16th - 22nd February 2026
Throughout my Christian life I have benefitted a lot from reading scripture and various Christian books. Some of these I just dipped in and out of, finding little gems of wisdom and encouragement. However, several years ago I decided to stay with certain authors long enough to understand and absorb what they had to say and treat them as a mentor. I have found this very helpful and life-giving. These authors included Dallas Willard, E. Stanley Jones, Francis Schaeffer and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Then, last year, I realised that it would make real sense to do this with Biblical writers as well and let them be my mentor for a while. And so, I chose Peter and I looked forward to immersing myself in his letters. However, to my disappointment I found it hard to get into Peter. There seemed to be some kind of ‘misfit’ between what he was writing and where I was in my life. And then I remembered that he was writing into a very particular situation and to a specific set of people. Peter and I were divided by two millennia and by significant cultural and world settings. And this was why I initially didn’t hear him talking to me. But I was convinced that there would be universal principles which would apply to all Christians regardless of time or place. And this I found to be the case. This week’s meditations and prayers are drawn from this and, although they are very arbitrary and selective, my prayer is that you will find them a blessing.
Written by Robert Mullan
MONDAY
GRACE AND PEACE
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.” 1 Peter 1:1-2
Those Peter wrote to are referred to as ‘exiles of the Dispersion’ and that suggests that they faced many challenges every day. Praying that their circumstances would change in the short term probably was not realistic but prayer for grace and peace in the circumstances certainly was. And so, Peter prays that grace and peace would be multiplied to them.
Their need for grace reminds us of Paul’s ‘thorn in the flesh’ which was not removed even though he prayed three times. But we remember that he was promised that God’s grace would be sufficient for him as God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. Grace was multiplied to him.
It is the same with peace. We are not promised that prayer will necessarily remove every trial in this life but we are told that if, with thanksgiving, we let our requests be made known to God then his peace which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. Peace will be multiplied to us.
Heavenly Father, although we don’t experience persecution in the way those to whom Peter wrote, we do experience some real challenges in life that test our faith in you. Help us to recognise that our faith is being tested and help us to bring every difficulty and challenge to you. And may your grace and peace be multiplied to us. In Jesus’ name we pray.
TUESDAY
BORN AGAIN
“ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” 1 Peter 1:3
Peter blesses God for causing us to be born again. We normally associate being ‘born again’ with the beginning of the Christian life but there are times, aren’t there, when something happens and it feels like being born again all over again! At least it has happened to me.
Peter, who already was a disciple and an apostle, would have been absolutely devastated at the time of Judas’ betrayal, his own denial of Jesus and the mock trial and cruel crucifixion. The death of Jesus must have felt like the death of everything for him. He had had such hopes but … but what he had not anticipated was the resurrection! God caused him to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! And this was what would make a difference to those to whom he wrote as well.
Heavenly Father, we live in a world that is ‘without hope’ and sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we start to lose our own hold on hope. Thank you for the resurrection of Jesus and how it affirms that you are the God of hope. May you fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope. In Jesus’ name we pray.
WEDNESDAY
CERTAINTY
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice” 1 Peter 1:3-6
As ‘exiles of the dispersion’ I imagine that these Christians would have experienced more than a fair share of upheaval and uncertainty. Uprooted from their homes and forced abroad they must have been acutely aware of how nothing is certain in this world and in this life. I like to think that this is the reason why Peter introduces the certainty of the hope that we have in Jesus so early in his letter.
In the culture in which we live we look for stability and self-sufficiency in such things as home ownership, an adequate pension, savings to meet unexpected needs, etc. But these things only give us a false sense of security because the reality is that we live in very uncertain times and in a world where nothing can be taken for granted. And, on a personal level, everything can suddenly change through an accident, ill health, bereavement, loss of employment, broken relationships, etc. And apart from this our days are numbered anyway and when our ‘call’ comes we will all leave everything behind. As James says, our life is but a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
And so, what Peter says to the ‘exiles of the Dispersion’ is absolutely relevant to us.
Heavenly Father, thank you that we have been born again to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading and kept in heaven for us. Help us to trust in your power to guard us for the salvation which will be revealed in the last time. And in this to rejoice. In Jesus’ name we pray.
THURSDAY
TESTING
“though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls”. 1 Peter 1:6-9
Peter sees their situation as not just an experience of hardship to be endured but as a testing of their faith. They certainly were suffering because of their faith but their faith itself was also being tested. When all is going well it can feel easy to believe but when things get tough it’s a different story.
In our case, at least for most of us, our faith may not be being opposed and we may not be being persecuted like some of those to whom Peter was writing. But when disasters of various kinds hit us then our faith in God can be very sorely tested, can’t it? But Peter would have us understand that the testing of our faith is part of our journey of faith and is in no way unusual.
As Jesus’ sufferings came first and were then followed by glory, we too have the assurance that whatever our sufferings in this life, we can look forward to the testing of our faith being found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Our Father, when our faith is tested we are inclined to question you and your ways. Help us to remember that we are not exempt from the suffering that is part of being human in a broken world and also that we may be called to have the privilege of suffering on account of Jesus. We know that we can only endure by your enabling so please help us daily to trust in you. In Jesus’ name we pray..
FRIDAY
CALLED TO BE HOLY
“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 1 Peter 1:13-17
Peter calls on his readers to set their hope on the grace that will be brought to them in the future but he also instructs them as to how to live in the present i.e. throughout the time of their exile.
He reminds them that the one who called them is holy, and so they are called to be holy. He reminds them that God is a Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, so they are called to conduct themselves with a reverential fear of God.
“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good”. 1 Peter 2:1-3
Heavenly Father, thank you for your word which guides us as to how to live. Instil in us a deeper sense of your holiness and help us, in response, to be holy in all our conduct. Nurture in us a reverential fear of you that will inform every aspect of our lives for our good and your glory.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
SATURDAY
JESUS’ EXAMPLE
Peter is aware that there are many facets to the lives of his readers. And so he addresses the situations they find themselves in, such as how to be towards those in authority while being faithful to God. He advises on servant-master relationships and especially in cases which are unjust. He touches on difficult relationships, such as where a wife has an unbelieving husband. Peter teaches that our words in such circumstances may not have much effect but our respectful and pure conduct will.
Peter’s primary teaching regarding the suffering inflicted on us by others is to point to the example of Jesus:
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly”. 1 Peter 2:21-23
Heavenly Father, thank you for the example of Jesus. Help us to remember that as we follow him we will experience opposition from those who oppose him. Thank you that, in all circumstances, Jesus continued to entrust himself to you who judges justly. Help us to follow his example and live daily with our trust in you. In Jesus’ name we pray.
SUNDAY
HE CARES
Peter writes because he cares about his brothers and sisters and because he knows that behind all their trials and struggles there are evil forces at work. And so he warns them:
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world”. 1 Peter 5:8-9
Peter himself had had to be rebuked by Jesus for not looking at things from God’s perspective. Jesus had said: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Matthew 16:23
But he had had another experience when Jesus said: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32
And that is what Peter is doing now. Strengthening his brothers, having been himself restored and sustained by the prayer of Jesus. And when he addresses the elders, and knowing the heavy weight that they carried, he says “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you”. 1 Peter 5:7
In closing, the question I need to ask myself is ‘what do I do with my anxieties and where do I take them?”
Heavenly Father, thank you that you care. Please help me to bring all of my anxieties, big and small, to you. Thank you, Jesus, that as you prayed for Peter you intercede for each one of us. And we pray that “after we have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.’ 1 Peter 5:10-11