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Japanese Category 1: The Divine Blueprint: Created in God’s Image
These verses establish the foundational value and identity of humanity, rooted not in our abilities, but in our origin as reflections of the Divine.
Genesis 1:26
“Toen zei God: “Laten we de mensheid maken naar ons beeld, naar onze gelijkenis, zodat zij kunnen heersen over de vissen in de zee en de vogels in de lucht, over het vee en alle wilde dieren, en over alle wezens die zich over de grond bewegen.””
Reflectie: The decision to create humanity is presented as a divine consultation. This instills in our origin a profound sense of intentionality and relationality. We are not an afterthought but the result of a purposeful, loving deliberation. To be made in God’s “image” and “likeness” is the very bedrock of our dignity, a truth that anchors our sense of self-worth against the shifting sands of failure and success.
Genesis 1:27
“Zo schiep God de mensheid naar zijn eigen beeld, naar het beeld van God schiep Hij hen; mannelijk en vrouwelijk heeft Hij hen geschapen."
Reflectie: This verse, with its poetic repetition, is like a drumbeat of inherent value. Our identity is not self-created but is a gift, a reflection of our Creator. The immediate inclusion of “male and female” reveals that our full humanity and the reflection of God’s image are discovered not in isolation, but in communion and beautiful, complementary diversity. It speaks to our deep-seated need for connection to truly know ourselves.
Genesis 5:1-2
“This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them ‘Mankind’ when they were created.”
Reflectie: Even when recounting genealogy, the story pauses to remind us of our sacred origin. The “blessing” is intertwined with our creation, suggesting that our natural state is one of favor and goodness. This truth offers profound comfort, reminding us that brokenness is not our original design, and wholeness is our intended destiny.
Psalm 8:4-6
“Wat is de mensheid dat u zich van hen bewust bent, de mens dat u voor hen zorgt? U hebt hen een beetje lager gemaakt dan de engelen en hen gekroond met glorie en eer.”
Reflectie: Here, the psalmist voices the universal human feeling of smallness in a vast cosmos. The answer he finds is not insignificance, but astonishing value. To be “crowned with glory and honor” speaks to an innate nobility endowed upon us. This is a powerful emotional anchor, assuring us that even when we feel fragile and fleeting, we are held in God’s mind with immense care and royal dignity.
Handelingen 17:28
“‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’”
Reflectie: Our existence is not a static, one-time event but a continuous, dynamic reality held within God’s own being. This verse describes a state of complete and utter dependence that is not suffocating, but life-giving. It’s the ultimate picture of secure attachment; our very consciousness and vitality are a moment-by-moment gift, assuring us that we can never be truly separated from our life source.
Malachi 2:10
“Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?”
Reflectie: This verse transforms the doctrine of creation into a profound moral and emotional imperative. Our shared origin is the basis for our shared humanity. This truth confronts our tribal instincts and challenges the emotional walls we build between “us” and “them.” To grasp this is to feel the injustice of prejudice and the deep, familial bond we ought to have with every other person.
Category 2: An Intimate Artistry: Formed by the Potter’s Hand
These verses describe the personal, tender, and intricate nature of God’s formation of each human being.
Genesis 2:7
"Toen vormde de HERE God een mens uit het stof van de aarde en blies de levensadem in zijn neusgaten, en de mens werd een levend wezen."
Reflectie: This is a portrait of profound intimacy. We are “dust,” a reminder of our humility and finiteness, which keeps us grounded. Yet, we are animated by the very “breath of life” from God. This duality is the core of our emotional experience: we are fragile yet infused with divine spirit. Our life is a sacred fusion of the earthy and the heavenly, making us uniquely capable of feeling both deep sorrow and transcendent joy.
Psalm 139:13-14
"Want Gij hebt mijn diepste wezen geschapen, Je breide me samen in de baarmoeder van mijn moeder. Ik prijs U, omdat ik bevreesd en wonderbaarlijk gemaakt ben. Jullie werken zijn prachtig, dat weet ik heel goed.”
