1 thessalonians 2 (NMV)
1 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without purpose.
2 Even though we had previously suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the good news of God in the face of strong opposition.
3 For our appeal does not come from deception, impure motives, or trickery.
4 Instead, we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the good news. So we speak not to please people, but to please God, who examines our hearts.
5 For we never used flattering speech, as you know, nor did we cover up greed with spiritual language; God is our witness.
6 Nor did we seek glory from people, either from you or from others, even though we could have asserted our authority as apostles of Christ.
7 Instead, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her own children.
8 We cared so deeply for you that we were delighted to share with you not only the good news of God, but also our own lives, because you had become so dear to us.
9 For you remember, brothers and sisters, our labor and hardship, working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the good news of God.
10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, rightly, and blamelessly we behaved toward you who believe.
11 As you know, we dealt with each one of you as a father deals with his own children,
12 encouraging, comforting, and urging you to walk in a way that is worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
13 This is why we also constantly thank God: when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe.
14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God's churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you also suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews,
15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone,
16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles [non-Jews] so that they may be saved. As a result, they continually heap up their sins to the limit, and wrath has come upon them at last.
17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time, in person, not in heart, we made every effort with intense longing to see you face to face.
18 For we wanted to come to you, certainly I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you?
20 For you are our glory and joy.