Kevin DeYoung said, “The world provides no cheerleaders on the pathway to godliness.” This is quite true. The world is never going to tell you, “Great job today in forsaking pornography.” “Oh, you don’t want to watch that movie because it’s unholy? Man that’s awesome. Good for you.” “Oh, you walked away from the conversation because I was slandering my co-worker? Thank you for doing that.” “You don’t want to go to the club with me tonight and get some drinks? Man, I’m proud of you.”
But there is one cheerleader who rejoices every time we forsake sin, and choose what is holy. And it’s our Father. Our Father rejoices–He takes great joy–in our repentance and pursuit of holiness. The world will never understand, nor appreciate, nor applaud your holiness. But be sure of this–God delights in it. He loves our holiness so much that He sent His Son to come and die for it. So don’t be discouraged when the world “boos” your holiness. Because God died for it and rejoices in it.