Jesus said it this way:

"Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:43-45)

I read recently that as followers of Jesus, you and I are called to be a doormat for others. Have you ever stopped to think about what it means to be a doormat?

A doormat is about as low as you can get. It's right down there on the floor. Everyone passes by and steps on the doormat. Big shoes, little shoes, muddy shoes, wet shoes, all clean themselves on the doormat.

And the doormat just lies there and takes it all. The doormat never tries to avoid dirty feet and never complains about being trampled.

The idea of being a doormat isn't all that attractive, is it? But Jesus said that we must be servants and become like a slave to all people. Maybe the old doormat can help us learn a thing or two about what Jesus said?

Our service to others should be based on our gratitude.
If you or I try to serve others based on our feelings of love for people and their willingness to love us back, we have set ourselves up for failure. We will fail because people are ungrateful. Ingratitude is so prevalent today. But then, ingratitude has been around for a long time. Remember the ten lepers? Nine failed to show their appreciation for the tremendous gift of healing that they had received from the Lord. Only one went back to say, "Thank You!" (Luke 17:11-19)

We are called to serve others based on our love for the Lord. We need to constantly remember everything the Lord has done for us. Our service to others should be based on our gratitude for all the Lord has done for us. (1 John 4:7-12)

When you and I have died to self and have allowed Jesus to live in us, being a servant — or doormat — will not be so difficult. Jesus did it when he was on earth in His ministry and when His Spirit is living within us He will continue to serve others through us.