Pride keeps us from coming to Jesus. Pride keeps us from following Jesus as we ought to. But humility is essential to be forgiven. And humility is essential in the Christian life Jesus told this parable (Luke 18:9-14) to people who were self-righteous, and who scorned everyone else. There is a real problem for some religious people, because they look down on others. But, humility should be a way of life for the Christian. We are called to be nice, loving people. But we don’t have it naturally within us. We can only be so by the strength of the Spirit. Let’s not walk in the flesh, but in the Spirit, to produce the fruit of the Spirit, true love, true joy, true patience, etc. Jesus came to serve: “Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.” (Luke 22:27, NLT) Jesus humbled himself to come as a child, and to die on the cross. Paul writes to the Philippian church: “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:3–11, NLT) Have you trusted in him? If not, do so now. Are you trusting in your own niceness, or instead in Jesus’ righteousness by faith? Are you following his example? If not, commit to do so now.