Reflectie: This is one of the most powerful affirmations for a healthy self-concept. The image of being “knit together” speaks of a careful, loving, and personal artistry, not a sterile assembly line. It tells us that our very core, our deepest self, was seen and shaped with purpose. Embracing this truth can transform self-criticism into awe and wonder at the miracle of our own existence.
Psalm 139:15-16
“My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Reflectie: This verse speaks to the deepest human longing: to be truly known and seen. Before we were visible to any human eye, we were fully perceived by our Creator. The idea that our life’s potential was envisioned before it began provides an incredible sense of security and meaning. It counters the fear of an anonymous or chaotic existence, assuring us that our life story has a divine author.
Job 10:8-9
“Your hands shaped me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me? Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again?”
Reflectie: In his anguish, Job clings to the memory of his intimate creation. He uses the language of a potter and clay to express his vulnerability and his relationship with God. This honest cry reveals that our sense of being personally “molded” by God is not just a comfort in good times, but a powerful, desperate plea for care in times of suffering. It is a testament to the deep emotional bond we feel with our maker.
Jesaja 64:8
"Maar U, Heer, bent onze Vader. Wij zijn de klei, jij bent de pottenbakker. wij zijn allemaal het werk van uw hand.”
Reflectie: This verse beautifully captures the feeling of surrender and trust. To see ourselves as clay in the hands of a loving Potter reframes our experiences. Life’s pressures are not random blows but the shaping hands of an artist with a beautiful design in mind. This posture frees us from the anxiety of having to control everything and allows us to rest in the wisdom of our Creator, even when we don’t understand the process.
Jeremia 1:5
"Voordat Ik u vormde in de baarmoeder, kende Ik u, voordat u geboren werd, onderscheidde Ik u. Ik heb u aangesteld als profeet voor de volken.”
Reflectie: While spoken to Jeremiah, this principle radiates to all. Our existence is preceded by God’s knowing of us. This is not a mere factual knowledge, but an intimate, relational knowing that bestows identity and purpose. It emotionally grounds us, assuring us that our calling in life is not something we must invent from scratch, but something we discover, which has been part of our story from the very beginning.
Category 3: A Sacred Purpose: Made for Relationship and Meaning
These verses explore the “why” behind our creation, pointing to a life of purpose found in relationship with God, others, and the world.
Genesis 1:28
God zegende hen en zei tegen hen: 'Wees vruchtbaar en word talrijk. vult de aarde en onderwerpt haar. Heers over de vissen in de zee en de vogels in de lucht en over alle levende wezens die zich op de grond bewegen.”
Reflectie: This is not a license for exploitation, but a commission for responsible stewardship. We are given a vocation, a purpose that directs our energy outward. This speaks to the human need for agency and meaning—to not just exist, but to cultivate, care for, and contribute to the world. A healthy psyche thrives on purpose, and here we see that purpose is woven into our very first command.
Genesis 2:18
"De HEER God zei: "Het is niet goed voor de mens om alleen te zijn. Ik zal een helper voor hem geschikt maken.”
Reflectie: This is a profound statement about our fundamental relational nature. Before sin ever entered the world, in a state of perfection, solitude was deemed “not good.” This validates our deepest emotional longings for companionship, partnership, and community. We are psychologically and spiritually hardwired for connection; it is in relationship with others that we find a crucial part of our own well-being and identity.
Genesis 2:23
"De man zei: "Dit is nu been van mijn beenderen en vlees van mijn vlees; zij wordt „vrouw” genoemd, want zij is uit de man genomen.”
Reflectie: This is the first poem in the Bible, a cry of joyful recognition. Adam sees Eve and, in her, he sees himself and also a wonderful other. It’s a beautiful picture of empathy and connection. This verse captures the powerful emotional moment of finding a kindred spirit, the feeling of “at last!” that comes from deep, meaningful human connection that alleviates our core loneliness.
Psalm 100:3
“Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”
Reflectie: This verse provides a powerful sense of belonging. The twin truths—”he who made us, and we are his”—establish both our origin and our destination. The metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep evokes feelings of safety, guidance, and gentle care. To internalize this is to quiet the anxious voice that asks, “Where do I belong?” The answer is, you belong to the One who made you.
