Have you ever felt like someone is taking advantage of you? It might not be as severe as feeling like a doormat being stepped on or walked on. However, it could be the feeling of being taken for granted, marginalized, or having people make assumptions about you that are detrimental to your well-being.
At the core of the Christian life is service. In fact, in John 13, Jesus emphasized the importance of taking his example of serving. Verse 17 states, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” The context of this passage is that Jesus is washing his disciples’ feet. While it may seem unpleasant, this humbling act of service was the reason Jesus declared that those who serve others will be blessed.
What I’ve discovered is that in the church world, everyone loves the idea of being a servant… until they’re treated as one. This may be the very point of Jesus’ example. There will be times in your life when you’re treated poorly, even when you’re trying to do the right thing, the kind thing, the serving thing. Jesus might be speaking to all of us, saying that on those days, we should lean into that special calling that God gives to every follower of Christ. Because if we do, we will be blessed… in this life or the next.