Welcome to the New Year's Eve edition of Our Daily Bread.

Our Reading titled Finishing Strong was written by Wyn Collier.

At the age of 103, a woman named Mancower competed as India's oldest female athlete

during the 2019 World

Masters Athletic Championship in Poland. Remarkably, Cower won gold in four events. Javelin throw,

shot put, 60 meter dash, and 200 meter run. But most astounding was that she ran faster than she ran in the 2017 championship.

A great-grandmother running into her second century, Kauer showed how to finish strong.

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, a younger disciple of how he'd entered his concluding years.

The time for my departure is near, Paul wrote in 2 Timothy, Chapter 4.

Reflecting on his life, he confidently believed he was finishing strong.

I have fought the good fight, Paul said. I have finished the race.

He wasn't confident because he'd calculated his impressive accomplishments, or surveyed his vast impact, though they were immense.

Rather, he knew he'd kept the faith. The apostle had remained loyal to Jesus. Through sorrows and joys, he'd followed the one

who'd rescued him from ruin, and he knew that Jesus stood ready with a crown of righteousness,

the joyful finale to his faithful life. Paul insists that this crown isn't for an elite few, but for all who have longed

for Christ's appearing. As we head into a new year, let's remember that Jesus stands eager

to crown all who've loved him, and may we live to finish strong. Today's Our Daily Bread

Devotional Scripture reading is from 2 Timothy chapter 4 verses 1 through 8. In the presence of God

and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,

and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge.

Preach the word, be prepared in season and out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage,

with great patience and careful instruction.

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