A chosen people

1 Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

There is something about being chosen that makes us feel good inside.  I mean, don't people usually make choices based on some excellent quality about which they choose?  It implies something special.  But my understanding of God's selection has little to do with us; it rather has more to do with Him.  The gap between God and humanity is so huge that -- really, all of us are way below-grade.  God chooses completely on the basis of his mercy rather than any substantial benefit we have for him.

In fact, 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 says this, "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are."

Being chosen also means God took the initiative.  All believers have stories of how God first entered our lives through circumstances, people or even dreams.  Without God's first move (and further persistent pursuit) we would still be groping blindly in darkness.  

So, as his chosen people we have a common reason to declare God's goodness because, amongst other things, we've experienced the goodness of being called out of darkness and the freedom of living without fear of condemnation in his wonderful light.