Scripture for Today | Luke 3:15-22 (with Jeff Sholar)

About this Episode

Opening Song:

Take My Heart With Altar Fire by Advent Birmingham

Lyrics:

All seeing God, you see my deeds;

You see my faults by light of day.

You see my sins concealed in darkness:

Turn my deeds to holy ways;

Turn my deeds to holy ways.

 

All hearing God, you hear my words;

You hear each lie, each hurtful phrase.

You hear my pride in secret slander:

Turn my tongue to truth and grace;

Turn my tongue to truth and grace.

 

Take away my love of sinning,

Straighten every bent desire;

Fix my soul upon your promise:

Take my heart with altar fire;

Take my heart with altar fire.

 

All knowing God, you know my heart;

You know my yearnings deep inside;

You know my hidden motivations:

Turn my heart to pure delight;

Turn my heart to pure delight.

 

Take away my love of sinning,

Straighten every bent desire;

Fix my soul upon your promise:

Take my heart with altar fire;

Take my heart with altar fire.

 

Fire of God, consume my heart;

And burn it down to only faith,

Til all that’s left of me is only you.

Christ my glory, Christ my praise.

 

Take away my love of sinning,

Straighten every bent desire;

Fix my soul upon your promise:

Take my heart with altar fire;

Take my heart with altar fire.

Passage: 

15   As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

(Luke 3:15–22 ESV)

Musical Reflection: 

“Breathe on Me, Breath of God,” tune by Robert Jackson

Reflection Notes: 

TRENTHAM is a tune by Robert Jackson, an English composer during the nineteenth century. It fits perfectly with the text for “Breath On Me, Breath of God,” by Edwin Hatch; each phrase is allotted ample space for reflection.

Prayer:

Eternal Father, at the baptism of Jesus you revealed him to be your Son, and your Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove: Grant that we, who are born again by water and the Spirit, may be faithful as your adopted children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.