When I was a child coming up in the Springhill CME Church, each second Sunday in June was "Children's Day". All the children had poems or speeches, or they performed some type of talent. As we've grown older we don't focus much on "Children's Day" anymore, yet children are special gifts. Each and every time a child is born, whoever the parents of that child are, they get the chance for a new start.  Pslams 127:3-5, "Lo children are a heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man: so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them (children)".

"Submit to every human institution because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme authority, or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good." 1 Peter 2:13-14 HCSB

The government in power during Peter’s time was an evil tyrant. Nevertheless, Peter calls for believers to voluntarily submit to civil authority as an act of obedience to the Lord. This submission was not just to the Emperor but also to the lesser officials of the government. The God given purpose of government is to punish evil and encourage those who do right. Let it be noted that believers are to obey God above all others. When forced to choose between obeying God or man (Acts 4:18-20), Peter chose to obey God.

"Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do evil, they may, by observing your good works, glorify God in a day of visitation." 1 Peter 2:12 HCSB

Peter urges the believers to live honorable, just, and good lives in front of others especially before unbelievers. The believers’ reputations were to be so above reproach that when others said bad things about them, those that heard the slander would know that it was not true. The believers’ conduct thus would bring glory to God. This thought is similar to that which Jesus stated in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

"O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation." Psalm 95:1 NASB

Like a church bell that rings out when it is time for worship, the Old Testament priest would use a verse like this one to call the people to worship. It was as if he was standing at the door of the temple saying, "It is time to worship the Lord our God and Savior with songs and shouts of joy!" Worshipers should then enter the temple with hearts and minds turned away from all others and turned only to the Lord. They would offer praise to God for in Him they found their steadfastness (rock) and their existence (salvation), now and for eternity.