"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2: 42-47

My husband asked for the "Planet Earth" DVD set for Christmas a few years back. The images are all beautiful images from remote regions around the world including everything from rare animals to unique caves. When we put it on, we have to be watchful during many of the animal scenes (the predator-prey relationship is a little too graphic for my 3 year old!). The same thing seems to happen every time. The predator stays a distance away but keeps his eyes on the herd. Then when one wanders slightly away from the herd, it becomes lunch.

The predator doesn’t dare attack one that is staying snugly within the herd, of course he realizes that he would be the one in danger if that were the case. He only attacks the one that isolates itself. The one that decides he can do it on his own.

The scriptures about the early church in Acts remind me of the vital community we are called to have with one another as believers. They were a herd - All the believers were together, they had all things in common, they met daily and ate together regularly. The scripture doesn’t say any of them were related (although some of them may have been), but it describes a family. When someone was in need they started selling their possessions to provide for that person! Meeting together daily, eating together and meeting each other’s needs...that sounds like a family to me!

My husband and I have been praying a lot for God’s blessings and provision lately. The other day someone from our church offered to pay for Brandon’s shoes he had to get for work. We thanked them but said no. As I laid in bed that night the Holy Spirit convicted me and said, "Don’t pray for my blessings if you are going to refuse them when offered to you."

The root of the issue is pride. When we begin to have the attitude of, "I got this. I can do it on my own," we become like the animal who strays from it’s pack. A community is offered to us, a family, a support system, friends and confidants. Yet, for prideful reasons we can choose to isolate ourselves or simply reject the benefits within the community. We are all prone to wandering in one area or another. There is friendship within the herd, but those who still stray because of fear of rejection. There is spiritual strength within a herd, but those who still wander from reluctance of what they will have to give up or confess. There is confidants within the pack, but those who will stray because they have trust issues. Hopefully it doesn’t take us getting nipped in the butt by the enemy for us to realize how vulnerable we are in our isolation!
　
Some may not understand the importance of church, or why our family packed up and moved to San Diego to be a part of this community of believers, but we have learned the importance of staying in the herd. The only herd that me, myself and I form is one that looks like a tasty piece of lunch to the enemy!

1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
　
Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller