But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto
me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14
(By Sister Rachel Leong)

We thank and praise God for the recent Vacation Bible School from 9-11 June
2021. The theme for the VBS was, “Lost but Found” from Luke 15. Across the
three days, the children learnt about the three lost parables – Parable of the Lost
Sheep, Parable of the Lost Coin and Parable of the Lost Son.

The lessons were lovingly pre-recorded by Sister Tammy for the Pre-Primaries
and Sister Rachel for the Primaries. Every day at 9.30am, the Bible lessons
were made available on YouTube. These lessons continue to remain on
YouTube for the children who were unable to attend on the actual day and time.
Besides the Bible lessons, the children were also given worksheets, memory
verses, activity sheets and craft to do after they have completed the lessons. All
the materials were printed and packed into a file. We thank God for the brethren
in church who helped to hand deliver all the VBS files to the children who
signed up.

By God’s grace and leading, we had a total of 56 sign ups from Singapore and
Australia. Our prayer is that the children will be sure that they have been found
by the Lord and to continue to spread the Good News of salvation to those
around them.

CALVIN’S COMMENTARY ON PHILIPPIANS 4:5B
(Edited)

“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”

The Lord is at hand. Here we have an anticipation, by which he obviates an
objection that might be brought forward. For carnal sense rises in opposition to the
foregoing statement. For as the rage of the wicked is the more inflamed in
proportion to our mildness, and the more they see us prepared for enduring, are the
more emboldened to inflict injuries, we are with difficulty induced to possess our
souls in patience. (Luke 21:19) Thus, we have those proverbs — “We must howl
when among wolves.” “Those who act like sheep will quickly be devoured by
wolves.” Hence, we conclude, that the ferocity of the wicked must be repressed by
corresponding violence, that they may not insult us with impunity.

To such considerations Paul here opposes confidence in Divine providence. He
replies, I say, that the Lord is at hand, whose power can overcome their audacity,
and whose goodness can conquer their malice. He promises that he will aid us,
provided we obey his commandment. Now, who would not rather be protected by
the hand of God alone, than have all the resources of the world at his command?

Here we have a most beautiful sentiment, from which we learn, in the first place,
that ignorance of the providence of God is the cause of all impatience, and that this
is the reason why we are so quickly, and on trivial accounts, thrown into
confusion, and often, too, become disheartened because we do not recognize the
fact that the Lord cares for us. On the other hand, we learn that this is the only
remedy for tranquillizing our minds – when we repose unreservedly in his
providential care, as knowing that we are not exposed either to the rashness of
fortune, or to the caprice of the wicked, but are under the regulation of God’s
fatherly care. In fine, the man that is in possession of this truth, that God is present
with him, has what he may rest upon with security.

There are, however, two ways in which the Lord is said to be at hand — either
because his judgment is at hand, or because he is prepared to give help to his own
people, in which sense it is made use of here; and also in Psalm 145:18, where the
Scriptures declare that the LORD is near to all that call upon Him. The meaning
therefore is, — “Miserable were the condition of the pious, if the Lord were at a
distance from them.” But as he has received them under his protection and
guardianship, and defends them by His hand, which is everywhere present, let
them rest upon this consideration, that they may not be intimidated by the rage of
the wicked.