​Every time I read this verse, and others in 1 Peter, I feel overwhelmed with the gift of pure love God has so generously given to me and to all that love Him. Who wouldn’t want this? I, as well as many others, have been chosen, and because he chose us, we are His royal priests. We are part of a consecrated nation and considered to be so special that He calls us His own! 
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Being His own comes with some privileges that are worth far more than money can buy. We can speak and claim excellence over ourselves. Excellence in our deeds, our virtues, and all that we perfect to do. 

Is there anything too hard for our God?  No.  Nothing.  The God of the whole universe, who knows us down to every hair on our heads, lives in us, abides with us and desires us to know Him in a very real way.  

When God created us, He knew every ounce of breath it would take to make our bodies function, every ounce of blood that would flow through our veins, and every cell that would have it's own function.   Every living thing has a purpose, and creation declares His glorious name too.  

Such a loving Father knew our hearts needed sunrises and sunsets, and the colors that we see and how they mean so much to us as creatives.  In fact, He put within our hearts the desire to be creative because He made us in His image.  What a generous and loving Creator we have!  

Israelites awaited entering their Promise Land - a land flowing with milk and honey.

But before entering it the Lord reminded them not to seek the peace and prosperity of the nations around them.
They should not serve other gods but rather follow the LORD with all their hearts, soul, mind and strength