Joshua 1:8-9, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” 

Effective service to God requires increasing familiarity with His revelation. Success may only be measured according to your faithfulness to God, and that may only be accomplished by faithfulness to His Word. Imagine the weight on Joshua’s shoulders as he assumed the leadership of this congregation. Not only was he following in the footsteps of Moses, but he was leading the people into the Promised Land. God assured Joshua that if he would learn and live the truth of God’s Word, he would receive the strength, instruction, and comfort necessary to be successful in this monumental task. As 1 Timothy 4:6 makes clear, a good minister handles the Bible well, teaching it with consistency, clarity, and charity. While not every believer is called to be a pastor, every believer is called to be a minister.