Have you ever watched footage from a boy band concert? It seems like a strange recommendation but I promise, it’s quite a thing to behold! It’s not the musical abilities of the band I’m impressed with, it’s the utter devotion of their fans. You see, boy band fans aren’t like normal fans. They don’t just cheer and sing along as they enjoy a good show. Instead, they cry their eyes out and toss undergarments onto the stage until they faint from emotional exhaustion! It’s insane, but I see it repeated from one generation to the next. From the Beatles to One Direction, this strangely obsessive anomaly continues.

Boy band fans aren’t just overzealous during concerts. They’re devoted in every area of their lives. They have band posters, bumper stickers, special edition albums, and most of all, an alarming amount of knowledge about the band members themselves. Somehow these fans know every member's middle name, birthday, astrological sign, and favorite color. Their knowledge is wide, but at the end of the day, they are simply fans. They might know everything there is to know about their idols, but the relationship is completely one-sided.

As we read in Acts 19, there are plenty of people who can tell you who Jesus is! In fact, the Word tells us even the demons know His name! But their knowledge of Jesus is not representative of an actual relationship with Him. Where there is no relationship, there is no power! When the sons of Sceva attempt to use Jesus’ name to cast out a demon, the demon responds in verse 15,“Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” These men who sought the power that comes from a relationship with Jesus had nothing to call upon. They had all the knowledge but no relationship.

As we seek God by reading His Word, we must remember the true purpose! It is not to pass a test, prove the strength of our memory, or toss around facts to enhance our spiritual reputation, it is to grow in a relationship with a God who wants to do the same.