Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind… (Col 2:16-18)

Paul had to respond to doctrinal errors affecting the church. He had to deal with issues regarding food, drink, festivals, and new moons. Ramadan is a type of new moon festival based on the lunar calendar. Sightings of the moon mark the beginning and the end of the month of Ramadan. Ramadan also deals with food and drink since a Muslim cannot eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset. And verse 18 could describe Mohammad, someone who insisted on asceticism during Ramadan and also claimed that the angel Gabriel came to him in visions with the words of the Qur’an. On the contrary, Paul continues to exalt Christ as preeminent. Christ is the substance, not the shadow! 

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You with humility that You have freed us from unnecessary rituals and religious piety that cannot save us. The substance belongs to Christ. Thank You for qualifying us in Him alone! Please have mercy on Muslims in Oman who try to justify themselves through asceticism and religious rites. Help them, O God, to discover that Christ is all in all. Save many during Ramadan when they are more aware of spiritual matters. May they know that on the cross, “It is finished”! Amen. 

Worship with us!: Christ is Enough by Hillsong. May Omanis know that Jesus is more than enough for salvation!

Matthew 18:14 Focus—‘Your Father in heaven does not want one of these little ones to be lost.’ 

Please bring these towns and villages before the Father:

Qalal, Ibri district, Adh-Dhahirah region. Population: 61

Al-Uwaynah, Ibri district, Adh-Dhahirah region. Population: 59

Dayqarah, Ibri district, Adh-Dhahirah region. Population: 59

Wadi al-Lithli, Ibri district, Adh-Dhahirah region. Population: 59

Wadi Sal, Ibri district, Adh-Dhahirah region. Population: 59

Al-Manzifah, Ibri district, Adh-Dhahirah region. Population: 58