“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Have you ever been to an emergency room? I have so much respect for emergency room personnel. They never know what they are going to face. From tragic accidents to homeless drug addicts, to babies with fevers and frantic first-time parents, they need to be ready to serve each patient with care and concern. But the first thing they need is wisdom. The very first task in an emergency room is to assess the patient and decide how serious their condition is and how quickly they need treatment. The emergency room personnel have to objectively determine what needs to be taken care of first. It’s called triage.

You and I need the same kind of wisdom, don’t we? We need to be able to honestly and objectively assess our own selves so that we can treat others with care and concern. It’s difficult to love and serve others if we haven’t taken care of our own issues. Our “triage” starts with looking in with honesty so that we can look out with love. 

The goal of all this inward looking is so that I can serve God and others from a place of emotional and spiritual health. Health starts with honest assessment. The first thing an emergency room does is to determine the patient’s need and how urgent it is so that they can be treated. When you and I take time to “triage” in God’s presence we let Him show us what our urgent needs are and how to “treat” them. The key for our internal triage is the Holy Spirit. He guides us into all truth, even the truth about ourselves. (John 16:13)

You and I were called to be free. Jesus paid the price for our freedom on the cross. We often hear preachers say that, but what kind of freedom did Christ purchase for us through His horrible, loving sacrifice? The freedom to do whatever we want whenever we want it? The freedom to get all that satisfies our inner cravings? The freedom to make ourselves happy at the expense of anyone and everyone else? No, of course not! The freedom Christ purchased for us is freedom from the selfishness that drives those kinds of urges so that we can better represent Him in every human relationship. He made us free to be like Him instead of our selfish, self-centered, self-gratifying selves. 

Who I am without Christ is ugly, fearfully manipulating others to protect my own fragile sense of self-worth. I work hard in hope that maybe I will be worth God’s attention or that others will value me more. With Christ, I understand that my value is rooted in Him, He values me. Knowing that means I don’t have to control situations to protect myself. I can act with confidence in a way that honors Him and values others instead of shielding myself. That’s the kind of freedom He purchased for me. That’s the kind of freedom I want to walk in every day, but I can’t do it unless I first allow Him to show me what’s inside and to change me. 

Serve one another in love. When you and I take time for internal “triage” it allows us to stop up the holes where unhealth is leaking out to those around us. We take time with God to fill up with health so that what spills out is good. Becoming emotionally and spiritually healthy means that I make room for the sweetness of God inside of me by removing the sourness of my own hurts, bitternesses, fears or unforgiveness. 

It is always easier to be busy than to be thoughtful, but i need to be ready to ask myself if my desire to serve comes from an honest place of love for others inspired by my love for God, or if my service is an unconscious attempt to validate my own existence, to make myself feel like I am worth something. When I take time for honest reflection I can begin to serve others out of real love instead of from the hidden hope that If I serve them maybe they won’t reject me. I become free from the unconscious sense that being busy means I am valuable. Taking time to assess myself with God means that I become aware of these inner wounds. If I am not aware of inner unhealth then the purity of my service is marred by selfish needs. Service only comes from a place of love if I am healthy on the inside. I am called to be free so that I can serve others with the love that comes from Christ.  

Fulfilling God’s law means to love others as if they were myself. Unredeemed self serves self. Redeemed self serves others. Jesus redeemed us, but we are in a continual state of being redeemed until the day when we are fully redeemed in eternity.  I need to regularly allow the Holy Spirit to reveal where I am in need of ongoing redemption so that I can reflect the character of Christ in all my relationships. Jesus said, and Paul repeated, that the whole law, all of the Old Testament, is summed up in this one command, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Lev. 19:18, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Romans 13: 9-10, Galatians 5:14) It is impossible to fulfill this command unless I take the time for honest self-assessment, unless I “triage.”

Those in your world really do need you, Dear One. They need what you have to give. Your talents. Your words. Your empathy. Your wisdom. Yes, you do have wisdom. If you have lived in the world for more than two minutes, then you have learned a few things that someone else can benefit from. God placed you in that sphere to represent Him. He wants to draw others closer to Himself through you. They need you. They really do! However, if you do not take the time to learn who you are, your talents and strengths, but also your wounds and weakness, then your own needs will overshadow your ability to give them what they need, what God wants to give them through you. 

Dear Friend, take time to triage with God. Assess and treat your own wounds with Him, so that you can serve others with a healthy and honest love. That is real freedom!

Key thought: Look in with honesty so that you can look out with love.

A Scripture to Consider: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A YES Challenge: Take some time in God’s presence to evaluate the way you respond to challenges. Is your first response to protect yourself or to look for a way to serve? Allow God to show you those places where He wants to bring health so that you can serve others with His love. 

Prayer: Father, this is a challenge. Taking the time to look inside and see where I need healing is difficult. Really difficult. But I know that You want to help me walk in freedom so that I can serve others with Your love. Help me to do the hard work so that I can better reflect Your love to those in my world. Amen.