqonda kancane indlela yokukhonza ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu. Kunesidingo esiphuthumayo sokuthi abantu baqonde ukuthi yiluphi ngempela uhlobo lokusebenzela uNkulunkulu olungahambisana nentando yakhe.

Uma nifisa ukukhonza intando kaNkulunkulu, kumele niqonde kuqala ukuthi luhlobo luni lwabantu abathandwa nguNkulunkulu, luhlobo luni lwabantu abenyanywa nguNkulunkulu, luhlobo luni lwabantu abapheleliswa nguNkulunkulu, futhi luhlobo luni lwabantu abafanele ukukhonza uNkulunkulu. Okungenani kumele nibe nalokhu. Ikakhulukazi, kumele nazi izinhloso zomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, kanye nomsebenzi uNkulunkulu azowenza lapha futhi namanje. Emva kokuqonda lokhu, futhi ngokuqondiswa amazwi kaNkulunkulu, niyongena kuqala, futhi nithole umyalelo kaNkulunkulu aniphathise wona kuqala. Uma ukwazi kwenu kuvela emazwini kaNkulunkulu, futhi uma niwazi ngempela umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, niyofanelwa ukukhonza uNkulunkulu. Futhi yilapho umkhonza lapho uNkulunkulu eyokhanyisa khona amehlo enu kamoya, anivumele ukuba nibe nokuqonda okukhulu komsebenzi Wakhe futhi nibone ngokucacile kakhulu. Uma ningena kuleli qiniso, ukwazi kwenu kuyojula futhi kube okwangempela. Bonke labo abadlule kulokhu bayokwazi ukuhamba phakathi kwamabandla bese behlinzeka abafowabo nodadewabo, uhlangothi ngalunye bathole amandla komunye ukuze banelise ukuntula kwabo, kanye nokuzuza ulwazi olunothe kakhulu emimoyeni yabo. Kuphela emva kokuzuza lomphumela niyokwazi ukukhonza intando kaNkulunkulu futhi nipheleliswe uNkulunkulu nisaqhubeka nenkonzo yenu.

Labo abakhonza uNkulunkulu kufanele babe ngabantu abasondelene noNkulunkulu, kufanele bathokozise uNkulunkulu, futhi bakwazi ukwethembeka ngamandla abo wonke kuNkulunkulu. Akukhathalekile noma nikwenza abantu bengazi, noma phambi kwabo, niyakwazi ukuzuza intokozo kaNkulunkulu phambi kukaNkulunkulu, niyakwazi ukuma niqine phambi kukaNkulunkulu, futhi akukhathalekile noma ngabe abantu baniphatha kanjani, nihlala nihamba indlela yenu, futhi ninike konke ukunakekela emthwalweni kaNkulunkulu. Yilokhu kuphela ukusondelana noNkulunkulu. Ukuthi abasondelene noNkulunkulu bakwazi ukumkhonza ngokuqondile yingoba baphathiswe umyalelo omkhulu kaNkulunkulu, nomthwalo kaNkulunkulu, futhi bayakwazi ukuthatha inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu njengeyabo, nomthwalo kaNkulunkulu njengowabo, futhi abakhathali noma bayazuza noma bayalahlekelwa isithembiso: Ngisho bengenawo amathemba, futhi bengeke bazuze lutho, bayohlala njalo bekholwa kuNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo enothando. Ngakho, lolu hlobo lomuntu lusondelene noNkulunkulu. Abantu abasondelene noNkulunkulu bayizethenjwa Zakhe futhi; izethenjwa zikaNkulunkulu kuphela ezingazwelana Naye ekukhathazekeni Kwakhe, nokufuna Kwakhe, nakuba inyama yabo ibuhlungu futhi ibuthakathaka, bayakwazi ukubekezelela ubuhlungu, badele lokho abakuthandayo ukuze banelise uNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu unika imithwalo eminingi kubantu abanjalo, futhi lokho uNkulunkulu afuna ukukwenza kubonakaliswa ebufakazini babantu abanjalo. Kanjalo-ke, laba bantu bayathokozelwa nguNkulunkulu, bayizinceku zikaNkulunkulu ngokwenhliziyo Yakhe, futhi abantu abafana nalaba kuphela abangabusa noNkulunkulu. Uma usuphenduke umuntu osondelene noNkulunkulu ngeqiniso, kunesiqiniseko sokuthi uyobusa kanye noNkulunkulu.

