Chosen...special

Today's reading was in 1 Peter 2. In this passage, Peter tells us that we are a chosen royal priesthood. What an amazing picture, that God chooses us, that God chose me! 

I guess the great news is that everyone is chosen, although it's up to us to allow God to choose us. I know that sounds weird, and I'm probably not explaining it very well so I'll try and simplify it.
Think of a tin of beans on a shelf in the shop. When it gets chosen it doesn't have to do anything except stand on the shelf. The tin has no say in the matter of whether it is chosen or not - it just is.
It's not the same for us. God chooses everyone, BUT it is up to us whether we allow God to chose us. God wants all the people in the world, but if they don't want God to have them then he doesn't! He doesn't force us to be chosen, he doesn't make us do anything we don't want to do - but when we accept his choosing, it changes our lives forever. 
Let's remember that every single person on this planet, no matter what age or nationality, whether they have a belief or not, are chosen by God, and therefore have the opportunity to be part of his family!