It’s certain that no such difficulty could come up with natural relationships, nor would it with spiritual things, if our souls were more simple and childlike. Consider the history of Isaac and Rebecca in Genesis 24. The effect of hearing about Isaac from Abraham’s servant was a desire created in Rebecca’s heart for the one she was hearing about, the question of “accepting Isaac” wasn’t necessary!
Abraham was wishful to give Isaac to her; and when the moment arrived that she desired to have him, that part of the matter was settled.
Now, if through a sense of your guilty state before God, you wish to have Christ, surely in your heart of hearts you have accepted Him already, even though you may have been too timid to confess it, either to Him or to anyone else.
The “loving” and the “giving” are on God’s side; the gift is His only begotten Son; and you cannot really want Him without being welcome to Him.
Rebecca certainly could not weep because Abraham didn’t want her to have Isaac, for didn’t his servant come that long and tedious journey because he had wanted it?
But think of her weeping in disconsolate sorrow because she feared she hadn’t accepted him! What would you have said to her? You’d say that every tear shed about it was an undeniable proof that, in her heart, she had accepted him! What self-occupation will reduce us to! The Lord grant us more childlike simplicity, and save us from the foolish reasoning of our hearts.