Jesaja 43:7
"Iedereen die naar mijn naam genoemd wordt, die ik geschapen heb tot mijn eer, die ik gevormd en gemaakt heb."
Reflectie: To be created “for God’s glory” gives our lives an ultimate, transcendent purpose. This isn’t about feeding a divine ego, but about reflecting divine beauty, love, and goodness into the world. It provides a “why” that is big enough to sustain us through life’s trials. It reorients our search for meaning away from self-glorification and toward a purpose that connects us to the eternal.
Zacharia 12:1
“…the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person.”
Reflectie: The creation of the cosmos and the formation of the individual human spirit are spoken of with equal weight. This places immense value on our inner world—our thoughts, feelings, and consciousness. It affirms that our internal life is not an accident of biology but a direct and ongoing work of God. This can bring great comfort, knowing that the Spirit who understands the universe also intimately understands and sustains our own.
Category 4: The Renewed Creation: Remade in Christ
These verses extend the theme of creation to the Christian concept of spiritual rebirth, where humanity is not just made, but remade with new purpose and identity.
2 Korintiërs 5:17
“Dus als iemand in Christus is, is de nieuwe schepping gekomen: Het oude is weg, het nieuwe is er!"
Reflectie: This is the ultimate verse of hope and transformation. It promises that we are not defined by our past mistakes, traumas, or broken patterns. In Christ, we are fundamentally remade. This offers profound psychological liberation from the tyranny of the past. It is not just about behavioral change, but a core identity shift, a chance to begin again with a clean slate and a new nature.
Efeziërs 2:10
“Want wij zijn Gods handwerk, geschapen in Christus Jezus om goede werken te doen, die God van tevoren voor ons heeft voorbereid om te doen.”
Reflectie: The word “handiwork” in Greek is poiema, from which we get “poem.” We are God’s art, his masterpiece. This verse beautifully links our original creation with our new creation. Our purpose is not just to exist but to engage in meaningful, loving actions that were prepared for us. This provides a deep sense of calling, assuring us that our lives have a unique and beautiful contribution to make.
Kolossenzen 1:16
"Want in Hem zijn alle dingen geschapen: dingen in de hemel en op aarde, zichtbaar en onzichtbaar... alle dingen zijn door hem en voor hem geschapen."
Reflectie: This verse broadens our understanding of creation, placing Christ at the very center of all existence. From a moral-emotional perspective, this means our ultimate meaning and coherence are found in Him. When life feels fragmented or purposeless, this truth re-centers us. All parts of our lives—visible and invisible—are designed to find their ultimate fulfillment and integration in a relationship with Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:45
“So it is written: ‘The first man Adam became a living being’; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.”
Reflectie: This verse draws a powerful emotional and spiritual contrast. The first creation gave us natural life. The new creation in Christ gives us something more: a “life-giving spirit.” This means we are not only recipients of new life for ourselves, but we become conduits of that life for others. It transforms our inner spiritual renewal into an outward-flowing source of hope, healing, and love for the world around us.
Kolossenzen 3:10
“…and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
Reflectie: Becoming a “new self” is not a static event but an ongoing process of renewal. This is a psychologically healthy and realistic view of growth. We are constantly being shaped “in the image of our Creator,” which was the original intent all along. This process brings deep satisfaction as we feel ourselves growing in wisdom, love, and character, becoming more fully the person we were always created to be.
Galaten 3:28
"Er is noch Jood noch heiden, noch slaaf noch vrij, noch is er man en vrouw, want jullie zijn allen één in Christus Jezus."
Reflectie: The new creation in Christ heals the very divisions that plague humanity. The social, ethnic, and gender hierarchies that create so much pain and injustice are dissolved in a new, unified identity. This offers a radical vision for community, where our value is not found in our social standing or group affiliation, but in our shared oneness in Christ. It’s a profound emotional healing for the wounds of alienation and prejudice.