UJesu wakwazi ukufeza umyalelo kaNkulunkulu—umsebenzi wokuhlengwa kwesintu sonke—ngokuba wanikeza konke ukunakekela intando kaNkulunkulu, ngaphandle kwamacebo Akhe nokuzicabangela Yena. Ngakho, futhi, Naye wayesondelene noNkulunkulu—uNkulunkulu uqobo Lwakhe, into eniyiqonda kahle nonke. (Empeleni, wayenguNkulunkulu uqobo Lwakhe owafakazelwa nguNkulunkulu; Ngikusho lokhu lapha ukusebenzisa iqiniso likaJesu ukucacisa indaba.) Wakwazi ukubeka phambili uhlelo lokuphatha kukaNkulunkulu, futhi wayehlala ethandaza kuBaba osezulwini futhi wayefuna intando kaBaba osezulwini. Wakhuleka wathi: “Nkulunkulu Baba! Feza lokho okuyintando Yakho, futhi ungenzi ngokwezinhloso Zami; ngifisa Wenze ngokohlelo Lakho. Umuntu angaba buthakathaka, kodwa kungani umnakekela? Kungenzeka kanjani ukuthi umuntu afanele ukukhathazeka Kwakho, umuntu ofana nentuthwane esandleni Sakho? Enhliziyweni Yami, ngifisa ukufeza intando Yakho kuphela, futhi ngifisa Wenze njengalokhu ufisa ukwenza Kimi ngokwezinhloso Zakho.” Endleleni eya eJerusalema, uJesu wezwa umunyu, kusengathi ummese uphendulwa enhliziyweni Yakhe, kepha wayengenayo ngisho encane inhloso yokushintsha izwi ayelishilo; njalo kwakukhona amandla amakhulu amqhubezela phambili ekubethelweni Kwakhe. Ekugcineni, wabethelwa esiphambanweni futhi wafana nenyama yesono, efeza lowo msebenzi wokuhlenga isintu, futhi waphakama ngaphezu kwamaketanga okufa neHayidesi. Phambi Kwakhe, ukufa, isihogo kanye neHayidesi kwaphelelwa amandla, kwanqotshwa Nguye. Waphila iminyaka engamashumi amathathu nantathu, kuyo yonke wenza njalo ngamandla Akhe onke ukufeza intando kaNkulunkulu ngokomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu ngaleso sikhathi, akanakanga inzuzo Yakhe ngokwakhe noma ukulahlekelwa, futhi ngaso sonke isikhathi wayecabanga intando kaNkulunkulu uBaba. Ingakho, emva kokuba esebhapathiziwe, uNkulunkulu wathi: “Le iNdodana Yami ethandekayo, engithokozile ngayo.” Ngenxa yenkonzo Yakhe phambi kukaNkulunkulu eyayihambisana nomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu wabeka umthwalo onzima wokuhlenga sonke isintu phezu kwamahlombe Akhe. Wamenza ukuba aphokophelele phambili ukuwufeza. Wayefaneleka futhi enelungelo lokufeza lo msebenzi obalulekile. Empilweni Yakhe yonke, wabekezelela ubuhlungu obungalinganiseki ngenxa kaNkulunkulu, futhi walingwa uSathane izikhathi ezingabaleki, kodwa akadumalanga neze. UNkulunkulu wamnika umsebenzi onjengalona ngoba wayemethemba, futhi emthanda, ngakho, uNkulunkulu uqobo wathi: “Le iNdodana Yami ethandekayo, engithokozile ngayo.” Ngaleso sikhathi, kwakunguJesu kuphela owayengafeza lo myalelo, futhi lokhu kwakuyingxenye eyodwa yokuqeda kukaNkulunkulu umsebenzi Wakhe wokuhlenga isintu ngeNkathi Yomusa.

