1st Thessalonians 1:4

1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

2 We give praise to God at all times for you, keeping you in memory in our prayers;

3 Having ever in mind your work of faith and acts of love and the strength of your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father;

4 Being conscious, my brothers, dear to God, that you have been marked out by God's purpose;

5 Because our good news came to you, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Spirit, so that you were completely certain of it; even as you saw what our behaviour to you was like from our love to you.

6 And you took us and the Lord as your example, after the word had come to you in much trouble, with joy in the Holy Spirit;

7 So that you became an example to all those who have faith in Christ in Macedonia and Achaia.