1) in a physical sense, a making straight, restoring to its natural and normal condition something which in some way protrudes or has got out of line, as broken or misshapen limbs 2) vb: to make better or improve by removal of faults 3): to correct or improve one's own character or habits syn correct, rectify, emend, remedy, redress, revise, reformable adj. Reformative.

Family:

1: a group of individuals living under one roof and under one head : household 2 : a group of persons of common ancestry : clan 3 : a group of things having common characteristics; esp : a group of related plants or animals ranking in biological classification above a genus and below an order 4 : a social unit usu. consisting of one or two parents and their children

"One part of the ministry of heavenly angels is to visit our world and oversee the work of the Lord in the hands of His stewards. In every time of necessity they minister to those who as co-workers with God are striving to carry forward His work in the earth. These heavenly intelligences are represented as desiring to look into the plan of redemption, and they rejoice whenever any part of God's work prospers." 6T 456.1

Angels are interested in the spiritual welfare of all who are seeking to restore God's moral image in man; and the earthly family are to connect with the heavenly family in binding up the wounds and bruises that sin has made...These very heavenly messengers are most intensely interested to work in union with the fallen, redeemed race for the salvation of human beings perishing in their sins." 6T 456.2

This is where the reformation should begin. There is however a two-fold question which must be answered first. "With whom should it begin and when?" "At what stage should the process of reformation start?" Infancy? Early childhood? Adolescence? Youth? Young adulthood? when? Quite naturally, I mean where in the home, in the family, ought this process to start ? Let's attempt to answer the question by a question. "What important role do the parents have?" And let's answer with a Biblical text: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

First we need to establish a couple of principles. In the inspired works of E.G.White we find some serviceable principles that are established on the authority of Scripture.

1."My soul mourns for the youth who are forming characters in this degenerate age. I tremble for their parents also; for I have been shown that as a general thing they do not understand their obligations to train up their children in the way they should go." 2T 348.2

2."It is impossible for parents to give their children proper training unless they first give themselves

to God, learning of the Great Teacher lessons of obedience to His will." CT 108.1

3."There are no influences so potent as those which surround us in our early years. Says the wise man,

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." The nature of

man is threefold, and the training enjoined by Solomon comprehends the right development of the physical, intellectual, and moral powers. To perform this work aright, parents and teachers must themselves understand "the way the child should go.

4."This embraces more than a knowledge of books or the learning of the schools. It comprehends the practice of temperance, brotherly kindness, and godliness; the discharge of our duty to ourselves, to our neighbors, and to God." FE 57.1

Now we have at least four principles that are indispensable to a reformation in the home:

1. Parents must first give themselves to God, and learn lessons of obedience to His will.

2. Parents must themselves "understand the way the child should go.

3. Parents should practice temperance, brotherly kindness, and godliness.

4. Parents should discharge their duty to themselves, to their neighbors, and to God.

I'm not going to elaborate on these principles, for the sake of time I am just pointing them out. But imagine trying to direct the course of life for someone else and not knowing yourselves where you are headed. Or taking measures to temper the bounteous imperfections of character you see in a family member, while your own blatant inconsistencies stand out like a flashing green neon sign that reads something like "Do as I say, not as I do, remember I am the parent." (I chose green, because it's the color of hope). If there is to be a reformation in the home, then it should start with the parents first.

All too often the patterns we as parents have made in life have been traced over the delicate souls of our children. And they wonder at our apparent dissatisfaction with their behavior when they observe such strong similarities between the two; and especially when ours remain unrebuked and uncorrected.

A reformation by definition again is: 1) in a physical sense, a making straight, restoring to its natural and normal condition something which in some way protrudes or has got out of line, as broken or misshapen limbs. This physical definition though very graphic demonstrates very precisely the condition in the human family.

The way of the family may be described in such a way as to be broken or misshapen, to in some way protrude, to be out of line. But as the process of mending a broken or fractured limb necessitates a skilled and gentle know how, so too, in order to have successful mending result from reformation the principles applied must be themselves derived from expert, reliable sources. In second Chronicles 20:20 we are given encouragement: "Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." God, our Father in Heaven, encourages us with positive statements of promise. We are to accept these gems, and take hold of them, keeping them as treasures, guarding them lest our enemy should steal them away.

