To take up the our cross and follow Jesus has everything to do with living in and for Him, and not ourselves. Just like Him, we are here for a purpose that is greater than ourselves. So we lay everything down, including our pride and popularity, to fulfil the assignment we were created to do. In Philippians 3:10, Paul speaks about this determined purpose: to know the Person of Jesus more; to know the power of His resurrection; and to share in His sufferings. All of which would cause us to be completely transformed into the likeness of Jesus. The sufferings Jesus and Paul are referring to have nothing to do with punishment for sin, nor anything Jesus overcame on the cross. That was a burden only He was worthy to die for. Rather, the suffering we all need to go through is resisting the kingdom of darkness that oppose everything Jesus paid for to see us live in. 1 Peter 5:8-10 speaks of this very truth. We are warned to be extremely vigilant concerning our adversary, the devil, and his intention to destroy every good thing God has done. We are to constantly resist him, stand our ground in faith, and push back the kingdom of darkness in the authority Jesus has given us, in spite of the persecution it will entail. It means laying down our own agendas, popularity, and will to the Lord, and living completely for Him and His cause! This suffering includes constantly dying to our old sinful nature, and embracing the new, renewed life we have in Jesus – a daily battle that requires everything of us. Then we are well able to enforce the devil’s defeat on this earth and release the love and power of God over people’s lives wherever we go.