I called up the youth pastor and told him a better way in which he could do things. My plan was simple, really: all he had to do was relinquish control and put me in charge of the youth band.
Oh, I was sixteen and in the youth group, by the way. I learned my lesson once I became a pastor and faced similar dynamics from the other end.
Jacob (which means “the cheater“) had a similar situation. He had cheated his brother and father in some incredibly deceptive ways and had managed to get away with it. Eventually, he had to flee from his brother for safety, landing him in the arms of his uncle Laban—a man who was quite skilled at cheating and deception. Jacob was tricked by him into something akin to slavery, causing him to discover the pain of such tactics from the other side.
If we listen to the conviction of the Spirit sooner, we can learn our lessons in a much better way. May we find the humility to do so.
Jamin Bradley 
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