Uma, njengoJesu, nikwazi ukunika ukunakekela konke emthwalweni kaNkulunkulu, futhi nifulathela inyama yenu, uNkulunkulu uyoniphathisa imisebenzi Yakhe emikhulu, ukuze nifeze imibandela yokukhonza uNkulunkulu. Kungaphansi kwalezi zimo kuphela lapho uyolokotha uthi wenza intando kaNkulunkulu futhi ufeza umyalelo Wakhe, kungaleso sikhathi kuphela lapho uyolokotha uthi ukhonza uNkulunkulu ngeqiniso. Uma kuqhathaniswa nesibonelo sikaJesu, ungalokotha uthi ungosondelene noNkulunkulu? Ungalokotha uthi wenza intando kaNkulunkulu? Ungalokotha uthi ukhonza uNkulunkulu ngeqiniso? Namuhla, awuyiqondi indlela yokukhonza uNkulunkulu, ungalokotha yini uthi ungosondelene noNkulunkulu? Uma uthi ukhonza uNkulunkulu, ingabe awumhlambalazi Yena? Cabanga ngalokhu: Ingabe ukhonza uNkulunkulu, noma uzikhonza wena? Ukhonza uSathane, kepha usho ngenkani ukuthi ukhonza uNkulunkulu—kulokhu awuhlambalazi uNkulunkulu yini? Abantu abaningi ngokungifihlela bafisa isibusiso sobukhulu ngesikhundla, bazigxisha ngokudla, bathanda ukulala futhi banakekele kakhulu inyama, bahlala besaba ukuthi asikho isixazululo senyama. Abawenzi umsebenzi wabo ofanele ebandleni, kodwa badla mahhala ebandleni, noma bayale abafowabo nodadewabo ngamazwi Ami, bama phezulu bese bechachaza phezu kwabanye. Laba bantu baqhubeka nokuthi benza intando kaNkulunkulu, bahlale bethi bangabasondelene noNkulunkulu—ingabe ukhona umqondo kulokhu? Uma unokukhuthazeka okufanele, kodwa ungakwazi ukukhonza intando kaNkulunkulu, ngalokho uyisilima; kodwa uma ukukhuthazeka kwakho kungalungile, futhi usasho ukuthi ukhonza uNkulunkulu, ngakho ungumuntu omelene noNkulunkulu, futhi kumele ujeziswe nguNkulunkulu! Anginalo uzwelo kubantu abanjalo! Endlini kaNkulunkulu badla mahhala, bahlala befisa ukunethezeka kwenyama, abanakho ukucabangela lokho okubalulekile kuNkulunkulu; bahlala befuna okuhle kubo, futhi abalaleli intando kaNkulunkulu. Abemukeli ukucutshungulwa uMoya kaNkulunkulu kukho konke abakwenzayo. Bahlala bakhela uzungu futhi bekhohlisa abafowabo nodadewabo, benobuso obubili, njengempungushe esinini samagilebhisi, njalo intshontsha amagilebhisi, futhi igxoba isivini samagilebhisi. Bangaba yini abangane baNkulunkulu abantu abanjalo? Ukulungele yini ukwamukela izibusiso zikaNkulunkulu? Awunakekeli impilo yakho kanye nebandla, ingabe ukulungele ukwamukela umyalelo kaNkulunkulu akuphathisa wona? Ubani ungalokotha athembe umuntu onjalo? Uma ukhonza kanje, uNkulunkulu angalokotha yini akuphathise umsebenzi omkhulu? Ingabe awubambezeli izinto na?

Ngisho lokhu ukuze wazi ukuthi imiphi imibandela okumele ifezwe ukuze ukhonze ngokuvumelana nentando kaNkulunkulu. Uma ungayinikeli inhliziyo yakho kuNkulunkulu, uma unganiki konke ukunakekela entandweni kaNkulunkulu njengoJesu, khona-ke ngeke wethenjwe uNkulunkulu, futhi uyogcina wahlulelwe nguNkulunkulu. Mhlawumbe namuhla, ekukhonzeni kwakho uNkulunkulu, uhlala unenhloso yokukhohlisa uNkulunkulu futhi uhlala ubhekana naye ngokungabi nandaba. Ngamafushane, ngaleya kokunye, uma ukhohlisa uNkulunkulu, ukwahlulela okunonya kuyoza phezu kwakho. Kumele usebenzise ithuba lokuthi usanda kungena emgudwini olungile wokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngokuqala ngokunikela inhliziyo yakho kuNkulunkulu, ngaphandle kokuthembeka okwehlukene phakathi. Akukhathaliseki noma ngabe uphambi kukaNkulunkulu, noma uphambi kwabanye abantu, inhliziyo yakho kufanele ihlale ibheke uNkulunkulu, futhi kumele uzimisele ukuthanda uNkulunkulu njengoJesu. Ngale ndlela, uNkulunkulu uyokuphelelisa, ukuze ube yinceku kaNkulunkulu ngokwenhliziyo Yakhe. Uma ufisa ngempela ukupheleliswa nguNkulunkulu, futhi ukuze ukukhonza kwakho kube nokuvumelana nentando Yakhe, kuzomele ushintshe imibono yakho yangaphambilini ngokukholwa kuNkulunkulu, uphinde ushintshe nendlela obujwayele ngayo ukukhonza uNkulunkulu, ukuze ingxenye enkulu yakho izopheleliswa nguNkulunkulu. Ngaleyo ndlela, uNkulunkulu ngeke akulahle, futhi, njengoPetru, uyokwandulela labo abathanda uNkulunkulu. Uma ungaphenduki, uyohlangabezana nesiphetho esifana nesikaJuda. Lokhu kumele kuqondwe yibo bonke abakholwa kuNkulunkulu.