Every year at Christmas, James Baxter watches people rip apart his company's product and throw it away. All the hours of creative design and careful manufacturing are gone in a flash. And he has no regrets. As president of the nation's largest maker of Christmas giftwrap, Mr. Baxter says, "What we don't want is our product sitting in somebody's closet."

A product like wrapping paper lends an interesting perspective on the real meaning of Christmas. When God sent His only Son into this world, His purpose was not to give us a pretty package to gaze upon. Jesus willingly left His glory in heaven and came to earth, clothed with our humanity, knowing that His purpose was to die for our sins. When talking about His approaching death on the cross, Jesus said, "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour" (Jn. 12:27).

Sacrifice, not self-preservation, was our Savior's goal. And He accomplished it to the glory of God.

This season, ponder the lesson of the wrapping paper. As you think of how it is torn to reveal a gift, let it remind you of the Savior's sacrifice on the cross so that you can receive eternal life, the priceless gift of God.  — David C. McCasland