A Veil Over the Heart
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. — 2 Corinthians 3:16-17
Author
Milagros García Klibansky
Summary: We should not attach more importance to outward religious appearances than to the surrender of the heart. We can respect both those who voluntarily wear a veil as an expression of their faith and those who, trusting in the freedom received in Christ, choose not to wear one. Let us avoid pointless arguments, human rules, and burdens that discourage those who are beginning to walk with God. Our responsibility is to clear the way for them, not to become a stumbling block. As we deepen our personal relationship with God, He guides us, refines what is useful, and prunes away whatever prevents us from growing and bearing good fruit. More than an outward veil, God wants our whole heart, open and surrendered to Him.
Some time ago, I received a request for counseling from a sister who attended a church where she was required to wear a veil. She did not feel in her heart that she should do so, and she felt very discouraged because she feared displeasing God if she did not wear it.
This caught my attention, and I realized how capable we still are of giving more importance to outward appearance than to what lies within our hearts.
Especially in a worldwide community like God Speaks Today, where people from different traditions of worshiping God participate, we would do well to heed the wise words of the apostle Paul and not get caught up in arguments that are not worthwhile (Titus 3:9, 2 Timothy 2:14). I respect both: the woman who decides to wear a veil to show her faith, if she decides to do so of her own choosing and not because of human imposition. I also respect the sister who decides not to wear a veil, supported by her faith in Christ, who has given us freedom.
God guides us as we deepen our personal relationship with Him, removing from us and placing within us whatever is fitting so that we may glorify Him. He chooses what is useful in our lives and polishes it until it is clean and bright. Whatever does not help us become valuable instruments for His work, He will remove, just as a gardener prunes the useless branches of a tree so that it may continue to grow strong and become a leafy tree that bears good fruit.
Brothers and sisters, let us not be stumbling blocks to those who hunger for the Word. Let us not place heavy burdens on the shoulders of those who are weak in faith. Let us not hinder the free flow of the Spirit in a new life that is beginning to walk hand in hand with God.
It is up to us to smooth the way, not to make it more difficult than it already is.
Even the veil of the temple was torn on the day our Lord gave His life for us.
What good does it do us to wear a veil on our heads as a sign of respect when our hearts have not been completely surrendered to our King and Sovereign?
Let us not place a veil over our hearts; God wants them whole and bare.
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