I imagine I can be quite frightening to little children. When they come to church and watch me preach, they get a glimpse of someone that paces back and forth while raising his voice and making wild gestures.
Most of the time I try to get to know the children out of the pulpit, that way they get to know a milder version of me.
Over the years I’ve become good friends with many of the youth that have grown up in my pastorate.

I wonder if the children were ever frightened of Jesus.
It is written then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there. Mt. 9:13-15
It is apparent that He loved the children and taught that we must become like children to enter the kingdom of heaven. But it says that the children were “brought to Him,” that they did not come on their own.
You might think that the young would flock to Him in amazement and wonder but remember there is no beauty that we should desire Him. Isa.53:2 So perhaps the small children were as frightened of Him as some are of me.

I know many adults that will not come to Jesus because they are still frightened of Him.
How sad it is that, as children, they weren’t brought to church to learn the ways of the Lord.

Dorothy Knolte once wrote;
“Children learn what they observe.
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn and be judgmental.
If children live with hostility, they learn to be angry and fight.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy and withdrawn.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with acceptance and friendship, they learn to find love in the world.”

We need to introduce our children to Jesus.
If your church doesn’t have a bus ministry, you can start one by picking up one child.
After all “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And all of you are children of the Most High. Ps. 82:6