Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes recently explained the meaning behind the Bible verse he has written on his glove.
Skenes has 2 Timothy 1:7 inscribed on his baseball glove — “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
“God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear. I think that’s the biggest one,” he told CBN Sports when asked about the verse. “You know, power and love of a sound mind but, when you’re out there pitching, why be scared? Why not — He’s given us the ability to think clearly, to go out there and compete in His image, and not letting anything get in the way of that, so why should anything get in the way of that?”
Skenes added, “That’s kind of how I think about it. I’m Paul Skenes who plays baseball, not Paul Skenes the baseball player.”
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In addition to his strong Christian faith, Skenes is also vocal about his patriotism. Before joining the MLB, he attended the Air Force Academy.
“This is the greatest country in the world,” he told Fox SPORTS.
Earlier this year, he wrote an essay for The Players’ Tribune, recalling the moment he officially joined the Air Force Academy.
“I had the utmost respect for those who serve,” Skenes wrote. “I got the chills reciting that pledge. Just from how proud I am of this country. I’m actually getting chills right now remembering back to that time. Because when you love something so much that you’re willing to lay down your life for it? It’s pretty meaningful stuff. And, truth be told, as much as I love the game of baseball…that’s much bigger than any sport.”
He continued, “My respect for our service men and women knows no bounds. I’m in awe of those folks. And all that they do to keep us safe. Anything that enables me to honor those who serve this country, I’m going to do.”
Many have also commented on Skenes’ work ethic. His teammate, catcher Joey Bart, told Sports Illustrated, “I haven’t seen anything like this…The work ethic is out of control. I mean, it’s unbelievable what he does day in and day out to stay on top of what he does.”
As Skenes continues to rise through the ranks of the MLB, the pitcher relies on the pillars of his faith, his patriotism and his dedication to hard work.
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