"God's chosen ones" - that's the first part of this passage in Colossians 3:12 and following.  This is the introduction of the indicative - it focuses in on who we are.  Below are some thoughts about the idea that those to whom and for whom Paul is writing need to lay hold of.

God's chosen ones.

Colossians 3:12

God's - His, belonging to, possessive
chosen - deliberate, intentional, decided upon, selected, elected, special
ones - more than one, individuals

"a. Therefore, as the elect of God: The new man is elect of God. This means that God has chosen the Christian, and chosen him to be something special in His plan. “Elect” is a word that frightens some, but it should be taken both as a comfort and as a destiny to fulfill."

Guzik (on Colossians 3:12)

"the elect of God — There is no “the” in the Greek, “God’s elect” (compare Rom_8:3; 1Th_1:4). The order of the words “elect, holy, beloved,” answers to the order of the things. Election from eternity precedes sanctification in time; the sanctified, feeling God’s love, imitate it [Bengel]."

Jamison, Fausset, and Brown (on Colossians 3:12)