For you yourselves know, brothers,[a] that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. (I Thessalonians 2)
In chapter 1 Paul talked about how well they knew what was going on with the beleivers at Thessalonica. Now he turns to what they knew about them (Paul, Silas and Timothy). They did not come there because it was easy. They had been ridiculed and persecuted, questioned and opposed. It would have been easiest to pack up and go to the next province. But they were not looking for easiest. They were looking to please God. They were not out to merely "gain a following" or to take advantage of people like a travelling salesman for a quick buck. They were there to share the Good News and see people receive salvation. They were there to see exactly what happened: lives changed forever by Christ. People can tell what we are really about by what we put up with, what we say and how we live. What would people say you are really about?
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