After spending a week relating ourselves to a tyrant like Haman, we may start to feel discouraged. It can seem like our human nature is a lost cause. Yet, that could not be farther from the truth. The takeaway from our similarities to Haman should be that we are lucky. We share the same stumbling of the human spirit, yet unlike Haman, we have a relationship with Jesus who has the ability to save us from our sins. We know who holds the ultimate power and where our roots should lie. We know that humility is far greater than any honor we could receive here on Earth. Haman walked so far from humility that when he finally tried to use it to save his life, it backfired tremendously.

We have the ultimate example of humility in Jesus. Jesus taught us that the last will be first, that true power is made perfect in weakness, and that we should seek to have a servant’s heart. From Jesus’ entrance to Earth as a baby born in a manger to his last Earthly moments on the cross, humility is a thread that is woven throughout his entire human life.

True humility does not mean putting yourself down. Instead, it means that we center our lives on Jesus and we focus on putting others first. We humble ourselves in front of God because we know that God’s power is greater than anything we are capable of on our own. Humility draws us closer to God and to others. We can find humility in thankfulness, trust, love, and patience. Humility blesses us by connecting us to God and allowing everyone, including us, to flourish.

• Final Thought: Spend time focusing on Jesus’ example of humility and ask God to grow humility in your own life.