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They devoted themselves to… (Acts 2:42). Normal Christianity begins with a whole-hearted devotion to God. Seeing all of life through sovereign lenses i.e. why does God have me working here, living here, studying here etc? This is the natural response of a rescued individual to his rescuer. We quickly find that serving God happens in our families, at work, at church, at school… in all spheres of life. This devotion happened to Jesus’ disciples, to Paul the Apostle, and to every believer in the first Christian church (Acts 2:42). In Watts’ hymn he shows the usual feelings all believers experience when they understand what God has done for them.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Hymn Author: Isaac Watts