As we meditate on our great God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, let us ponder the majesty of His creation, the riches of His grace, the cleansing power of His blood, the perfection of His righteousness, the necessity of His mercy, the faithfulness of His love, the blessings of His redemption, the greatness of His power, the authority of His word, the purity of His Gospel, the sufficiency of His atonement, the miracle of His resurrection, the need for His intercession, the promise of His inheritance, the assurance of His promises, and the glory of His second coming. Meditating on the Lord Jesus will keep our heart and mind stayed upon Him. As we behold the glory of the Lord, we "are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18).

The more we contemplate the glory of Christ's incarnation and His sin-bearing sacrifice which satisfied divine justice, the more we will be compelled to tell others about His gracious offer of forgiveness and redemption. After all, He is the greatest man who ever lived who offers the greatest gift anyone could ever receive! There is no higher calling in this life than to serve the King of kings as His ambassadors. It is indeed a great privilege and an awesome responsibility to be His ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20).

Cardinal Raymond Burke denied that he was "defying" the pope's authority, but he said there's "a growing confusion about what the Church really teaches." In an interview with Ireland's state broadcaster, Burke said it is "not helpful...to have this broad discussion" on issues of homosexuality, divorce and remarriage and put them to a vote." Cardinal Burke was careful to explain that the pope does not have the power to change Catholic teaching. He refused to comment on whether this pontificate is "in serious trouble" because of Pope Francis' silence, but restated his previous assertion that "the matter has to be clarified and now." Read more.

Christian Krause, a Lutheran bishop and president emeritus of the World Lutheran Federation, asked Pope Francis to celebrate together with him the 500th anniversary of the Protestant reformation, which will occur in 2017. This common celebration, he claimed, may be "a witness for all the Christianity on earth." The invitation took place at the ecumenical convention of the bishop-friends of the Focolare Movement on Nov. 7. This year's meeting to foster Christian unity focused on Eucharist. Read more.

Pope Francis went to the Basilica of St. Mary to pray before the image of the Virgin and to ask for her intercession for his apostolic trip to Strasbourg. Francis prayed for around half an hour and left the Virgin a floral tribute in blue and yellow, the colours of the European flag. Read more.

Rick Warren calls for unity with Catholics and says: "We have far more in common than what divides us. If you love Jesus, we are on the same team." Watch 2 minute video here. 

 

Without any fear of man, Charles Spurgeon exposed the growing resurgence and tolerance of Roman Catholicism among evangelicals 150 years ago. He warned his congregation that he could foresee Romanism expanding everywhere in the future because its germs were spreading everywhere in the present. He could see a veneration for the sacredness of places, which is idolatry, the sacredness of priests, fine linen, altars, and fonts. He criticized the shepherds of the fold for their silence and others for paving the way for converts to travel on the pope's broad way to hell. Such words were virtually prophetic, as we witness the growing tolerance and wholesale acceptance of Roman Catholicism as a valid expression of Christianity today. 

The Mormon church has admitted that founder Joseph Smith married about 40 women, including a 14-year-old and some wives of his followers. Mormons have tried to gloss over aspects of its history, including the polygamy practiced by Smith and Brigham Young. The church banned polygamy in 1890 when the U.S. government threatened to deny Utah statehood. Read more.