Marriage in the context of the Ten Commandments is the underlying first principle of the family. The home then represents a divine institution ordained by God from creation. It is God's will that every divine institution should be restored before he returns. He will make our efforts to work effectively with Him in the restoration of the home and family a successful undertaking.

According to Acts 3:19-21, this work has been prophesied; and its complete fulfillment will be carried out through His church in these last days. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must retain until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."

So all that the prophets have taught in principle will be revived in those people who are sealed and have His name written in their foreheads before His coming. Again I quote from the inspired commentary. "The family is a divine institution, and parents should be wise, judicious teachers of their little ones. Children are to be patiently instructed, line upon line, and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. They should be trained, educated, and disciplined until they become obedient to their parents, giving respect to their authority. In this way respect for divine authority will be implanted in their hearts, and the family training will be like a preparatory training for the family in heaven." RH, March 13, 1894 par.2

"Parents who would properly rear their children need wisdom from heaven in order to act judiciously in all matters pertaining to home discipline." "The Bible is a guide in the management of children. Here, if parents desire, they may find a course marked out for the education and training of their children, that they may make no blunders." CG 256.1

"Upon fathers as well as mothers rests a responsibility for the child's earlier as well as its later training, and for both parents the demand for careful and thorough preparation is most urgent. Before taking upon themselves the possibilities of fatherhood and motherhood, men and women should become acquainted with the laws of physical development with physiology and hygiene, with the bearing of prenatal influences, with the laws of heredity, sanitation, dress, exercise, and the treatment of disease; they should also understand the laws of mental development and moral training." Ed 276.1

Attend Public Worship With the Children.—"Fathers and mothers should make it a rule that their children attend public worship on the Sabbath, and should enforce the rule by their own example. It is our duty to command our children and our household after us, as did Abraham. By example as well as precept we should impress upon them the importance of religious teaching. All who have taken the baptismal vow have solemnly consecrated themselves to the service of God; they are under covenant obligation to place themselves and their children where they may obtain all possible incentives and encouragement in the Christian life." CG 530.3

"He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." Revelation 1:7.That is: "About His coming cluster the glories of that "restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." Acts 3:21. Then the long-continued rule of evil shall be broken; "the kingdoms of this world" will become "the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever." Revelation 11:15. GC 301.2

"Jesus pointed His hearers back to the marriage institution as ordained at creation. . . . Then marriage and the Sabbath had their origin, twin institutions for the glory of God in the benefit of humanity." FLB 253.4

There is a requirement in this age especially for individual thought and reflection when considering a reformation in the maintaining and maturing of the family. With the strain of life's responsibilities and more people than ever living together in large cities, individuality of thought and action is difficult. For this reason among others, the instruction of God to His church is that we should locate our homes away from the wicked cities where the sights and sounds which are so disorderly, and defiant to His holy commandments, are not a persistent hindrance to our efforts towards fulfilling the command to restore these all-important institutions.

God removed Lot out from Sodom and Gomorrah; Abraham out of Ur, Enoch, who is the representative of them that shall not taste death, but will be translated to heaven, found his dwelling up away from the plains of the wicked inhabitants of his day. (Gen 12:1); (Gen 5:22,24); (Gen 19:15-17); God is calling His true reform-minded people out from among the baleful influences of city life, in order to learn a new way, where He may come closer to teach us about His character which is love.

"For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry." Isaiah 5:7

Where we live today in this earth directly affects the character development of our families for good or for evil. And here is where many are failing to honor God as wise stewards over His heritage.

Brothers and Sisters it's time to turn our backs to Egypt and our faces as a flint towards Heaven. Can you say Amen? Let us put our fears and our doubts away. The requirements of the laws of God regarding our duty may seem to the world unreasonable and severe, but our God is able! What do you say?

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11

"If our faith were not tried, it would be valueless. The thought that if we are without chastisements, we have no claim to be called sons, should cheer our hearts under the most discouraging circumstances. Also the thought that God's most distinguished servants have been reduced to the greatest extremities should give us all patience and resignation, amid trials and discouragement." (Author Unknown)

Are you praying for your children's salvation? Keep praying don't stop!

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Phillipians 1:6

The great object of reform will occupy our attention until the image of Jesus is formed within us, and though all around we may only behold discouraging omens. Yet we must contend for the faith that was onced delivered unto the saints.

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Jude 1:3

Amen!