The Risen Christ
"The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I
know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He
is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the
place where he lay.'" - Matthew 28:5-6
It was Easter Day, 1973. Pastor Kefa Sempangi bravely and
openly preached on the risen Lord in his Ugandan town's
football stadium to over 7,000 people. After the service,
five of Idi Amin's Secret Police followed Sempangi back to
his little church and closed the door behind them. Five
rifles pointed at Sempangi's face. "We are going to kill you
for disobeying Amin's orders" said the captain. "If you have
something to say, say it before you die."
Sempangi, thinking of his beautiful wife and lovely
little girl, began to shake. But the risen Lord living in
his heart gave him the courage to speak. "Do what you must,"
he said. "The Word of God says that in Christ I am already
dead, and that my real life is hidden with Him in God. It is
not my life that is in danger, but yours. I am alive in the
risen Lord but you are still dead in your sins. May He spare
you from eternal destruction." The leader looked at Sempangi
for a long time. Then he lowered his gun and said, "Will you
pray for us?" Sempangi did, and from that day those five
officers, now converted through the witness of Sempangi's
bravery, protected the pastor with their very lives.
Jesus Christ has risen from the grave and because He lives,
we have eternal life. Today in prayer, praise Christ that He
conquered death to give you life.
"Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer; Death is strong, but
Life is stronger; Stronger than the dark, the light;
Stronger than the wrong, the right; Faith and Hope
triumphant say, Christ will rise on Easter Day." - Phillips
Brooks
God's Word: "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and
preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and
is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will
be condemned." - Mark 16:15-16
By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2003, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTION
FOR EASTER
pkennedy@devotional.com