One particularly harsh winter day, as Julian trudged through the streets, the icy wind seemed to pierce through his layers, chilling him to the bone. His thoughts were of home, warmth, and the peace he found in his service to Jehovah. Each step was a struggle, his limbs growing numb, his mind focused solely on the sanctuary of his large, warm fireplace.

Upon finally reaching home, Julian could barely feel his fingers as he fumbled with the keys. The door creaked open, and he stumbled inside, immediately throwing some additional logs onto the smoldering fire. The warmth began to seep into the room, a stark contrast to the frigid outdoors.

In his haste, and perhaps due to his lack of awareness, Julian left the front door wide open. This was done not out of carelessness but because of some subtle, underlying distraction—an oversight reflective of moments in his spiritual life, where he allowed the minor distractions of the world to subtly infiltrate his devotion. These weren't blatant acts of rebellion or neglect but rather small, unnoticed openings he had left for worldly concerns—such as an excessive focus on work, the allure of modern conveniences that drew him away from prayer, or even the gradual acceptance of cultural norms that didn't align with his full faith in Jehovah and His promises. Just as the cold wind found its way through the open door, these minor concessions to the world's ways had slowly begun to chill his spiritual dedication, making his home, both literally and figuratively, less warm than it could have been.

As he sat by the heater, his body slowly regained feeling, and with it, a realization dawned on him. The warmth was fleeting; the cold wind from outside was creeping in, battling the heat, making his efforts to warm up almost pointless. He shivered, not just from the cold, but from a sudden insight into his spiritual life.

This scenario mirrored his spiritual journey. Julian had been diligent in his worship, attending meetings, studying the scriptures, and sharing his faith with others. However, he realized he had left a figurative door open. His heart, while dedicated, had moments where it allowed the cold air of worldly distractions to trickle in—doubt, pride, fleeting desires for material wealth, and even moments of neglect in prayer.

Ephesians 2:1, 2 echoed in his mind, reminding him that “God made you alive, though you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you at one time walked according to the system of things of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the [cold] air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” There was a conscious need to guard his heart against such detachments. Just as leaving his door open conceded the warmth of his home, neglecting to close the door on unwholesome influences could compromise the warmth of his relationship with Jehovah.

Julian rose, his body still trembling, and closed the door firmly. The house began to warm up properly, the fire now unchallenged in its task. He sat back down, this time with a clear mind, understanding now how important it was to be vigilant in shutting out the cold winds of the world and to be a person with a complete heart who does not merely go through the motions of worshipping God, but serves out of love and complete devotion.

From that day, Julian's service became even more insightful. He guarded his heart, ensuring that every aspect of his life reflected his love and devotion to Jehovah. His home became a place of true warmth, both physically and spiritually, a testament to what it means to serve with a complete heart, undivided by the cold air of the world outside.

Thank you for reading,
-Soli Jehova Gloria (1 Corinthians 10:31)