The glory of the Lord fills His Temple, and the seraphim cover their faces. We are ascending before the Lord God now, and we too must cover our faces. God has made provision for us in this, and we cover ourselves in Jesus Christ. We ascend into the heavenlies in Him and through Him. We cannot go there by ourselves, which is good. If we could make it there in our own name, we would be instantly consumed. This is our position; we are ascending into heaven. This is our justification. This is our legal position. This is our everlasting and eternal status in the kingdom of God.
But these things should make us reflect on the processes of our sanctification, here, on earth. These truths have glorious relevance for how we speak and act. How were you speaking to your children in the car, on the way here? How will you speak to them after? How do you speak to them as you discipline and instruct them during this service of worship?
Do you speak to them in the kind of loving discipline that exhibits kindness in every word, a discipline that make them rejoice to be a disciple, to be under this discipline? Or do you speak with impatience? Harshness? Annoyance?
We understand that teaching little ones to grow up loving the public worship of God is difficult work. But that is no excuse for doing it badly, no reason to chase your children away from the joy of approaching God in His throne room. If you are engaged in this great work of teaching them to love this place because they love how you bring them here, then confess your failings as they arise and continue in your good work. But if you do not know how to teach your children in the public worship of God, and you find yourself continually exasperated, then seek help. Otherwise, you are simply bringing your children before the Lord in order to try to chase them away. And the Word teaches us that this greatly displeases the Lord.