Our Master: Thoughts for Salvationists about Their Lord

In Short

This collection of reflections offers a devotional exploration of the life of Jesus Christ, written specifically for members of the Salvation Army. By examining key episodes—from the stable in Bethlehem to the cross at Calvary and the subsequent Resurrection—the text argues that Christ’s earthly experiences are not merely historical events, but patterns for the individual believer to follow. It emphasizes themes of self-denial, the necessity of suffering for spiritual growth, and the unchanging nature of divine love, providing a manual for those seeking a life of committed religious service.

The Story

The narrative arc begins in the humble surroundings of Bethlehem, where the birth of Jesus is presented as the ultimate act of condescension. The author asserts that this lowly entry into the world was necessary; had the Savior arrived with celestial fanfare rather than as a vulnerable infant in a manger, the bridge between humanity and divinity would not have been built. This birth marks the beginning of a life defined by discipline, where even the "precious and wondrous" jewel of Christ’s divinity was refined through the repeated, sharp edges of worldly rejection, poverty, and betrayal.

As the account moves toward the culmination of Christ’s life, the focus shifts to the intensity of His mission. The author maintains that Jesus was not merely a teacher but a Savior who "really came" to offer personal liberty from sin. This work of salvation was achieved through an active, suffering life that serves as a template for His followers. When Jesus faces the agony of the cross, the author highlights His silence under desertion and His ability to love those who failed Him. The crucifixion is depicted as an invitation: to be "conformed unto His death" is to embrace the same path of faith, where one’s own ambitions and attachments are laid down in favor of a higher, sacrificial devotion to God.

The story progresses through the burial and the Resurrection, which the author describes as a source of eternal hope. The Resurrection is not just a past event but a declaration of power that proves Jesus is the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah." Following this, the narrative turns to the contemporary believer, urging them to recognize that the life of Jesus continues to be "formed" in those who accept Him. The author argues that the believer must undergo their own metaphorical "crucifixion" of self-interest and worldly desires.

The closing reflections emphasize the "ever-the-same" nature of Christ. Amidst the inevitable decay, disappointment, and aging that humans face, the author finds stability in the unchanging character of the Lord. The final message is one of endurance: because Christ survived the "gloomy portals" of the grave, His followers are encouraged to view their own trials as necessary, temporary, and ultimately transformative. The trajectory of the book concludes with the assertion that the individual who persists in faith, denies their own narrow interests, and commits their entire life—reputation, honor, and future—into the hands of the Father, will move from the "infancy" of their spiritual life into a mature, powerful witness.

How It Unfolds

The necessity of the Incarnation The author establishes that Jesus had to become human to bridge the gap between God and man. By entering the world as a dependent babe, He sanctified the very nature of human existence.

The school of suffering This section argues that conflict and hardship are not obstacles to a religious life but are the primary tools for shaping character. Like a portrait needing shadows to define its subject, the human soul requires tribulation to achieve maturity.

The silence of the cross The author examines the betrayal of Jesus by His followers and His lack of bitterness in return. This serves as a direct instruction to the reader to remain steadfast in their duty, even when those they trust desert them.

The invitation to the thief The encounter on the cross illustrates that the gates of salvation are open to the most disgraced individuals. This moment is presented as the ultimate proof that Christ’s love is immediate and requires no ritualistic mediation.

The call to total self-denial The narrative warns that choosing worldly success over covenantal duty is a "ruinous transaction." It provides the cautionary tale of a man who traded his spiritual commitment for professional advancement, ultimately losing his sense of purpose.

The anchor of the unchanging Lord The final beats contrast human fickleness and the eroding effects of time with the eternal consistency of God. The reader is encouraged to find comfort in this stability when their own emotions and circumstances fluctuate.

The People

The book is centered on the person of Jesus Christ, whom the author portrays as the "Man for the new Century." He is characterized by His "great heart" of love, His absolute refusal to compromise His mission, and His patient mercy toward the weak and the sinful. He acts as the model of the "firstborn among many brethren," setting a standard of behavior for others to emulate.

Opposite Him are the disciples and the crowd, who represent the failures of human nature. They are often "asleep" when they should be vigilant, and they frequently misunderstand the mission of their Master. They represent the reader’s own potential for wavering, cowardice, and self-concern.

The individual believer, addressed as "comrade," is the third central figure. This person is constantly urged to move past the "infant life" of spiritual immaturity and embrace the full, often painful, responsibilities of the "Soldier of the Cross." The reader is expected to transition from a state of narrow, self-serving ambition to one of total surrender, modeled after the author’s vision of the Crucified Christ.

In Its Own Voice

"If the one manifests His glorious divinity, then the other exalts His wonderful humanity."

The author makes this contrast between the birth and death of Jesus to emphasize the complete nature of His sacrifice.

"The more the precious and wondrous and eternal jewel was cut and cut again, the more the light and glory of the Day-spring from on High was made manifest to men."

This metaphor describes how the hardships and trials of Christ’s life served to reveal His true nature to the world.

"It is between me and Thee alone; it is the sacrifice of love."

The author uses these words to describe the personal, internal process of denying one's own desires to better serve God.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an argument for the total integration of faith and daily life. It rejects the idea that religion can be a private, intellectual exercise or a mere set of moral guidelines. Instead, it posits that true salvation requires a fundamental, agonizing shift in which the individual’s own desires are "entombed." It addresses the question of how to remain steadfast in a world that is constantly changing and in a human heart that is often fickle. The underlying argument is that unless the individual is willing to undergo a "death" to their own ambitions and claims, they cannot experience the "life" of the Resurrection.

Why Read It Today

Readers who value earnest, intense, and demanding devotional literature will find much to consider here. The prose is direct, urgent, and deeply personal, reflecting the author’s background as a leader in a movement that prioritized active service over theological abstraction. The book feels like a conversation with an older, demanding mentor who is entirely convinced that the reader is capable of heroic self-sacrifice.

However, modern readers should be prepared for its specific, period-bound intensity. The author employs a rhetorical style that equates any deviation from strict spiritual duty with total ruin, a perspective that may feel harsh or exclusionary to some. Furthermore, the language is steeped in the specific terminology of 19th-century religious life, and the author’s expectation that the reader will be familiar with biblical citations is constant. It is not a book for those seeking a light or scholarly overview of the life of Jesus. Instead, it serves as a challenging, uncompromising call to action. What lingers after reading is the author’s insistent focus on the "Great Heart" of the subject, leaving the reader with a clear, albeit difficult, vision of what a life of total commitment is intended to look like.