Where does temptation come from? The world? The flesh? The devil? Well, one thing we know for sure is that it doesn’t come from God.

James 1:13–14
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

Today’s passage makes it clear that temptation does not come from God. God can neither be tempted nor tempt us. So, what is the source of temptation that strongly shows itself in our lives?

1. Satan. Finding Jesus in a weakened physical state, the “tempter” showed up to test Jesus in the desert. The same tempter comes roaring after us, seeking to drive a wedge of disobedience between us and the Father and attempting to destroy our witness before others.
2. Self. We can blame temptation on the tempter, but many times the mirror reflects the source. When we trust in Jesus, the penalty of our sin is gone, but our natural inclination to sin will remain until the day we die. We are enticed by our own evil desires.

Here’s the hard truth. Whether the source is Satan or self, at the end of the day, we own our disobedience. God promises to always provide a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). The crucial question is this: Are you willing to take the way out?

Father, by your grace and your strength, may the answer to that question always be, “Yes!” In Jesus’ name. Amen.